Key findings from the survey of 3,500 apprentices, college and university students across the UK by the National Union of Students (NUS) reveal:
- A third of students are living on less than £50 a month, after paying rent and bills.
- 42 per cent are forced to travel less, or can’t make it to campus.
- More than one in ten (11 per cent) are accessing food banks – up from 5 per cent in January.
- 83 per cent have sought financial support by other means such as credit cards, buy now, pay later credit schemes, and taking out loans.
- One in five are not able to buy toiletries and one in 10 are unable to afford sanitary products when needed.
The survey was taken by more than 500 apprentices, for whom the minimum wage is as low as £4.81 an hour. Most apprentices said their wage will not be sufficient to cover the cost of living and accessing their education.
An apprentice studying with Lifetime training said, ‘It's a struggle all the time ,trying to make ends meet. I find myself now having to go to the food bank so I can get through the week even then there’s no point as I would have to use the electric to cook and then find myself not having enough to last the week if I do that, it's stressful just trying to get by.'
Just 20 per cent of respondents said they have received support from the UK Government or their devolved government, and just 8 per cent think their government is doing enough to support them.
Most students said the value of their maintenance package is not enough to afford the weekly shop, transport to their education provider, or energy bills. A total of 75 per cent said they would not be able to continue to afford course materials without more support.
According to the research, among the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis are students with caring responsibilities, disabled students and those from a low socio-economic background.
An NUS spokesperson said, ‘Huge increases in the price of bills, food and living costs coupled with soaring rent has students on the brink. We’re hearing from students struggling to get by, who can’t afford to do their laundry and are cutting back on showers to make ends meet. They can’t even cover the cost of getting to the library or classes.
‘This is having a severe impact on their mental health, being kept awake at night due to finances. We’re seeing stress and anxiety piling on them from bouncing debt between different cards to stay afloat. Despite all of this, students are being completely ignored by the Government. These findings are bleak; we’re knee deep in a cost-of-learning crisis that will affect the poorest students the hardest.
‘We are calling on the UK Government to put in place a tailored cost of living support package for students as a matter of urgency. We also need to ensure that the student maintenance package and the apprentice minimum wage are brought in line with the Living Wage.’