Supporting Kingston Students Through the Challenges of Higher Education
University life can be exciting but it’s no secret that students across the UK are facing more challenges than ever. From financial pressures and housing issues to mental health struggles and immigration uncertainty, the higher education landscape in 2025 is testing students’ resilience (House of Commons Library, 2024).
At Kingston Student Union (KSU), our Academic Advice Team is here to support you. While we specialise in academic matters such as mitigating circumstances, appeals, complaints, disciplinary processes, and fitness to practise we also act as a first point of contact for any issue affecting your studies.
The Cost of Living and Its Impact
Rising living costs are a major source of stress. Many students are now working part-time while studying, leaving little time to focus on coursework. This financial pressure has also been linked to a sharp increase in student mental health difficulties (King’s College London, 2023). For those from lower-income backgrounds, these challenges can feel even heavier (House of Commons Library, 2024).
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health continues to be a major issue in higher education. More than 80% of students in the UK have experienced mental health difficulties in the past year (Times Higher Education, 2025). Academic demands, isolation, and financial stress can make it difficult to stay engaged but early support makes a big difference (Complete University Guide, 2023).
If you’re struggling, KSU’s Academic Advice Team can guide you through academic options like mitigating circumstances while also connecting you to wellbeing services.
International and Intersectional Challenges
International students often face extra stress due to visa restrictions, higher fees, and cultural adjustment (UniAcco, n.d.). At the same time, research shows that underrepresented students particularly in STEM experience higher dropout rates and lower grades (Whitcomb and Singh, 2020).
These overlapping challenges highlight the need for tailored support that recognises each student’s individual situation.
How KSU’s Academic Advice Team Can Help
The KSU Academic Advice Team provides confidential advice on:
- Mitigating circumstances and appeals
- Complaints and disciplinary processes
- Fitness to practise concerns
While our focus is academic, we also help you find the right support across the university. Whether your concern involves immigration, finance, wellbeing, or disability support, we can signpost and refer you to the right place.
We might not solve every problem directly but we’ll make sure you’re not facing it alone.
Reach Out Early
The earlier you ask for help, the easier it is to resolve problems. If something in your personal life is affecting your studies, contact the KSU Academic Advice Team. Together, we can help you navigate your academic challenges and access the support you need to succeed.
References
Amber Student (n.d.) UK Higher Education: Policy Changes & Evolving Student Trends. Available at: https://amberstudent.com/news/post/uk-higher-education-policy-changes-evolving-student-trends (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
Complete University Guide (2023) Mental health at university. Available at: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/after-you-start/mental-health-at-university (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
House of Commons Library (2024) Student mental health in England: statistics, policy and guidance. Available at: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8593/CBP-8593.pdf (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
King’s College London (2023) Student mental health problems have almost tripled, study finds. Available at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/student-mental-health-problems-have-almost-tripled-study-finds (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
Quality Council for UK Higher Education (2025) Student view: wider challenges impacting students’ experiences of quality in higher education. Available at: https://qcukhe.org.uk/2025/06/20/student-view-wider-challenges-impacting-students-experiences-of-quality-in-higher-education (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
Times Higher Education (2025) Number of UK students reporting mental health difficulties triples. Available at: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/number-uk-students-reporting-mental-health-difficulties-triples (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
UniAcco (n.d.) Top problems faced by international students in UK. Available at: https://uniacco.com/blog/problems-faced-by-international-students-in-uk (Accessed: 24 October 2025).
Whitcomb, K. and Singh, C. (2020) Inequity exemplified by underrepresented minority students receiving lower grades and having higher rates of attrition across STEM disciplines. Available at: https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.14230 (Accessed: 24 October 2025).