Becca Bayman, Liverpool Socialist Students
As a new semester begins, millions of students in higher education continue to face the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis. Maintenance loans fall short of covering basic living costs, leaving many students struggling to meet essential expenses.
For most students, rent is the biggest cost. Student housing companies and private landlords drive up rents year on year, and the quality of the housing only gets worse. In many cities, students pay through the nose for small rooms in cramped, unsafe, and poorly maintained houses.
After rent, many students are forced to take on multiple part-time jobs to afford the rest, which has a direct impact on grades and wellbeing. The rising cost of groceries means students skip meals to save money. Financial pressure also has an impact on students’ mental health. Surveys show that 78% of students experience significant stress as a result of financial worries. Students are cutting back on socialising and extracurricular activities because they cannot afford to take part.
Furthermore, tuition fees will continue to rise every year, amounting to over £10,000 by the end of this government. This is a result of Starmer’s Labour government refusing to fund higher education, blaming the financial instability of universities on the previous tuition fee cap to justify forcing the costs onto millions of students.
Therefore, the frustration of students and young people must be directed into organising a socialist fightback. Socialist Students groups are organising demonstrations, supporting striking workers on pickets, and building support for socialist ideas on campuses. Socialist Students calls for fully funded, free education, instead of more fees and cuts.
Socialist Students 