Opposition parties in Scotland - Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Greens - have backed the SNP's position to keep university education free for Scottish residents.

But the Scottish Conservatives have questioned the legality of the fees plan, and say it could stir up resentment in the rest of the UK against Scotland.

Elsewhere, the Scottish government is seeking an end to rules where it has to pay the fees of students living in non-UK EU countries, which it says is costing the taxpayer £75m a year.

Students resident in Scotland will not pay, but SNP ministers decided to bring in charges to protect places.

The decision to allow English universities to charge up to £9,000 for tuition sparked concern over "fee refugees" heading to Scotland.

A number of Scots universities will cap fees at the English level of £27,000.

Fees will apply to English, Northern Irish and Welsh students from 2012-13, although the rates will not become official until the outcome of a Scottish government consultation and new legislation is brought in.