Which universities are home to the UK’s most indebted students?
A new study by Vanquis bank highlights the cost of University across the UK.
Estimated read time: 3 mins
Our newest study reveals universities are owed over £486 million in unpaid, private fees on top of tuition fees and maintenance loans.
Based on information provided by 77 out of 148 universities approached, our study found that 180,000 graduates and current students owe their university for outstanding debts. These debts include:
- Unpaid accommodation fees
- Library fines
- Course materials
- Other private loans
That’s an average of nearly £2,650 owed by each student to their university.
The findings follow news that tuition fees have increased by 3.1% to £9,535 annually for 2025, which will leave ‘class of 2028’ graduates with £28,605 in tuition fee debt alone.
As well as having some of the highest tuition fees in the world, around 36% of UK students say they struggle with housing costs. Paying for course materials and transport to attend lectures and seminars also adds to their financial difficulties.
As a result, some students in the UK are now building up thousands in private debt outside of tuition fees and maintenance loans. This puts students at a further financial disadvantage before they start their careers.
Top 10 universities owed most in unpaid fees
| Rank | University | No. of indebted students | Outstanding debt total |
| 1 | University of the West of Scotland | 7,429 | £29,730,000 |
| 2 | University of Sunderland | 6,681 | £24,534,271 |
| 3 | University of Strathclyde | 5,613 | £22,957,623 |
| 4 | Canterbury Christ Church University | 6,384 | £22,205,597 |
| 5 | University of Kent | 11,135 | £21,464,850 |
| 6 | Queen Mary London | 5,651 | £19,700,000 |
| 7 | University of Wolverhampton | 11,068 | £18,010,877 |
| 8 | University of Lincoln | 3,019 | £15,110,706 |
| 9 | De Montfort University | 3,350 | £14,904,826 |
| 10 | University of Westminster | 1,350 | £14,000,000 |
Cost of living pressures
With inflation at 3.8%, rising rent and food costs are squeezing students further.
In Glasgow, home to two of the institutions owed the most by their students – the University of the West of Scotland and the University of Strathclyde – average rent prices have increased by 5.4% since last year. Students typically favour moving into private student housing after their first year, leaving them vulnerable to rising rental markets.
Excluding London, the Southeast has the highest average weekly household expenditure in the UK at just over £95. Between 2022 and 2024, the cost of food nationwide increased by £24, and recreational activities and socialising went up over £11.
Major universities in the Southeast report some of the highest debt. Canterbury Christ Church is owed £22.2 million in unpaid fees, while the University of Kent is owed £21.46 million.
Southampton Solent University has the highest number of indebted students at 12,732 owing the institution directly for unpaid fees. The University of Southampton, on the other hand, records just 566 indebted students, but their collective debt is over £3.03 million, averaging around than £5,353 per student.
| Rank | Universities | Total number of indebted students |
| 1 |
Southhampton Solent University |
12,732 |
| 2 |
University of Kent |
11,135 |
| 3 |
University of Wolverhampton |
11,068 |
| 4 |
University of the West of Scotland |
7,429 |
| 5 |
University of Sunderland |
6,681 |
| 6 |
Canterbury Christ Church University |
6,384 |
| 7 |
Queen Mary London |
5,651 |
| 8 |
University of Strathclyde |
5,613 |
| 9 |
Leeds Beckett University |
4,802 |
| 10 |
Royal Holloway |
4,404 |
International students
There is also a link between universities with a large international population and unpaid private student debt.
Around 35% of students at the University of Sunderland, University of Westminster, Queen Mary University of London, and De Montfort University are from overseas.
The University of Sunderland has the second-highest outstanding debt of nearly £25 million from 6,681 students. Queen Mary University of London has £19.7 million from 5,651 students, De Montfort University has £14.9 million from 3,350 students, and the University of Westminster has £14 million from 1,350 students.
In addition to high living costs, currency fluctuations (such as variable exchange rates between countries) may also affect the strength of an international student’s home currency against the pound – making it more difficult for them to manage the expected costs of university, and impacting their finances as a result.
Specialist university students face less debt
The study also shows that a significant number of specialist universities have minimal unpaid private student debt.
Leeds Art University has no students with outstanding debt to pay, while the Royal Academy of Music in London has just over £10,000 in student debt, owed by 256 students.
The London Business School has just four indebted students who collectively owe just over £6,000 in outstanding fees (just over £1,500 each).
Specialist institutions with low student debt also include the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and the Royal Agricultural University.
These institutions typically have lower student numbers due to limited places. For example, the Royal College of Music welcomes just 900 students a year on average.
These lower student numbers help explain lower debt numbers compared to larger universities with thousands of enrolled students. Private institutions like these may also have different sources of funding and scholarship opportunities not offered at traditional universities.
Universities with the lowest student debt
| Rank | Universities | Outstanding debt total |
| 1 | Leeds Art University | £0 |
| 2 | SOAS University of London | £4,374 |
| 3 | London Business School | £6,050 |
| 4 | Royal Academy of Music | £10,344 |
| 5 | Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance | £11,088 |
| 6 | Open University | £19,089 |
| 7 | Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama | £101,617 |
| 8 | Royal Agricultural University | £105,000 |
| 9 | Ulster University | £195,954 |
| 10 | Liverpool Hope University | £214,580 |
What our findings show
High living costs and university expenses are clearly putting a strain on student finances, prompting thousands to seek additional support from their university.
Our study reveals there is a hidden and growing layer of debt beyond standard tuition and maintenance loans, which already average over £53,000.
Unlike government-backed loans, private debt owed directly to universities can be less flexible, have much shorter repayment deadlines and no minimum income threshold.
Sadly, financial strain is a leading driver of student drop-out rates. 31% of students have considered dropping out due to money worries, while 16% said that student loan repayments were making them think about quitting.
Building financial resilience during your student years will give you a foundation for good money management in the long run. Learning how to keep up with repayments and budget around them and avoiding inescapable debt cycles can help students protect their financial future.
Our methodology
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request was submitted to all 148 UK universities, requesting the total amount of outstanding debt owed by past and present students in their records, as well as the total number of past and present students who have outstanding debt with each institution.
Examples of the sources of debt could include outstanding accommodation fees, library fees, private university loans, course costs, facility fees and other miscellaneous charges each university may choose to include.
28 universities withheld this information due to commercial sensitivity, an exemption from being required to provide it or an inability to produce these figures. The remaining 43 universities did not respond to the information request.