As they open their A-level results and make their final choice of university, another decision looms almost as large for prospective students: where they are going to live, and how much it's going to cost them. A report just published reveals that students are not only spending more on accommodation than ever before, but also that rent prices play a crucial role in determining their choice of institution.

The research, carried out by the housing website accommodationforstudents.com, shows that rental costs are now a student's biggest single expense, accounting for more than 40 per cent of their weekly spending. This figure rises to 50 per cent if they choose to study in London.

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