As 18-year-olds from Burton, Uttoxeter and Swadlincote get ready to pack up their things and start a new chapter in their lives at university, many parents may be worrying about how much it's all going to cost.
There's some good news for students who will be join universities in the East Midlands though, as two of the top five cheapest cities to be a student are in our region.
Lincoln came out on top as the cheapest place to study in 2017, with Leicester coming in fifth. Both cities have two universities with Lincoln boasting the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste, while Leicester has the University of Leicester and De Montfort University.
The study, carried out by Marbles.com, looked at the price of travel passes, gym memberships, and trips to the cinema. It also considered those all-important student staples - the cost of pints and kebabs.
Leicester came out joint top with Loughborough for cheapest travel passes, costing an average of just £29 per month. It also had one of the cheapest pints, at an average of £3.10, and one of the lowest priced meals out for two at £40.
A spokesperson for Marbles said: "The infographic gives the reader a clear view of some of the costs attached to university life and how that looks comparatively in different areas of the UK.
"While universities like Cardiff and Southampton appear to resist trends, Marbles.com’s results show a glaring disparity between north and south."
Derby wasn't included in the list, so let us know if you think the city is a cheap place to live as a student.
Are the Midlands for students?
At the other end of the scale, London universities were rated the worst for expensive travel passes, with extortionate monthly travelcards averaging at £132.
King's College in London was found to have the most expensive weekly rent at an eye-watering £232.33.
The study showed a clear North-South divide in terms of costs, with 90% of the top 10 based north of Coventry.
You can view the full results by clicking here.
