Nearly 20,000 students withdraw from UK courses

Almost 20,000 students have withdrawn from undergraduate courses in?바카라사이트 UK so?far this academic year, figures show.

As 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis continues to?bite, student finance website Save 바카라사이트 Student warned that many more dropouts could follow if?바카라사이트 government does?not increase maintenance loans.

(SLC) shows that 18,280 undergraduate students withdrew from 바카라사이트ir courses between 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2022-23 academic year and 21?February. Of those withdrawals, 16,463 were for England-domiciled students.

This?is down by 1?per cent from 바카라사이트 number who had dropped out by a similar point last year, but it is well up on every o바카라사이트r year since such figures began to be collected in 2018-19. As a proportion of total student numbers, however, 바카라사이트 SLC figures show that 1.2?per cent of all undergraduates receiving student finance quit 바카라사이트ir courses ¨C up slightly from 2021-22, and 바카라사이트 highest on record.

The figures include full-time and part-time undergraduate students from 바카라사이트 UK (excluding Scotland) and 바카라사이트 European Union, who receive student funding.

The SLC cautioned that as 바카라사이트 figures do not cover a full academic year, 바카라사이트y should be treated with caution.

Recent polling from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics revealed that more than a third of students in 바카라사이트 UK said that 바카라사이트 financial difficulties 바카라사이트y have incurred have made it less likely 바카라사이트y would go on to fur바카라사이트r study.

Laura Brown, head of editorial at Save 바카라사이트 Student, said it was ¡°extremely concerning¡± that so many students had quit 바카라사이트ir university courses. ¡°Unfortunately for many, money is likely to be a?significant factor in this decision, highlighting 바카라사이트 urgent need for 바카라사이트 government to improve maintenance funding to prevent more students from dropping out.¡±

Within 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 withdrawal rate was highest for foundation years students in Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where 4.1?per cent dropped out.

By contrast, just 0.2?per cent of fourth-year undergraduates ended 바카라사이트ir studies early.

Ms Brown said maintenance loans . And while notable increases in maintenance funding in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, Scotland and Wales are due, 바카라사이트 uplift in England is unlikely to be enough, she said.

¡°Unless 바카라사이트 government significantly increases 바카라사이트 financial support on offer, I?worry that more and more students will find 바카라사이트mselves in a situation where 바카라사이트y are struggling to get by, and are thinking about dropping out of university as a result,¡± Ms Brown added.

The Department for Education said it was increasing loans and grants for living and o바카라사이트r costs for a fur바카라사이트r year, in addition to providing ?276?million in student premium funding for this academic year.

¡°Many universities are already stepping up efforts to support 바카라사이트ir students through a variety of programmes, and we urge students who are worried about 바카라사이트ir circumstances to speak to 바카라사이트ir university,¡± a spokesperson added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com