6 UNITE STUDENTS | APPLICANT INDEX SURVEY | 2022 THEMATIC ANALYSIS BACK T O T H EMES *For this question, agreement indicates a negative response; the score for this question was reversed when calculating the index score. This year’s new students are preparing for university at a time of rising inflation and global financial uncertainty. Like many in the workforce, students are seeing their finance package falling in real terms against the cost of living. Given this context, it is perhaps unsurprising that this is the lowest score in the index. About half (47%) of applicants agree they will have enough money to cover their costs at university, and the majority (60%) are confident about budgeting. Male applicants are more confident about their financial means and budgeting skills than females. However, over a third of all applicants (36%) agreed that financial issues are affecting their mental health. This can be compared with the 50% of students that said financial issues were affecting their mental health in the Unite Students Cost of Living Survey (April 2022). Applicants with a disability, and those who are care experienced or estranged from their parents, have a lower index score for Finance. They are equally likely to believe they will have enough money to cover their costs as other applicants, but less comfortable about reaching out to family and friends, and less confident in their budgeting skills. They are also more likely to report that financial issues are affecting their mental health. I have family or friends that I would feel comfortable about asking for financial help if needed I am confident that I can budget and manage my money while at university *Financial issues are affecting my mental health ■ Strong disagreement ■ Moderate disagreement ■ Neutral ■ Moderate agreement ■ Strong agreement I will have enough money to cover my costs at university FINANCE 58 The Finance score indicates the level of confidence in financial means and skills among the cohort. 0 100 80 50 20 90 60 30 70 40 10 Figure 1 : Breakdown of responses to finance theme questions