Students ‘ pushed to financial brink’ by pandemic

STUDENTS ARE “close to the brink” financially due to the Covid19 pandemic with about a fifth struggling to pay their rent and bills, a survey suggests.

Nearly three in four ( 73 per cent) students are concerned about being able to manage financially and now half plan to have a full or part- time job alongside their studies, according to the National Union of Students ( NUS).

Its survey of more than 4,100 students in July found 21 per cent were unable to pay bills in full over the past four months, while 19 per cent were unable to pay their rent in full during the same period.

The union is calling on the Government to provide more hardship funding to universities to help support students who find themselves in financial difficulty as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Larissa Kennedy, NUS president, said “Students are close to the brink financially with little room for manoeuvre or options to help themselves.

“Many have lost jobs during the lockdown, not been able to find employment over the summer and/ or seen the incomes of those they rely on financially seriously affected by coronavirus.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We understand this is an extremely difficult time for students, which is why from the very start of this pandemic the Universities Minister’s top priority has been to keep students safe and supported.

“The Government is working closely with the sector through the Government task force to provide support for disadvantaged students.”