Students: Cost of Living

(asked on 14th April 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to publish a response to the report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Students on the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students, published on 22 March 2023.


Answered by
Robert Halfon Portrait
Robert Halfon
This question was answered on 24th April 2023

The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and that have impacted students.

The department is discussing the additional cost of living pressures in our regular meetings with stakeholders, including the Office for Students (OfS), Universities UK and the higher education Mission Groups. We have also consulted with the National Association of Student Money Advisers to understand the ongoing situation in relation to increased requests from students for hardship awards from their universities.

There is now £276 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. The department works with the OfS to ensure universities support students in hardship using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.

The department has discussed the additional cost of living pressures in regular meetings with stakeholders, including the OfS, Universities UK and the higher education Mission Groups. We have also consulted with the National Association of Student Money Advisers to understand the ongoing situation in relation to increased requests from students for hardship awards from their universities.

The Office for National Statistics has twice surveyed students directly on the impact of cost of living pressures. The most recent report, published 24 February is available to view here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/educationandchildcare/bulletins/costoflivingandhighereducationstudentsengland/30januaryto13february2023.

On 17 March, OfS published an insight brief to better understand the impact increasing living costs are having on students. The brief discusses data and research from OfS roundtable events, a poll commissioned by the OfS, and other student surveys to explore how the cost of living is affecting students and how universities and colleges are mitigating its impact.

The department welcomes the continued efforts of the OfS and the higher education sector to look at what more can be done to support students in need of financial help.

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