Around 110,000 undergraduates are avoiding debts by paying tuition fees upfront.

A quarter of  Russell Group universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, had self-funding levels at more than twice the national average. These included King’s College London, with 20%, Cambridge and Oxford with 16% each, University College London with 14.5% and LSE with 14%.

It makes a mockery of claims that the current system is progressive since the wealthiest kids are not even in the system

These stats exclude international students or those who have fees paid through job-related support or scholarships and bursaries.

Curator of the think-tank, Angus Hanton, said the report ‘makes a mockery of claims that the current system is progressive since the wealthiest kids are not even in the system.’

Hanon added: ‘The government should treat all students fairly and that means reducing the interest rates charged while at university, reducing fees, reintroducing maintenance grants, and lowering the repayment rate.’

Rakib Ehsan, author of the report, said: ‘The current student loan system, while being clearly inter-generationally unfair, is also exacerbating intra-generational unfairness.

Wealthier families have realised that they can give their children a get-out-of-jail-free card

‘Even though the number of self-funders has decreased dramatically since fees were increased to £3,000 and then trebled in 2012 by David Willetts, then Secretary of State for Education, wealthier families have realised that they can give their children a get-out-of-jail-free card by helping them to escape sky-high interest rates and a 30-year loan that could be sold off to the private sector in the future.’

Shakira Martin, the president of the National Union of Students, told The Guardian that the report was ‘more evidence that the current system is not fit for purpose.’

‘While wealthy students can avoid accruing debt and the high interest which comes with student loans, too many students from low-income families grapple with a cost of living crisis and unaffordable housing.

‘Wealthy students can focus on their studies, while too many poorer students work long hours to make ends meet.’

Redbrick spoke to Tara, a first-year student who said: ‘Most people I know will be in a lot of debt.’

Tara further said that it is important to understand the different circumstances of each student as ‘even if some parents do have money. some parents do not help out.’

Most people I know will be in a lot of debt

Maintenance loans are currently means-tested which means that students with parents who have a higher income receive less loan.

Tara also added that it’s unfair that students leave university in different circumstances as ‘every student should be in the same position.’

Another first-year student also said: ‘There should also be some kind of financial support after uni.’

Redbrick also spoke to a student who’s tuition and maintenance costs are financed by family members. The student, who wished to remain anonymous said: ‘I am highly aware of the privilege that I have, and since coming to University I have understood the great difficulties that many of my peers may have to face. This report has shown that Universities and the government need to do more to tackle inequalities amongst young people and the system needs to be updated.’