ANOTHER swathe of school-leavers has received the dreaded A-level results.

For some, it means the trauma of clearing, while others are heading to their choice of university.

With students expecting to leave university with ever increasing debts Sam Dansie asks what advice is available to students to ensure the bailiffs don't come knocking because they spent their loan on beer and cigarettes.

For pupils, A-level results mean one thing - entrance into the hallowed, mythical world of studenthood.

But the simple dream of living on the baked bean diet till the end of term, visits to Oxfam and learning how to darn your own underwear is outdated.

Banks and credit card companies seem eager to dump ready-to-spend cash on new students with little or no experience of budgeting.

Instead of "scrimp, scrimp, scrimp," the new message is "spend, spend, spend".

According to a NatWest survey, sixth formers expect to graduate with debts touching £13,000 - and the figure is rising.

The same survey conducted in 2003 found students expected to leave with a debt of £10,200 - a rise of £3,800.

Ann-Marie Blake, head of student and graduate banking at NatWest, said students were investing in their future, and the average starting salary this year has increased to £13,600.

"What is more, since graduating, 41 per cent claimed to have gained a good career and independence from their parents," she said.

But NatWest and other High Street banks have a vested interest in talking up the career prospects of graduates.

They hope today's student borrowers will be tomorrow's affluent customers.

Labour MP for Worcester, Mike Foster, a former lecturer at Worcester College of Technology, thinks banks have a useful function in student life, as long as there is sound advice to temper the availability of cash.

He said universities had greatly improved the level of support they give to students.

"When I was an undergraduate, we were given our grants and left to get on with it.

"Nowadays universities are better at supporting students. One of the best places they can go is the Student Union for good advice," he said.

Roger Prout (left), head of student services at University College Worcester, believes the student experience has changed in the past few years.

"We are aware that pressures on the students have changed. Students increasingly have to worry about managing their loans, think about taking part-time work and finding accommodation," he said.

"University is not just about an academic education, but finding a balancing university with other obligations." Something he said, UCW was well aware of.

UCW tries to offer students as much support as they want when it comes to dealing with finances. Advice services, and close co-operation with the Student Union, all try to ensure students leave the college with a qualification, said Mr Prout.

And what about the increasing pressure banks and credit card companies are putting on student?

"Speaking as a parent, they are one of the temptations that young adults have to deal with - it is not just restricted to students."

He said sound advice from those with experience was the best method to combat going under as a student.

Your first year is time to discover

The mass of information that you are sent before going to university is both intimidating and confusing.

This is the first stumbling block for many students and the only way to deal with the pile is to go through it slowly.

Freshers' week is the second hurdle to get over and it can make students feel over or even under-whelmed.

"Freshers' week is the ultimate time to make friends," said Candice. "You will have a lot of fun, but do not feel bad if you do not enjoy it as much as you are told you should.

It is built up so much that for some it will always be an anti-climax."

Candice said registering for your course can seem bewildering, even painful, involving a lot of very long queues.

Comfortingly however, Freshers across the country will all be in the same, very confused boat.

Most students live in halls of residence for their first year and this makes it virtually impossible not to make a big group of friends and have a lot of fun.

Your first year is also a great time to try new things by joining societies, teams, or clubs.

Your university will have a vast array of clubs ranging from academic societies, to sports teams, to wine or ale lovers clubs.

It may sound like a clich, but there really is something for everyone and it is impossible not to find some aspect of university that you love.

"Your first year is the time to discover it," asserted Candice.