What was once seen as a challenging but exciting chapter of life is increasingly becoming a period defined by stress, uncertainty and exhaustion.
The financial burden
One of the biggest drivers of this pressure is financial strain. With the cost of living continuing to rise and university tuition fees showing no sign of decreasing, 60% of full-time university students hold part-time jobs simply to make ends meet.
Balancing demanding academic schedules with work commitments leaves many stretched thin, sacrificing sleep, social time and sometimes even their studies.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has reached staggering levels. After four years of study, the average student now graduates owing £53,000, a burden that follows them into adulthood and often shapes their career decisions.
I spoke to a fellow student who has worries about affording university: "I know I can get a student loan but then I've got to live with paying back that student loan after a four-year course but I might not be able to afford to pay it back because the job I have won't be able to cover it with my other expenses".
The weight of this debt is enough to cause anxiety even before students step into the job market.
Academic expectations
Academic pressure is also taking a significant toll. Recent data shows that teenagers in England experience the third highest rate of school-related pressure out of 45 countries surveyed.
This intense environment is reflected in young people's daily worries, as 69% of UK students admit to worrying about their grades.
Another student told me that she doesn't feel as if her tutors support her in completing her workload: "It's debatable, sometimes they can help, sometimes they can't, but only if it's in their interest". This illustrates just how deeply academic expectations have permeated their wellbeing.
The mental health crisis
Nowhere is the impact of this stress more visible than in student mental health. At King's College London, for example, the number of students struggling with mental health challenges has jumped from 6% in 2016 to 16% today.
Nationwide trends mirror this concerning shift, with university counselling services reporting record demand year after year.
Perhaps most alarming is the fact that mental health has become the most common reason students drop out of education. What should be a time of personal growth and discovery is instead becoming overwhelming for many, pushing them out of a system that was meant to support their futures.
The bottom line
The pressures placed on today's students are not isolated issues – they form a deeply interconnected web of financial insecurity, academic expectation, and emotional strain.
As these challenges escalate, so does the urgency for schools, universities, and policymakers to act. Without meaningful change, a whole generation may continue to struggle under a burden that should have never been theirs to carry alone.
A number of free services are available to support student wellbeing including the NHS, Mind, Talk Campus, Young Minds and Kooth.
NB This article was written by a student journalist participating in Youth Voice Matters, a six-week community journalism project delivered by Ipswich.co.uk and Ipswich Community Media (ICM), in partnership with Volunteering Matters.
