The disclosure comes as a poll showed half of students in England are already choosing the cheaper option when applying to university, rather than the course or institution that best suits their interests and abilities.
According to a survey of 1,026 students, published by the National Union of Students today, half of all applicants say the recession has affected their choice of university, compared with 60% of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Students are choosing universities where they can live at home (15%), reduce travel costs (17%), or where they can get the most bursary or scholarship money (28%), but these factors affect poorer students more deeply.
Close to a third (27%) of poorer students choose universities where they can live at home, 24% where they can reduce travel costs and 41% because they offer the most bursary or scholarship money.
The survey found that many students will get part-time jobs to fund their studies (74%), and over a third expect the recession to affect the amount of money they will receive from their parents.
