Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.

This week Darcy Barrett looks at managing money in a time of rising university fees.

These days, going to university is considered the norm but does that mean students should face large debt to get a qualification?

Universities are not private establishments so therefore have to rely on the government for their funding.

But people who go to university come from a wide range of backgrounds some more privileged than others and currently students from less privileged backgrounds are able to get grants and bursaries to help them pay the fees.

The problem is, tuition fees is not the biggest debt, it is the living costs that dissuade people from going.

Living expenses for students are incredibly high. Many have to get a job on top of all their hours of lecturing and study just to keep their heads above water.

Some live in student accommodation while others live in the university halls, but either way the cost can become overwhelmingly expensive and food prices are also a big catalyst for debt.

Furthermore, for many of these students it is their first time away from home and they are not well practised in managing their money.

It is my belief that tuition fees are set at the right level at the moment as they will be paid back over time.

The problem I know I will face when I go to university is being able to pay my bills and afford food. This makes me believe that there should be some more support for people who may struggle to pay. I still want to go to university but am worried about the financial side of things as every student is.

By Darcy Barrett