Student debt surges across England as cost of living and tuition fees climb
University graduates in England are now exiting higher education with an average debt of £53,000 (₹62.43 lakh), according to the latest figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC). This marks a 10% increase from last year’s average of £48,270 (₹56.64 lakh), underscoring the growing financial burden on students due to surging tuition costs and living expenses, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The SLC data for the 2024–25 academic year reveals stark regional disparities in borrowing levels. In Scotland, where local students don’t pay tuition, the average graduate debt is £17,000. In Northern Ireland, it rises to £28,000, and in Wales, graduates owe around £39,470.
Meanwhile, many students are turning to part-time work to ease financial stress. A Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) survey shows that 68% of full-time students are now working during term time, clocking an average of 13 hours per week—the highest rate recorded in a decade.
With average debt nearing ₹62 lakh, UK students are taking on more financial stress than ever before—driven by tuition hikes and cost of living pressures
Currently, nearly three million graduates are repaying student loans. About 40% of them are making average monthly repayments of £1,100 in the 2024–25 period. These rising repayments reflect broader trends in borrowing and the tightening grip of student debt on post-college life.
The overall student loan book in England has now ballooned to £266 billion, a dramatic jump from £64 billion a decade ago, largely due to rising tuition fees. With the UK government set to increase domestic tuition fees from £9,250 to £9,535 starting September 2025, the student debt load is expected to grow even further.
