Demonstrations in November

13th: Nottingham, Cardiff 15th: Birmingham 17th: London 19th: Bristol 20th: Plymouth, Cambridge 21st: Newcastle 22nd: Southampton 27th: Liverpool

It is looking closely at bringing back in a limited form student maintenance grants, which it abolished four years ago.

And some ministers are known to be in favour of abolishing tuition fees, which were found to be a main cause of complaint on doorsteps during the general election campaign.

As the government continues its review of student funding, the NUS wants to press for a generous package for students.

The NUS president, Owain James, said students worked long hours in paid work to try to keep their debts down with a detrimental effect on their grades.

"And they still graduate with over �12,000 of debt," he said.

"While we welcome the government's review of student funding, we are deeply concerned about recent media speculation over alternative systems which NUS believe will leave thousands of students even worse off.

"If the government is serious about fulfilling its manifesto pledge to widen access it must introduce new money into the sector at the earliest opportunity," he said.

'Scrap tuition fees'

The union wants to see the abolition of tuition fees and the introduction of targeted maintenance support for those students who do not traditionally see university as a viable option.

NUS President Owain James: "Graduates in debt"

The first demonstration will get underway in Nottingham on 13 November, when students will hold a march and rally.

On 15 November, students in Birmingham will stage a parade involving eight buses through the city and hold a rally.

Other events will follow in London, Bristol, Plymouth, Cambridge, Newcastle, Southampton, Liverpool, Bangor, Aberystwyth, Lampeter, Camarthen, Swansea, Glamorgan and Cardiff.

One of those taking part in the Nottingham demonstration will be law student Claire Johnson.

Making ends meet

In the second year of her degree at Trent University, Claire says she struggles to juggle her academic work with paid work she needs to make ends meet.

"I work for about ten hours a week as a course instructor for the union, teaching things like stress-busting and time-management.

Claire Johnson: Struggling

"Then at the weekends, I work as many hours as I can in a hotel.

"I sometimes work between 15 and 25 hours over a weekend."

Claire, who took out a �1,200 student loan to cover her accommodation costs this September, says she still has a big overdraft despite her paid work.

She says she needs the money to buy core books for her degree.

"The books can cost anything from �15 to �45 pounds and you really do need to buy some because they are in short supply in the library."

The government's review of student funding should report within five months, but it is unlikely changes could affect students before autumn 2003.