About this study

This study is the authoritative guide to Higher Education students' income and expenditure in England and Wales.

You can read the findings about 2007/8 here (published April 2009).

One key finding is that the cost of higher education has increased by 7% since 2004/5, when the survey was last conducted. This is driven by the introduction in 2006 of ‘top-up’ fees. However, students’ income has also risen, by 12%, due mainly to tuition fee loans.

Potential policy impact

The results from the 2007/8 survey will be used by the Independent Commission when they review the impact of 2006’s reforms to Higher Education funding.

Our methods

The Student Income and Expenditure Survey was commissioned by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Welsh Assembly Government. NatCen conducted the survey in collaboration with the Institute for Employment Studies.

We conducted face-to-face interviews with a randomly selected sample of 2,686 full- and part-time students at 80 institutions in England and Wales.

We asked students about their main sources of income and expenditure. 2,335 students who were interviewed also filled in a diary of what they spent each day over seven days.

Find out more

You can read the findings about 2007/8 here or download the full reports using the links below (there is one report for England and one for Wales - these files are several MB and you will need Word or an equivalent to open them).

You can read the 2004/5 report here.