Students are taking thousands of pounds worth of gadgets to university with them as they become increasingly reliant on technology for study and leisure, a poll suggests.

The new survey indicates a rise in students owning the latest devices, with smartphones and tablets growing in popularity.

It shows that 92% of those questioned said that they own a laptop, up from 81% last year, whilst 91% have a smartphone, compared with 87% in 2013.

The proportion who own a tablet has nearly doubled in the last 12 months, going from 23% to 40% this year.

The annual poll, published by insurance firm Endsleigh, concludes the average value of a student's possessions now stands at £4,591, with their gadgets alone worth around £2,883 on average.

It also shows that many students could not live without their mobile phone, with around 40% of the more than 2,000 people questioned saying that if they lost or damaged it, they would want it replaced within 24 hours.

Sara Newell, manager for student markets at Endsleigh, said: "Our research has shown us that students are investing more money than before to ensure they have the latest gadgets and possessions.

"We've seen over the last few years that students are becoming more reliant upon portable gadgets such as tablets and smartphones: from watching films to interacting with friends - these devices allow students to work and play on the move."

She said that it was important that students consider insurance tailored to their needs when they are at university to make sure their gadgets and possessions are properly covered.

• The online survey questioned 2,128 university students in April and May.