Thousands of students will walk out across Britain today in protest against growing university costs and demanding the return of free education for all.

Activists have been gearing up for action at more than 20 campuses, with occupations set to take place at Manchester, Sussex and Soas in London.

National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts speaker Hannah Sketchley told the Star: “Localised days of action are incredibly important because we need to take the fight for free education onto our local campuses and organise in our local communities if we want to win.”

The University College London student confirmed that university management can expect plenty of noise around campus from early in the morning.

King’s College London (KCL) activists will be performing a flash occupation, holding an open mic event and sharing their experiences as deeply indebted, cash-strapped students.

KCL history student Cat Denby echoed Ms Sketchley, saying: “Education is a human right — it’s something that should not be quantified by paying £9,000 fees.”

Ms Denby believed it was all the more important to take action today as KCL has recently appointed Tory former universities minister David Willetts as a guest lecturer.

Not content with overseeing the trebling of fees back in 2010, Mr Willetts has recently announced that his party could not rule out pushing them even higher.

According to free-education activists, today’s protests are aimed at heading off the threat of these further fees increases too.

But campaigning for free education can be an uphill struggle.

Activists at Brighton University will spend the day leafleting and raising awareness of student debt rather than pulling a larger stunt.

“A lot of students have internalised the idea that education should be paid for,” said Free Education Brighton spokesman Dave Brand.

NUS leadership faces grassroots pressure

After refusing to support a national demonstration for free education, the National Union of Students leadership is once again faced with pressure from the grassroots as it debates police violence today.

Members of the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) submitted an emergency motion to the NUS executive council demanding a response to the November 19 demonstration.

Alongside its call to reaffirm the union’s support for free education, the motion includes a call for an official condemnation of the “violence and repression police once again handed out to student protesters.”

The motion also proposes the union insist the Labour party includes policy on free education in its manifesto.

According to NCAFC campaigners “a meaningful campaign — a campaign that can win — must embrace protest and direct action,” a criticism directly aimed at the NUS executive’s recent actions.

A spokeswoman for the NUS declined to comment until the council had met.