The Need to Study: A Growing Financial Burden
In recent years, the financial pressures on British university students have intensified, placing many in precarious situations. Record levels of student debt, climbing living costs, and shrinking financial support are turning higher education into a fraught experience—even as the number of first-generation students grows.
Rising Debt and Cost-of-Living Pressures
Data reveals that students in England now graduate with an average debt of approximately £53,000, representing a 10 percent increase on the prior year—driven in large part by inflation and the escalating cost of living. Regional differences remain stark: Scottish graduates owe just £17,000, while students in Wales and Northern Ireland face debts of £39,470 and £28,000 respectively.
Monthly university living costs average around £1,104, with London students paying more—around £1,264 per month—while maintenance loans fall short by roughly £504 monthly. Students report cutting back on essentials: three in five skip meals, and nearly half consider dropping out because of money worries.
Furthermore, a National Union of Students (NUS) survey found that 42 percent of students are living on £100 or less per month, while over 90 percent have had to make cutbacks such as eating less, reducing heating, or avoiding socialising.
The Rise of First-Generation Students
First-generation university students—those whose parents did not attend higher education—now make up a significant and growing share of the student body. In the 2021–22 academic year, they numbered approximately 651,965, a 24 percent rise since 2012–13.
These students tend to be more financially vulnerable. Nearly 41 percent say they could not have attended university without maintenance support, and 27 percent are more likely to depend on grants than peers who had university-educated parents. Family support is also less common among first-gen students—only 16 percent receive it, compared to 23 percent for others.
Balancing Work, Study, and Wellbeing
Students are increasingly juggling paid work with their courses, often at the cost of their academic performance and mental health. Working during term time rose from 34 percent in 2021 to 56 percent in 2024, with average work hours reaching 14.5 per week, up from 12.3.
Income shortfalls contribute directly to stress: the ONS and other studies report that up to 90 percent of students feel their mental health has been affected by financial strain, and around 50 percent are concerned that money issues are impacting their course performance.
Support Gaps and Maintenance Loans
Despite rising costs, student maintenance loan funding has increased by just 2.8 percent in England for 2023–24, falling well behind inflation. In contrast, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland have increased support by 9.4 to 40 percent.
A quarter of all students have faced financial difficulty during their studies, and nearly half have missed classes to work—highlighting the limitations of current support schemes.
Controversy: Gaza Student Funding Amid Domestic Strain
The strain on UK university finances is exacerbated by political tensions arising from funding priorities. It has emerged that the UK has fully funded forty students from Gaza, enabling their education in the UK. This commitment, while humanitarian in nature, provoked criticism among domestic students struggling to afford university life—many of whom fear their own plight is being overlooked.
Family Support: More Burden, Less Help
Research shows that 75 percent of students received parental support during their studies, averaging £16,000 over their degree. Together with student debt, the total cost of a degree reached approximately £60,000 for many graduates in 2024.
However, this parental cushion is increasingly out of reach. Recent surveys indicate that the proportion of students receiving financial help from their parents has fallen to just 53 percent, while maintenance loans remain inadequate to cover rising costs.
Impacts and Institutional Responses
Financial hardship is taking its toll on academic outcomes and social participation. Over half of affected students say their studies have suffered, and many struggle with poor nutrition or mental exhaustion—conditions that are significantly worsening the university experience.
In response, some universities—particularly those in the Russell Group—have invested tens of millions into hardship funds, subsidised meals, and expanded student care services.
British Uni: A System Under Strain
The data presents a stark narrative: university students in the UK are facing unprecedented financial strain. With record debts, insufficient maintenance support, and growing reliance on paid work, the cost of higher education now threatens both equity and academic opportunity.
First-generation students are especially at risk, with far less familial support and higher dependence on maintenance loans and bursaries. It is within this context that the decision to fully fund forty students from Gaza has sparked disagreement, as many believe government’s focus should first secure education for those already living under severe financial pressure.
As policymakers prepare for potential reforms, addressing the crisis at the heart of higher education must be a priority—before university degrees become an impossible dream for a generation of prospective students.
