The NUS has announced a major new three-year research project about student life and learning.

The study will examine all areas of the student learning experience including teaching standards, the quality of accommodation, crime and safety, and student employment. It will look at the hidden costs of studying and explore whether students’ experience of higher education matches their expectations.

NUS President Gemma Tumelty said: “This is a significant and substantial piece of research that will help NUS to focus its representational activities in order to make a real difference to students’ lives in years to come.

“It will provide us with a solid evidence base upon which to base our campaigns, so that we can fight for students’ rights even more effectively in the future.”

The research will be funded by a grant from HSBC, who have supported the NUS and last year decided not to charge interest on graduate overdrafts based on feedback from NUS and its customers.

HSBC’s Head of Graduate and Student Accounts, Lucy Payne said: “We have now committed to funding this research project over three years to listen to students, as well as continuing to consult and work with NUS on addressing the very real problem of student and graduate debt.

“HSBC is a major supporter of financial literacy in the UK and around the world, and we believe this research will provide an unprecedented insight into the issues facing students and how we can help them achieve financial stability.”