Press release -

STUDENTS FACE COST OF LIVING SHORTFALL OF OVER £8,500 PER YEAR

According to a report released today by the National Union of Students (NUS) the gap between the potential government support students can receive and the actual cost of being a university student has grown to £8,566 per year for those studying outside London (the figure is £8,112 for students in London).

NUS analysed available statistics for the cost of living for students for an academic year of 39 weeks and compared it typical payments for government maintenance loans and grants for the same period.

A student aged 18-20 earning a minimum wage of £4.98 per hour would have to work 34 hours a week 52 weeks a year in order to earn the £8,875 before tax necessary to cover this gap.

Students from around the country will be marching in Central London on Wednesday 21 November under the banner ‘Educate, Employ, Empower’ calling for the government to invest in supporting education and creating opportunities.

Pete Mercer, NUS Vice-President Welfare, said:

“Student financial support is a mess and it is not reaching the right people when they need it. Fee waivers are a joke to anyone who has a pile of bills to pay and months until their next loan payment - what they need is cash bursaries that help them meet the costs of studying.”

“If you had a minimum wage job and received no further support from your university or family you’d have to work full time every week of the year to come close to bridging this gap.

“Anyone who claims that university is affordable because you can get a loan for your tuition fees is woefully out of touch with the needs of students. It is not just students but parents with children of all ages who are concerned that opportunity is being taken away from them.”

Notes:

On November 21st 2012 students from around the country will come together in London to demonstrate against the impact of the government’s austerity agenda on students. For details on #Demo2012 go to www.demo2012.org.uk. Educate. Employ. Empower.

The statistics breakdown is attached and the full report is available from NUS.

Topics

  • Education

Categories

  • Liam Burns
  • students
  • social mobility

Regions

  • England

NUS (National Union of Students) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions.

We are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through our member students' unions, we represent the interests of more than seven million students.

Contacts

Will Hoyles

Press contact NUS UK Press Officer 07866 695010

Alex Jones

Press contact Press and Public Affairs Manager

Mike Heffron

Press contact NUS Scotland Campaigns and Communications Officer 07554 451941

Joni Alexander

Press contact NUS Wales Campaigns and Communications Officer 07966 102363

Ian Williamson

Press contact NUS-USI (Northern Ireland) Policy and Public Affairs Officer 028 9024 4641

NUS UK Switchboard

Press contact 0845 5210 262

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