The soaring cost of commuting for students has led to a near doubling in the amount of money they need to complete their degree.
According to Blackbullion’s Student Money and Wellbeing Report, increased fees and rents have seen more students forced to commute long distances from home to study.
Students needed an additional £621 every month to feel confident they will complete their degree last year, up from £329 in 2021.
However, so-called commuter students are hit harder, with this group needing £671 more than their monthly budget.
Blackbullion founder and CEO Vivi Friedgut said: “[The findings show] the enduring cost-of-living crisis is now a new normal, reshaping every aspect of the university experience from academic attainment to mental health, physical health, and social connection.”
The report by the finance-based education platform follows revelations that two in five UK university students considered dropping out last year due to rising rent costs.
It also comes as rail fares increased by 4.6 per cent in March, only the second time they have risen above inflation in 12 years.
According to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), commuter students now make up a third of UK undergraduates.
However, the HEPI claims the system is not primarily designed with these students in mind.
Two-thirds of commuter students also said they received a lower grade from reducing their time on campus because of financial stress.
The study also found 70 per cent of commuter students work and Trinity, a physiotherapy commuter student, said her university strongly urged her not to take on additional work.
She said: “Unfortunately, most people are not in the position to live just off their student loan, and therefore I am balancing work and studying.”
A commuter student at Northampton University, who wished to remain anonymous, said she would live at university if money were not a factor, where she could meet with tutors, societies, and use the library.
She said: “None of my lectures are online but there are also other practicalities which affect my study, like accessing books I can’t get remotely or ICT .
“I must either decide to travel two hours to access this or wait until I am back in university.”
Should monetary pressures continue, the report predicts commuter students will become the majority of post-school learners.
This would put the UK on par with the US, where 85 per cent of higher education students are commuters.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will be rolled out across England from this September.
It will grant the right to a tuition fee loan to any adult who has not received government tuition fees.
Blackbullion claimed the new scheme will fuel the expansion of the commuter student cohort, and called on higher education institutions to do more for them.
Suggestions include financial aid packages, such as grants or scholarships to cover travel.
Feature image: Free to use from Unsplash
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