Ever since grants were done away with and loans introduced, we have been contacted by increasing numbers of students considering or involved in sex
work. Considering that it is common for a student to be saddled with a debt
of £30,000 + at the end of their course this is no surprise. Jobs in shops
and pubs that students usually take up to cover living costs are
increasingly scarce and low paid.

The abolition of Education Maintenance Allowance is having a particular
impact on young people. Opportunities for young people to study and go to
college are being drastically cut as a result. How is EMA to be replaced?
Sex work will certainly be one way.”

The numbers of students funding their studies by sex work was confirmed by a Guardian article last year:

“A recent study of over 200 lap-dancers carried out by Leeds University
found that one in three of those surveyed were working to fund education.
The majority of these were younger women, with 14% working to fund
undergraduate study; 6% were on postgraduate courses and 4% in further
education. At a time when fees are about to increase, there is widespread
expectation that more women will turn to this industry to fund their
studies.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/15/lap-dancing-students-funding studies

And by the BBC in 2010: “The number of university students who know someone who has worked in the sex industry to fund their studies has gone up from “3% to 25% in 10 years”. A study by Doctor Ron Roberts of Kingston
University on students’ relationship with the sex industry also found 11%
would consider escort work. He said high tuition fees had driven students
to work as lap dancers and for chat lines and internet pornography.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8568723.stm