The mounting costs of further education in Britain are starting to deter prospective university applicants, a survey shows.

Almost one in four young adults think taking on debt to go to university is a waste, according to research by Engage Mutual Assurance.

Some 24 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds consider taking on debt to go to university pointless and 26 percent of parents aged 45-54 agree, the poll of 2,271 people shows.