WORLDWIDE TRAVEL, extravagant homes and expensive memberships to London clubs were revealed to be some of the benefits enjoyed by university chiefs following an investigation into their expenses.

Uncovered by freedom of information requests made to over 150 universities by The Independent, it was found that vice-chancellors and other senior university staff had been allowed to claim for lavish expenses, despite their average salary being £230,000.

Generally, university chancellors have defended their expenses claims, claiming that they were used for official business by travelling abroad to promote their university to students around the world.

The claims amount to an average of £14,000 per institution, which could pay £9,000 tuition fees for 233 students in the UK. Many students and lecturers disapprove of this spending, given the cuts being made to universities and education.

Student Matthew Chandy, said, “This is a difficult time for students. Though there might be some degree of necessity for these expenses, it feels like a bit of a kick in the ribs.”

The University of Plymouth was shown to have the highest expenses claims in the last academic year, with receipts submitted to the value of £136,570. The vice-chancellor Wendy Purcell accounted for more than £20,000.

A spokeswoman claimed that this was a result of the university's global research base and international partnerships.

On the other hand, while having one of the smallest expenses claims featured in the report, vice-chancellor Janet Beer of Oxford Brookes University was allowed £900 a year to pay for the membership of an exclusive London club.

Usman Ali, vice-president of the National Union of Students said, “When students are facing trebled tuition fees and massive youth unemployment, and as universities deal with swingeing cuts to teaching budgets, it is appalling that university heads continue to fill their boots.

“Universities must listen to students’ unions and make their expenses and pay structures transparent to stop abuses.”

The situation has been compared to the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009 as there have been calls for more transparency regarding these claims without having to use the Freedom of Information Act.

Sally Hunt, the General Secretary of the University and College Union stated, “unless there is proper scrutiny of vice-chancellors’ pay and perks, revelations like this will continue to embarrass the sector and make it look self-serving to the wider world.”