New research shows teachers, nurses and social workers would be charged considerably more for their degrees under a graduate tax system, a union has said.
Business Secretary Vince Cable set out proposals last month for student tuition fees to be replaced with a levy based on earnings once graduates start working.
He said this would end the current situation where teachers, care workers and research scientists are expected to pay the same for their studies as top lawyers, surgeons and City analysts.
But the University and College Union (UCU) calculated a university-educated nurse on average wages would pay a total of £36,871 if the Government introduced a 5% tax on graduates' total earnings over 25 years.
By contrast, under the current system, the same nurse graduating from an English university this year would be charged £10,300 to pay off the £9,440 tuition fee loan for their three-year degree.
Even a 3% rate of graduate tax over 25 years would work out significantly more expensive, at £22,123 for a nurse earning the average full-time salary of £29,497.
Under a 5% graduate tax on all earnings over 25 years, a secondary school teacher on average wages would pay £46,046, a social worker £37,550, a research scientist £46,418 and a doctor £70,526.
If the rate was set at 3% over 25 years, the same teacher would be charged £27,628, the social worker £22,530, the scientist £27,851 and the doctor £63,338.
Paying off a £9,440 tuition fee loan under the present system of funding for higher education costs the teacher £10,025, the social worker £10,272, the scientist £10,017 and the doctor £9,696.
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The UCU said its research prompted fears that introducing a graduate tax could lead to shortages in teaching and social work, and would make "embarrassing reading" for Mr Cable.
