Student debt has risen by a quarter over the past year, according to a new report.

The Student Living Report 2002, published by student services group Unite, also found that 40 per cent of students work part time job to increase their income.

Forum Response: Universities UK

Diana Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK, told ePolitix.com: "Universities UK welcomes the Unite Student Living Report as further evidence that the HE sector continues to serve its students effectively, meeting and in some cases exceeding their expectations. It is testament to the continuing achievements of UK universities that the vast majority of students feel that their university course stretches them intellectually, believe the money they are spending on their education is a good investment and that going to university is a worthwhile experience.

"However vice-chancellors are not complacent and we continually strive to improve both the learning environment and experience for students. But additional funding is required to do this, as outlined in Universities UK's submission to the government's 2002 Spending Review. This highlights the need for further investment in order to safeguard standards and maintain the quality of students' learning experience, particularly in the context of widening participation."

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Jean Gemmell, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, told ePolitix.com: "We are very concerned about student debt. However, it is not surprising that many students, in this age of advanced communications, own a mobile phone or a laptop.

"As a teachers' union, we have long been concerned about the ability of young teachers to pay off student debts and are worried that this is acting as a deterrent to teacher recruitment. When tuition fees were introduced, we warned that they would deter students by burdening them with debt and making the start of their professional life very difficult. We hear of newly qualified teachers leaving teaching because they could not repay their loans and pay for accommodation on a teacher's salary - at a time when the government admits there is a recruitment crisis in the classroom.

"Once again, the government could learn from Scotland, where tuition fees have been scrapped. However, the recent changes to the teachers' salary scale mean that the starting salary now approaches our call for £18,000 for new teachers, which is welcome. The shortening of the scale will also be welcomed by many younger or newer teachers and may help the recruitment of recent graduates to some extent."

Forum Response: Association of University Teachers

Sally Hunt, assistant general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, told ePolitix.com: "It is little wonder that many students are working full-time hours in part-time jobs when you look at the financial support available to them. While we wholeheartedly support the re-introduction of a targeted maintenance grant the government has also got to increase teaching resources.

"Lecturers find it increasingly difficult to offer quality time and individual support to students. The increase in student numbers means larger class sizes and fewer opportunities for small-scale tutorials and academic support. Over-crowding and under-funding have a direct impact on the potential of students to succeed in their studies."

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Peter Smith, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, told ePolitix.com: "The report is deeply worrying. Students are the country's future. They shouldn't have to mortgage their future to access Higher Education."

Forum Response: Natfhe

Paul Mackney, general secretary of Natfhe, told ePolitix.com: "The government's aim of attracting poorer students into university will hit a brick wall unless it gets to grip with eliminating student poverty and massive debt. The prospect of huge debts, and the combined burden of work and study will put off exactly the type of students the government wants to attract into higher education.

"Students should be concentrating on their studies not working during term-time to help pay their rent. Scrapping up-front tuition fees and reintroducing maintenance grants is essential if the government really wants to 'aim higher' and successfully widen university access to 50 per cent of all 18 to 30 year olds by 2010."