Students appear to owe more and worry less

The level of debt owed by students has "stabilised" for the first time in six years, says this year's Unite survey of student life.

The number of students worried about debt has continued to decline.

The report also found many parents are paying �1,500 per term to cover their children's university costs.

And it showed how socialising has changed for many students, who visit the pub much less but take more exercise.

Fees hike

Each year the Unite survey tracks the attitudes and experiences of students - and this year's survey reports that the average student owes �5,267 - and expects this to rise to �9,692 by the time they graduate.

From this autumn, new students will face a substantial increase in tuition fees, up to �3,000 per year - and there have been concerns that debts will deter applications.

But the current survey suggests that students have become used to living in debt - and depend, along with student loans, on part-time jobs, parental support, overdrafts and credit cards.

Parents are most likely to support children with tuition fees (43%), rent (36%) and food (33%).

Students are increasingly likely to have jobs, with 41% reporting that they work, with an average of 13.9 hours, earning �94 per week. Students from poorer families are more likely to work - 51% - and the children from the wealthiest families are least likely - 35%.

More than half of students report some level of difficulty in keeping up with bills, but only about 9% strongly agree with the suggestion that they are "seriously worried" about debts.

There also appears to be a belief among those who have decided to go to university that it is a worthwhile expense, with 89% saying it was a good investment.

Among those students considering dropping out of university, financial problems was the third most common reason (18%), following "the course was not what I expected" (42%) and "course was too difficult" (22%).

In terms of socialising, going to the pub is becoming increasingly unpopular, with a 13 percentage point fall from last year as a leisure activity. It is only one percentage point more popular than exercising and playing sport - and five points more popular than reading.

Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said this year's Unite survey confirms that the "policy of asking students to make a contribution towards their university ... has not led to widespread concern about debt".

The National Union of Students warned about the negative impact of debt and borrowing.