OUR VIEW: Regional students disadvantaged by cost

Each year students from rural and regional areas put their hands up to attend universities.

With large debts through HECS at the end of a degree acknowledged it is the upfront costs of university that really hinder students looking to attend university, especially if they want to move to the city.

There are reports some parents are telling their children they simply can't afford the upfront costs and they can't go to university.

Those upfront costs are currently sitting at about $25,000 a year when you take into account accommodation, living and other costs.

While the federal government has sought community input via an electorate meeting at Narrabri recently, this issue has been something plaguing our students, and their families, for a number of years.

The financial impacts on students have been a focus since even before the failed plan to deregulate university fees in the 2014 budget.

There is no simple answer to this, but to provide our future doctors, lawyers, nurses etc with a proper and high level of education it is something that needs to be addressed.

As accommodation costs in major cities continue to skyrocket the situation will only get worse for our regional students.

And then what?

Were do they go for higher education?

These costs put regional students at a disadvantage, and it is not something they should be burdened with as they finish their schooling.