Many pupils ‘denied crucial advice’ when choosing university

Which? said 39 per cent of prospective students aged 19 and under did not get this type of advice when making the “biggest financial decision” so far in their lives.

The findings come in the week this year’s A-level results are published, with the consumer group estimating more than 150,000 students each year could be making decisions without this level of help.

With unemployment remaining high and low wage growth, graduates are entering the most challenging job market for decades, the study warned.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they would have liked more information, particularly about employment prospects, activities and course structure.

A fifth of graduates surveyed said they were not confident about their employment prospects over the next year.

Peter Vicary-Smith, Which? chief executive, said: “Young people are taking out huge loans to pay for university, so they should seek independent advice as anyone would when making such an important financial decision, especially in the current financial climate.”

Last week, the Government defended its decision to treble university tuition fees after independent experts said fewer youngsters were applying for courses. Figures showed the number of would-be students applying to begin courses in England in September dropped by nine per cent compared with last year.

Universities Minister David Willetts said there was still a “very strong demand” for universities. An independent commission was set up to establish whether there is any link between student numbers and tuition fees, which the Government has raised to a maximum of £9,000 a year.

The National Union of Students said last week that it would be a “tragedy” if a young person is put off higher education because of finances.

A free website, called Which? University, will launch next month, offering users the chance to compare courses and institutions.