WORKING-CLASS students are being denied the full university experience, a lecturers’ union warned today, after a poll revealed record numbers are working long hours just to survive.

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Dr Jo Grady issued the warning after the survey found 56 per cent of full-time undergraduates had paid employment while studying, working an average of 14.5 hours a week.

Dr Grady said: “UK higher education is rapidly slamming the door shut on the working class.