Students starting university courses this autumn can expect to graduate owing £23,000, a survey suggests.

The Push Student Debt Survey of 2,024 students at varying stages of degree courses found debts averaged more than £5,000 a year and that this was rising.

Separate research by the National Union of Students suggests some degrees have higher "hidden costs" than others, such as for equipment or books.

The government said it was spending £5bn this year on student support.

The survey suggests the amount of debt students incur varies widely between regions and institutions.

Students in England have the highest levels of debt - an average of £5,271 for each year of study. In London some students say they will have over £30,000 of debt by the time they finish their course.

Debt levels in England have risen by 10% in the last year. They have also risen by 30% in a year in Northern Ireland, from very low levels five years ago, to an average of £4,324 a year now.

They are also rising sharply in Wales where annual student debts are an average £4,021.

But in Scotland, debt levels have fallen, with students owing £2,194 for each year of study.

Students in Scotland who are Scottish or from another EU country outside the UK have their tuition fees paid by the government, and students no longer have to pay back a graduate endowment after finishing their course.

Tuition fees in the rest of the UK are to be reviewed.

'Real headache'

Push interviewed 2,024 students in years one to four of their degree course, in person.

Johnny Rich, editor of Push.co.uk, said he thought the recession was partly fuelling rising student debt.

"Finding part-time work has got harder and many students are facing real financial hardship and are worrying about what lies ahead.

"Even so, the advantages of having a degree still vastly outweigh the costs.

"These figures will give next year's review of student funding a real headache.

"They beg the question of whether we've now passed the point where students can be expected to stump up any more towards their education."

'Hidden costs'

The separate NUS study found that, for some university courses, students had to pay out more significantly more money in additional costs.

Students of maths and computer science spent the most - an average of £1,430.40 per year on books and equipment, the study said.

NUS president Wes Streeting said universities needed to "be more open".

"There should be better information, advice and guidance about student finance on university websites and in their prospectuses," he said.

Higher education minister David Lammy said the government was committed to ensuring cost was not a barrier to any student going to university, whatever their background.

"There are currently record numbers of students at our universities with applications at an all-time high.

"We want to widen access further, which is why we will continue to offer a generous package of support including bursaries, grants and loans at low interest that do not have to be paid back until graduates are in work and earning over £15,000 a year.

"Getting a degree remains a strong investment for a future career with graduates earning on average considerably more over a lifetime than people without a degree level qualification."

(www.eduwo.com, Jainlyn&Charlotte)