Many UCL Students Struggle to Make Ends Meet, New Report Finds

Image courtesy of University College London

In January and February of this year, Students’ Union UCL carried out research commissioned by Russell Group Students’ Unions on students’ experiences with the cost of living. This is the largest study of students’ cost of living to date, with almost 9000 responses.

They found that 1 in 4 students regularly go without food and other necessities because they cannot afford them. The survey also saw that students are living on average just £2 per week over the destitution line in the UK.

The findings show that these financial pressures are affecting students’ studies, with 54% of students reporting their academic performance to have suffered due to the cost of living crisis. 17% of respondents in paid part-time employment reported working over 30 hours a week alongside their studies, and 18% of all student respondents have considered dropping out due to financial reasons.

In response to the rising cost of living, Russell Group universities are increasing support for students, including investing tens of millions in additional hardship funding and other financial help. Other measures include subsidised food and extending access to campus facilities. The study has found, however, that additional Government assistance is needed to address the growing financial pressure on students.

The Russell Group and Russell Group Students’ Unions are calling on the Government to increase student maintenance loans in line with inflation, consider the reintroduction of maintenance grants to support the most disadvantaged students, and to review the parental threshold for maximum loans support, which has been frozen since 2008.

You can read the report here, as well as find out how to access support at UCL.