Incoming government urged to work with universities to help students through cost of living crisis 

• Polling shows cost of living could lead to higher dropout rates as value of student loan falls to lowest level for 7 years
• 72% of students say cost of living is negatively affecting their mental health
• Universities call for return of the maintenance grant and additional hardship funding from government  

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: 

Notes to editors

• The funding figures and analysis used do not apply to the Welsh student support system which provides a grant and loan package to Welsh-domiciled students that seeks to keep pace with the living wage. 
• The issue of the rising cost of living and its impact will be on the agenda and under discussion for university leaders at next week’s UUK annual conference