Calls for more student aid after 20% say they are having to skip meals

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 19:44

ONE in five university undergraduates and one in three college students say they are so poor they have to go without food, according to a new government survey.

Students have also increased their level of credit card debt by more than 60 per cent over the last three years, on top of the student loans they already take out.

With over 80 per cent of students saying their parlous finances caused them stress during their university years, nearly one in four say they have considered dropping out altogether.

Opposition parties last night used the figures to call on the SNP Government to provide more support for students. Clare Baker, Labour's shadow spokeswoman on education, said: "The SNP promised the earth to students at the last election but have only let students down while in government, ignoring the plight of thousands of Scottish students struggling to get by."

The government report, which reported before this year's recession began to bite, shows that the average university student has now built up 1,284 of commercial debt, which includes money owed on credit cards, overdrafts and bank loans.

The report also provides evidence that students from poorer backgrounds whose parents are not able to supplement their incomes are even worse off, with debts of an average of 1,452.

The report further shows that students are having to take on more part-time jobs in order to balance the books. University students are working 15 per cent more than three years ago, with students at further education colleges working 60 per cent more.

Among university students, 18 per cent said they have gone without food because of a shortage of money, 16 per cent had gone without heating, while 34 per cent admitted to going without books to study. One in ten also spurned prescriptions or medicines.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Given the tightest spending settlement received from the UK government since devolution, we have had to make difficult choices and are focusing on reducing student debt at source through the many policies we are introducing to tackle hardship and improve student support."