Politics
Rising costs drive growing share of UK students to live at home, report finds
July 13, 2026 at 06:34 PM
Coverage
Over half of prospective undergraduates from England's poorest neighbourhoods expect to live at home while studying, compared with 18% from the least deprived areas.
- The Resolution Foundation published its annual intergenerational audit, finding 52% of prospective students from the poorest areas plan to live at home, against 18% from the least deprived.
- David Willetts, the foundation's president, said living with parents emerges from financial constraints, not free choice, and is spread across the income distribution.
- Carl Cullinane, director of research at the Sutton Trust, said young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are increasingly having to limit university options because of cost worries.
- Rose Stephenson of the Higher Education Policy Institute criticised maintenance loan disparities, noting students living away from home can borrow £10,830 a year compared with £9,118 for those living with parents.
