Certain university degrees may take up to 44 years to pay off as student debts are set to be indexed by 7.2 per cent.

The Tertiary Education Union fears the indexation will scare millions more away from earning a university degree as loan paybacks become a major drain on income.

Press PLAY to hear more about how HECS indexation may affect your debt

“It really impedes people’s abilities to buy a house and plan fort their future,” TEU President Allison Barnes told Millsy and Karl on 6PR Breakfast.

“We shouldn’t have generations of Australian students saddled with lifelong debt.”