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Credit crunch to hit degree scores

21/10/2008

Students' studies are suffering as more of those at university are forced to work.

A poll by the National Union of Students (NUS) reveals 46 per cent of students who work during term time are forced to do so because their basic living costs exceed their loans.

The survey also showed 45 per cent of working students admit that this work is having a negative impact on their studies. A third of them are working more than 17 hours a week during term time, and three per cent work more than 33 hours.

A total of 78 per cent of students undertake some form of paid work while at university – although most of these are during holidays.

On average students earn £6.45 per hour – with 70 per cent taking on unskilled or hourly paid work.

NUS vice president for higher education, Aaron Porter, said: "It is clear from this report that financial support is inadequate for many students. With a recession looming and basic living costs set to rise, this situation is going to get even worse.

"It is particularly worrying that nearly half of those students who work during term time admit that their studies are being adversely affected.

"NUS would like universities to recognise that many of their students have to work to top up their income, and to make suitable allowances in order to enable them to manage their workload more effectively."