Alison Taylor, of the University of Sussex (Opinion, May 10), is justifiably perplexed at a system that forces students into considerable debt to finance their further education.

However, from my experience of living on Sussex's campus as a mature student, I could only note that the same young people who bemoaned their impoverished condition, magically produced the needful to buy alcohol, fags and drugs and enjoy Brighton's night life.

I can't speak for the scientists but the almost universal philosophy of arts students was: "Education? We're here to party, man."

-William Fraser, Summerheath Road, Hailsham