Cost of Living Crisis: Students Cannot Afford to Remain Silent

Thursday 16-04-2026 - 12:51

Cost of Living Crisis: Students Cannot Afford to Remain Silent

As Scotland approaches the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections, students are being asked to participate in democracy at a time when many are struggling simply to survive.

The issue of cost of living has been on the upward trajectory in Scotland and United Kingdom at large. Students are one of the most affected population, research notes that cost of living affects quality of living, negatively impacts mental health, academic performance, or ability to participate fully in university life.

This cost of living crisis is no longer a future concern; it is a present emergency. Rising rent, food prices, and energy bills are reshaping what it means to be a student in Scotland today. For too many, university is no longer just academically challenging, it is financially unsustainable.

The Reality Students Are Facing

The data is clear, and it is alarming.

Research from the National Union of Students (NUS) shows that:

96% of students are cutting back on spending due to the cost of living crisis
45% of students are left with less than £50 per month after rent and bills
1 in 7 students (14%) are now using food banks, double the rate from just two years ago
One third of students struggle to pay rent, with some forced into extreme financial hardship
Many students are skipping meals, taking on excessive working hours, or even considering dropping out altogether.

In Scotland specifically, the situation is equally stark. The Scottish Government Student Finance and Wellbeing Study highlights that financial pressures are now a defining feature of student life, with rising costs directly affecting wellbeing and academic experience.

At the same time, the average student now spends around £1,142 per month on living costs, with rent alone taking over £500 monthly, far beyond what maintenance support typically covers. This is not budgeting, it is survival.

What Our Students Are Saying

At Glasgow Caledonian University, our own student voice echoes this national crisis.

Data from the Students’ Association Annual Student Survey 2025 show that cost of living crisis is the most important issue facing GCU students with 55.67% of the students identifying it as their top concern.

What we are seeing locally reflects what is happening nationally:

Students are faced with financial pressures
Students skipping meals
Students working excessive hours just to afford basics
Students choosing between heating and eating

This is not the student experience we should accept.

This Crisis Has Consequences

The cost of living crisis is not just about money, it is about access, equality, and opportunity.

Across the UK:

68% of students now work during term time, often at the expense of their studies
Study time is declining as financial pressure increases

We are creating a system where success is no longer determined by ability, but by financial resilience. And that should concern every policymaker.

What Has Been Done and Why It’s Not Enough

Your Students’ Association have acted where we can:

Secured free ARC gym access to support student wellbeing
Delivered Winter Warmer initiatives providing free hot food and drinks
Installed microwaves and hot water access to reduce daily costs
Led national lobbying efforts to push student issues directly to MSPs

These actions matter. They provide immediate relief, but let’s be honest; they are just mere sticking plasters on a systemic problem. Students cannot microwave their way out of a national cost of living crisis.

What We Want

Students are not asking for luxury, we are asking for fairness.

We are calling for:

Maintenance support that reflects real living costs
Stronger rent protections for students
Accessible hardship funding for all students, including international students
Long-term investment in student wellbeing and support services

This is why NUS has launched a portal for students to share their stories of the cost of living and the pressures we are facing. We are trying to get political parties and candidates in Scotland to pledge to improve the student support system and end student poverty, because education should be an equaliser, not a financial gamble. We want student voices to be heard during this election.

Your Vote Is Your Voice

This election is not abstract. It is about your rent, your finances, food, your experience and your future. If students do not vote, decisions will be made without us, and often against us.

With the Scottish elections fast approaching, this is a critical moment for students to make their voices heard. Voting is not just a right; it is a powerful tool to influence the decisions that shape our lives.

We encourage all students to register, stay informed, show up and participate in the democratic process. The deadline to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election is midnight on Monday 20th April 2026.

Because the cost-of-living crisis is not just something happening to students that can’t be improved, it's something that students have the power to change. Make sure you vote on Thursday 7th May 2026.

You can contact Chinaenyenwa (Vice President SHLS) at: VP.SHLS@GCUstudents.co.uk

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