Students are skipping in-person lectures and taking on new debt in response to the cost of living crisis, according to official statistics that suggest rising prices are creating divisions in young people’s university experiences.
Figures published on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics show 91 per cent of higher education students in England were worried about living costs this month, while 77 per cent feared financial pressures would negatively affect their studies.
With UK inflation running at 11.1 per cent, housing costs rising and tight government spending limiting support for students, the figures suggest the financial squeeze is undermining their educational experiences and achievements.