More Students Choosing to Live at Home Due to Rising University Costs
Over 81,000 UK 18-year-olds have chosen to live at home for university this year, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas). This is the highest number in the past nine years, with one in three students in this category opting to live at home.
The trend is rising across the UK, with 48% of applicants in Scotland intending to live at home, compared with 20% in Wales. Students have cited the rising cost of living as a major influence in their decision.
Beatrice and Amelia, two friends from St Helens, Merseyside, are heading to university in September but will not be moving into student accommodation. Beatrice is going to the University of Manchester to study maths and plans to commute by train, a journey which can take about 50 minutes in total. Amelia, who is going to study at Liverpool John Moores University, says the accommodation she found was between £300 and £400 a week.
However, fellow student Jessica, who is also going to study at Liverpool John Moores University, feels she will miss out on the full university experience due to the high cost of renting. She says the price of renting is "ridiculous" and "insane".
The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) has reported that students need £61,000 over the course of a three-year degree in order to have a "minimum socially acceptable standard of living", excluding tuition fees. The cost of renting in university-owned accommodation ranges from £108 per week in Northern Ireland to £338 a week in London.
| Region | Shortest contract price (£/week) | Longest contract price (£/week) |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 108 | 140 |
| Scotland | 140 | 180 |
| Wales | 140 | 180 |
| England | 140 | 180 |
| London | 338 | 180 |
Many students are eligible for a maintenance loan, which can help with the cost of accommodation, but the average annual price of a room on campus is increasing much faster, according to some student unions. Hepi says most young full-time students now work in paid employment during term time to make up the difference between their maintenance loan income and the cost of living.
The Open University, which offers distance learning and online courses, has seen an increase in new starters, with almost 3,400 18-and 19-year-olds joining the university last year. This is 9.5% of new starters, compared with 5.7% six years ago.
A recent report by Prof William Whyte, from the University of Oxford, argues that the value of on-campus life extends far beyond the price of accommodation, and plays an important role in personal development and the wider university experience.
The Department for Education has acknowledged that too many students are facing financial hardship and is increasing maximum maintenance loans and reintroducing maintenance grants to help with living costs. They are also working with universities and councils to improve access to student housing.
A student who is planning to live at home will still be able to have their mum and dad's cooked dinners, as Jessica, a fellow student, pointed out.
