Learn about how the cost of living crisis is affecting students, use your voice, and get support
Council tax discounts. Income tax cuts. Where's the help for students?
Even before the pandemic, evidence shows that students experiencing financial difficulties in the UK were at a greater risk of developing mental health difficulties than their peers. Students have endured years of uncertainty, disruption, and economic instability. Now, the cost-of-living crisis is another factor seriously affecting their mental health and wellbeing. Students still have to pay for rent, bills, and groceries, and this is before we even account for course costs like textbooks and fieldwork.
Most of the steps the government has taken so far in response to the cost-of-living crisis, such as council tax rebates and income tax cuts, are sadly not helpful for the majority of students. This isn’t good enough.
Something has to change. Not only is it deeply unfair that students are at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis, but the long-term harm can affect a whole generation mentally, academically, and financially. How can we expect students to thrive in their education when they don’t know how they’re going to make ends meet?
This Hub is here to provide you with resources to learn and talk about the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on student mental health. Hear directly how students are already being affected and find support for those experiencing financial difficulties. You can also check out and share our open letter to government and university leaders demanding urgent change.
Even before the pandemic, evidence shows that students experiencing financial difficulties in the UK were at a greater risk of developing mental health difficulties than their peers. Students have endured years of uncertainty, disruption, and economic instability. Now, the cost-of-living crisis is another factor seriously affecting their mental health and wellbeing. Students still have to pay for rent, bills, and groceries, and this is before we even account for course costs like textbooks and fieldwork.
Most of the steps the government has taken so far in response to the cost-of-living crisis, such as council tax rebates and income tax cuts, are sadly not helpful for the majority of students. This isn’t good enough.
Something has to change. Not only is it deeply unfair that students are at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis, but the long-term harm can affect a whole generation mentally, academically, and financially. How can we expect students to thrive in their education when they don’t know how they’re going to make ends meet?
This Hub is here to provide you with resources to learn and talk about the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on student mental health. Hear directly how students are already being affected and find support for those experiencing financial difficulties. You can also check out and share our open letter to government and university leaders demanding urgent change.
Find SupportAre you worried about the cost of living crisis? Here are some places you can access support: Student Space Student Space is here to support you through university life. Explore resources around:
Find help at your university Other sources of support |
Cost of living fact sheetThis factsheet gives you the latest information on how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting students and their mental health. You can use this as a resource to learn more about the issue or to help lobby your university, MP, or others to help them understand and make a difference. Consultation ResponseIn February 2023, we responded to the APPG for Students' consultation exploring the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students. We were really pleased to see the APPG take this issue so seriously and to cite our evidence multiple times in their summary. You can read our response by clicking on the link below to see how we are advocating for you. |
What are students saying?
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Our media coverageOne of our goals is to raise public understanding of how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting students, and what needs to be done. We have spoken on a number of occasions to different media outlets about the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on student mental health, and what needs to be done. You can check out the coverage so far below: |