Survey Shows Student Finance Struggles

Up to 4 in 10 Jersey parents are taking on extra work and around a quarter are borrowing money to help their children with the cost of higher education.

That's among the findings of a survey by the Student Loan Support Group.

Around 1 in 10 are taking funds from their pension, and 8% are thinking of leaving the island. 

Those percentages are roughly the same whether their child is receiving a government grant towards their uni costs or not

Around 170 families answered the survey, with almost two-thirds of those whose student doesn't get a grant contributing more than £600 a month.

For those getting government funding, the percentage contributing £600+ is 35.6%.

A smaller sample of 48 students found half are 'very worried' about living costs.

Around 1 in five said they can't afford to socialise, and the same number reported they sometimes can't afford to buy enough food.

They report the most burdensome costs as car insurance and work travel, rather than travel to university or rent.

That is despite the majority saying they are paying £900 or more a month for their accommodation.

Students are taking up work during the holidays and whilst at university to meet the cost of living.

"It’s clear from responses that not enough funding ( whatever source) concerns the students as much as it does parents. Both groups not wishing to let the other know if they are struggling.

The majority of students are very far from the partying, socialising, ‘in the pub all the time’ image that people may have of students.

In some cases they are clearly struggling, and are not able to take part in student activities at all, and worryingly, not able to afford food at times." - Nicki Heath, SLSG.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Deputy Kirsten Morel, was reported saying earlier this year that students who stay away from the island after their studies could see their grants converted into loans to stop the 'brain drain'.

He says more needs to be done to stop taxpayers from paying for students who leave Jersey after their studies.

Almost all (98%) students who took part in the SLSG survey think this is a bad idea.

Some say Jersey does not offer jobs in their chosen fields. Others say they would be more likely to stay away from the island if this was implemented. One remarked that it sounded like a threat from the government.

The majority of students say they were unaware of the government's new sliding scale for maintenance.

For example, a student whose household income is £49,999 will receive £8,572, but a student with a household income of just £1 more would only see £6,857.