Our response to the APPG Students inquiry into the impact of the cost of living crisis on students

• Recent data from ONS and UUK polling has revealed that students have significant concerns around their own income and expenditure with 91% of students  being worried or very worried about the rising cost of living in the last two weeks.
• Our members have reported that student main expenditure concerns around: course related expenses, energy and food bills, fuel and transport costs and private rented accommodation. 
• To support students, universities continue to offer hardship funding to students who are experiencing financial difficulty.

Universities are undertaking a wide range of actions to support students by:

• anticipating an increased use of student services on entry and through the study journey
• engaging with their Students’ Unions and student representatives
• improving and updating their information on course and living costs
• increasing their hardship and crisis support funds
• providing targeted support to keep rental, energy and food costs low
• ensuring all students (including international students) are aware of university support available to them and of their eligibility

• Polling from ONS and Savanta ComRes on behalf of UUK found that specific student groups including those who are mature, commuters, part-time, disabled, and international, as well as those from different social backgrounds.have been disproportionately affected by the cost of living crisis. 
• Our members have identified similar student populations as being disproportionately affected by the cost of living crisis including disabled students, commuter students and mature students. 

• As cost of living pressures intensify, it will become increasingly apparent where some groups of students are missing out on support and where there is a need for extra support. Government and universities will need to work together to assess how increased support is given to those who are most in need.