Spiralling loan repayments, rent and basics such as food are taking a big financial toll on a generation of university and TAFE students who have to juggle long work hours with study while foregoing stress-relieving outlets such as a night at the pub.

A new study reveals that university students in degrees such as arts, history, economics, business and teaching face total costs of more than $160,000 to graduate when living expenses such as accommodation, food and transport are included.