According to an annual survey, more and more students are working alongside their studies.
Research suggests that 55% of students are now in paid work, compared to a total of 45% 12 months ago.
In the survey of over 10,000 students, 76% also stated that the cost of living had had a negative impact on their studies.
The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) findings are part of a broader snapshot of the experience of studying in the UK.
Co-authored by Advance HE, the full-time student survey is the most comprehensive dataset on student experience in the UK and is weighted to be representative of the university population.
The survey suggests:
- More students in paid work (55%) than not (45%)
- Employed students work an average of 13.5 hours per week
- 76% of all respondents state that the cost of living has a negative impact on their studies
26-year-old sophomore Clarissa Struthers is working three jobs to support herself financially while completing her degree in social work at the University of Hertfordshire.
She combines lectures with paid work as a nanny, teaching assistant, and home caregiver—often up to four days a week.
“It’s affecting your grades because you’re so tired from working around classes,” she said.
She also lives at home with her family in east London to keep costs down as much as possible.
“There are so many things I’ve cut corners on, even thinking about what to eat when I’m grocery shopping,” she said.
“It’s really sad, but that’s the reality.”
- “I’m skipping college classes to get paid work instead”
- Uni students lonelier than other adults – study
- Everything you need to know about student loans
In order to cover the cost of living during their studies, students receive a means-tested maintenance loan. This means that the amounts vary depending on the household income of the student’s family.
They are separate from tuition fees – which are used to cover the cost of the course – and are intended to cover room, board, books and other equipment needed by students.
The Hepi report called on the government to review the system of child support credits to ensure they are increased “in time” and in line with inflation, which has soared over the past year.
A survey conducted by Save the Student last September found that the cost of living for students has increased by 14% in 12 months.
But the maintenance credits are not increasing to the same extent.
For those with credit in England, they will increase by 2.8% over 2023-2024, 9.4% in Wales and 40% in Northern Ireland. Overall cost of living support remains lower in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK.
Anyone who is eligible for a maintenance loan in Scotland can borrow an additional £900.
A spokesman for Universities UK, which represents 140 universities across the UK, said: “Universities are doing their bit by increasing hardship funding, providing subsidized or free food on campus and increasing other forms of pastoral support.”
“But there is a limit to what they can do without government action.”
The Department of Education previously told the BBC it has provided an additional £15m in funding to disadvantaged students, bringing the total to £276m this academic year.
A government spokesman said: “We recognize that students continue to face financial challenges, which is why we are increasing loans and grants for one more year of living expenses and other expenses.”
“In order to help students who need further support, we asked them [Office for Students] maintain the level of funding for higher education providers to support students in need. We urge students who are concerned about their situation to speak to their university.”
The cost of learning
Trying to stay warm, juggling part-time jobs and the impact on their mental health. BBC News follows the lives of three Leeds university students to find out how they are coping with the cost of living crisis.
Available now on BBC iPlayer (UK only).
Strike action was one of the reasons given by 23% of students in the Hepi survey for their courses being of poor value, followed by other reasons such as the cost of living (41%) and tuition fees (40%).
University staff went on strike for 18 days in February and March over their longstanding dispute with employers.
The Hepi report’s authors speculated that the timing of those strike days – which coincided with the survey conducted between January and March – may have contributed to its high ranking.
Students were also asked about their mental health and well-being, including a question about loneliness.
The 2022 Hepi survey was the first to ask this question, with nearly one in four students reporting feeling lonely most or all of the time.
That figure has since increased from 23% to 26% in 2023.
One of Hepi’s 13 recommendations was that universities should tailor their support to students from different backgrounds, with those living alone or at home with family being more likely to experience loneliness.
The survey also suggests that more students would choose an apprenticeship over college if they could make their choice again.
It said this could be due to rising living costs or a growing awareness of available training programs.
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