Interim results of the National Union of Students (NUS) ‘The Pound in your Pocket’ survey of students’ perceptions of financial support show that two-thirds (66%) of undergraduates aged 21-24 regularly worry about not having enough money to cover basic living costs.
The survey, released on the eve of NUS National Conference 2012, forms the first output from NUS’ Financial Support Commission which is investigating the costs faced by students today and the impact of the complex range of support measures available to them. The results show that more than a third of students in every group faced severe financial worries with the biggest worries felt by NHS students, students with children and older students in further education.
Other findings in the report released today (Monday) include 68% of further education students aged 16-18 who said that they spent on around £30 per week on transport. This is the group who recently lost access to the controversially scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance and indicates that their transport costs are equal to the maximum weekly EMA payment they would previously have received.
Liam Burns, NUS President, said:
“Students at all levels of education are telling us that financial support is not reaching the pockets of those that need it most.
“Students who struggle to meet basic living costs will also struggle to continue their education. We desperately need a radical rethink of the way that student financial support is organised.
“Whatever your opinion on whether the new fees regime in colleges and universities will stop poorer students accessing education, not having enough money whilst we study certainly will. Government must ensure that no student is forced out of education because of cost and no matter how many times they say the opposite it is clearly a risk. ”
ENDS
NUS National Conference takes places from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 April. Details about the conference can be found here - http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/conference/
Embargoed copies of the report 'The Pound In Your Pocket: Survey Results Interim Report' are available on request from the NUS Press Office ahead of its publication on Monday 23 April
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