Student groups are threatening protest action after the Italian parliament last week backed a law giving universities the power to raise the fees of students who take too long to complete their studies. The income-tested fee increases will apply to nearly one in three Italian students .
The new fee structure is part of an austerity package designed by the current technocrat government to bring public debt under control. Outraged students have accused the government of using fee increases to cover public-funding shortfalls.