For years, the cost-of-living conversation has largely focused on families, mortgage holders and pensioners. But across Solihull and the wider West Midlands, another group is quietly feeling the squeeze more than most: students.
University has long been seen as a stepping stone to opportunity. Yet for many young people heading into higher education, the experience is becoming increasingly tied to financial pressure, budgeting anxiety and difficult choices about what they can realistically afford.
While tuition fees and high student loans are definitely a big concern, the real financial strain often begins after enrolment. Rent, transport, groceries, course materials and social costs are stacking up at a time when maintenance support is struggling to keep pace.
The reality is that for many students, university is no longer just about studying. It is about surviving financially.
The rising cost of everyday student life
Across the UK, students are now spending an average of around £1,142 per month on living costs, according to the latest National Student Money Survey. Rent alone accounts for roughly half of monthly spending, with average student accommodation costs now sitting at around £563 per month.
Beyond rent, everyday costs continue to climb. Groceries, transport, mobile phone bills, clothes, study materials and socialising all contribute to a growing financial burden.
Figures from UCAS show students are spending an average of £219 per week excluding rent, showing just how expensive day-to-day student life has become.
For many students, budgeting is no longer about managing spare cash. It is about deciding what can stretch furthest before the next loan payment arrives.
Why Solihull students face unique pressures
For students in and around Solihull, financial pressure often looks slightly different from those living in bigger university cities.
Many local students commute into nearby universities like the University of Birmingham, Aston University or Solihull College & University Centre rather than living more centrally.
Living at home can lower accommodation costs, but commuting introduces its own financial burden. Rail fares, bus travel, fuel costs and parking fees can quickly add up, especially for students travelling several times a week.
For many young people, staying local no longer guarantees a more affordable university experience.
More students are working alongside their degrees
More and more, students are turning to part-time work simply to make university financially manageable.
Recent research suggests nearly seven in ten students now work during term time, a significant rise compared with previous years as living costs continue to increase.
For some, this means evening shifts in hospitality, retail or delivery work. For others, it means freelancing, tutoring or finding flexible online income streams.
Balancing paid work with lectures, coursework and exams can create extra pressure, especially during busy academic periods.
What was once considered spending money has become an essential part of student survival.
Students are cutting back in ways many don’t see
Financial pressure is changing student behaviour in subtle but significant ways.
According to national student finance research, more than three in five students say they occasionally skip meals to save money, while one in ten reported using a food bank during the academic year.
Socialising, travel and non-essential purchases are often the first things to go.
Many students are also delaying major purchases, avoiding nights out, cutting subscriptions and relying more heavily on second-hand textbooks, shared streaming accounts and discounted supermarket ranges.
These adjustments may seem small, but together they paint a picture of a generation under a lot of financial pressure.
Tuition fees are only part of the story
The wider cost of university has continued to rise.
Tuition fees for UK undergraduates currently sit at £9,535 per year in England, while maintenance loans have increased more slowly than inflation over recent years. Although government support for living costs rose slightly for the 2025/26 academic year, many experts argue this still falls short of real spending needs.
A growing financial challenge for families in Solihull and the wider UK
For students renting privately, affordability is not always the only hurdle. Many landlords now require a UK guarantor before approving a tenancy, creating an additional challenge for students who may not have family members able to meet the income or homeownership requirements.
This can make securing accommodation more difficult, particularly for international students or those relocating independently for university.
Because of this and the cost of renting, a rising number of students are choosing to live at home in Solihull for longer to reduce costs.
Recent data suggests nearly a third of UK students now remain at home while studying, a figure that continues to grow as rent and household bills increase.
For families in Solihull, this often means supporting children financially for longer than expected.
While higher education remains an investment in the future, the financial reality for many students today looks increasingly difficult.
And quietly, without attracting the same headlines as mortgage rates or energy bills, students are becoming one of the biggest cost-of-living stories in towns like Solihull.
