Professor Hamilton, who began his new job on Thursday, said that elite universities should offer bigger bursaries to poorer students if tuition fees rise.
NUS President Wes Streeting said:
“When universities were told that they could charge top up fees, they were also told that in return they would have to significantly improve their bursaries for poorer students. This didn’t happen. Last year, universities spent £19 million less than they had promised. They clearly cannot be relied upon to provide for poorer students.
“Higher fees would lead to a disastrous market in higher education, which would inevitably price poorer students out of our most prestigious institutions. We cannot fall for vice chancellors' promises that poorer students would be provided for.”
Professor Hamilton’s comments will fuel speculation that top universities are looking to charge American rates for degrees. Hamilton was recruited from Yale University where Ivy League institutions can demand up to $50,000 (£31,000) a year.