2010 NatWest Student Living Index finds York the least cost-effective city in which to study

London is the most cost-effective UK city in which to study, an annual student poll has found.

The research, which analysed weekly student expenditure, including rent and living costs, against earnings from part-time work, revealed York is the least cost-effective for the second year in a row. Students in the capital were earning on average £5,024.40 per year (£167.48 per week), with hourly wages of £9.91.

Undergraduates in Dundee, the second most cost-effective city worked the most (16 hours per week), but their hourly earnings were just £6.52, according to the findings of the seventh NatWest Student Living Index. In contrast, students in Southampton worked the least each week, with just over 11 hours on average spent earning extra cash.

The latest poll of 2,500 undergraduates from 25 university cities found more than one in five students (22%) were choosing their place of study on factors such as the cost of living, proximity to home and earning potential in the location. Approximately 1% of students were basing their decision purely on fees rather than academia – up from 0.4% in 2009.

It also revealed handouts from parents became less generous in the past 12 months as the tougher economic climate hit households. More than one in four (28%) of students were receiving less financial help from their parents, while only 10% were enjoying more.

Nearly half (46%) were receiving no parental funding this year.

The poll revealed a 3% increase from 2009 in students saving money earned and spending less on socialising.

At the same time, rents were continuing to rise, increasing by an average of £312 per year.

Average weekly expenditure was £185, down from over £200 in 2009.

The 2010 NatWest Student Living Index in full (2009 ranking in brackets)

1. London (new entry NE)

2. Dundee (17)

3. Manchester (5)

4. Plymouth (13)

5. Glasgow (3)

6. Birmingham (11)

7. Portsmouth (15)

8. Cambridge (8)

9. Oxford (9)

10. Newcastle (16)

11. Bristol (6)

12. Sheffield (NE)

13. Liverpool (2)

14. Nottingham (19)

15. Leeds (12)

16. Reading (4)

17. Edinburgh (10)

18. Cardiff (14)

19. Brighton (1)

20. Norwich (18)

21. Exeter (NE)

22. Southampton (NE)

23. Leicester (7)

24. Belfast (NE)

25. York (20)

read full article