THE HAGUE, Thursday - Universities are allowed to charge students aged over 30 higher tuition fees than younger students, the Appeal Council for Higher Education has ruled.

Students aged below 30 must pay the statutory tuition fees of 1,519 euros for a full-time course. Colleges and universities can decide for themselves how much to charge part-time and older students. The University of Leiden charges this group 2,035 euros.

A Leiden student brought the case against the higher tuition fees to the judge. The Council however found against the universities thereby being guilty of age discrimination.

In summer 2005, the Equal Treatment Commission (CGB) did find in three cases that universities were guilty of banned discrimination on grounds of age. The CGB's verdicts are non-binding, but the Council's verdict is.