More university students are needing financial help - despite extra cash in the pockets this year

Auckland University's student association looks set to double the funds given out for its hardship grants.

There's been nearly 100 more hardship grant applications at Victoria compared to this time last year, while student need at Otago is around 20 percent higher than last year.

This is all despite 50-dollars extra weekly from the government for student allowance or living costs.

Otago Student Association's student support manager Sage Burke says it doesn't seem to have made a difference.

He says people aren't able to build up any contingency or savings so when they get a high power bill - they don't have the funds to cover it.