University life is becoming an increasingly expensive chapter—not just for students, but for the parents footing the bills.
Recent research shows that many families are stepping up to cover living expenses, sometimes at significant personal cost.
More than half of parents now provide at least £200 per month to support their child while they study.
Some parents go even further, with one in ten contributing more than £1,000 monthly, according to a survey conducted by Survation on behalf of the National Union of Students (NUS).
Students Adjusting Their Lifestyle
The rising cost of living is influencing how students manage their studies.
Many are choosing to live at home longer or take on part-time work to stretch their budgets.
The survey found that 48% of parents expect their child to work while at university, and 36% are paying rent directly or covering grocery costs.
These financial pressures are particularly acute for students from lower-income families, with record numbers planning to live at home this year to save money.
The Pressure on Parents
Alex Stanley, NUS vice president for higher education, highlighted the strain on families: “It’s no surprise students struggle financially, but decades of neglect mean that parents are often expected to fill in the gaps, regardless of their own income,” he said.
Parents are increasingly feeling the pinch as they try to ensure their children have enough to get by, which has sparked calls for a rethink of the current student maintenance system.
Calls for Reform in Student Support
Currently, students are eligible for the maximum maintenance loan if their household income is under £25,000—a threshold unchanged since 2008.
While the value of the loan rose slightly in 2016/17, it has fallen significantly in real terms in the past two academic years, leaving students and families scrambling to make ends meet.
The NUS is urging the Government to revise household income thresholds to better reflect today’s living costs.
Meanwhile, the Government plans to reintroduce maintenance grants in 2028/29, but only for students in certain subjects.
Rising Costs and the Reality of Student Budgets
Data from NatWest’s Student Living Index for 2025 shows the average monthly rent for a student at £562.67.
For 2025/26, a student living away from home outside London could receive a maximum maintenance loan of £10,544—meaning over half of that could go straight to rent.
Save the Student has warned that many students face a “never-ending cost-of-living crisis,” with loans often falling short of actual expenses.
Families Need to Plan Ahead
Research by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) revealed that a single student may need up to £56,000 to complete university, even after accounting for loans.
For families supporting three children, that figure could rise to £168,000.
While tuition fees may be fully covered by loans, living costs are only partially covered, sometimes as little as a quarter of what’s needed.
Experts now advise parents to start saving early if they want their child to study without constant financial stress.
The reality is clear: sending a child to university is no longer just an investment in education—it’s a major financial undertaking for the whole family.
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