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 in higher education and so that students can have a sustainable and functioning economy.
The report – a brief summary
In CSN's report “The social and economic situation of students” the following is stated:
- Unchanged economic situation: 71% of students feel that their finances are quite good, good or very good. Those who experience their finances the worst are older students and students with children. 37% believe that their study funds cover all living expenses. A further 38% believe that their study funds cover 75% of their living expenses. The perception of the adequacy of their study funds is largely unchanged compared to previous years.
- The recruiting effect of study funds increases: Study grants also aim to make it possible for everyone, regardless of background, to apply for higher education. People who would probably not have started studying if they could not get study grants have increased from 43 to 55 percent. This means that more people from homes that are not used to studying, among other things, are applying 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 a result of the abolition of the allowance in 2020. Around half believe that working alongside their studies affects their studies and more people feel that it is affected negatively than positively. Here there is a connection between the more work, the more studies are affected and the higher the proportion who feel that their studies are affected negatively.
- 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 decrease of approximately 20% compared to previous surveys.
- Many people have health problems: The proportion of students with mental health problems such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, worry and apprehension is high among students. However, the majority state that they feel good or very good, but women feel worse than men. However, those who state that they feel good or very good are approximately 10% fewer than in the Statistics Sweden survey that measures the well-being of the entire population. This means that students feel worse than the rest of society.
- The study situation affects health: 59% stated that health problems are due to the study situation. Older students feel that health problems are due as much to the financial situation as the study situation.
The student aid system needs to exist for to the
A majority of students are satisfied with their finances and a large proportion believe that the student grant covers most of one's living expenses. However, we continue to see that the trend also holds for older students and students with children who are less satisfied with their finances and to a lesser extent believe that their finances are sufficient. Instead of a general increase in student grants, SFS wants our politicians to consider targeted initiatives for the students who are the worst off. SFS proposes:
Make the housing allowance available
We know that for many students, housing rent constitutes a large proportion of their study funds. Today, too few apply for housing allowance, a majority do not dare to do so due to the risk of being required to repay. SFS wants to see that CSN administers the housing allowance for students because they have the best control over the students' finances. Furthermore, we believe that the housing allowance should not be based on an estimate of annual income, since it is difficult for students to know whether they will get the summer job. Many also have extra jobs to make ends meet.
Facilitate additional costs associated with VFU
We also know that many who choose to train for shortage professions such as teachers and nurses are often older students and are therefore more likely to have children. Within the framework of these educations, mandatory workplace-based training, VFU, is included, which often entails high additional costs for the student and thus has the potential to reduce throughput and postpone the graduation time.
There is a shortage of VFU places and therefore many students need to do VFU far from home, which often means double accommodation costs or expensive travel costs. Here, SFS sees a number of proposals for different solutions. One solution is to establish a national administration whose task is to ensure that all students have a VFU place with a trained supervisor near their place of study or residence. Other solutions are for more employers to offer students to do their VFU with them or for financial support to be designed for students who cannot avoid high additional costs for their VFU. SFS believes that education should not cost money and that it is therefore unreasonable that some students need to pay to get their degree.
Enables lifelong learning
Why should we dwell so much on older students, someone might think? Well, because this is probably a group that will increase in higher education in the coming years. Lifelong learning is a concept that is increasingly being talked about and has come about as a result of us living longer, that we will therefore need to work later in life and that technological development is happening so quickly that many jobs will be streamlined.
Expand the number of study weeks from 240 to 320 (from 6 to 8 years)
The Bologna Process has made Swedish education programs longer in accordance with European standards. Now, some programs are being extended further, such as the medical program. Today's weekly limitation reduces the scope for those who regret their education choice or who need to study a new program for labor market reasons. The student financial aid system needs to be updated and modernized in this regard.
Remove the link between grants and loans
Today, loans and grants are linked. This means that if a student studies for a semester and only applies for a study grant, the right to a study loan for the corresponding number of weeks is also used up. The student finance 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 financed only with a study grant.
Much is good, but there is still work to be done
In addition to the adjustments to the student finance 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 recruiting effect of study grants is increasing. It 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 thereby live up to the goal of a knowledge nation.
It is somewhat problematic that work alongside studies is increasing. We know that work alongside studies risks taking focus away from studies and thus leading to poorer study results and lower throughput. However, CSN's report shows that it can contribute to positive effects if work is linked to studies. Right now, SFS sees a need to abolish the allowance for nursing students due to the pandemic, but then we see that it is reasonable to reintroduce the allowance to reduce the negative effects of work on studies.
Finally, it is sad to continue to read about students experiencing poorer health compared to the general population. In addition, a large proportion report that their study situation has worsened as a result of the pandemic. Here you can read SFS reports on the situation of students during corona. It is also worrying that the trend of women being overrepresented among students with health problems, as in the rest of the population, continues. SFS is now in its third and final year on the focus issue of 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 fight to ensure that finances are not an obstacle to pursuing university or college studies has been partially successful. What we see now is that the system needs to be updated in accordance with the pace of change in society and thereby make studies possible for everyone.