A new survey from the National Union of Students has found that 14% of students used foodbanks in the 2023/24 academic year, compared to 7% in 2021/22.
Read the full report here!
Latest figures from NUS UK on the cost of living show how vital it is that the next government acts to fix the broken student funding system, and how important it is that students register to vote so that their voices can be heard in the General Election.
In a survey of over 6,500 students, it found that the student cost-of-living crisis has only got worse since 2022, with 14% of students using foodbanks in the 2023/24 academic year, double the rate it was in 2022.
Student rents have greatly outpaced student funding, with 45% of students living on less than £50 per month after housing costs. In comparison, an NUS study in 2022 found that 42% of students were living off £100 or less per month.
The survey also found that:
- 75% of students say that their loan or bursary does not cover their cost of living comfortably.
- 74% of students have cut back on socializing due to the cost-of-living crisis.
- 55% have cut back on food.
- 13% have experienced homelessness.
The cost-of-living crisis continues to have a significant impact on students’ mental health. Students were already facing a loneliness crisis, but now that three quarters are cutting back on socialising due to cost and 20% are working almost full-time on top of their studies, isolation is increasing. As a result, 40% are reporting worse mental health than this time last year.
NUS has condemned government inaction on the student cost-of-living crisis, reminding the political parties that students make up 10% of the voting population and could have a big impact on the outcome of this year’s General Election.
The survey follows NUS UK’s previous polling which found that the cost-of-living crisis is students main priority in the upcoming General Election.
The Higher Education Policy Institute released a report that shows that maintenance support for students at university is at the lowest level for a decade. Even students on the maximum maintenance loan in England would have to work 19 hours per week just to meet the minimum cost of living.
Commenting, NUS UK Vice President Higher Education, Chloe Field, said:
“The next government must prioritise increasing financial support for students. The inaction on the student cost-of-living crisis is forcing students into poverty. The impact of this can be felt in all areas of students’ lives.
“Not only are students cutting back on food, they are working almost full-time on top of already full-time studies, leaving them exhausted and unable to commit proper time and energy to our studies.
“Three quarters of students are also cutting back on socialising because they cannot afford to see friends. This is deeply affecting our mental health, with two in five students reporting that their mental health has declined since last year.
“The effects of the chronic underfunding of students are complex, but the solutions are simple: reintroduce maintenance grants that meet the true cost of living, increase maintenance loans, and make students eligible for universal credit.
“The cost-of-living crisis is students number one priority in the next General Election. I would remind politicians that students make up 10% of the voting population. If they want our votes, they need to give us something to vote for.
”My message to students is to register to vote before the deadline on 18th June. Together, we can have a huge impact on the outcome of this election.”
