STUDENT numbers at York’s two universities will fall sharply over the coming decade because of soaring tuition fees, researchers claim.

They say hiked costs will force more youngsters to live at home, resulting in a 28 per cent drop in the number of students at York St John University and a 23 per cent fall in numbers at the University of York.

But the latter – which is undergoing a massive campus expansion intended to increase student numbers in the next few years – dismissed the findings, claiming they were largely speculation based on a very small sample.

“Nationally, more than 600,000 people have applied to enter university this year,” said a spokesman. “The University of York recruits nationwide and our development plan foresees student numbers reaching 15,000 by 2015.

“York has a range of strong educational institutions and we are confident that it will continue to be a city of education in the 21st century.”

The study, commissioned by insurance firm LV, was based on a survey of 1,000 students and parents.

It claimed there would be a 14 per cent decline in student numbers over the next decade and almost half of youngsters who were planning to go to university would choose a local one and stay at home over the next decade.

This would result in an increase in the number of students living in districts such as Ryedale, Selby and Harrogate, said a spokesman.

The new cohort of “commuter students” will make longer journeys to attend courses, in order to save money on living costs. But the report says almost half of current stay-at-home students feel it has made it harder for them to feel fully involved in student life.