FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES OF STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST

ABSTRACT The study assessed the financial challenges and coping strategies adopted by students in financing tertiary education. It specifically investigated among others the sources of funds available to the students, the nature of financial challenges and their coping strategies. Participation in the study was restricted to only Levels 300 and 400 students of the University of Cape Coast from all eight schools and faculties in the University. A case study design was adopted, and questionnaire and an interview guide were administered. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient of .815. In all, 639 student respondents were randomly selected for this study. Statistical tools like percentages, frequencies, means, standard deviation, Chi-square test, ttest and effect size were used. It emerged that the main sources of funding available to the students were parental support, personal savings/investments, siblings and relative support, and the Students’ Loan Trust Fund. Students generally had problems with the cost of internet access, photocopying and printing of educational materials, feeding and accommodations. The study also identified borrowing from close relatives and friends and taking part-time jobs as coping strategies adopted by the students. The study recommended that government should continue pursuing funding of university education through “cost sharing principle” as this would also exert seriousness in students. Additionally, the University Management and Students’ Representative Council should regularly organise seminars for the students on financial management skills