Planning for living costs We asked applicants how they expect to cover the majority of their living costs while at university. A third intend to draw on maintenance loans or grants, and about a quarter (24%) plan to depend on family for the majority of their costs. The 17% who said they would use income from employment mostly (though not entirely) intend to live in their own or parents’ home. Female applicants are more likely to anticipate relying on maintenance loans whereas male applicants are more likely to anticipate drawing on family support and scholarships. As might be expected, international applicants are much more likely to use family financial support and scholarships, though 9% still expect to draw on student loans or grants. This may indicate that they or their families are taking out loans in their home country to support them to attend a UK university. THEMATIC ANALYSIS FINANCE Figure 3: How do you expect to cover the majority of your living costs while at university? Maintenance loan or grant Family support Income from employment Scholarship/studentship Bank loan or overdraft Income from apprenticeship Other / Don’t know 33% 24% 17% 9% 7% 6% 4% Unite S tudents | Applicant Index Report 15 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS FINANCE METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES