According to a Royal Bank of Scotland report, the Northern city is the most cost-effective place to study in the UK because comparatively low living costs and the third highest earnings for part-time work ensures that students in Leeds are financially better off in terms of earnings and expenditure than their counterparts in other university towns and cities across Britain.

Studies reveal that the average Leeds student spends GBP186 a week on living and housing, but recoups GBP128 from part-time work as opposed to Nottingham which is the most expensive place for students to study. In fact, Nottingham is the costliest among the 27 UK universities, with the average student there spending GBP211 a week and earning just GBP78.40 from term time employment.

It has also been found that the Cambridge University has improved its position from the costliest in 2007 to the thirteenth most economical university in the UK. However, Cardiff University fell to the 16th position, where as Brighton improved its position to the 2nd most economical in 2008.

Leeds University has been constantly among the top most economical universities in the UK for several years due to having the third highest average weekly earnings from part time work. A study reveals that 51 percent of students in Leeds easily find part time work. Durham has the lowest weekly expenditure, but the students at the university were found to work the shortest amount of hours at just 10.8 per week.

Even though a number of universities are relatively good-value places to study, it has been found that due to spiralling cost of almost every thing needed in life is compelling the students to work harder at part time jobs to finance their studies. This has forced the students in Belfast and Dundee to find more jobs making them the hardest-working undergraduates in the UK, according to a study.

Students working part time in London earn more than the other cities of the country due to presence of comparatively more business and leisure establishments. They are able to earn an average weekly income of GBP146.10. It has been found that a majority of the students prefer to do part time work in bars that offers them food and an occasional beer on discount rates. About quarter of the students work in these establishments, while the remaining students being engaged in shops, hotels and restaurants.

With the rising costs of food, lodging and tuition fees, it goes without saying that students as always look for Universities and locations where the cost of living is less expensive, and part time jobs are easy to find. What ever extra income they gain by doing part time work is helpful for them to be partially independent in financial matters, helping their parents to worry less about financing their childs university education.