The number of students accessing counselling at top UK universities has jumped by 28% over three years.

Figures obtained show up to a 75% increase at some institutions.

More than 43,000 students had counselling at Russell Group universities in 2014/15 – compared to 34,000 three years earlier.

Mental health charity Mind believe this change is due to the hike in tuition fees to £9,000.

• :: University of Leeds: 1,317 to 2,070 (57.18%)
• :: University of Exeter: 1,125 to 1,549 (37.69%)
• :: Queen’s University Belfast: 584 to 833 (42.64%)
• :: University of Edinburgh: 1,629 to 2,852 (75.08%)
• :: University of Sheffield: 1,182 to 1,819 (53.89%)
• :: University of Warwick: 1,385 to 1,752 (26.50%)
• :: Durham University: 1,019 to 1,379 (35.33%)
• :: University of Oxford: 1,465 to 2,096 (43.07%)
• :: University of Glasgow: 1,145 to 1,800 (57.21%)
• :: Cardiff University: 1,131 to 1,945 (71.97%)
• :: University of Bristol: 1,396 to 2,141 (53.37%)
• :: Imperial College London: 441 to 608 (37.87%)
• :: London School of Economics and Political Sciences: 525 to 721 (37.33%)
• :: University of Manchester: 1,914 to 2,556 (33.54%)
• :: Newcastle University: 659 to 950 (44.16%)
• :: King’s College London: 1,927 to 2,472 (28.28%)

Stephen Buckley, from Mind, said tuition fee and student loan debt were “major contributors” to the rise.

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