University leaders are asking for immediate and targeted help
from the next government for students struggling through the cost
of living crisis. This comes after polling by Savanta
ComRes for Universities UK showed financial hardship among
students is building to crisis point.
67% of students in higher education are concerned about managing
their living costs this autumn, rising to 85% of students aged
over 30. Of those, over half (55%) say this might prevent them
from continuing their studies. Cost of living anxiety is greater
among older, postgraduate students and those who work or have
caring responsibilities.
Analysis from Universities UK shows that most government measures
designed to alleviate cost of living pressures are unlikely to
reach the vast majority of students, as they are mainly targeted
towards those on means-tested benefits, pensioners and families.
Universities are already taking action to help students
struggling with hardship by boosting their emergency financial
assistance funds. They will be stepping up their support over the
coming months to address the cost of living, and want to work
with government to ensure students – from undergraduates to PhDs
– are supported through this crisis.
Universities would like to do even more to help, but the tuition
fee freeze in England means that they are already operating with
a severely stretched funding base.2 Students worrying
about their financial situation are urged to seek practical
advice and wellbeing support from their university to help them
through these difficult times.
Universities are calling for:
· Targeted government
hardship funding for UK students
· The reinstatement of
maintenance grants for those most in need
· Action to ensure that
support for students is protected against inflation
· Increased financial support
for postgraduate researchers
· Ensuring that any
government action to support people with rising costs, such as
energy, can be accessed by students across the UK, including
those in halls
Professor Steve West CBE, President of Universities UK
and Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol, said:
“The government must step forward to work with us to provide
extra funding for those students sadly struggling through this
crisis. With inflation reaching record highs and energy bills
soaring they need extra support right now, before they decide
their living costs are so high that they can’t afford to continue
with their studies. The links between financial stress and
poor mental health are clear – and this is likely to put
increasing pressure on the NHS.
“It’s time to bring back the maintenance grant and make sure it
keeps pace with inflation. Universities are targeting available
hardship funding where it is needed the most, but with the value
of maintenance loans falling to its lowest level in seven years,
this will not be enough for many. We need immediate action from
the new cabinet to help students through the difficult winter
ahead.”
Notes to Editors
· The full survey
results can be found in the attached pdf document
