THE heads of Nottingham's two universities are among the highest-paid vice-chancellors in the UK, new figures reveal.
Professor Neil Gorman, of Nottingham Trent University, was paid £343,000 in the 2011-12 academic year, including pension contributions.
Meanwhile, his University of Nottingham counterpart Professor David Greenaway picked up £316,000.
It meant they were the ninth and 11th highest-earning in their positions respectively – both earning more than the University of Cambridge's Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.
Mr Gorman's salary and pension contribution marked a two per cent rise from 2010-2011.
His salary without pension of £300,000 was 72 per cent up from the £174,000 he received eight years previously, while tuition fees charged to students have risen sharply.
No one from Nottingham Trent was available for comment. However, the university has previously defended the amount he is paid, describing it as "appropriate" for his position.
In comparison, Mr Greenaway's earnings have gone up very little, by 0.04 per cent from 2010-2011 and by £5,000 since his first year in the role in 2008-2009.
A University of Nottingham spokesman said: "The vice-chancellor leads and manages an international research-led institution which employs 7,900 staff and has more than 42,000 students at its award-winning campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia.
"The job of running an organisation of this size and scope, with a turnover of £530 million per year, is complex and demanding.
"It requires leadership of the highest calibre. The vice-chancellor's salary and benefits reflect this, and reflects the key role he plays in the operation and development of one of the UK's top universities."
Nationally, the highest-earning vice-chancellor was Professor Andrew Hamilton, of the University of Oxford, who earned £424,000 in 2011-2012. Several other vice-chancellors were paid more than £300,000.
Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, which represents staff, was critical of pay rates.
She said: "It looks very much like one rule for those at the top and one for everyone else.
"The lack of self-awareness from university leaders when it comes to their own pay and perks continues to be an embarrassment for the sector."
