Cost of living crisis: International students’ perspective

If British students at UK universities are finding themselves struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, imagine the situation facing many international students.

We are already paying almost double or more for everything such as tuition fees (£23,000 per year compared to home students who pay £9,250).

The stereotype of international students all being rich needs a reality check. According to the Russell Group cost of living survey, 81% of those most affected are students from low socio-economic backgrounds, international students, and those with dependents.

International students tend to also face a lack of external support. Not being eligible for student loans or university bursaries really puts us at a disadvantage, and as a result we end up paying for every small thing from our own pocket.

The pressure is now felt more due to increase costs of living. One fellow international student in my accommodation told me: “It becomes difficult to make ends meet, especially since you’re on a budget from which I’m also expected to buy academic materials for my design course.” 

‘24% of whom have considered dropping out compared with 13% of undergraduates’

One consequence of the increased cost of living is students feeling isolated and lonely. While some people are under the impression that university life is all about socialising and making lifelong friends, this seems difficult in the current economic situation.

Another international student at UAL said: “I’ve had to cut down on my socialising. Spending £20-30 on a meal seems like a lot now, especially since I’m on a budget and have to consider other important essentials, as a result I find myself sitting at home majority of the time.”

Loneliness and isolation are detrimental to your mental health and according to an NUS survey, 90% of students says the crisis has taken a toll on their mental well-being, with 31% reporting a “major impact”. 

It is easier said than done when people think international students can simply secure a part-time Job. Student visas allows us to work only 20 hours per week, so as a result we are restricted to the kind of jobs we can find that have decent pay.

Speaking to one of my Indian friends who’s working part-time at the Vauxhall Marketplace, she says: “I’m unable to achieve more working hours due to visa restrictions and although I have a huge visa stamp but unfortunately the stamp does not give me access to any sort of public or financial funds.” 

In such difficult times, where inflation is at an all-time high, international students arguably suffer most from it. I recently had an interview at Hollister in which the outcome favoured a British applicant who barely spoke throughout the interview. So much for diversity in the workplace… 

These uncertain times can be really daunting because even after spending so much on our degrees it does not come a with a guarantee that international students will secure a job after graduation.

The Office for Students commissioned a survey on the cost of living which found that one in five respondents said they would consider dropping out of university or college because of financial worries.

This is particularly the case with post-graduate students, with 24% of whom have considered dropping out compared with 13% of undergraduates.

It is important to speak about the cost of living crisis and how it is affecting all of us because international students shouldn’t be the ones suffering in silence.

The increased financial stress might also jeopardise students’ ability to perform their best at university and eventually those from lower socio-economic backgrounds might be at a risk of dropping out.

Feature image by Public Domain Pictures via Pixabay.