I WAS shocked, when reading the BEN news feature on 'Struggling to study', that some students are in debt of £10,000 to £16,000 pounds.

I ask why? I returned to education five years ago as a 'mature student'. I have studied in Bolton for two years, and Salford for two years and now travel to Leeds to end my study with a degree.

Apart from all that goes with the course -- i.e. assignments, reading, studying etc, I am a mother of three children (the youngest is 11 years old), I have two part-time jobs (38 hours per week), I am a housewife and, thankfully, have a supportive husband.

I say thankfully, because it must be difficult for him when I don't always have the time to go out socially because I have 'college work' to do. As well as this, while studying for my diploma, I also had to find the time to fit in 2-3 hours voluntary work per week in a placement setting -- criteria for the course.

I have no debt as a student because I have chosen to work and because it is my choice to study. I also have to pay for all my courses -- which are not cheap and all my books with not a student grant in sight!

I thought Sarah Riches comment of "It's possible to have a job and study, but you have to be pretty organised, which sometimes isn't a strength of young people" pathetic!

Is it really a 'strength' that's required, or should it be determination to get what you want out of life? I am sure I am not the only 'mature student' in this position, but university life is not all about going out and affording the finer things in life.

Maybe the younger students should realise how lucky they are with so much opportunity from a young age. If they are committed to their study, the finer things in life come later -- why incur needless debt?

S.M. Delvard-Hussain

Vigo Avenue,Bolton