Those from underprivileged backgrounds risk being priced out of Higher Education

With the cost of living crisis affecting people across the UK, students are no exception to feeling the financial pressure. The National Union for Students reported that 65% of students are cutting back on food and in England maintenance loans are leaving students with 50p after paying rent. The Sutton Trust published a report in 2024 which found that 28% of undergraduates had skipped meals to save on food costs, with 33% of students from working class backgrounds doing so. Some students had to take on part-time work to fund their studies, with almost a quarter of students reporting they had missed a course deadline because of a job.

Since the removal of maintenance grants (which did not have to be paid back), students from lower income backgrounds have been leaving university with the highest levels of debt. It is estimated that poorer students could graduate with £60,100 of debt, 38% higher than the £43,600 debt for those from wealthier families.

The report shows that students from underprivileged backgrounds risk being priced out of Higher Education or for those who do go, they are likely to require a part-time job, potentially increasing levels of attrition or affecting final grades. 

You can read the full Sutton Trust report here:

https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/reforming-student-maintenance/