WORKING-CLASS students are being denied the full university experience, a lecturers’ union warned today, after a poll revealed record numbers are working long hours just to survive.

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Dr Jo Grady issued the warning after the survey found 56 per cent of full-time undergraduates had paid employment while studying, working an average of 14.5 hours a week.

Dr Grady said: “UK higher education is rapidly slamming the door shut on the working class.

“The cost-of-living crisis is not hitting students from wealthy backgrounds.

“They can afford to attend university full-time, socialise and engage fully in student societies outside of study hours.

“But for those who cannot fall back on the bank of mum and dad, higher education is a precarious existence. When more than half of students are working long hours to stay in education it’s clear the university funding model is broken and needs radical reform."

The Higher Education Policy Institute said its survey showed that the lack of maintenance support was creating a two-tier higher education system amid the cost-of-living crisis.

It said: “Most students now work – and the average number of hours worked by those students is teetering on levels that may impact their studies.

“Should this trend continue, there is a risk that ‘full-time study’ becomes unsustainable for an increasing number of students.

“The cost-of-living pressures may also force a further move to commuting, rather than residential living.”

Three in four felt that the cost-of-living crisis has negatively affected their studies, according to the survey of more than 10,000 full-time students living in Britain.