Survey: two-thirds of students in Europe call financial support inadequate
By Muntasir • Published Jun 13, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Student Life, Study in Europe, Education News & Policy
A 2026 survey of more than 900 students and recent graduates across Europe found 94 percent think Europe is expensive to live in, and 63 percent struggled to find housing. Two out of three call student financial support inadequate.
📩 Survey size: over 900 students and recent graduates, 30+ nationalities
💶 94 percent find Europe expensive to live in
🏠 63 percent struggled to find accommodation
🎓 91 percent still say they are satisfied with quality of life
What the survey found
ESCP Business School's Live, Learn and Love in Europe survey for 2026 asked more than 900 current students and recent graduates, aged 18 to 35 and representing over 30 nationalities, about life as a student in Europe. About one in five respondents came from outside Europe, and the sample split close to evenly by gender. The headline result: two out of three respondents say financial support available to students is not enough to cover their needs.
Money and housing pressure
Cost of living tops the list of concerns. 94 percent of respondents say Europe is expensive to live in, and 63 percent report they struggled to find accommodation, according to the ESCP survey results . Those two figures sit next to each other for a reason. Housing is consistently the largest single cost in a student budget, and it is also the cost students report most difficulty securing at all, not only affording.
The pattern lines up with wider housing data across the continent. ESCP's own student blog frames the results as part of a broader affordability problem facing young people entering the housing market across Europe, not an issue limited to any one country.
Support students say is missing
When two-thirds of a sample this size call financial support inadequate, it points to a gap between what grants, loans, and family contributions currently cover and what students need month to month, particularly on rent. The survey does not break the figure down by country or funding type, so treat it as a continent-wide signal rather than a country-specific one.
The upside in the data
Despite the financial pressure, satisfaction with life in Europe stays high. 91 percent of respondents say they are satisfied with their overall quality of life, 82 percent find it easy to meet new people, and 75 percent find it easy to make friends. Career outlook is strong too: 90 percent say they are likely to work in Europe after finishing their studies, and 52 percent envision starting a business here at some point.
Trust in institutions runs lower than personal satisfaction. Only 52 percent of respondents describe institutions as transparent and trustworthy, and 48 percent feel institutions respond adequately to citizens' needs. Even so, 68 percent say they feel at least somewhat optimistic about Europe's future, and 89 percent feel aligned with the European way of life.
What this means for you
Build your housing search into your budget planning from the start, not as an afterthought once you arrive.
Check your destination country's student grant and loan rules early. Support levels and eligibility vary widely across Europe.
Look into university-run financial counseling or emergency funds, many institutions offer support beyond the standard grant.
Weigh cost of living against quality of life. Survey respondents report high satisfaction despite the financial strain, so cost alone should not be your only factor.
Factor long-term plans into your choice of country. If you expect to work in Europe after graduation, check post-study work visa rules before you enroll.