Maeva Veerapen, 22, spoke to the Journal about student poverty after a recent Monash Student Association survey revealed students were forced to choose between food and books.

Ms Veerapen lives in a Clayton share-house and is studying performing arts full-time.

She was lucky to receive a scholarship that covered the cost of her books this year, but even then she needs two jobs just to get by.

"My studies take about 40 hours a week or even more and then on top of that I have to work two jobs just to pay for food and rent,'' she said.

Ms Veerapen has to work at least 20 hours a week.

"During first semester I was often at campus at one in the morning to catch up for a lack of study because I had been working.''

She said she had also been forced to give up most of her social life.

"At one point last year I had to make the choice between paying rent and buying food - I was on a really tight budget.''

After paying for the costs of living and study-related expenses, there is often nothing left.

"Last year I also had to take out a loan just to be able to pay for my books in second semester and I had to eat migoreng for a week because it was all I could afford.

"They are like two-minute noodles; you can get a big box of them for $8 at the shops.''

The Monash Student Association surveyed 460 students to aid its response to the Federal Government's higher education review.

The survey revealed students found it difficult to pay for study materials (80.7 per cent of respondents), transport (60.6 per cent), clothing (51.1 per cent), medical needs (41 per cent), accommodation (38.1 per cent) and food (32 per cent).

Student association president Mathew Hilakari said the findings pointed to a dire need to fund the university sector and, in particular, an increase in the youth allowance.

"Students are being forced to make decisions regarding whether to eat, study or provide for their medical needs. Poverty is affecting our best and brightest students' ability to complete their studies and is leading to them living or studying in undesirable circumstances.