A STUDENT is auctioning her virginity online so that she can raise enough money to study abroad.

Ariana, 20, from Russia, is selling her virginity on an escort site — with bids starting at £130,500 ($228,650), The Sun reports.

Although she looked at other ways to raise money, Ariana says that she settled on the sale of her virginity as the quickest and easiest way to raise money.

“Many students have the issue that during their studies they have to deal with multiple problems,” she said. “You have to go to work in order to pay for your education.

“I want to move to another country for my studies in medicine. The university will be very expensive. The rent will also be high.

“I imagine that living in another country will be very hard, therefore I want to get the financial burden out of the way so I can focus on my medical studies.”

Ariana says that her parents are not aware of how she is hoping to raise the money, but adds that she has no problem with explaining it to them when they eventually do discover what’s going on online.

And Ariana is not alone in the bidding war. Her best friend Lolita is also auctioning her virginity — with bids also starting at £130,500 ($A228,000).

Ariana describes herself as an “independent woman” and says that selling her virginity is her own choice.

She feels she has waited so long to give her virginity to the right person — but it’s never worked out in the past. “Why should I wait any longer?” she said.

“Why should I lose my virginity to someone who could then break my heart later?”

And while Ariana is looking at the sale as an investment, she hopes that whoever wins the auction will be caring and deal with her respectfully.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.