Struggling with studying and earning – realities of the UK cost of living crisis on students on social work programmes

The UK has been experiencing an extended cost of living crisis since 2021 and students attending universities have struggled with the impacts of rising prices. This article reports on findings from a study to explore local recruitment and retention issues in adult social care from the perspective of different populations of interest in the South of England. A mixed methods approach was undertaken. One group of participants were students enrolled in social work undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. They completed an online questionnaire (n=20), with a subsample (n=11) being interviewed. Comments relating to the wide-ranging effects of cost of living issues discussed by the participants were themed together and are described. The findings offer suggestions to evaluate student support mechanisms and reduce the potential impacts of ongoing financial difficulties caused by needing to juggle course, placement and financial demands across this and other applicable undergraduate sectors and their programmes. They also reflect risks to future workforce recruitment alongside the potential of ‘earn and learn’ programmes, such as apprenticeship routes - which may offer a viable alternative into qualification for those at particular risk of financial hardship whilst studying.