Over half of students in Scotland have gone without a meal because they could not afford to eat

NUS Scotland’s latest Cost of Survival report found that:

• 37% of students have considered dropping out for financial reasons (a rise from 36% in February 2022). The most common reason is not having enough money in their loan or bursary (34%) but the cost-of-living was cited by 1 in 5 considering dropping out (19%).
• 52% have skipped a meal because of lack of money and 11% have used a foodbank (up from 8%)

• 45% have gone without heating because of lack of money 
• 35% have been unable to pay their rent in full
• 21% have missed a class due to travel costs and a further 7% missed a placement.
• 13% of all students have either been unable to find somewhere to live by the time their classes began in September 2023 (11%) or still hadn’t found somewhere (2%).
• 12% of students had experienced homelessness (10%) or were currently homeless (2%)

The research is based on a survey of over 5,300 college and university students and apprentices. The report covers a wide range of issues including:homelessness, housing, student finances, and mental health and wellbeing. 

The results show that student poverty is more widespread than was previously thought.

In almost all cases, the students struggling the most were from widening-access backgrounds, including estranged, disabled, and care-experienced students, as well as students who are carers and come from low-income households.

This comes just a day after the stage three budget debate ignored students’ asks including for an increase in grants and bursaries and rent controls on student housing. 

You can access the Cost of Survival report on the NUS Scotland website here: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/nus/pages/358/attachments/original/1676990009/NUS_Cost_of_living_Crisis_presentation_reduced.pdf?1676990009

Commenting, NUS Scotland President, Ellie Gomersall said:

“These figures should be deeply troubling for the Scottish Government. It is a shocking indictment of their governance that over half of all students have skipped meals because they could not afford to eat. If more is not done to support students through the cost-of-living crisis, we risk all but the richest people being unable to access education.

“Further and higher education is free in Scotland because we want our education system to be accessible to all, but if students cannot afford to live whilst accessing that free education, we have failed to make it so. Students are already missing classes and even considering dropping out because they cannot afford to learn.

“Though the figures keep getting worse, student poverty is not a new problem; it did not originate with the cost-of-living crisis and solutions to the cost-of-living crisis will not make it go away. The Scottish Government need to develop bespoke solutions for students that include increased grants and bursaries, rent controls on student housing, and half price bus and rail fares for all students.”

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Sector Response

Fife College Vice Principal Dorothee Leslie said: 

“Sadly this report matches what our students have been telling us for quite some time. We are working hard to help our current and prospective students during this cost-of-living crisis and providing them with the reassurance that the college will continue to offer them a wide range of support measures to make coming to college affordable.

“Our breakfast Club initiative, for example, has been an incredibly popular service from the College with over 5,000 free breakfasts being served since the start of the 2022/23 academic year. Building on this, from next week we’ll also be serving free lunches. 

“We also provide access to free laptops and other devices to support studies as well as support in gaining Hardship payments and food shop vouchers. This is a constantly evolving list based on the needs of our students as the cost-of-living crisis continues.”