OTTAWA--A new Ipsos Reid poll shows that over one third of college and university students are concerned they will run out of money by the end of the fall semester.

"Students are in dire circumstances," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Facing the highest unemployment numbers on record, many will not be able to make ends meet."

According to the survey 80% of students plan to work during the coming year. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed said that finding work is essential to being able to afford to continue their education, with the same number saying that working will have a negative effect on their studies.

Tuition fees are currently the single largest expense for most college and university students. Average fees are almost $5,000 per year and six provinces will be increasing fees this fall.

"By increasing tuition fees in a time of economic crisis, provincial governments are failing students," said Giroux-Bougard. "We need a national strategy to deal with increasing tuition fees."

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces.