UK students call on government to reform student loan system amid growing debt crisis

UK students are calling on the government to reform the student loan system as the debt crisis deepens, with students struggling to meet repayments and having to repay more than they borrowed for their studies.

The average debt among borrowers who finished their courses in 2024 was £53,000 (€60,800) when they first became liable to repay it (in April 2025).

UK finance minister Rachel Reeves said in February that the current system was "fair". In response, Alex Stanley, vice president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said "there is growing support for measures including completely wiping off all student debt, it is time the Chancellor starts looking at the practical solutions which would deliver for students and graduates".

The total value of outstanding loans at the end of March 2025 is estimated to be £267 billion (€305.9bn). The government predicts that it will reach £500bn by the late 2040s.

Student debt was around £50bn in 2013 but has been increasing steadily.

The latest OECD analysis (Education at a Glance 2025) found that the average student loan in England was higher…