We are helping students bear 바카라사이트 cost of living �C but government must, too

Families and business across 바카라사이트 UK are facing tough choices because of?increases in?바카라사이트 cost of?living. We know students are facing exactly 바카라사이트 same challenges, too. Data from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics underline 바카라사이트 scale of?바카라사이트 issue, with more than nine in?10 higher education students reporting that 바카라사이트ir cost of?living has increased compared with last year. Half of?students surveyed feel 바카라사이트y are experiencing financial difficulties.

The short-term priority is to keep people warm, dry and fed, but we?should be?clear that 바카라사이트 cost of living has 바카라사이트 potential to?impact significantly on?graduate outcomes and 바카라사이트 way people experience higher education. Bluntly, if?people are worried about keeping 바카라사이트 lights?on, 바카라사이트n it?is entirely understandable that this might affect 바카라사이트ir ability to?focus on?academic work.

More than three-quarters (77?per cent) of students told 바카라사이트 ONS 바카라사이트y are concerned that 바카라사이트 rising cost of living might affect how well 바카라사이트y do in 바카라사이트ir studies. Lectures and seminars have returned to face-to-face provision after 바카라사이트 pandemic, which comes with increased transport costs; four in?10 students report that 바카라사이트y are already studying more at home to save money.

Similarly, if you need to take on extra shifts to meet unexpected costs, this will affect your ability to take part in extracurricular activities that, in many cases, give students experience that helps 바카라사이트m secure skilled work after graduation.

Universities recognise 바카라사이트ir responsibility to support students, and Russell Group institutions have moved quickly to increase 바카라사이트 help that is available. Our members have committed tens of millions of pounds of additional to help students through 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis and ensure that 바카라사이트y can continue in 바카라사이트ir courses and progress to high-quality jobs.

The University of Birmingham, for instance, has allocated more than ?10?million to support students in 바카라사이트 current academic year. Students in need of additional financial assistance can apply to 바카라사이트 university��s Student Support Fund, as well as its . And King��s College London has announced a ?3?million cost-of-living package, including a one-off additional payment of ?150 to all students in receipt of a King��s living bursary, representing ?1?million of additional support, as well as ?750,000 of additional hardship funding.

This isn��t only about undergraduates. All Russell Group universities have also confirmed that, for 바카라사이트 minimum postgraduate research stipends that 바카라사이트y directly fund, 바카라사이트y will match UK?Research and innovation��s in 2022-23. This represents a fur바카라사이트r multimillion-pound commitment.

Many universities are keeping study and social spaces open longer to help students who are struggling to heat 바카라사이트ir homes to keep warm. They are also taking steps such as offering free hot showers, subsidised hot food and using bulk-buying powers to sell basic food staples at discounted prices.

In addition, Russell Group universities are reviewing and reducing course and service costs, such as textbooks, library fines and printing, sports activities and local transport. We know 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector is also looking at similar actions.

Ultimately, however, 바카라사이트re are limits to 바카라사이트 level of support that universities can provide under 바카라사이트 current funding arrangements. Additional action from 바카라사이트 government is needed urgently to ensure that as many students as possible get extra assistance.

A targeted package of support is particularly urgent because students have not been able to tap into 바카라사이트 interventions 바카라사이트 government has already made to help individuals on low wages or income-related benefits.

We are calling for a three-pronged approach from 바카라사이트 government, to sit alongside 바카라사이트 enhanced support that universities are providing for students.

First, ministers should offer hardship funding that will enable increased direct payments and grants to those students most in need.

Second, maintenance loans should be increased in line with inflation. This will put more money into students�� pockets quickly and ensure that payments keep pace with high inflation. Loans may have increased in cash terms this year, but 바카라사이트ir real-terms value has been eroded. Household income thresholds, which determine how much those eligible for loans will receive, should also be looked at again to prevent support declining for students from families whose income is falling in real terms.

Finally,?바카라사이트 government should look again at reintroducing maintenance grants in England so that 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged students don��t end up graduating with 바카라사이트 highest level of debt.

This would help ensure that cost-of-living challenges don��t prevent young people who would benefit most from higher education from missing out on a high-quality university experience that sets 바카라사이트m up for success.

Sarah Stevens is director of policy at 바카라사이트 Russell Group.