14 Appendices Introduction Finance Thematic analysis Applicant Index Report 2026 Figure 5: When thinking about the cost of going to university, which of the following is of greatest concern to you? 2024-26 2024 2025 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Cost of living while at university Cost of your tuition fees Cost of learning resources (e.g. software, textbooks, travel, etc.) All of these None of these 45% 42 % 42 % 43 % 17 % 24 % 21 % 14 % 10 % 11 % 20 % 19 % 19 % 6 % 5 % 6 % Greatest financial concern The cost of living remains the main financial concern, unchanged over the past three years. Around a quarter of applicants (24%) say tuition fees are their greatest concern, and this has risen steadily since 2023. Concern about tuition fees is, as expected, more common among applicants who plan to live with family, and for whom tuition is likely to be the primary cost. However, there is no difference between UK and international applicants, despite the higher fees paid by international students. International applicants are less likely to be concerned about living costs, but more likely to be concerned about learning resources, perhaps reflecting gaps in knowledge about these costs. Among those who selected cost of living as their greatest financial concern, the majority ranked accommodation (68%) and groceries (60%) in their expected top three expenses. Belonging, equity and inclusion 2026 Figure 6: You mentioned the cost of living at university was a concern, which of the following do you expect to be your biggest expenses? (Ranked Top 3) Rent / accommodation 68% Food / groceries 60% Utilities bills (e.g. gas, water, electricity) 33% Social activities (e.g. nights out, gym, sports) 32% Travel / transport / commuting 27% Base=886 (applicants who had considered a degree apprenticeship) Personal bills (e.g. phone contract, internet) 25% Additional study costs (e.g. books, printing) 15% Clothes 14% Healthcare / personal care 10% Subscriptions (e.g. Spotify, Netflix) 8% Back to contents