11 August 2005
Young people preparing for university this summer expect to accumulate debts in excess of £13,000, research has revealed.
NatWest’s latest survey on student finance revealed that as next autumn’s freshers await their A-level results, expectations about the cost of obtaining a degree have risen since last year.
In a worrying statistic for the government, 49 per cent said they would be put off going into higher education next year when the new charging structure is introduced.
Ministers have faced heavy criticism over their plans to introduce top up fees but maintain that they are essential for university funding.
The NatWest survey did however offer some good news for students, as it showed a rise in the average graduate starting salary from £13,600 last year to £14,090.