A gap approaching £500 per year between expectation and reality has opened up for undergraduates - which could lead some into debt.
Britain's students consistently underestimate the cost of living when they move to university - and are building up debt as a result.
This is the main finding of new research from the National Union of Students (NUS). Undergraduates told pollsters that they expect to pay just over £500 per year on groceries, £285 on travel and £580 on household bills.
In reality, at current prices these totals would come to £710, £385 and £740. This means that overall annual costs are underestimated by an average of £450 - a figure which could be translated into an added personal debt burden for many undergraduates.
Additionally, the poll found that 42 percent of prospective students believe that they will be entitled to some form of financial assistance from authorities. The actual figure stands at 28 percent.
"Our research shows that prospective students need far more information, advice and guidance about how to manage their own finances," NUS president Wes Streeting said. "When they leave home for the first time, many students are unaware of the costs of everyday life, and how debt can mount up."
Around 3,000 current undergraduates and 200 future students were polled by the NUS for its research. The study was funded by HSBC.
