THE vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford was the best paid university vice-chancellor in the UK last year, it has been revealed.

Professor Andrew Hamilton also spent £34,304 on flights last year, more than the average amount spent, according to a new report looking at senior pay and perks in UK universities released today by the University and College Union (UCU).

Professor Hamilton was the fifth highest spending UK university vice-chancellor on flights, spending four times the average spend of £8,560. However, the university refused to reveal information on the class of flights he took.

He also spent £7,562 on hotels which was the seventh highest bill in the UK. The average UK vice-chancellors’ spend on hotels was £2,990.

He earned £462,000 in 2014/15 which was an increase of 2 per cent from the previous year.

He was the best paid vice-chancellor in the UK although ranked at number two in the table because the first two slots were taken by institutions that had employed two vice-chancellors during that year.

At Oxford Brookes University, Professor Janet Beer and Professor Alistair Flitt, shared a pay packet of £248,000, down 2 per cent from the previous year.

The average vice-chancellor’s pay in 2014/15 was £272,432.

UCU regional official Moray McAulay said: "The time has finally come for a frank and open discussion about pay and transparency in higher education.

"The huge disparities in the levels of pay and pay rises at the top expose the arbitrary nature of senior pay in our universities.

"While some continue to enjoy inflation-busting pay hikes and all the trimmings of first class flights, staff pay continues to be held down.

"It is deeply worrying that ministers are considering relaxing the one measure we have to hold universities to account when they should be forcing far greater scrutiny of how public money and student fees are spent."