Students face £1,500 inflation shortfall in maintenance loans, universities warn

Russell Group says more hard-up students in England will drop out if loans fail to keep up with rising costs

Hard-up students in England, who are struggling to pay their rent and bills as the cost of living soars, will lose out on as much as £1,500 a year if maintenance loans fail to keep up with inflation, university leaders have said.

The warning from the Russell Group of universities came as the government prepared to announce loan increases for 2023-24, amid fears that growing numbers of students will drop out because they cannot afford to stay in higher education.