Imperial College has joined Cambridge in announcing it will charge the maximum £9,000 in annual tuition fees from next year.

In order to do so, the university must still convince the government that it will provide adequate financial assistance for students from poorer financial backgrounds. A campaign to attract philanthropic aid is one possibility.

Imperial’s Rector, Sir Keith O’Nions, says: “We still have a way to go in our considerations about what forms of financial aid would attract and support the most able, but needy, students. Our message to the outside world though must be that for those who can manage Imperial’s courses, the college will work to ensure they can manage its costs.”

It’s no surprise that Imperial has set the payment bar to the highest level. As well as being one of the world’s most prestigious universities, is also specialises in science, technology and engineering — courses with higher financial burdens than, say, the humanities.

But will Imperial’s decision start a me-too wave of high-cost courses around the capital? London remains a popular destination for students from all over the world, and lesser institutions may be able to charge more simply because they’re based in London. And then, no one wants to look ‘second class’ by charging less than the neighbouring university.