- The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students will today
launch an inquiry to consider the impact of cost-of-living
pressures on university students and the support provided by the
sector and the Government.
- This comes as the Government announce additional £15
(equivalent to £5.60 extra per student) million in university
funding to help ease cost of living pressures, alongside a 2.8%
increase in maintenance support in 2023/24.
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said some students will
be £1,500 a year worse off because of financial pressures.
- The inquiry will take written evidence from students and
students’ unions, as well as universities and colleges,
accommodation providers and other stakeholders in preparing
recommendations to Government and the HE sector.
- Alongside this inquiry, the APPG will be seeking submissions
from further education students and colleges on the different
issues faced by those studying in the FE sector.
The APPG for Students launches its inquiry into the financial
position of students, following last week’s Government
announcement of £15 million additional funding for universities
to “support universities to top up their own hardship funds…
stepping up efforts to support their students through a variety
of programmes.” The inquiry will also consider how far other
government support with energy prices has helped students.
APPG for Students Chair Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield
Central, commented:
“The Government has recognised the problem facing students as a
result of the cost-of-living crisis with their announcement and
universities have put in place various schemes of additional
financial support. Our inquiry will aim to assess how far
this provision is working in practice in providing the support
needed by students in a very diverse sector.
We are particularly keen to hear from mature students, those with
disabilities and others who face special needs. We will also be
considering the position of students in all four nations of the
UK, recognising the different support provided devolved
administrations during the pandemic.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The APPG Students inquiry is being led by . Other Officers of the
APPG are theConservative’s and former Universities
Minister Lord , Labour’s , the SNP’s
Alison Thewliss MP and Green MP .
- Government announcement can be found here. £5.60
additional support per student figure based on most recent
analysis stating there are 2.66 million students in
higher education in the UK.
- Submissions to the Inquiry can be made by students here and
institutions here
