STUDENTS in Bolton are bucking the national trend of spending too much time at the bar, according to the students' union president who says that studying comes first at Bolton Institute.

A national survey revealed alcohol was the second largest student expenditure after rent. It found university students spent nearly £1 billion a year on alcohol, second only to rent totalling £2.5 billion.

But Bolton Institute Student Union President Katherine Wilkes said "The majority of students are definitely not spending most of their money on alcohol. If they were, it would be impossible for them to carry on going to lectures and nobody would be getting a degree."

Vice-principal Peter Marsh said: "About 70 per cent of out students are mature, the majority of them have families and they are not really part of the bar culture. The student bar here is not one of the major aspects of student life and I think the proportion students spend on alcohol is relatively low."

The survey found that four in 10 British undergraduates took part-time jobs during term time to help make ends meet.

It also found that students spent £670 million on food shopping each year. Undergraduates buy £480 million worth of cigarettes and spend £540 "going out".

The survey ranked 21 major university towns by cost of living. Manchester was ranked at number 11. Glasgow was the cheapest and Durham was the most expensive.

The average Glasgow student spends £181.30 a week on living and housing costs but earns £102.80 from part time work.

While in Durham the average undergraduate spends £171.90 each week but earns £56.50 doing term time jobs.