The survey identified a growing café culture at universities, with over a third (36%) of students not drinking any alcohol and more spending money on tea and coffee at campus coffee bars.
One in five students (21%) buy lunch on campus, in a normal term-time day, with convenience (85%), ability to eat with friends (35%) and affordability/good value (23%) cited as the main reasons for doing so.
Peter Taylor, strategic director for Sodexo Universities, UK and Ireland, Benelux and Nordics region said; “Our focus is on improving student experience through integrated services that promote quality of life, whilst delivering our clients improved financial performance.
“The Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey is an invaluable tool that provides us with a comprehensive overview of university life. It gives us the data required to adjust and improve our service offers and provide strategic partnership to our university clients.
“With increased financial pressure on students, it is vital that universities and service providers like Sodexo work together on creative solutions to improve students’ quality of life and to offer a university experience that students truly value.”
The survey also found that three quarters (75%) of students try to eat healthily, but only 39% expected to see Fairtrade products in campus shops, down on 44% in 2014.
Students who usually buy lunch from a campus outlet are only prepared to spend £5 or less, and 68% only spend £3 or less.
The Sodexo University Lifestyle Survey asked 2,000 UK students to assess their university experience and the services provided by their university.
To read the full findings from the survey, click here.