Let's Talk About Classism

For some students, fitting in at university comes with extra pressure. It’s the quiet mental maths before each social or event: Can I afford this? Will it be awkward if I say no?  If you’ve felt that pause before replying, you’re not alone. Classism isn’t always loud, but for many students, it shows up in everyday interactions, in moments where you might feel slightly out of place, when conversations assume a shared background or when you’re doing extra work just to feel like you belong.  

So, what do we mean by classism?

‍In simple terms, classism is about how assumptions around money, background, accent or education shape who feels welcome and what opportunities feel open to them. It isn’t always intentional and doesn’t always come from individuals. Often, it’s built into systems, expectations and unspoken norms of university life.  

Student feedback collected through our Superheroes Survey suggests that classism most often shows up through everyday pressures, rather than single incidents. Over half of students said financial pressure is the main way classism affects their experience at Exeter – particularly through accommodation, social events and the general costs of student life. But it isn’t only about money. Nearly one in five students said classism has made them feel unwelcome, and others described moments where their background, accent or where they’re from suddenly felt more noticeable. As one student put it, “the cost of going to weekly socials adds up, and it ends up being difficult to create meaningful connections.”

One thing that stood out is how often students deal with this quietly. Over half of students who reported experiencing classism said they hadn’t accessed any formal support, instead relying on friends or family. This suggests that classism isn’t just something students notice – it's something many feel they have to manage on their own, without always knowing where to turn or whether support will really help.  

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What your Elected Officers are working on:
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From what students have shares, it’s often the small, everyday things that adds up and some practical changes are being explored to help take a bit of that pressure of.

Graduation Costs

Seb and Kira have been exploring a free graduation robes pilot, following student feedback about the cost of hiring robes. Graduation is something many students plan and look forward to, but the costs can still add pressure at the very end of a degree – particularly when finances are already tight, and when that pressure can take away from what should be a celebratory moment.  

They’ve been working with colleagues in the university’s Success for All team to think through how a scheme like this could work in practice. The hope is to run a small pilot during this summer’s graduation ceremonies, to better understand demand and what eligibility and an application process might look like – so that support can reach the students who would benefit most, in a way that’s clear and manageable.
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Student Accommodation

We found that accommodation is one of the areas that students most consistently identify as a source of pressure. Building on the work first proposed through a Grand Challenges project last year, Officers are exploring more closely at how accommodation policies and allocation work for students facing financial hardship.  

This includes exploring how support can be clearer and easier to access, as well as looking at options such as the accommodation bursary and allocation prioritisation, so students have more flexibility and choice where possible. The focus is on improving stability and transparency, recognising how closely housing affects wellbeing, academic focus and feeling settled at university.  

Some of this work is looking ahead to potential policy changes for the 2027 – 28 academic years, recognising that changes to accommodation systems take time. Some of this work looks further ahead, knowing it won’t help everyone immediately, but could make a real difference for future students. ‍

Society Accessibility

Students have told us they want more transparency around how society funding is used, and more support where costs make getting involved harder. One response to this is the Society Hardship Fund, run by the Students’ Guild and Athletic Union with support from Exeter alumni. The fund offers up to £50 per student, which can be used towards society memberships, stash or event costs.  

The fund is open to students from widening participation backgrounds, as well as those receiving the Access to Exeter, Care Leavers, Estranged Student Bursary and the PGCE Exeter Bursary, helping to reduce some of the upfront costs that we’ve seen set barriers for involvement.  

Continuing with this, Gemma is gathering further feedback through focus groups and exploring how funding could be used more creatively. This includes looking at cross-society partnerships, such as drama and photography societies working together to offer discount headshots – an essential cost in many creative industries that can otherwise act as a barrier.
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‍Working Wardrobe

Interview clothing can be expensive and for many students it’s an extra cost that can quietly get in the way of applying for jobs, placements or internships. Beyond the cost, what you wear can affect how confident you feel walking into the room.  

Building on work started by last year’s officers, the Working Wardrobe looks to make interview-appropriate clothing more accessible. Officers have been working with the Career Zone and the 93% Club to run donations, with storage secured in the Old Library, and a pop-up scheduled on Wednesday, 25 February.

There are also plans to involve more societies in the scheme over time, helping to grow donations and widen access.

Social Mobility Week

We’re working alongside the University to celebrate Social Mobility Week from 23-27 February. There are lots of events to get involved in from quizzes and panels, to forum stalls and creative workshops.

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This is just a starting point and we’ll keep opening conversations for students to share their experiences and shape the support that’s there for them – so university life feels possible for everyone, whatever their starting point.

Seb, Kira, Rose, Gemma and Francis [Your 2025-2026 Elected Officers]

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