UCU and NUS set out week's protests in campaign against fees and education cuts

• Protests at universities across the country on Wednesday
• Mass lobby of MPs on Thursday, followed by rally in Westminster and  an Embankment 'candlelit' vigil

The organisations' plans centre around Thursday's Commons vote on the level of university tuition fees. On Wednesday there will be protests at universities across the country.

On the day of the vote there will be a mass lobby of MPs. Lobbyists will join protestors on Victoria Embankment for a rally from 3pm (see here for directions).

After it gets dark, the protestors will hold up 9,000 Glo-sticks in a 'candlelit' vigil with the stunning Thames backdrop to symbolise the potential new annual level fee bill students could be hit with.

Since the organisations' joint demonstration on Wednesday 10 November there has been an unprecedented level of student activism against devastating cuts to education, the axing of the education maintenance allowance (EMA), the proposed trebling of tuition fees and now the proposed abolition of AimHigher.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'These proposals, if they go through, will change the entire landscape of education in this country and we must continue to oppose them.  We need to expose the damage they will do to our universities, colleges and communities.

'MPs must be left in no doubt of the strength of opposition to these plans and the consequences of voting for them. We have been overwhelmed by support from people across the country against these plans and we hope they will all join us in making their voice heard this week.'

NUS president, Aaron Porter, said: 'The joint NUS and UCU march that brought together 50,0000 people on 10 November has provided the spur to a new wave of activism and lobbying, placing the Government's policy on fees and student support policy under huge pressure.

'This week we must keep that pressure up as the vote approaches. MPs can be left in no doubt as to the widespread public opposition to these plans or of the consequences of steamrollering them through Parliament.'