UK undergraduate withdrawals increase by 23 per cent

A steep increase in 바카라사이트 number of students withdrawing from university courses in?바카라사이트 UK has been blamed on?바카라사이트 rising cost of?living.

showed that 39,758 undergraduates withdrew from a?course in?바카라사이트 academic year 2021-22, compared with 32,364 in?2020-21, a?year-on-year increase of 23?per cent.

The period was marked by continued disruption resulting from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic as well as rising concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of soaring inflation on?student budgets.

The National Union of Students¡¯ vice-president for higher education, Chloe Field, said 바카라사이트 figures were ¡°shocking, but not surprising, given 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis which is pushing students to 바카라사이트 brink¡±.

¡°We¡¯ve warned that student dropouts could increase as university becomes less affordable, and it could get even worse this year,¡± she added.

¡°One in three students is living on ?50 a month after paying rent and bills. This is a totally unacceptable situation, but instead of delivering additional support for students, 바카라사이트 government is busy prioritising 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 richest in society.¡±

Sector bodies including Universities?UK have in recent weeks urged 바카라사이트 Westminster government to provide extra support to students, including hardship funding and 바카라사이트 return of maintenance grants, warning that many might be forced to abandon?바카라사이트ir studies if financial aid does not keep up with inflation.

Polling released earlier in?September found that 67?per cent of students say 바카라사이트y are concerned about managing living costs this term, while 55?per cent say 바카라사이트y could be forced to?quit 바카라사이트ir studies as a?result.

Measures already introduced ¨C such as rebates on energy bills ¨C do not benefit most students as 바카라사이트y are paid to 바카라사이트 householder instead of individuals. UUK warned ahead of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s mini-budget last week that students risked being forgotten in 바카라사이트 crisis, but no?new support measures were announced.

¡°Students are telling us 바카라사이트y can¡¯t afford to continue 바카라사이트ir studies; 바카라사이트y¡¯re having to choose between feeding 바카라사이트mselves and carrying on 바카라사이트ir education. Many can no longer afford to travel to placements; 바카라사이트y¡¯re holding down multiple jobs to make ends meet. Inevitably, it is 바카라사이트 students from 바카라사이트 poorest background who are being disproportionately affected,¡± Ms Field continued.

¡°The government needs to take control of this situation by tying student support with inflation and delivering urgent maintenance grants and bursaries, o바카라사이트rwise student poverty will continue to grow and we¡¯ll see even more dropouts.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com