Prices take low road

Cost of a pinta (beer, that is): pounds 1 for a pint of lager at the University of Paisley students' union bar, compares with pounds 1.40 a pint at Edinburgh student bar and pounds 1.75 for the same pint in an Edinburgh local pub

Sporting facilities: For a mere fiver a year, the Stevenson building at Glasgow University, gives unlimited access to all its facilities - including a 25-metre swimming pool, steam room, sauna, two squash courts and, can you believe, a "muscle conditioning area"l Clubs and discos: The Dark Room, which has some big-name DJs (Andrew Weatherall, Paul Oakenfold), is the favourite venue for students at the University of Strathclyde. Three club nights a week - pounds 2.

Laundry: A full load wash, 80p, followed by tumble dry, also 80p. And if you then want to iron your clothes - it's free. Where? Glasgow's union

Rent: Cheapest average private accommodation is pounds 35 a week at Paisley, followed by pounds 37 at Dundee

Shopping: Supermarkets (with the big names) abound at just about every college location and sell the usual student fare at reasonable prices. Most popular take-away foods: pizzas, fish and chips, pastas, Chinese and curries. Be warned: the fat-content of a curry is greater than all the others.