受生活成本上升影响，英国大学退学人数急剧增加

According to the Times Higher Education, data recently released by the Student Loan Company showed that 39758 undergraduate students dropped out of the 2021 to 2022 academic year, with a year-on-year increase of 23%.

究其原因，主要是由于新冠肺炎大流行导致的持续中断，以及受飙升的通货膨胀影响，学生对于生活成本产生担忧。

The main reasons of such problem are the continued disruption resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic as well as rising concerns about the impact of soaring inflation on student budgets.

负责高等教育的全国学生联合会副主席克洛伊·菲尔德（Chloe Field）表示，这些数字“令人震惊，但并不奇怪，因为生活成本危机正在将学生推向边缘”。她补充道：“我们警告说，随着大学可负担性的下降，学生辍学率可能会增加，今年情况可能会更糟。”

The National Union of Students’ vice-president for higher education, Chloe Field, said the figures were “shocking, but not surprising, given the cost-of-living crisis which is pushing students to the brink”.“We’ve warned that student dropouts could increase as university becomes less affordable, and it could get even worse this year,” she added.

包括英国大学在内的部门机构最近几周敦促政府向学生提供额外支持，包括困难补助金和退还赡养补助金，并警告称，如果财政援助不能跟上通货膨胀的步伐，许多学生可能会被迫放弃学业。

Sector bodies including Universities UK have in recent weeks urged the Westminster government to provide extra support to students, including hardship funding and the return of maintenance grants, warning that many might be forced to abandon their studies if financial aid does not keep up with inflation.

9月初公布的民意调查显示，67%的学生表示，他们担心本学期的生活成本管理，而55%的学生则表示，他们可能因此被迫辍学。

Polling released earlier in September found that 67 per cent of students say they are concerned about managing living costs this term, while 55 per cent say they could be forced to quit their studies as a result.

菲尔德说：“学生告诉我们，他们负担不起继续学习的费用；他们不得不在养活自己和继续教育之间做出选择。许多人再也负担不起去实习的费用；为了维持收支平衡，他们不得不从事多种工作。不可避免的是，来自最贫穷背景的学生受到的影响尤甚。”她表示，“政府需要通过将学生资助与通货膨胀挂钩，提供紧急维持补助金和助学金来控制这种情况，否则学生贫困将继续加剧，我们将看到更多的辍学者。”

“Students are telling us they can’t afford to continue their studies; they’re having to choose between feeding themselves and carrying on their education. Many can no longer afford to travel to placements; they’re holding down multiple jobs to make ends meet. Inevitably, it is the students from the poorest background who are being disproportionately affected,” Field continued.“The government needs to take control of this situation by tying student support with inflation and delivering urgent maintenance grants and bursaries, otherwise student poverty will continue to grow and we’ll see even more dropouts.”

由于生活成本危机的影响，苏格兰一所大学开始为学生提供免费早餐。

A Scottish university is offering its students free breakfasts as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

西苏格兰大学表示，只要学生能在上午8:30至9:30之间抵达校园，它将在周二和周四在艾尔和佩斯利校区为学生提供免费的大陆式早餐。

The University of the West of Scotland said that it would offer students free continental breakfasts at its Ayr and Paisley campuses on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so long as they can make it to campus between 8.30am and 9.30am.

西苏格兰大学临时校长露西·梅雷迪斯（Lucy Meredith）表示：“随着生活中许多领域的成本增加，我们希望确保这不会对我们的学生在未来一天都能精力充沛产生太多影响。”

“With costs increasing in many areas of life, we are hopeful that this will make a small difference in ensuring our students are fuelled up for the day ahead,” said Lucy Meredith, UWS’ interim principal.

“他们不仅会有一个健康的开始，而且早餐对学习和一般健康都有积极的影响。研究表明，不吃早餐会对学习产生影响，这一举措表明了我们对学生身心健康的承诺。”

“Not only will they have a healthy kick-start to their day, but breakfast is known to positively impact learning and general health. Research shows the impact skipping breakfast can have on learning and this initiative demonstrates our commitment to the mental and physical well-being of our students.”