NUS president Mandy Telford

Debts will deter school students from going into higher education, a new report has concluded.

A National Union of Students (NUS) study found that 85 per cent of 14 and 15-year-old pupils who want to go to university are put off by the prospect of £20,000 worth debts on graduation.

In the latest move in their campaign against the government's proposed university top-up tuition fees of up to £3,000 per year, the NUS said the study proved the plans would have a detrimental effect on the take-up of degree courses.

The study, conducted by University of Brighton academics, also found that a third of those who said they wanted to go to university said they would change their mind if fees were raised to just £2,000 a year.

And 70 per cent of respondents said that cost was a factor in choosing a degree.

Ministers want to allow universities to vary the cost of a degree course from the present £1,100 per year to anything up to £3,000 per year.

They argue that the change is essential if colleges are to be able to compete internationally and provide high quality teaching.

However NUS president Mandy Telford said the proposals would hinder efforts to reach a 50 per cent participation level among young people in higher education.

"According to our research, fees and debt will deter the very people the government wants to attract to university," she said.

"Although 90 per cent of respondents believed in the power of higher education as the route to a better life, they also believed education is a public service and believed in the right to progress to higher education should they wish.

"It is extremely worrying that 85 per cent of pupils would change their mind about going to university if the government pushes ahead with its plans.

"Instead of basing choices on academic achievement and course suitability, participants said they would have to make compromises because of financial pressures."

Report co-author Judith Watson said ministers should be concerned at the findings.

"This is the first time independent research has been commissioned into the higher education attitudes and aspirations of school children who will be affected by the government's proposals," she said.

"It will be a great pity if young people with high aspirations are put off university by rising fees and debt. NUS is right to be concerned by government funding proposals."

The report was released to coincide with Sunday's national demonstration through London in protest against top-up fees.