Finance International applicants are significantly more confident in their level of funds, family support and budgeting skills than UK applicants, and yet they are also more likely to say that financial issues are affecting their mental health at 47%, compared to 38% among UK applicants. Among UK applicants, there is no indication of a ‘squeezed middle’, as for each of the finance index questions the higher the social-economic group, the higher the confidence in financial support and sufficiency of funds. Similarly, those in socioeconomic groups C2 and D are significantly more likely than A-C1 groups to agree that financial issues are affecting their mental health. Additionally, 45% of applicants who have qualified for free school meals say that financial issues affect their mental health. Those who were applying for a degree apprenticeship scored lower in this theme than those applying for a traditional degree. They were less likely to agree they have family and friends they could turn to, and less confident in their budgeting skills. *For this question, agreement indicates a negative response; the score for this question was reversed when calculating the index score I will have enough money to cover my costs at university 13% 17% 25% 22% 24% I have family or friends that I would feel comfortable about asking for financial help if needed 10% 11% 19% 25% 36% I am confident that I can budget and manage my money whilst at university 6% 11% 24% 28% 30% *Financial issues are affecting my mental health 19% 19% 22% 20% 20% Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree Figure 1: Breakdown of responses to Finance theme questions Overall, financial confidence among this year’s cohort is slightly down compared to last year, and equal to 2022 – the early stages of the cost of living crisis. The main changes are in relation to confidence in budgeting skills, which is slightly lower than last year. This year 58% of applicants are confident in their budgeting skills compared to 63% last year. Additionally, two in five applicants (40%) agree that financial issues are affecting their mental health, an increase from 37% last year. The Finance score indicates the level of confidence in financial means and skills. Down 1 from 2023 58 Unite Students | Applicant Index Report 13 INTRODUCTION THEMATIC ANALYSIS FINANCE METHODOLOGY TOPICAL ISSUES BACK TO THEMES