The West will be the most expensive region in the country to go to university once new tuition fees are charged, it has been revealed.

Nearly every single course at the region's universities will charge £9,000 per year, with the average fee only a mere £58 below the maximum.

Shadow Business Secretary John Denham yesterday accused the Government of creating chaos in the higher education system.

Bristol alone is home to more than 30,000 students and if increased fees deter students from the region, it could have a terrible effect on businesses depending on the millions they spend in the city each year.

Mr Denham said average fees for students studying in the South West will hit an average £8,942 from 2012 – with all the universities that have declared their fees charging the maximum £9,000 for the vast majority of their courses.

The national average is £8,546.

Mr Denham said ministers had promised £9,000 fees would be "exceptional", but as the figure was now the standard at South West universities, the region's students could not 'shop around' for a cheaper high quality degree.

Bristol, Bath, Bath Spa, the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, Exeter and Falmouth have all confirmed £9,000 fees, while some courses at Bournemouth will cost that, with the majority at £8,200.

Labour says Gloucestershire, the University of the West of England and Plymouth have not publicly declared yet.

He said: "The Government has lost control of fees, with £9,000 becoming the norm, not the exception.

"Ministers need to explain to young people in the West why they now face higher competition for university places and higher long-term debt when they start working."

Universities Minister David Willetts said the Government had faced a public finances crisis, and they wanted to provide institutions with another source of income as the teaching grant was reduced.

Bath Spa University vice-chancellor Professor Frank Morgan said the decision to charge £9,000 tuition fees was not taken lightly, but meant they could be sure of "maintaining the very high standards that our students will rightly demand."

Bristol pledged to increase its investment in recruiting students from a wider range of backgrounds.