Students are living in the red. The average student in the UK will graduate with £23,000 debt. Students have access to loans that are so low that they have to take on paid work in order to survive. Without doing this work students are expected to live below the national poverty line. Not only does this affect their studies, but it also discourages potential students from low income families. The recession has made the situation much worse- hardship funds are becoming scarce and there are less employment opportunities. Action is needed from government to ensure that students no longer have to face hardship during their studies and the burden of financial debt once they have graduated.