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Some 20 per cent of students on full-time university courses in England are likely to drop out, new figures indicate.

Statistics in a report from the National Audit Office have shown that 28,000 full-time students who started courses in 2004-05 did not make it into their second year.

Financial difficulties and the struggle to combine part-time employment with studying have both been cited as significant factors in forcing students out of university before they graduate.

Other reasons cited in the report included homesickness, boredom, cultural isolation and academic difficulties.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union said: "We have to understand that just getting students through the door of a university is not enough.

"All students need to be able to realise their full potential at university and we must recognise that different students from different backgrounds have different needs at university."

School-leavers face something of a dilemma when deciding whether university will benefit them financially.

There's plenty of evidence to suggest that graduates typically earn far more than those without degrees.

However, the National Union of Students recently indicated that those at university at the moment could each be leaving with around £30,000 of debt in 2009.