Our Response to the 2024 Autumn Budget

We are disappointed by today's Autumn Budget announcement which fails to address the urgent issues facing students in higher education.

Despite repeated calls to address the historic failings of the student maintenance system, students have once again been left out of the conversation, with cost-of-living pressures continuing to mount against a backdrop of stagnant maintenance loans and frozen parental thresholds. As our 2023 Cost of Living research demonstrated, this disproportionately impacts students from the most vulnerable backgrounds. If swift action is not taken, this runs the risk of allowing UK higher education to become one only for the most privileged in society.

As outlined in our Student Manifesto, we urge the Government to review the student maintenance package in partnership with students and their representative bodies. With over 2 million university students studying in the UK right now, it is vital our concerns are listened to.

University should be one of the best times of life for students. They should have the opportunity to study a subject they love, learn new skills, grow in confidence, make lifelong friendships, and develop as individuals. Unfortunately, today’s lack of action shows that the students of today face not only a challenging present, but also a precarious future.

We call upon the Government to urgently reconsider this approach and ensure students are part of the conversation so that they are properly supported going forward.