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Thousands of job losses could push higher education into crisis, the university lecturers' union has warned.

Last week the government announced it wanted to cut higher education funding in England by £449m.

Universities UK, which represents university leaders, wants assurances there will not be more cuts next year.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he could not give specific undertakings but said the government would not risk Labor's record on higher education.

'Crisis situation'

The University and College Union (UCU) said 6,000 university jobs were already at risk across the UK and 9,000 more could go in England alone.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "People who are paying for their education are finding now that there are less tutors available to make sure that they get the education they need and deserve.

"More pressure on the system, larger class sizes, less choice available for students now and in the future - we're in a real crisis situation.

"It's not something that's happening in the future, it's now and it will get worse."

'Colossal investment'

Lord Mandelson said the universities were exaggerating the problem and they had nothing to fear from Labor.

He said: "Never have you seen a decade in which more has been spent, more has been invested, there are more student places offered, there are more teachers and lecturers recruited than in the last 10 years in this country.

"We are not prepared now to reverse that record and undo the colossal investment that we have made and the excellence in our universities that we have built up."

The Conservatives want to increase student numbers but agree higher education is not immune to cuts.

Universities fear there could be more cuts to come whoever is in power after the general election.