Business & Finance
Over a third of UK 18-year-old university applicants plan to live at home amid rising living costs
Ucas figures show more than 81,000 accepted applicants plan to commute, reaching a nine-year high as accommodation expenses mount.
The short version
- More than 81,000 UK 18-year-olds—over one in three accepted applicants—stated on their university applications that they plan to live at home this year.
- The proportion of students intending to stay at home has increased from about one in five in 2017, driven largely by housing costs and general living expenses.
- Regional rates differ significantly, ranging from 20% of applicants in Wales to 48% in Scotland.
- The Department for Education says it is raising maximum maintenance loans and bringing back maintenance grants to mitigate student financial pressure.
Key facts
- Over 81,000 UK 18-year-old applicants with accepted university places indicated they intend to live at home during their studies, representing more than one in three students in that cohort.[BBC News]
- The share of 18-year-old UK applicants planning to live at home has grown from roughly 20% in 2017 to over 33% this year.[BBC News]
- Geographic variation is wide, with 48% of applicants in Scotland planning to live at home compared to 20% in Wales.[BBC News]
- A Higher Education Policy Institute report found that university-owned accommodation rents in 2024 ranged from £108 weekly in Northern Ireland to £338 in London.[BBC News]
- The Open University reported nearly 3,400 18- and 19-year-olds enrolled last year, making up 9.5% of its new entrants compared to 5.7% six years earlier.[BBC News]
- The Department for Education stated it is increasing maximum maintenance loans, reintroducing maintenance grants, and working with local authorities and universities to expand housing access.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- The total number of students living at home may change as additional applicants secure university places through clearing following results day.[BBC News]