The rising price of tuition fees, coupled with the soaring cost of living, has left many students struggling to afford to pay their way through university.

But growing numbers of resourceful undergraduates are beating the system by signing up to the 'sugar baby' lifestyle that sees mature men shelling out thousands to spend time with them.

So-called sugar daddies take them out for dinner, treat them to lavish holidays and even pay them a monthly 'allowance' for the pleasure of their company.

According to SeekingArrangement.com, the looming uncertainty of postgraduate employment has sparked a huge surge in UK students seeking 'sugar daddies and mommies' to support them financially.

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Tuition costs: Women like Bella* (pictured) are beating the system by signing up to the 'sugar baby' lifestyle that sees mature men pay to spend time with younger women

MailOnline FEMAIL spoke to Bella*, a 23-year-old finance student at the University of Reading, who is currently being financed by two men she met on the site.

She signed up in September 2017 after spotting an ad on Google and admits she 'didn't really have any concerns about what it entails'.

Now halfway through her second year, Bella explained: 'You sign up, put up a picture and a short description about yourself.

'I said I was looking for friends, looking for someone who could support me.'

One of the male suitors she met on the site is a 39-year-old business owner, the other a BIT analyst - almost twice her age at 44.

'He wants a lady he can meet regularly, go on dinner dates and have fun with,' she said of the younger man.

Bella has met two men after setting up a profile on the site last year. The looming uncertainty of employment has sparked a huge surge in UK students seeking financial support

What is a Sugar Baby? Attractive people looking for the finer things in life. They appreciate exotic trips and gifts. Sugar Babies get to experience a luxurious lifestyle, and meet wealthy people on a regular basis. Advertisement

What is a Sugar Daddy? Successful men who know what they want. They’re driven, and enjoy attractive company by their side. Money isn’t an issue, thus they are generous when it comes to supporting a Sugar Baby. Advertisement

'The first time we met he gave me £250 for a taxi, the the second time it was £400.'

The pair are now in talks about how much he will give Bella as part of their arrangement - but she is aiming for between £900 and £1,000 a month. She hasn't plucked up the courage to tell her parents yet.

SeekingArrangement.com reported last week that the number of British students seeking help on their site grew by an unprecedented 30 percent in 2017.

It comes after the Institute for Fiscal Studies revealed that students in England will graduate with average debts of £50,800 after interest rates were raised last year to 6.1 per cent.

Bella is aiming to get between £900 and £1,000 a month from one of her sugar daddies. She hasn't plucked up the courage to tell her parents yet

In 2017 alone, 75,000 UK students joined the 3 million students already registered on SeekingArrangement worldwide.

The site also crunched the numbers to reveal its annual rankings of the fastest-growing 'sugar baby schools' in the UK, with the University of Portsmouth taking the crown.

It reportedly has a grand total of 666 'sugar baby scholars' among its student population.

The average 'sugar baby' receives a staggering £2,730 (the equivalent of £32,760 a year) in monthly 'allowances'.

* Real name has been changed