A third of students have considered dropping out due to financial difficulties as they are “pushed into poverty” to complete their studies, a shock report has found.
A survey by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 12 per cent of all students have experienced homelessness since starting their studies - while eight per cent said they had to rely on foodbanks to get by.
Almost two thirds (64 per cent) said they have experienced mental ill health as a result of financial pressures.
The NUS wants the Scottish Government to accelerate a commitment to bring student support up to the real living wage.
Matt Crilly president of NUS Scotland, said: “Students in Scotland are being failed by a broken system which is leaving many without enough money to live.
“With more than a third of students at risk of dropping out, real action is needed – not words.
“More than four years ago the Student Support Review recommended that student support should meet the real living wage.
“This Scottish Government has failed to put that recommendation into action and now students are also being met with inflation-busting increases in our rents and a soaring cost of living.
“It is no wonder students are dependent on foodbanks, working excessive hours on top of their coursework, experiencing homelessness at an alarmingly high rate, and taking on more and more debt.”
The survey of more than 3,500 students found that a quarter had been unable to pay their rent in full on one or more occasion and more than half (56 per cent) said it was hard to cope financially over the summer.
More than two thirds (68%) of students that work do so for more than 10 hours per week to make ends meet.
Nearly one in three (31 oer cent) students said they have relied on commercial debt such as credit cards, Klarna or payday loans, with a quarter reliant on bank overdrafts, while 35% have considered dropping out of their course due to financial difficulties.
Vulnerable and disadvantaged students were the worst hit, with one in three estranged students reporting that they had experienced homelessness, while 15% of all students with caring responsibilities said they relied on foodbanks.
The report stated: “The findings of this survey reveal a prevailing narrative that students across Scotland are being pushed into poverty to complete their studies, and the system is clearly failing them.”
Scottish Labour education spokesman Martin Whitfield said: “The education secretary should come to parliament and outline a fresh package of student support that will alleviate the tough situation students are going through.”
The Scottish Government said that this week more than £5 million has been distributed to help students in financial hardship with basics like heating and other household costs as part of a £37 million hardship funding provided since June 2021.
Higher education minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Many students are facing higher energy bills and increased financial hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis.
“I have written to university and college principals asking them to ensure that discretionary funds remain accessible for students most in need and that in distributing funds, they should take account of the impact rising energy prices will be having on students, particularly those in private rented accommodation."
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