Classes will be back in session in Manitoba within the next week, and a recent survey has found students are stressed – but not about their grades.

The Bank of Montreal recently released the results of a survey that found students are now more stressed about paying for school than doing well in it.

The concern isn’t that surprising when statistics from the Canadian Federation of Students peg the average student debt at $27,000.

Regan Van Willengham is one of those students that owes.

Van Willenghem said she owes “probably close to $40,000 with every year adding up.”

Second-year nursing student Carley Wolf said she’s hoping to graduate debt-free but isn’t so sure she’ll be able to.

“It’s adding up really fast, and school hasn’t even started,” said Wolf.

Now, the University of Winnipeg, is hoping to help students like Wolf and Willengham manage their money.

The university has introduced a set of workshops to help students budget and apply for scholarships or bursaries.

Kam Holland, the director of awards and financial aid at the U of W, said many students are lacking financial direction.

“There is a lack of education for young people in terms of finances,” said Holland.

The four-hour sessions were developed by the federal government and designed to help students avoid incurring debt.

“I always talk to fourth-year students who say, ‘Oh I wish I had know this information in first year,’ ” said Holland.

Holland hopes students will utilize other options for funds.

“What ends up happening is they take out all these loans, and they’re not accessing all the other things that they have,” said Holland.

The pilot program will see about 150 students take part in the workshops. Each will be given a free lunch and $50 as an incentive for attending.

“In the end we hope students will be educated and feel more comfortable about their finances,” Holland said.

When the workshop is over participants will fill out a survey to help the federal government understand the level of financial literacy among university students.

For now, Van Willenghem said she will keep pinching pennies and try to avoid incurring any debt.

“I live at home with my parents. Free food, free rent -- it makes sense at this point,” she said.