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Posted on Fri, 13 April 2007 11:00:17

The soaring cost of university education has forced nearly a quarter of students to live at home with their parents, a study revealed yesterday (Thurs).

More than one in five (22 per cent) undergraduates will live at home this year - a jump from 16 per cent in 2005.

The sudden rise comes as tuition fees of up to #3,000 per student are introduced across the UK and living costs continue to rise.

Figures from the 2006 NatWest Student Money Matters survey reveal that 19 per cent of students actually picked their course because it was close to home, compared to 15 per cent the year before.

The trend means a growing number of young adults are missing out on the 'student' experience of living away from home for the first time.

The survey of 3,133 sixth formers, current students and graduates, also reveals that most are increasingly focusing on their career after graduation rather than their student experience.

Mark Worthington, Head of NatWest student and graduate banking, said: ''Concern over the cost of going to university could be one of the reasons prompting more young people to study and stay at home with parents rather than move away.

''This, coupled with a greater focus on careers after graduation, is a significant and growing influence on both the location of the university chosen and the course selected.

''It could mean a very different student experience for this generation compared to their parents, for whom student life was, perhaps, about exploring new things and freedom from parental influence.''

The study revealed that financial matters were the biggest worry for students starting university courses, with 71 per cent concerned about making ends meet.

Researchers also found that an increasing number of students are choosing university to boost their job prospects, rather than to simply enjoy student life.

For the new university students this autumn, the vast majority (79 per cent) are going in order to improve their job prospects rather than 71 per cent the previous year.

And a university education is the quickest way to ensure financial independence from parents, according to the study.

Forty one per cent of graduates from 2005 are now independent from their parents compared with only 33 per cent in 2004.

On the other hand, time away at university has for many people had a real impact on their future, with 44 per cent of graduates saying that studying for a degree had given them much more confidence in their abilities and 56 per cent had gained transferable skills for the future.

Case studies:

* Liz Robins, aged 20, is starting a an NCTJ Newspaper Journalism Post-Grad Diploma at City College Brighton and Hove.

Despite taking a year out travelling and working to save money, she cannot afford to live away from home and will remain living with her parents in Croydon.

She said: ''I chose Brighton because it was close to my home in Croydon and, as I can't afford to live at college, I needed somewhere easy to commute to.

''It's expensive to commute but only a fraction of the cost of living near college.

''Renting isn't really an option for me as I can't afford it - properties are expensive then you have to factor in bills, utilities, shopping and so on. The costs just spiral.

''Although I would like not to work part-time to be able to concentrate on my studies more, I need the extra cash to see me through my living expenses.''

* Simone Handy, 20, has moved back in with her parents after living away from home for the first two years of her four-year course.

She is studying Psychology at Brunel University in Uxbridge and is now living with her mum and dad in Beddington near Sutton, south London.

Simone said: ''Having rented out last year with friends I can't afford it this year. I was paying about #300 per month on rent, plus car insurance, car tax and bills.

''Food shopping was hard. You either bought too much and it went off or, to save money, didn't buy enough but then ended up spending money on expensive take-outs.

''When you have to pay about #100 a year on textbooks too you can't afford all the other things. If you live at home you miss the student nightlife but missing it saves you money.

''Living at home I have to pay my mum rent and petrol for driving to uni but it's still a lot cheaper than living nearby.''

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