Studying in the new academic year will be more expensive than ever, it has been claimed.

The National Union of Students says higher education costs in 2002/03 - including tuition fees - will be more than �1,500 a year and that many students will leave with a debt of up to �15,000.

The union estimates the cost of living, outside London, has spiralled to �5,800.

The NUS is also concerned at the added temptation for students from banks, offering freshers substantial overdrafts.

Theo - 'I didn't fully understand'

Theo Berry is about to leave Bristol University after three years with �10,000 debt.

He works part time in a bar, but said both the cost of living and confusion over finances meant he would be starting working life with money problems.

He said: "I did not fully understand what an overdraft meant.

"I thought 'great, I have got �750 to spend' when I actually had �750 to borrow.

'Disadvantaged'

"I thought as long as I didn't go over that limit I would be fine when of course I was not, I actually owed that money."

NUS president, Mandy Telford, said many students were working up to 35 hours a week, so were not getting sufficient time to study.

She added: "Grown ups are entitled to some leisure time but the fact is, they are being forced into low paid, part time jobs to do it."

Critics say overdrafts are too easily available

The British Bankers' Association defended its targeting of new students.

A spokesman told the BBC's Hywel Jones that managing money was all part of student life and that the association also offer a lot of financial advice.

The government has promised to help students from "disadvantaged" backgrounds and has put an extra �131m into education funding in order to encourage them to apply for university places.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said he recognised student finance needed a "radical appraisal".

"Graduates earn 64% more than non-graduates over their lifetime. By the time they are in their forties they earn �14,500 more than non-graduates each year, " he said.

"We recognise that student finance needs radical appraisal - that's why we're conducting a fundamental strategic review of higher education which we expect to publish for consultation later this year."