More than nine in 10 (93%) of school leavers plan to work part-time throughout their university lives to fund their studies, according to research from Friends Provident.

The research also shows 59% believe they will have to undertake unpaid work experience to secure a good job.

Trevor Matthews, chief executive of Friends Provident, says: “We could be seeing the emergence of the most financially savvy generation of students yet, as they face the realities of the cost of education and increasing competition for jobs. These are issues parents are facing too, as our research found that almost a third of school leavers expect to be dependent on their parents after graduating.”