Tuition fee plans have proved unpopular among students

The average debt increased by two and a half times to �8,666 between 1998-99 and 2002-3, according to the Department for Education and Skills.

The poorest students were found to be 44% more in debt than the richest.

The research comes as ministers are attempting to treble maximum annual course fees to �3,000 from 2006.

Entertainment

Outgoings have gone up twice as much as students' income since 1998, even though nearly six out of 10 now have part time jobs, up from 47% five years ago, the DfES found.

More than half of undergraduates in 2003 expected to leave with debts of �9,673 or more.

The report said: "Students from lower income backgrounds were more likely to be in debt, and anticipated leaving university with the largest debts.

"Those students from the wealthiest backgrounds were less likely to have debts and anticipated leaving with the lowest debts."

Students whose parents had incomes of less than �20,480 a year had average debts of �9,708 and a half owed �10,392 on average.

By contrast, students whose parents earned more than �30,502 and so paid tuition fees in full, had debts averaging �6,806.

Entertainment was undergraduates' biggest expense but the amount of money spent on alcohol has fallen 10% since 1998, according to the study by academics at London South Bank University and the Policy Studies Institute.

'Only �5.20 a week'

The DfES conceded that, because student loans were means-tested, poor undergraduates would have higher borrowings and said that was why grants worth up to �1,000 were being re-introduced next year.

A spokesman said: "Wealthier students do not get access to the maximum student loan, as it is means-tested, whereas low income students do.

"That is why debt is likely to be higher for low income students."

He added that the debts had to be repaid only when the graduate earned above �15,000, adding: "Someone earning the average graduate starting salary of �18,000 will only repay �5.20 a week, no matter what they owe."

The study found that, in 2002-3, a student's average income was �5,513, an increase of 7% since 1998-99.

But total average expenditure had increased 15% from �5,984 to �6,897, leaving a shortfall of �1,384.

Student loans accounted for much of anticipated debts.

'Absolute nonsense'

Their value rose 70% during the period to �4,815 for those living in London and �3,905 for those outside.

Higher education minister Alan Johnson said: "This is the most comprehensive survey of students' income and expenditure patterns.

"It finds that the average anticipated debt is currently around �8,666.

"This suggests that talk of average student debt currently being over �10,000 is excessive and talk of �33,000 debt by 2010 is absolute nonsense."

But Education Secretary Charles Clarke has acknowledged that some students could end up owing �26,000 if his plan to allow universities to treble their fees from 2006 gets through Parliament.

The survey also suggests universities are charging as much as they can for halls of residence and other student accommodation.

While the cost of renting rooms from private landlords fell 5% from 1998 to 2003, universities raised their charges by 12%.

National Union of Students president Mandy Telford said ministers had been "misguided".

She added: "We are disgusted the government has chosen to use this survey to try and spin support for top-up fees rather than address the levels of hardship students suffer."

Shadow health and education secretary Tim Yeo said: "What Alan Johnson fails to draw attention to is the 150% increase in anticipated student debt since 1998-99.

"The government's plans have serious implications for students, with Barclays expecting student debt to top �30,000 by 2010.

"It beggars belief that the government thinks that its promise of a high debt, high tax for students is a fair one.