You've told us you're struggling, and here's what we're doing about it
Many of you took part in our Cost of Living survey back in April. This page sets out what you told us, what we have been doing in response so far, and what we’re working on next.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. It was long, and it ran through exam season, but you took the time to give detailed and candid answers anyway, and we read every single reply.
Managing, for many of you, means having very little left over. Our report shows the cost of 'managing': events and social opportunities missed, meals skipped or reduced, money borrowed, and a weakened sense of what you can aim for.
We want to do what we can to help you flourish while you’re at LSE, despite the cost of living.
Most of you described yourself as 'managing' financially.
Our approach is as follows: Where LSESU is able to act directly and autonomously to help students with the cost of living, we will. In situations where we depend on or need to work with other bodies (for example LSE, transport or catering providers) we will do so, and report back on progress.
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Students want practical help
Your top five priorities for us to work on were:
- Free or subsidised food (47.6%)
- Subsidised travel (43.6%)
- Cheaper accommodation through the university (42.9%)
- More affordable events (22.6%)
- A larger hardship fund (23.2%)
Trade-offs mean missing out
Missing a social event or activity is the most common sacrifice students reported making due to financial pressures. Among students who described themselves as struggling, 89% said they often or always miss events they want to attend, compared with 34% of those who are managing.
Food is a real pressure point
More than half of struggling students often or always skip or reduce meals, or cannot afford balanced meals. Across all respondents, around two thirds said food on campus is often or always too expensive for them to use
Some groups are more impacted than others
Postgraduate taught students and students with dependents reported the most difficulty. Around a quarter of postgraduate taught students said they are struggling or in serious difficulty, compared with around 15% of undergraduates. Students with dependents were more than three times as likely to skip meals.
Each area of work listed below has been shaped in direct response to problems you reported facing through the survey. Where work and progress depends on organisations and bodies other than LSESU, we’ll let you know.
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You told us: More than half of struggling students are skipping or reducing meals and costs are impacting your ability to buy basics.
What we are doing: We are opening our own Essentials Hub, which any LSE student can use for free. We’re aiming to open this by Monday 16 November from 12-3pm, every weekday, and from 11-1 during Reading Weeks.
You can find the Essentials Hub on the first floor of the Saw Swee Hock building. You do not need to explain why you are there and will not be asked to prove your need. To keep things fair, we ask that you limit what you take to five items per person per visit.FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HUB
You told us: Free or subsidised food was your number one priority (47.6%), and around two thirds of you find campus food too expensive.
What we are doing: We are lobbying LSE for lower food prices across campus. Pricing is LSE's decision, not ours, so we cannot promise an outcome. We will tell you what we have asked for, what the response from the School is, and update on any changes.
In the meantime, following consistent lobbying from LSESU officers, the School catering team now offers £1.50 jacket potatoes and £3.95 pasta meals in the 4th Floor Restaurant in the Old Building!
As a result of last year's sabbatical team's efforts, microwaves are now in every departmental common room as well as the first and second floor of the Saw Swee Hock building.
You told us: Subsidised travel was your second priority (43.6%), and a quarter of respondents had neither a railcard nor an Oyster photocard.
What we are doing: Your Sabbatical Officers are part of the London Student Partnership campaign group, which is in talks with London’s deputy mayor, and Transport for London (TfL). This group’s work has already managed to secure a great discount on Santander bikes for all London Students!
Work on transportation costs is a joint campaign the results of which are reliant on bodies we do not control, so further progress will be gradual, but we’ll let you know about any breakthroughs. In the meantime the Sabbatical Officers are working on a manifesto to present to TfL regarding this issue – if you'd like to be involved with the creation of this manifesto, then please contact the Sabbs via the email address below.
EMAIL YOUR SABBATICAL OFFICERS
You told us: About one in five of you found support too difficult or slow to access or did not know how to get financial support. Very few of you had used the hardship or participation funds.
What we are doing: We are making our funds easier to find and easier to apply for.
We are working to make:
If you are unsure whether you qualify, remember you can ask us! Most students who do not apply tell us they did not think their situation was serious enough. If finances are negatively affecting you, it's worth getting in touch.
SEE WHAT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
You told us: Missing events was the most common sacrifice LSE students made, and 89% of struggling students said they often or always miss events they want to attend.
What we are doing: We are working to keep our events affordable.
We want our events to:
Social experience, community building and belonging are a core part of what LSESU exists to offer its members, and we do not want cost to decide who gets to take part in these opportunities.
BROWSE FREE AND LOW-COST EVENTS
You told us: One in five students who said they had faced unexpected costs identified clothing for interviews or placements as an issue, and 63.3% of you hope to secure a dream graduate placement.
What we are doing: We are reopening our RAG Charity Shop on November 10, following extensive refurbishment over the summer of 2026. As well as offering affordable clothes year-round, we are hoping to solicit donations focused on your needs every term. This winter, we need so that having the right outfit is not a barrier to opportunities. We will be asking staff, alumni and employers to donate.
Social experience, community building and belonging are a core part of what LSESU exists to offer its members, and we do not want cost to decide who gets to take part in these opportunities.
Location: Kings Chambers, Portugal Street
Opening hours: 12-4pm during term-time, from November 10.
If you’d like to donate anything to the RAG Charity Shop, please stop by during opening hours, or contact rag@lsesu.org
FOLLOW RAG ON INSTAGRAM
We would rather be straight with you about the limits of our remit, than make promises that we can't deliver on.
Some of this work is in our hands. Things like the Essentials Hub, the RAG Charity Shop, the affordability of our events and the accessibility of LSESU funds are things the Students’ Union runs and has the power to change and improve. You can hold us to our commitments on these areas of work.
Some of our planned projects however, rely on our working with external bodies. For example: campus food prices are set by LSE, transport fares are set by transport providers and funded through public policy, and accommodation costs are shaped by LSE and the housing market. On these areas of work we will continue to gather evidence and leverage it in campaigning for positive change. We will keep you updated on progress, as well as delays and frustrations.
Not everyone will agree that we have the balance right. If you think there's something we should be working on that we aren't, please tell us.
If money is tight, you don't have to wait for the campaigns above to be won. There are existing avenues of support and advice available you through LSESU and the School right now.
The Hardship Fund
This is a means tested fund designed to help students who have fallen into short-term, unforeseen hardship to continue with their studies. The maximum amount that can be applied for is £2,000. A decision on an application can take between 5 to 7 working days, depending upon the information requested and received.
Hardship Fund
The Childcare Fund
This is a means tested fund to help students with childcare costs, for example nursery fees, childminder costs, and afterschool clubs. The maximum amount that can be applied for is £2,000. A decision on an application can take between 5 to 7 working days, depending upon the information requested and received.
Childcare Fund
Gender Expression Fund
This is a fund to alleviate financial strains for trans, non-binary, intersex, and any gender non-conforming students to break down some of the barriers they face in their daily lives. While the fund cannot assist with medical or legal costs, this financial assistance can contribute to students’ wellbeing and make resources for gender expression more accessible. The maximum amount that can be applied for is £100. A decision on an application can take between 5 to 7 working days, depending upon the information requested and received.
Gender Expression Fund
Graduation Support Fund
This scheme helps students by waiving the full gown-hire fee and/or cost of graduation photographs. The number of these awarded is fixed by the School. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. A decision on an application can take between 5 to 7 working days depending on the information requested and received. This fund will be promoted on the LSESU website before respective graduation ceremonies.
Graduation Support Fund
THE LSESU ADVICE SERVICE
Free, confidential and independent expert advice from LSESU’s full-time Advice team. You can contact the team here. The response time for advice requests will be 7 to 10 working days at most, though usually inquiries are replied to in less time.
You can also contact LSE’s finance-specific support team here.
EXPLORE THE SERVICE
If you are not sure whether you are "in enough need" to seek funding, please get in touch and ask.
GET IN TOUCH
A SHORT NOTE FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WITH DEPENDENTS:
The survey suggests you are more impacted than your peers, and 55.1% of postgraduate respondents said postgraduate-specific financial support is not adequate. If that is your situation, say so when you get in touch and we will point you to the right place.
The Cost of Living survey we ran in 2026 provided a starting point for all of these projects and campaigns. However, only 319 of you submitted replies. We want to hear from far, far more of you.
We will be updating this page as things change: when the Essentials Hub opens, when the RAG shop reopens, and when we have updates on campus food and transport prices.
We will also publish a short "You said, we did" update at the end of each term, so you can see what has changed and what has not.
Thank you again for being so open with us and let’s keep this going!
READ THE FULL COST OF LIVING SURVEY REPORT