International study shows students studying in England have highest debt while UK universities spend least on staff

• Students at English universities leave with £40,452 average debt

• 94% of students leave English universities in debt

• UK universities spend just 64% of income on staff, lower that OECD and EU average

The Education at a Glance report, from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), shows that 94% of students studying at English universities leave with debt and the average debt is £40,452.

Just seven of the 32 countries the OECD found data for spent a lower percentage of their income on staff than UK. The UK universities spent just 64% of their income on staff, compared to an OECD average of 69% and an EU average of 70%. This is despite the fact that students say they want universities to spend their fee money on teaching.

The OECD produced data for 11 countries' debt levels and found the English average debt (£40,452) was almost twice as much as the next highest of £23,357 in Norway. The report comes as ballots open in 69 universities for strike action over changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme and at 147 institutions over pay, workloads, equality and casualisation. Both ballots opened yesterday (Monday) and close on Wednesday 30 October.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Students are leaving university with world record levels of debts, yet their universities are not investing in staff. Students have made it clear that they want to see more money prioritised for teaching and, as a minimum, we should be matching the level of investment made by other countries.

'Universities have to recognise that staff are their most important asset and invest in them properly. That starts with a fair offer on pay and conditions.'

*Converted to pounds from OECD figures in US dollars. Exchange rate $1-£0.81 7/9/19
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