This will see degrees in Scotland cost up to £36k for students from the rest of the UK compared to a degree costing up to £27k in England.
NUS Scotland also strongly criticised proposals for variable fees and a market in higher education for these students.
However, NUS Scotland welcomed proposals to legislate for improved student support and plans to legislate for targets on fair access to university.
These were key asks of NUS Scotland prior to the election and begin to meet the commitments made to students through NUS Scotland’s Reclaim Your Voice campaign to rule out tuition fees, to improve student support and to protect graduate numbers and college places.
Robin Parker, NUS Scotland President, said: "Ultimate responsibility for
this decision on fees lies with the Westminster Government and those MPs that so spectacularly turned their backs on the social value of education. However, in being forced to make a decision, we believe the Scottish Government has made entirely the wrong choice.
"These proposals could make Scottish degrees the most expensive in the whole of the UK for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, going further even than what we’ve seen in England.
“We’re very concerned that these proposals may prevent many of the poorest, most talented students from coming to Scotland to study and contribute to Scottish society. We’ll work very hard through the consultation period to oppose these proposed fee increases, to fight the introduction of a market for education in Scotland and ultimately to prevent the impact increased fees could have on the poorest students coming to Scotland to study."
On proposals for improved student support and widening access targets, Robin Parker added:
“The SNP deserve credit for proposals to improve student support for the poorest students. Many of our poorest students are struggling without enough money to get by, with levels of commercial debt and drop out rising to very worrying levels as a result.
"Proposals for targets to revolutionise widening access in Scotland would also be very welcome indeed. Movement on these two issues is testament to the hard work of students across Scotland prior to the election.
“By boosting funding for student support and increasing fair access to our universities we believe this parliament could make huge advances in opening up opportunities to talented people regardless of your background.
"We’ve rightly ruled out fees, and the Government has pledged to protect places. If we can improve student support and set fair access targets we really can go a long way to making Scotland’s universities fairer and making our economy stronger as a result."