51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Student debt is predicted to triple to more than ?30,000 by 2010 according to Barclays Bank, writes Alison Goddard.

The survey found that this year's graduates typically owe ?11,000.

The figure will rise to ?17,500 for today's school-leavers who graduate in 2006, and to ?33,700 for those who graduate in 2010.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Because the poorest students will benefit from having some of their fees paid and a non-repayable grant of up to ?1,000, it is simply preposterous to suggest a debt level this high.

"51¹ú²úÊÓƵ is a worthwhile investment that will only have to be repaid when a graduate is earning over ?15,000, and then at a rate linked to their income so they only repay when they can afford to do so."