Over the course of February, March and April 2025, we asked students to respond to our annual Student Life Survey. In total, 905 students filled out the survey which has given us a great insight into the issues students are facing right now, from housing, to travel and finances. We also asked students about some of the broader aspects of College life, including the sense of belonging at Edinburgh College, and explored how much students engaged in college activities beyond their course.
Some of the key headlines of the report are very encouraging:
- Most respondents feel happy and safe in their current living situation
- Most respondents feel they belong at Edinburgh College
- Most respondents feel Edinburgh College is a welcoming place
- Most respondents have access to a digital device that they can use for online learning
- Most respondents feel positive about the College's facilities
There are however some parts of the report that show the challenges facing students, as summarised by this quote:
It's very expensive and hard to find accommodation, I work and study and I can barely afford to rent a room I live in.
Multiple students highlighted precarious living situations, the lack of affordable housing in and around Edinburgh, and more general financial difficulties, which shows that the cost-of-living crising continues to have a big impact on students' lives. Students are juggling work and study alongside personal responsibilities, and it's sometimes a challenge to balance out all their commitments.
Thanks to everyone who filled out our survey, we now have lots of helpful evidence to inform our conversations with College Management, as well as our own strategy going into the next academic year. You can read the full report, which includes lots more direct student quotes, below, or download it by clicking the button.
Comparisons to previous years
This year's Student Life Survey is part of an annual research project we have run with students every year since 2020. We asked many of the same questions, which allows us to compare the data directly and work out some trends through the years.
Housing
As shown in the charts below, compared to previous years, a higher proportion of students are currently living at their family home, which is a trend that began last year. There was a higher proportion than ever who were unhappy with their current living situation while living in their parents' or carers' family home, and a larger number of people living with family said they found it stressful to arrange their accommodation this year. The proportion of respondents who were unhappy in privately rented accommodation has dropped compared to previous years, which is a positive trend, though may simply reflect the fact that fewer survey respondents are opting to rent privately. As in every previous year (2020 to 2024), those who felt unsafe at home tended to be female, but this year, there is quite a significant rise in males who felt unsafe at home. There are more details on the various reasons students feel unsafe at home in the full report.
Finances
Students' employment status has generally remained similar in every year the survey has been conducted, and this year's survey shows that a larger percentage of respondents than ever are not currently working. Respondents in 2025's survey tended to feel more positive about saving money each month than they have in previous years, with more people saying they are able to save 'always', 'most of the time' and 'about half then time'. There is still a large percentage of respondents who said they felt they were 'never' able to save, but this is comparatively lower than in previous years. This year's survey also seems to indicate that they are finding finances less stressful, with the yellow line showing that more students voted between 1-5 (Where 1 out of 10 was "least stressed"). Fewer students this year felt '9 out of 10' or '10 out of 10' stressed. You can find out more about financial strains facing students in the full report.
