Cost of Living for Students: A Case Study at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Sultan Idris Education University

In the current uncertain and highly challenging economic climate, students are among the groups that are most affected. The rising cost of living among students not only presents challenges in their academic pursuits but also raises concerns about their daily expenses necessary to continue their studies at the higher education level. Therefore, a study was conducted involving students from the Faculty of Human Sciences, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), to identify the sources of financial support and spending patterns of students, as well as to examine the impact of the cost of living on students' academic performance. This study employed a quantitative method through the distribution of a Google Form link. The study respondents consisted of 312 active students from the Faculty of Human Sciences, UPSI. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0, including frequency and descriptive analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of students rely on educational loans as their financial source, and most of their expenses are allocated towards food, accommodation, transportation and tuition fees. The study also found that the impact of the cost of living on academic performance was minimal. These findings indicate that while students indeed require a substantial amount of financial resources to continue their studies, managing their expenses wisely can reduce the negative impact of living costs on their academic performance.