Over six-hundred academics of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have written an open letter to the business secretary, Vince Cable, and the universities minister, David Willetts, calling on them to halt their proposed changes to the higher education system.

The open letter was sent to Mr Cable and Mr Willetts on Wednesday 2nd March and was also published by the Independent newspaper.

In their letter, the academics say universities are being asked to create plans based on higher tuition fees without knowing the full details of the changes.

They say, "We note with dismay and alarm that universities are being forced to take major decisions, with unknown consequences, at a breakneck speed"

A government White Paper, which explains how to new system will work, was expected to be ready this month but has now been delayed until later this year.

Despite this delay, universities have not been given an extension to formulate plans for fees and bursaries. They are being asked to form the plans without knowing the government’s plans in detail.

This lack of transparency has led the academics to lament, "We are being asked to "fly blind" over matters of the utmost importance in respect of our ability to continue to deliver world-class education and research."

Plans to raise tuition fees to a minimum of £6,000 and a maximum of £9,000 were passed in Parliament in December. This new fee system comes into effect from 2012 and so universities are being rushed into planning new bursary and fee structures.

The rise in tuition fees comes alongside an 80% cut to the higher education budget moving the UK university system towards a more free-market based arrangement.

The academics say that this system whereby "the money follows the student" will end up "depriving some courses of income streams" such that some courses and institutions will fail.

Which courses and institutions fail will "be left to the market to decide."

They add, the current proposal "appears to rest on no more than an article of faith – a belief in the absolute wisdom of the market."

Their suggestion is for the government to halt its current plans "until such time as the possible outcomes and consequences of these proposed changes have been coherently and rigorously examined."

The further suggest that a "public commission of inquiry" be set up"with the responsibility of examining these issues."

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge had no comment to make regarding the open letter.

The letter came a day before Mr Willetts’ visit to the University of Cambridge to give a talk entitled ‘The Coalition’s Vision for Science and Technology’.

The talk itself was fraught with tension and the security presence surrounding Willets was notably high.

Attendees had their ID checked twice and bags were not permitted within the lecture theatre.

As Willetts’ talk continued, the shouts and drumming of protestors were audible within the theatre.

Four security guards remained present within the theatre for the duration of the address and there were security guards at all entrances of the building.

Despite reported attempts of break-ins, the talk finished undisrupted.