STUDENTS HAVE protested at planned increases in university fees at the campuses of Queen's and the University of Ulster.
They are calling for the rise in charges for undergraduate courses, due for implementation in the next college year, to be cancelled.
Rallies were held at the main campus of Queen's University, Belfast and at the Coleraine, Jordanstown and Derry's Magee campuses of the University of Ulster.
Students want the abolition of student fees and are pressing in the first instance for a planned rise in fees to be called off.
Northern Ireland students already rely on student loans which can take many years to repay, long after graduation.
The National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland (NUS-USI) said it was happy with the turnout and pledged to step up its lobbying of Assembly members at Stormont who gather to discuss the issue in committee today.
According to NUS-USI president Katie Morgan Coleraine saw the biggest protest against the planned increases.
Students pay £3,145 per annum for undergraduate courses and this is planned to rise to £3,225.
Earlier this month, higher education Minister Sir Reg Empey announced a review of fees and student support will commence in the new year. His department has also put forward proposals for an increase in student fees in line with inflation.
Ms Morgan, said: "With proposals for an inflationary rise in fees before the [Stormont] committee for employment and learning, and a review into fees set for this academic year, now is the time to engage the student body and seek their views in the higher education process."