Rise in study costs but no rise in quality

University students say they are being forced to pay more for degrees that are not proportionally increasing in quality.

Victoria University intends to raise fees for education, humanities and social sciences by eight percent.

That's double the increase allowed by law and the university is seeking approval from the Tertiary Education Commission.

New Zealand Union of Students Association President Pete Hodkinson says it's a case of pushing under investment by Government on to students.

"There's increasing cost of education, increasing student debt and in a pressed labour market where students are not guaranteed work upon graduating, and I think that until that trend is reversed then increasing the cost of tertiary education is going to do nothing more than push people away from it."

Mr Hodkinson says if Victoria University is given the go ahead it will set a precedent for other institutions to increase fees.