Initial OfS research on the impact of cost-of-living pressures on students points to risks to equality of opportunity.
As the OfS consults on reforms to the regulation of equality of opportunity in higher education I have attended a great many sector-wide events, meeting with numerous representatives from across the higher education sector. So often, conversations have turned to concerns about increasing cost-of-living pressures for students.
As Director for Fair Access and Participation, my focus is on ensuring greater equality of opportunity in higher education. The increase in cost of living is a nationwide issue, and students are not immune to its effects. Yet students are likely to be affected in specific ways, and face different issues, to the rest of the population. Higher living costs may, for example, prevent them from staying and succeeding in higher education.