Third of university starters could opt to live at home, research finds
Researchers at UCL have discovered up to 34% of A-level students are considering living at home if they get accepted into their chosen university.
Researchers obtained data from the COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study that examined the lives on 11,000 people who have just completed their A levels and other qualifications this summer, which was co-led by the Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO), the Centre for Longitudinal Studies, and the Sutton Trust. It is the largest study of its kind and explored the impact of the pandemic on educational inequality, wellbeing, and social mobility.
Findings showed 20% of the ‘class of 2023’ plan to live at home during term time if they’re successful in getting into their preferred university next week, while a further 14% are yet to decide if they’ll move into university accommodation or not.
From these statistics it was displayed disadvantaged students were particularly impacted, as families facing financial challenges expect to struggle to support a child living away form home.
The report found 31% of young people from families who used a food bank within the last year were much less likely to apply to university at all, and 17% of those that did apply for university were much more likely to live at home.
COSMO’s principal investigator and deputy director of CEPEO, Dr Jake Anders, said: ‘It is concerning that young people, more likely to be from less well-off backgrounds, are curbing their educational choices because of worries about the cost.
‘For some planning on going to university, living at home will be the right choice for them, for a whole host of reasons. But it should be exactly that – a choice – not something they feel they must do because of the financial challenges of living away from home during term time.
‘Student support has not kept up with the rising cost of living, this should be urgently addressed so we do not close down opportunities, especially to those who are already likely to have fewer.’
In addition experts unveiled 36% of young people who come from working class families were less likely to apply to a Russell Group university than the 50% whose parents held professional or managerial positions.
Among students who plan to live at home, around one fifth said this is because they can’t afford to live away, and just one fifth because their preferred university was near their home. Meanwhile, 46% said the main reason was because they wanted – or needed – to remain near to their families. For example, for those with caring responsibilities, moving away is more difficult.
‘These research findings highlight the difficult decisions many young people face as they weigh up their future,’ Sir Peter Lampl, founder, and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said. ‘Young people from disadvantaged families are less likely to apply to university and are less likely to live away from home if they do apply, limiting their university choice.’
Image: Caleb Woods