Protests part of uni life: ANU chief

A university vice-chancellor has backed the right of students to protest against Abbott government plans to deregulate tuition.

But Ian Young, from the Australian National University, also wants students to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly way during Wednesday's day of action around the country.

In the past week, protesters at Sydney and Melbourne universities have confronted Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and former federal Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella.

Professor Young says he would be surprised if students didn't protest against the tertiary education shake-up outlined in the federal budget.

"It's part of a university experience, it's very common," he told AAP on Tuesday.

"I would encourage our students ... to use their intellectual capacity to actually hold a debate, not to bring this down to just chanting."

Prof Young was the target of several protests in 2012 after he proposed major changes to ANU's School of Music.

AAP klc/rl/sc/km