A steep increase in the number of students withdrawing from university courses in the UK has been blamed on the rising cost of living.
Figures released by the Student Loans Company showed 39,758 undergraduates withdrew from a course in the academic year 2021-22, compared to 32,364 in 2020-21, a year-on-year increase of 23 per cent.
The period was marked by continued disruption due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as rising concerns about the impact of soaring inflation on student budgets.
The National Union of Students’ vice-president for higher education, Chloe Field, said the figures were “shocking, but not surprising, given the cost-of-living crisis which is pushing students to the brink”.
