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For many students, university is a time of opportunity, growth and ambition. But in recent years, the cost of being a student has risen sharply, creating significant financial pressure for those trying to balance their studies with the realities of everyday life.

At the University of Sussex, we are seeing first-hand how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting students. Rising rents, increasing food and household bills, and the growing gap between living costs and maintenance support mean that many students are struggling to make ends meet.

The average student in Brighton now faces around £1,300 a month in essential living costs, excluding tuition fees. Meanwhile, the average maintenance loan provides approximately £640 per month, leaving many students with a substantial shortfall.

For some students, family support helps bridge this gap. For others, there is no safety net.

One such student was Justin, who came to Sussex to study Law with ambitions of pursuing a career in family justice. However, alongside the usual demands of postgraduate study, he found himself facing mounting financial pressures.

“I faced significant financial pressures around accommodation fees, groceries, and my phone bill. The student loan was not enough to cover all of these costs. It created a lot of stress, increased my anxiety, and left me feeling overwhelmed.”

For many students, the financial gap between the cost of living and the maintenance loan is bridged by family support, but Justin had no family to turn to. Having lost his father and been estranged from his biological mother throughout childhood, he had no safety net. Without family support to fall back on, he faced an impossible choice: continue struggling to cover essential costs or leave university altogether to work full time.

This is where the Sussex Fund stepped in to help. Thanks to the generosity of friends and alumni, the Sussex Fund supports hardship grants to help keep students facing financial crisis in education.

Justin’s experience reflects a challenge facing increasing numbers of students across the UK. Even those who budget carefully, work part-time alongside their studies, and do everything possible to manage their finances can find themselves at crisis point when unexpected costs arise or living expenses outpace available funding.

The impact is evident at Sussex. By March of the last academic year, the University had distributed £131,000 in hardship grants, a 25% increase on the same point the previous year. Demand continues to rise as students navigate inflation, rent increases and financial uncertainty. The average hardship award is now £1,539.

Hardship grants cover the essentials that allow students to stay in education:

• £780 - one month’s rent for a single room off campus
• £238 - average monthly food bill
• £250 - monthly household bills
• £865 - an essential laptop
• £72 - a monthly SAVER bus ticket
• £20 - essential course materials

For students experiencing financial hardship, this support can make the difference between continuing their education and having to leave it behind.

Thanks to assistance from the Sussex Fund, Justin was able to remain at Sussex, focus on his studies, and continue working towards his career goals. Beyond the financial relief, the support gave him confidence and stability during a difficult period.

With the pressure of immediate financial concerns eased, Justin was able to engage fully in university life. He joined the Law Society and the Politics and Debating Society, explored Brighton, and even ran the Brighton Marathon in support of the mental health charity Mind.

Reflecting on his experience, Justin said:

“Financial assistance is about much more than money; it provides reassurance, opportunity, and is a lifeline that allows students like me to continue pursuing their ambitions when circumstances become difficult.”

He added:

“My time at Sussex was transformative. I am incredibly grateful for the support that made that journey possible.”

Justin's story highlights the reality facing many students today. While talent, determination and hard work remain essential to academic success, financial barriers can prevent students from making the most of their university experience, or from continuing their studies at all.

Support through the Sussex Fund helps ensure that students facing unexpected hardship can access the assistance they need to stay enrolled, succeed academically and build the futures they have worked so hard to achieve.

If you would like to support students like Justin, please consider making a gift to the Sussex Fund today.