Student Living Index 2016 QUANTITATIVE STUDY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE UK
Initial headlines Key Findings Portsmouth has topped the Student Living Index charts as the most cost effective city. Students in London are paying below the national sample average for rent. Students in Oxford and Cambridge are paying the most. Student loans are contributing 161.14 per week - four times as much as any other source - to a student s income. Parents are the second largest source of income. Those in Manchester and Belfast work the most hours part-time, and therefore spend the least time on hobbies and socialising. Those in Cambridge and Oxford spend the most time on academic studies in comparison to other regions. Studying for a university degree is 35% more stressful than managing money to students; however, the majority of students still enjoy their degree. 52% of students find managing their money stressful, yet only 39% of them have a dedicated budget. Those studying at London universities spend the most on travel and eating out in comparison to other regions.
Methodology and Sample Audience: n=2,514 university students living in the UK Survey period: June 10 th - 29 th June 2016. Respondents were given a small incentive to take part in an online survey. The survey was unbranded for all respondents. Panel Provider: YouthSight, experts in student and young professionals research. http://www.youthsight.com/ Measure current term time and vacation income Understand university city differences for SLI Understand motivations and expectations
0.67 0.84 0.82 0.81 0.77 0.77 0.76 0.73 0.73 0.70 0.69 0.65 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.62 0.59 0.59 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.57 0.57 0.56 0.55 0.53 The student living index: the results. Portsmouth is the most cost-effective university city. Average expenditure divided by average income Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
1. INCOME WEEKLY INCOME TIME SPENT STUDYING VS OTHER ACTIVITIES
1,193.15 1,516.98 1,425.01 1,421.36 1,405.53 1,378.60 1,357.38 1,319.89 1,284.29 1,270.57 1,193.92 1,187.76 1,181.67 1,171.86 1,169.03 1,137.10 1,136.52 1,130.56 1,130.17 1,129.91 1,108.46 1,081.54 1,056.71 995.19 976.43 934.38 Income across UK cities is varied as students get income from various sources (parents, banks, etc.) Term Time Income Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
76.67 117.21 139.00 127.19 115.85 101.70 104.43 95.53 73.72 77.18 71.40 73.88 70.72 73.63 52.69 29.13 8.80 25.83 83.87 62.24 61.54 72.04 77.99 80.08 62.64 66.29 63.12 45.32 51.19 41.75 50.53 45.19 50.94 71.35 65.65 70.00 64.30 63.26 59.90 43.96 67.97 58.38 57.93 46.88 39.19 34.15 45.28 37.58 36.63 65.43 41.81 52.30 Students make most of their money during term time work. Weekly Income 200.00 Income from term-time work Income from holiday work 180.00 160.00 140.00 120.00 100.00 80.00 60.00 40.00 20.00 0.00 Q. On average, how much does each of the following sources contribute to your income during term time each month? (Income term-time and holiday work) Q. On average, how many hours per month do you spend on the following activities? (Hours spent in part-time work). Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
3.89 0.96 0.14 25.69 19.17 17.73 16.51 12.80 40.27 161.14 Student loans are contributing the most to student income. Parents are the second largest source of income. Weekly Monetary Contribution Base: N= 2,514
Students spend the majority of their time on academic studies, followed by socialising. 30.77 Hours Per Week 8.89 5.73 4.04 Academic studies Socialising Part time job Hobbies and interests Base: N= 2,514
2.72 5.73 6.68 6.39 6.11 5.98 5.85 5.52 5.49 5.48 5.21 4.92 4.79 4.7 4.69 4.42 4.29 3.98 3.74 7.56 7.52 7.33 7.29 7.27 8.16 8.13 Those in Manchester and Belfast work the most hours part-time. Weekly Hours Part-Time Work Q. On average, how many hours per month do you spend on the following activities? *Oxford and Cambridge students are advised against undertaking part-time work during term time Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
30.77 35.08 32.71 32.31 31.61 30.99 30.99 30.82 29.9 29.54 29.46 29.38 29.32 28.91 28.88 28.81 28.55 28.43 28.43 28.33 28.25 27.8 26.49 24.32 40.49 47.62 Those at Oxford and Cambridge spend the most time studying out of all UK universities. Weekly Hours - Academic Study Q. On average, how many hours per month do you spend on the following activities? Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
8.89 10.86 10.71 10.34 10.29 9.81 9.79 9.73 9.53 9.08 8.88 8.87 8.62 8.55 8.54 8.53 8.09 7.9 7.83 7.78 7.59 7.59 7.46 7.03 6.84 11.92 Students at Belfast and Oxford spend the least time socialising. Weekly hours Socialising Q. On average, how many hours per month do you spend on the following activities? Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
2. MOTIVATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY ATTITUDES TO MONEY MANAGEMENT
Subject choice is the leading factor when considering a university, followed by academic reputation. 46% What is your main motivation for choosing to study at your university? 28% 8% 7% 3% 2% 5% Subject choice Academic/university reputation It is close enough to home to allow me to live with my parents Social life The cost of living University fees Other Base: N= 2,514
39% of students don t budget when it comes to managing their money. How good are students at budgeting? I don t consider what I m spending I ll think about that later 6% I don t budget but I m not frivolous with my money 33% I try to budget but don t always stick to it 40% I budget carefully and keep track of what I spend 21% Base: N= 2,514
Studying for a university degree is much more stressful than managing money for students. On a scale of 0-10, where 0 is not stressful at all and 10 is extremely stressful, how stressful do you find studying for your university degree/managing money? Stress of university degree 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1% 2% 4% 5% 9% 13% 21% 22% 13% 10% Stress of managing money 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2% 7% 9% 10% 10% 14% 13% 11% 9% 6% 9% Base: N= 2,514
However, 50% of students highly enjoy studying for their university degree. On a scale of 0-10, where 0 is not at all and 10 is completely, how much are you enjoying studying for your university degree? 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1% 3% 3% 3% 4% 9% 11% 16% 20% 17% 14% Base: N= 2,514
Hours spent socialising had the largest impact on enjoyment of course. Average score of enjoying study by weekly hours working Average score of enjoying study by weekly family income Average score of enjoying study by weekly hours socialising 7.0 7.4 7.1 7.2 6.9 6.9 7.2 7.0 6.1 More than 7 hours Less than 7 hours Not working More than 40 Less than 40 No family income More than 9 hours Less than 9 hours No Socialising Base: N= 2,514. Weekly hours working: More than 7 hours (N = 804); Less than 7 hours (N =258); Not Working (N = 1452). Weekly Family Income: More than 40 (N = 1176); Less than 40 (N = 135); No family income (N = 840). Weekly hours Socialising: More than 9 hours (N = 1453); Less than 9 hours (N = 896); No Socialising (N = 165)
3. WEEKLY EXPENDITURE LIVING EXPENSES SPORTS AND HOBBIES
81.47 76.48 73.81 109.00 119.48 119.37 117.25 116.31 114.28 113.92 112.05 111.79 105.72 105.37 105.08 104.62 101.61 101.55 100.27 99.35 96.51 94.49 94.16 91.80 135.38 131.48 Students in London are paying below the national average for rent. Students in Oxford and Cambridge pay the most. Weekly Rent Base: N = 2,514; Student Living = average local weekly student expenditure on living and accommodation costs divided by average local weekly income for working students. Belfast: N = 83; Birmingham N = 119; Brighton =78; Bristol: N=101; Cambridge: N = 100; Cardiff: N = 102; Dundee: N = 85; Edinburgh: N = 100; Exeter: N = 101; Glasgow: N = 120; Leeds: N = 112; Leicester: N = 101; Liverpool: N= 101; London: N = 130; Manchester: N = 115; Newcastle: N = 101; Norwich: N = 93; Nottingham: N = 110; Oxford: N = 100; Plymouth: N = 112; Portsmouth: N = 83; Reading: N = 74; Sheffield: N= 110; Southampton: N = 100; York: N = 83
Students spend more on groceries than on any other item. Spends per category for regions are varied. 19.78 Weekly expenditure UK student average 9.65 8.45 7.35 6.85 6.65 5.78 5.10 5.08 4.40 3.20 1.90 Q. On average, what do you spend each month on each of the following items: Base: N= 2,514
7.77 7.62 7.39 7.35 7.25 7.24 7.21 Alcohol weekly expenditure 9.32 8.63 8.50 6.85 7.03 6.96 6.92 6.91 6.90 6.66 6.55 6.50 6.38 6.00 5.89 5.81 5.78 5.42 4.12 Q. On average, what do you spend each month on each of the following items: Base: N= 2,514
Going out - weekly expenditure 8.19 7.84 7.81 7.75 7.75 7.51 7.42 7.36 6.65 7.02 6.93 6.81 6.73 6.70 6.68 6.59 6.51 6.42 6.03 6.03 5.97 5.95 5.77 5.02 4.95 4.69 Q. On average, what do you spend each month on each of the following items: Base: N= 2,514
6.16 6.01 5.48 5.48 Clothes, shoes and accessories - weekly expenditure 9.77 9.70 9.41 9.28 9.18 9.13 9.02 8.73 7.35 8.26 8.21 8.06 7.96 7.67 6.97 6.73 6.68 6.61 5.10 5.06 4.66 4.63 Q. On average, what do you spend each month on each of the following items: Base: N= 2,514
Household bills - weekly expenditure 14.92 12.99 12.93 9.65 11.48 10.94 10.77 10.73 10.47 10.45 9.98 9.56 9.38 9.05 8.90 8.89 8.83 8.77 8.67 8.48 8.47 8.43 8.00 7.31 6.52 6.35 Base: N= 2,514
Student hobbies - weekly expenditure 6.47 Weekly expenditure UK student average 4.82 3.14 2.91 2.78 2.36 2.08 2.00 1.01 0.57 Q. On average, how much do you spend each month on the following sports, interests or hobbies? Base: N= 2,514