More than 45 per cent of students claim cash problems have affected their studies in a survey on student hardship by the National Union of Students. It found around a quarter of students were in deep financial hardship with more than 20 per cent of full-time undergraduates missing meals because of financial difficulties. The survey of full and part-time home undergraduate students and full-time postgraduate students carried out by student unions across the country in December is based on more than 400 responses.