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Students with no home security measures, such as deadlocks on doors and windows, are ten times more likely to be a victim of burglary, research by Legal & General claims.

Full-time university pupils are more at risk from having their possessions stolen and parents may want to look at secured loans to ensure their kids' accommodation is safe.

"Just as a word of warning, students in shared accommodation should not assume that you will be covered if their laptop or ipod is stolen from their room," warns head of technical services at Legal & General Elaine Parkes.

Accommodation should be checked for security measures before being considered as a potential home and those studying for a degree should even make sure their bedroom doors are locked when they leave the room, she adds.

Correct insurance to make sure students' often expensive possessions are protected could be paid for with a loan.

Those parents with kids going to university may want to look at secured loans, which backed by a property, could pay for a good quality house.