The student meal ticket, the first of its kind in the UK, can be used to buy over 30,000 products across Sainsbury's stores – both food and non food essentials like cutlery.

Parents keep one part of the card which they credit at the store checkout, or online, with amounts from £1 to £750.

Students hold on to the other part and can keep using it to buy their essential shopping.

The ticket can also be used in all Sainsbury's coffee shops and petrol stations.

Yvonne West of Sainsbury said: "Parents are always a little concerned that their children will not eat well while away at university. But with the student meal ticket parents can rest assured that their kids will have funds to buy the essential items that will ensure they settle into university life with ease."

The meal ticket, which is not a credit or debit card, will be available in stores from Monday.

Parents will need the card number to reload the card with cash and to check the card's balance.

Cards can be reloaded at checkouts or on the website www.sainsburysgifts.co.uk.

The supermarket chain is also offering student basic bundles at www.sainsburystoyou.co.uk from September 10.

They include advice and suggestions on groceries and other essentials, with listed food items not including any hydrogenated fats or artificial flavour enhancers.