What help is available from the state?

Some help is available to pay for the costs of accommodation, living expenses, childcare and even free NHS prescriptions.

However, most of these benefits are only available to groups such as lone parents, the disabled and pensioners.

Most other students will have to rely on student loans, contributions from parents and money earned from work to help them through their course.

As for tuition fees, approximately 50% of students in England and Wales come from households with a low enough income to be exempt from having to pay.

Who is eligible for help with the cost of accommodation?

As the name suggests Housing Benefit pays all or part of the rent on the main residence of an eligible claimant.

Housing Benefit isn't available to all students. Instead, it's meant to help those that are responsible for a child - including foster parents - the disabled, and pensioners.

Housing Benefit is also open to the partners of students that are responsible for a child.

However, those eligible who are under the age of 25 and living on their own may not have the full cost of their accommodation covered - particularly in areas where rents are high.

What about help with living expenses?

Many students that are eligible to claim Housing Benefit are also entitled to Income Support - this pays a basic �42.70 a week to single claimants and �84.65 to couples over the age of 18.

In addition, extra money is available to students aged over 25, as well as for those with children.

Income Support is means tested, with student loans and special access grants treated as income for the purpose of assessing eligibility.

And those that aren't eligible for Income Support?

Since the student maintenance grant was replaced by a system of loans most students have had to do without direct handouts from Local Authorities to cover living expenses.

However, a review of student funding currently underway is expected to recommend a partial reintroduction of the maintenance grant for students from low income families.

At present these students are exempt from paying tuition fees but under draft proposals they will be able to claim a grant in the region of �30 a week.

Yet this is unlikely to benefit those in further education until 2004 at the earliest - so best not spend the money yet.

Is there any help with childcare?

The Childcare Grant is available to full time higher education students.

Again it's means-tested and is only paid to students using registered or approved childcare.

The grant can cover up to 85% of child care costs during term time and 70% during the summer semester.

The maximum available with the grant is �5,724 for one child or �8,840 for two or more.

Importantly, the Childcare Grant is not included when assessing eligibility for other benefits.

In addition, students with children can sometimes claim access bursuries to help with the costs of going to college.

What about mature students?

Mature students returning to education can sometimes obtain an access grant from their chosen university or college. This is often in the form of a non-refundable bursary of up to �1,000.

As for those over 60, if they are on a low income they can apply for the pension credit which should top-up their income up to a maximum of �98.15 for single people and �149.80 for couples.

Pension credit, though, is means-tested and having substantial savings will bar a claim.

Is there any special extra help for disabled students?

The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) can help pay for specialist equipment, a non-medical carer and travel costs.

In addition to the DSA, it is possible to obtain a "two homes" allowance of up to �760 a year if undertaking a course entails the student living somewhere else other than their usual home.