Almost three quarters of third level students fear they will have to drop out of college because of the costs.

Research from the Union of Students in Ireland shows that more than three quarters have worked leading up to or during their exams.

Almost two thirds have missed lectures because of work.

67% have said work negatively affected their academic success, while over 61% have said they have worked to the point of burnout to pay for college.

Kevin Donoghue, President of the Union of Students in Ireland has said students are being pushed to “breaking point” over the costs.

“It’s extremely worrying that so many students are working to the point of burnout, during exams and missing lectures to pay for college,” Donoghue.

“The cost of education is pushing students to breaking point. It’s unaffordable and the compromises so many students have to make to stay in college, such as working to the point of burnout, ironically restrict their academic success.”

You can read the research in full here.