By Becky Johnson, North Of England Correspondent
Nearly a quarter of students in the UK have considered sex work as a way to fund their time at University.
A study carried out by academics at Swansea University has found that 5% of students have actually worked in the sex industry.
More than half of those said they did so in order to pay for basic living expenses.
In a lap dancing club in Liverpool one of the dancers who calls herself "Isobel" when at work told Sky News she began working as a stripper when she realised how much money she could earn.
She is on one of the most competitive courses at a top university and says the bar job she had previously meant working many more hours a week, which interfered with her studies.
"What I earn in a week is what I'd earn in a month in the bar job, so it just kind of made sense to me to work here rather than do that." she said.
"I think it's a no brainer for anyone really. Rather than doing all those hours I do less than half the amount of time for a lot more money - three times as much money. It's crazy."
Other students are prepared to go further, advertising themselves as escorts on adult-only websites.
One student who works as a prostitute agreed to speak to Sky News on the condition that we did not reveal her identity.
"I think it is still very much stigmatised and that can make life very difficult for student sex workers," she said.
"It isn't something for everybody, and that's totally fine, but it was the best choice of the choices that I had available to me."
"Obviously I think there should be a better funded education system - I think there should be grants for students.
"But at the minute while we don't have any of that support or money in place this is the best option."
The debate over the cost of going to university will continue ahead of the General Election, with Labour pledging to cut tuition fees by a third to £6,000 a year.
In the three years since fees were raised to £9,000 the students union at Manchester University has been contacted by more students who are working in the sex industry.
Women's Officer Jess Lishak told Sky News: "We've definitely seen an increase in the people we see in our advice centre that are turning to sex work.
"In terms of the reasons for that, there's a huge variety and I think it's too complex to break down to just fees, just austerity, just cuts. They all play a part".
The Student Sex Work Project has found that while 56% of students who engage in sex work said they do so to pay for basic living costs, 45% said it was to avoid debt and 39% said it was to reduce debt at the end of their course.
Dr Tracey Sagar, who jointly led the research, said: "We now have firm evidence that students are engaged in the sex industry across the UK.
"The majority of these students keep their occupations secret and this is because of social stigma and fears of being judged by family and friends.
"And, we have to keep in mind that not all students engaged in the industry are safe or feel safe.
"It is vital now that universities arm themselves with knowledge to better understand student sex work issues and that university services are able to support students where support is needed."
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