In this blog, we will summarize the report and then go into the changes SFS sees need to be implemented so that everyone who wants to can study at higher education and so that students can have a sustainable and functioning economy.
The report - a brief summary
In CSN's report “Students' social and economic situation” the following appears:
- Unchanged financial situation: 71% of students feel that their finances are quite good, good or very good. Those who experience the economy the worst are older students and students with children. 37% estimate that the study funds cover all living expenses. A further 38% believe that the study grants cover 75% of the cost of living. The experience of the adequacy of study grants is largely unchanged compared with previous years.
- The recruitment effect of study grants is increasing: The purpose of study grants is also to enable everyone, regardless of background, to apply for higher education. People who probably would not have started studying if they could not receive study grants have increased from 43 to 55 percent. This means that more people from, among other things, unaccustomed homes apply to universities and colleges.
- Work alongside studies is increasing: In the previous survey from 2017, 43% stated that they worked alongside their studies and now the proportion was 48%. This is believed to be due to the abolition of the tax-free amount in 2020. About half believe that work alongside studies affects their studies and more feel that it is affected negatively than positively. Here there is a connection between the more work, the more the studies are affected and the higher the proportion who feel that the studies are negatively affected.
- Deteriorated study situation: As a result of covid-19, the study situation has been affected. 60% feel that they have a good or very good study situation, which is a reduction of about 20% compared to previous surveys.
- Many have health problems: The proportion of students with mental health problems such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, worry and anxiety is high among the students. However, the majority state that they feel good or very well, but women feel worse than men. On the other hand, those who state that they feel well or very well are about 10% less than in Statistics Sweden's survey, which measures the mood of the entire population. This means that students feel worse than the rest of society.
- The study situation affects health: 59% stated that the health problems are due to the study situation. Older students experience that the health problems depend as much on the financial situation as the study situation.
The student financial aid system needs to be in place to the
A majority of the students are satisfied with their finances and a large proportion believe that the study grant covers most of one's living costs. However, we continue to see that the trend also continues in terms of older students and students with children who are less satisfied with the economy and to a lesser extent believe that the economy is sufficient. Instead of a general increase in the study grant, SFS wants our politicians to consider targeted initiatives for the students who have the worst. SFS proposes:
Make the housing allowance available
We know that the housing rent for many students constitutes a large proportion of the study grant. Today, there are too few who apply for housing allowance, a majority do not dare to do so due to the risk of becoming liable for repayment. SFS wants to see that CSN administers the housing allowance for students because they have the best control over the students' finances. Furthermore, we think that the housing allowance should not be based on an estimate of annual income, as it is difficult for students to know if they will get the summer job. Several also have extra jobs to manage their livelihood.
Facilitate additional costs in connection with VFU
We also know that many who choose to train for the shortage, such as teachers and nurses, are often older students and thus more likely also have children. Within the framework of these educations, compulsory work-based education, VFU, is included, which often entails high additional costs for the student and thus has the potential to reduce throughput and postpone the degree period.
There is a shortage of VFU places and therefore many students need to do VFU far from home, which often means double housing costs or expensive travel costs. Here, SFS sees a number of proposals for different solutions. One solution is to set up a national administration whose task is to ensure that all students have a VFU place with a trained supervisor in the vicinity of the place of study or residence. Other solutions are that more employers offer students to do their VFU with them or that financial support is designed for those students who can not avoid high extra costs for their VFU. SFS believes that the education should not cost and that it is therefore unreasonable that some students need to pay to get their degree.
Enables lifelong learning
Why should we stay so much with older students, maybe someone thinks? Well, because this is probably a group that will increase in higher education in the coming years. Lifelong learning is a concept that is being talked about more and more and which has come as a result of us living longer, that we will thus have to work higher up in the ages and that technological development is so fast that many jobs will be made more efficient. .
Increase the number of study weeks from 240 to 320 (from 6 to 8 years)
The Bologna process has made Swedish educations longer in accordance with European standards. Some educations are now being extended further, for example the medical program. Today's weekly restriction makes the space smaller for those who regret their choice of education or who, for labor market reasons, need to study a new education. In this respect, the student financial aid system needs to be updated and modernized.
Remove the link between grants and loans
Today, loans and contributions are linked. This means that if a student studies a semester and only applies for a study grant, the right to a student loan for the corresponding number of weeks is also consumed. The student financial aid system should not control how students choose to finance their studies. Linking these prevents lifelong learning and the opportunity to, for example, try higher education through a single course funded with only study grants.
A lot is good, but there is still work to be done
In addition to the adjustments to the student financial aid system that SFS sees as needed and that we have reviewed so far, the report addresses both good and bad news.
It is good that the recruitment effect of study grants is increasing. This shows that the study grant is highly relevant if we are to achieve the goals of broadened recruitment and if Sweden is to continue to have a highly educated population and thus live up to the goal of a nation of knowledge.
It is to some extent problematic that work alongside studies is increasing. We know that work alongside studies risks taking focus away from the studies and thus leading to poorer study results and lower throughput. On the other hand, CSN's report shows that it can contribute with positive effects if the work is linked to the studies. Right now, SFS sees a need for abolished free amount for care students with the pandemic, but after that we see that it is reasonable to reintroduce the free amount to reduce the negative effects of work on studies.
Finally, it is sad to continue reading about students experiencing poorer health compared to the general population. In addition, a large proportion state that they have a deteriorating study situation as a result of the pandemic. Here you can read SFS reports on the students' situation under corona. It is also worrying that the trend of women being overrepresented among students with health problems, as in the rest of the population, persists. SFS is now in its third and final year on the focus issue on mental illness and sees that a lot has happened, but that a lot remains to be done.
In summary, SFS can state that the student movement's struggle for the economy not to be an obstacle to engaging in university or college studies has partly succeeded. What we see now is that the system needs to be updated in accordance with society's pace of change and thus enable studies for everyone.