UK students: are rising costs affecting your university choices?

The pandemic and rising costs may encourage more people to stay at home, Ofsted boss says Photograph: Iain Masterton/Alamy

The cost of living crisis and pandemic are pushing more young people to remain at home for university, according to the head of Ofsted.

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, said the “current economic uncertainty” and “the threat of high inflation” may discourage people from moving out, exacerbating a trend in recent years amid the pandemic, rising fees and the cost of accommodation.