Information on secret details of pay rises for vice-chancellors is not being shared by universities, according to a report into the "murky world" of senior academic wages.
According to the University and College union (UCU), just 27 out of 139 institutions responded to a request to see minutes of meetings of the remuneration committee, which set pay rates, while half of those that did reply edited some information.
The UCU campaigning at Bristol University
Two thirds of universities "snubbed" the request for minutes, often citing confidentiality, while a further 15% did not respond at all.
The union, which has staged a series of strikes since last October after claiming that university staff had suffered a 13% cut in real-terms pay since 2009, said it was time to "lift the lid" on pay rises for senior staff.
UCU members protesting in Bristol
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "Millions of pounds of public money are spent on vice-chancellors' salaries, yet their pay rise is decided behind closed doors with no accountability.
"The time has come for the lid to be lifted on the hitherto murky world of remuneration committees and senior pay in our universities. Students are paying £9,000 a year and they, and the taxpayer, have a right to know why so much of their money is going on paying the vice-chancellor.
"All but five university vice-chancellors earned more than the Prime Minister last year, while staff have been on strike six times this year in protest at a measly 1% pay offer. We believe there is a strong and legitimate public interest to justify these growing six-figure salaries."
While unions representing university staff are in dispute over pay, the UCU is planning a marking boycott of exams and student course work from April 28 if talks next week do not break the deadlock.