Rebecca Murphy(21) begins her second year of drama and theatre studies at University College Cork (UCC) next month.

Even though she lives at home with her parents, which cuts out major costs such as rent and bills, Rebecca still found her first year in college hugely expensive and is planning on getting a part-time job this year.

"I was very involved in societies last year so I didn't actually have time to get a job," she recalls of her first year in college. "I was lucky enough that I was able to not have a job and more or less survive."

Rebecca had saved up money during a year out before university and is working full-time this summer to save up again. However she feels that she'll have to keep working part-time during term time.

"I learned last year that it's very, very tough without a job," she says.

Even though technically fees have been abolished, €800 had to be paid to UCC at the start of the academic year, plus a capitation fee of €130.

One book alone set Rebecca back €50.

As she lives in the countryside, she had no alternative but to drive to college and the expense of parking ate up a lot of her budget.

Rebecca does not favour the stereotypical hard-drinking lifestyle generally associated with students. A taxi ride home would set her back €20, so she generally opts for a sober night out so that she can drive.

However many of her college friends go out several nights a week, spending in the region of €50 each night.

"The price of drink is astronomical," she says. "I don't know how they afford it."

Most of her classmates are not from Cork and so have to pay roughly €80 a week in rent, plus bills and utilities.

While some have their rent paid by their parents, many work part-time around campus - in the libraries, student centres and cafés - to make ends meet.

However Rebecca points out that students are usually on minimum wage, so it would take a long time just to earn one week's rent.

What does she think of the reintroduction of fees being mooted in certain quarters?

"Bringing back fees is not going to do anyone any favours at all. It's going to just make sure that the marginalised become more marginalised," she says.

"People who have just about managed to get through college won't be able to go college, and no one will be doing PhDs because no one will be able to afford it. If they bring back fees I think that's it for an awful lot of people."