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Students planning to matriculate in September expect their degree to cost £35,000, a new survey has revealed.

Natwest, which questioned 1,020 17 and 18-year-olds, found that potential students believe a three year degree will set them back £34,740.

They said that £84.08 would be spent each week on rent, £17.31 on alcohol, £12.57 on books and £20.08 on shopping.

Further costs to be incorporated in the estimate included socialising, clothes, transport, utility bills, cigarettes and eating out.

The news comes as a separate survey was carried out by the online university guide, Push, which found that debts for students in England have risen by a quarter over the last year.

NUS president Gemma Tumelty said: "The Push survey is extremely worrying. It shows unequivocally that graduate debt is increasing because of top-up fees.

"Creating a student funding package that doesn't cripple students once they graduate isn't rocket science."

But the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills argues that record university application numbers indicate that tuition fees are not deterring potential students.

A spokesman said: "A generous package of support is available to students, particularly those from low income families, who can receive maintenance grants of up to £2,700 per annum."

From 2008-09, two-thirds of full-time students will be eligible for a full or partial grant, compared with half of undergraduates now.

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