London’s universities are facing renewed scrutiny as last year’s retention data reveals that the capital’s non‑continuation rate has reached 7.7%, significantly higher than the English average of 6.3%.
The figures, published by the Greater London Authority (GLA), highlight a growing challenge for institutions across the city as students continue to withdraw from courses at rates that outpace the rest of the country.
The pressures driving this rise are uniquely intensified in London. Students in the capital face some of the highest living costs in the UK, yet maintenance loans remain calculated on a national scale. This mismatch leaves many undergraduates struggling to cover rent, transport, and basic essentials. Universities acknowledge these pressures, but the support available often falls short of the scale and urgency of the problem, a gap that becomes more visible each year.
While universities promote wellbeing services, study‑skills programmes and personal tutoring systems, students frequently report long waiting times, inconsistent communication, and a lack of proactive outreach. The GLA’s 2025 findings highlight that London students are also the most likely in the country to transfer to another university, suggesting that many are not receiving the early intervention or tailored guidance needed to stay on course.
For commuter students, who make up a significant proportion of London’s undergraduate population, these challenges are even more distinct. Long travel times, limited campus presence and difficulty integrating socially can leave them feeling disconnected from university life, with fewer opportunities to access support before problems deteriorate.
There is also a widening gap between student expectations and the reality of higher education in the capital. Large cohort sizes, reduced contact hours and the shift towards independent learning can leave first‑year students feeling academically adrift. Without strong community‑building initiatives, many struggle to find a sense of belonging, a factor repeatedly shown to be one of the strongest predictors of student continuation.
As London’s dropout rates are to fall in the coming years, universities are having to rethink their approach to student support. That means more accessible academic help, targeted financial guidance, and a genuine commitment to building community for commuter and working‑class students. Without meaningful change, the capital risks normalising a system where leaving university early becomes an expected outcome rather than an exception.