More students are working to support themselves at university than ever before, research conducted by insurance firm Endsleigh and the National Union of Students has found.

The survey of 4,642 students found that 77 per cent of students worked during the academic year 2014/15, up from 59 per cent last year.

Students earned on average £412 per month. There was a 36 per cent gender pay gap, with women earning on average £334 compared with £522 for their male counterparts.

The vast majority of those polled stated that they only worked part-time, but 14 per cent said that they held down full-time jobs during term-time, holidays, or both. During term-time, the number of those in full-time employment alongside university education rose by one third.

The main reason that students gave for working alongside university was that they had underestimated the expense, particularly the cost of accommodation, with 56 per cent of respondents citing unexpected financial pressures as the driving motivation.

However, work was not students’ only source of income. Nearly half of students claimed that they used their overdraft to make ends meet, while 53 per cent said that the depended on their parents to help them through university. 

In spite of the increase in the proportion of students in employment, the number of students stating that they relied on a student loan as their main source of income has increased to 74 per cent.

This represents an increase of 7 per cent from 2014 and 24 per cent since 2010.

The University of Cambridge imposes restrictions upon its undergraduates as to the hours that can be worked alongside reading for an undergraduate degree.

Students are not expected to work during term-time, although students may undertake in-college work, such as in their college's bar, on a limited basis.

CUSU Access and Funding Officer Helena Blair was worried about the potential impact rising costs and reduced maintenance grants could have on students' finances.

She told Varsity: "Though the University of Cambridge offers one of the most generous bursary systems in the UK, our own research shows that financial matters have nevertheless negatively impacted 53.97% of students during their time at the University.

"However, given that students also describe significant pressures on their time, I do not feel that the answer to this is for the University to lift the ban on working during term time. Rather, we should be looking at developing the funding available to support students, both in terms of fighting against cuts to Maintenance Grants and ensuring that the University supports students so that no-one is forced to go without during their time here."

Speaking on the findings, Sara Newell, manger at Endsleigh, said: "This year, we have seen a huge leap in the number of students finding employment at university."

She emphasised that while financial pressures were a significant motivation in students seeking work, other factors were also present.

"There is no doubt that being employed whilst at university serves a dual purpose and a considerable number of students are also looking to bulk up their CVs to enhance their future job prospects," she said.