Enable Recite Me accessibility tools

Statistics in the Manifesto for our Future

Data from What Students Think

The Manifesto for our Future is based on consultation with more than 10,000 students and apprentices and more than 500 universities, colleges and training providers across the UK.

As part of the consultation process, 7,500 students and apprentices took part in polling on www.whatstudentsthink.org.uk. In November 2023 students and apprentices had the opportunity to vote on their priorities in ten distinct policy areas. The results of this voting can be found here:

 

Statistics referenced in the Manifesto for our Future:

Section 1: In the first 100 days, break the student crisis cycle - Read this section here

  • 65% of students are cutting back on food (ONS, September 2023)
  • 77% of students' families' wages are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis (NUS, November 2022)
  • 46% of students' mental health has worsened since September 2023 (ONS, 2023)
  • Of full-time students who work, 1 in 5 work more than 20 hours a week (NUS, 2023)
What Students Think (NUS, 2023):
  • 84% of students believe tuition fees should be abolished.
  • 89% of students believe it should be easier to access further education.
  • 86% of students want parties to address high-quality apprenticeships.

Section 2: Invest in a thriving future, invest in education - Read this section here

  • Graduates earning over £27,500 pay a marginal tax rate of 41% (Bloomberg, 2022)
  • 73% of graduates starting in 2022 will never pay back their student loans in full (House of Commons Library, 2023)
  • 17.1m adults lack the digital skills for their jobs (NCFE, 2023)
  • The UK's skills shortage will cost us £120bn by 2030 (Learning & Work Institute, 2023)
What Students Think (NUS, 2023):
  • 84% of students believe tuition fees should be abolished.
  • 89% of students believe it should be easier to access further education.
  • 86% of students want parties to address high-quality apprenticeships.

Section 3: Homes for our futures - Read this section here

  • The average students has 50p to live off per week after paying rent (Unipol, HEPI, 2023)
  • Student accommodation prices have increased by 61% since 2012 (NUS, Unipol, 2021)
  • 2 in 5 students have considered dropping out due to the cost of rent and bills (NUS Scotland, 2023)
  • England's 25m homes emit 58.5m tonnes of CO2 each year (National Housing Federation, 2021)
What Students Think (NUS, 2023):
  • 94% of students think there should be a cap or controls on rent – with 74% listing this as a main priority.
  • 87% of students said more affordable accommodation should be built.
  • 93% of students agree there should be more investment in greener public transport and housing, with 71% listing this as a main priority

Section 4: A welcoming and inclusive future - Read this section here

  • 70% of hate crime in the UK in 2022-23 was racially motivated (Home Office, 2023)
  • 1 in 3 international students have to work while they study (NUS, 2023)
  • 64% of the UK public believe the UK should host as many if not more international students (UUK, 2023)
What Students Think (NUS, 2023):
  • 95% of students think more should be done to tackle sexual violence and misconduct.
  • 77% of students think the working hours cap for international students should be dropped.
  • 96% of students think more should be done to make campus life accessible for disabled students and apprentices.

Section 5: A healthy future - Read this section here

What Students Think (NUS, 2023):
  • 98% of students want to see NHS waiting times reduced.
  • 77% of students believe that investment in mental health and wellbeing services in the NHS, in education and online should be a main priority.
  • 62% of students saw the extension of the provision of transition-related healthcare as a priority issue.