Protest parties for birthday boy Pyne

University students around the country are bringing out Pyne-shaped pinatas and protests for Education Minister Christopher Pyne's birthday.

The "unbirthday" parties around the country on Wednesday are part of a National Union of Students campaign against the government's planned higher education changes.

"On Minister Pyne's 47th birthday, we'll be showing him the same kindness he has extended to students - that is, none at all," NUS national president Deanna Taylor said.

University of Melbourne students will be bashing a pinata shaped like the minister while in Perth they'll decorate a giant birthday card to let Mr Pyne know what they think of "his gifts to students in the federal budget".

Australian National University students took a birthday cake into Parliament House to host a surprise party for Mr Pyne - only to find he's interstate as part of his continuing negotiations with crossbenchers.

The government wants to deregulate university fees and extend commonwealth funding to private higher education providers and sub-bachelor degree places.

It will also cut its per-student funding, increase the interest rate on HELP debts and let universities charge post-graduate students up to $3900.