Universities UK responds to HEPI/Advance HE 2023 Student Academic Experience Survey

It is encouraging to see that satisfaction amongst students from underrepresented groups has improved compared to last year, and that the proportion of students rating the quality and value of their degree has gone up.

However, this data definitively shows that students’ university experience is being negatively impacted by the cost of living crisis. The vast majority feel that their ability to study has been affected, with many having to take on increased hours working to make ends meet. We need government to act fast to increase the amount of maintenance support for students. Universities are doing their bit by increasing hardship funding, offering subsidised or free food on campus and increasing other forms of pastoral support, but there is a limit to what they can do without action from government.