London students pay the most rent

Some students are expected to live on �20 a week, the union says.

Not surprisingly the highest prices are paid by students in London.

They pay an average of �79 a week in rent, for university of private housing, compared to a national average of about �66.

The lowest rents are paid in Northern Ireland - where students pay about �54 a week.

Students who live in accommodation provided by the university or college are paying 20% more in rent in London than in other regions.

The National Union of Students (NUS) says rents have increased disproportionately to the rate of the official student loan since 2001-02.

They say student support through the loan has gone up 4.8% since then, while the average national rent (private and university) has risen by 10.6%.

Verity Coyle of the NUS said: "The new figures show that students continue to be hit the hardest when it comes to funding their way through university.

"The continuing rise in rents, coupled with the lack of equivalent support, means students' budgets are being stretched year on year.

"The potential onset of top-up fees spells even worse news for our impoverished students."