THE vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England (UWE) claimed £18,000 in general expenses last year, while the University of Bristol head spent over £10,000 on hotel stays, according to a new report released today, Wednesday by the University and College Union (UCU).

Professor Steve West, the UWE vice-chancellor claimed £18,049 for flights in the 14 months between June 1 2013 and July 31 2014, compared to the annual UK average vice-chancellor expenses claim of £3,112. Professor Eric Thomas at the University of Bristol claimed £8,840.

Professor Eric Thomas spent £10,307 on overnight stays over a 12-month period during the academic year of 2013/14, compared to the UK average of £3,202. He was the third highest spender on hotel bills in the UK.

The report also shows that Professor Thomas received £321,000 salary in 2013/14 and was the 26th highest paid UK university vice-chancellor.

Professor West received a 6.1 per cent decrease taking his salary down to £296,550 in 2013/14. He was ranked 40th in the league table, but both enjoyed salaries well in excess of the national average of £260,290.

UCU says its report exposes how UK universities adopt hugely varying levels of transparency around vice-chancellors’ pay and perks.

In an attempt to obtain more details of the rationale for setting senior salaries, UCU also requested a copy of the most recently ratified minutes of the remuneration committee – the committee tasked with determining pay of vice-chancellor and senior post-holders.

Both UWE and the University of Bristol were among the half of universities that provided a copy of its remuneration committee’s minutes.

However, the University of Bristol’s minutes stated that the vice-chancellor had been a voice in the decision on his own salary review.

UCU regional official, Nick Varney, said: "This report lifts the lid on the inconsistent and arbitrary nature of senior pay and perks in our universities and shines a light on the murky world of the shadowy remuneration committees who sign off these deals.

"We need a far more transparent system that allows for proper scrutiny of spending at the top and the rationale behind pay rises.

"We also do not think it’s appropriate that vice-chancellors are on the committee that sets their pay, or that they are involved in the discussion about their pay."