Students set to spend £3.26bn ahead of arriving at university this year

A new “Back to Campus” report from UNiDAYS, the world’s leading Student Affinity Network, has revealed that students are poised to spend approximately £3.26bn total ahead of arriving at University in autumn 2022, during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The forecast marks a clear increase in expenditure when compared to the total from 2021 which stood at £2.7bn, down from £2.8bn in 2020. With students intending to spend 19 per cent more this year than in 2021, a sign that pre-university bills are rising rapidly.

On average, each student is forecast to spend approximately £1,027 ahead of the new year. However, for freshers this figure rises to £1,215 amongst those going into their first year of university. Freshers are racking up bills on essentials and are predicted to spend 42 per cent more on computers and hardware and 60 per cent more on kitchen and bedrooms when compared to returning students.

The largest number of students (65 per cent) plan to spend money on grocery and household goods. However, total planned spend on grocery and household goods is just over a quarter (£281m) of the whopping £1.04bn forecast to be spent by 38 per cent of students on computers and hardware.

With a further £948m due to be spent on electronic gadgets, Gen Z are turning en masse to tech to ensure they’re ready for their return to university.

Further down the list of priorities comes fashion (£252m planned spend), alongside school supplies (£154m), despite over six in ten (64 per cent) choosing items in these categories. ASOS, Primark, Zara, Nike and New Look are the most popular clothing retailers for students.

Cosmetics and beauty items will also see relatively lower spending, with 50 per cent of students looking to purchase them, totalling a potential £136m. Despite the rising costs, subscription services remain popular among students, with 37 per cent choosing products that fit this description.

When it comes to factors that most significantly influence student purchasing choices, price and quality are the top factors across all categories. However, it’s clear that students also have a keen eye for a bargain, with discounts and promotions being a key influence on their purchase decisions.

Alex Gallagher, chief strategy officer at UNiDAYS said: “Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, Gen Z students are facing significantly increased costs to prepare for the year of study ahead. With shopping habits shifting in light of rising prices, brands must seize the opportunity to drive affinity with Gen Z.

“To do this it’s crucial that brands adjust their offering adopting a strong pricing strategy which will help them to better resonate with the Gen Z audience priorities and values during the current economic climate.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily