DURHAM University students will earn a total of £9m doing summer holiday work, says a bank.

A study by the Royal Bank of Scotland shows that four-fifths of the university's undergraduates plan to take a vacation job.

And the bank says its study revealed that for three-quarters, the key motivation is to earn money to fund term-time living costs.

The research, conducted among first and second year students, found that more than two-thirds were planning to work full-time.

The bank says the average undergraduate expects to earn £1,500 over the summer, sufficient to cover almost nine weeks of the average student's social and accommodation costs.

The most popular choices for vacation work are jobs in bars, restaurants and shops, but some will work in advertising or public relations or in a financial or insurance firm.

A third of Durham students say that vacation jobs can provide vital work experience.

Andrea Aitken-Paige, the bank's head of student banking, said: "Today's students face a whole range of financial challenges.

"It is encouraging to see from our study that Durham's undergraduates are taking the initiative in tackling these hurdles.

"Not only do they appreciate the value of summer work in offsetting day-to-day living costs, but they also show long-term foresight about the importance of using it to earn work experience.''