Students in the UK are giving up on plans to go on to further study because of the rising cost of living, according to new polling from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
More than a third (35 per cent) of those surveyed by the body as part of its work for Universities UK said the financial difficulties they have incurred have made it less likely they would take another course.
The findings may worry university leaders who – already facing higher-than-average dropout rates – could lose a proportion of the lucrative taught master’s market as a result.
Students were asked about their finances for the second time this academic year after an ONS study in November highlighted the major impact of rising living costs on higher education.
