Nine in 10 students struggling to afford rent and food, UCU warns

Nine in 10 students cannot afford essentials such as rent and food, new polling from the University and College Union (UCU) has found.

The survey, published on A-level results day, shows half of undergraduates say money worries are “harming their mental health”. UCU said the findings highlight a “crisis in higher education funding” that is pushing students into financial hardship and damaging wellbeing.

Savanta polled undergraduates aged 18–24 and found:

• 92% say their maintenance loan does not cover all term-time expenses.

• 51% say financial pressures harm their mental health; 29% feel financially secure.

• 49% say finances negatively affect their wellbeing.

• 74% of disabled students work during term-time compared with 63% of non-disabled students.

• 15% have considered dropping out due to money worries.

• 42% feel stressed about finances, 36% feel worried and 21% feel depressed.

• 30% have regularly skipped meals to cope with financial strain.
  

Three-quarters believe rising tuition fees will make university less accessible, and 70% say the government should provide emergency funding to at-risk institutions. More than half (55%) support scrapping tuition fees altogether.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Students are being pushed to breaking point. Almost half are experiencing negative effects on their mental health because of their finances, with disabled students hit the hardest. The government must act now to ensure higher education is accessible for all, not just those who can afford it.

“It is alarming that students, already facing rising fees, are being forced to work longer hours, skip meals and make life-altering decisions about their education because of financial insecurity. The cost of living is too high, and the maintenance loan is too low. This outdated and underfunded system is causing real harm.”