Cost-of-living payments for all students?
Flavia Gouveia
The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students has been making headlines over the last week. While Queen’s University Belfast students eagerly await support payments from the university, many other students are not receiving additional financial support.
Recent UK-wide figures by the Sutton Trust revealed that many students face considerable financial pressures because of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Since the start of the autumn term (September 2022), 63 per cent of students reported spending less on food and essentials, with 28 per cent saying they had skipped meals to save on food costs.
Meanwhile, data gathered by NUS-USI paints a similar picture for students in Northern Ireland. The report showed 86 per cent of students are concerned with their ability to manage financially. With 40 per cent of students having only £50 a month after paying for rent and utilities.
Local students also report cuts to their spending habits, with a staggering 54 per cent of students reporting cutting back on food.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 87 per cent of students reported that the cost of living crisis is having an impact on their mental health. Financial pressures are making students feel anxious, with some reporting feeling depressed.
For many, the cost of living payments from Queen’s University will be a welcome reprieve from the financial stress which the cost of living crisis has exacerbated. But many more students in NI will not be receiving the same financial support.
Recently controversy was sparked around Queen’s University not extending the cost of living payments to students at their colleges. A spokesperson for Queen’s University Belfast confirmed that “students undertaking a programme of study validated by Queen’s but for which tuition fees are paid directly to, and study is undertaken primarily at, Stranmillis, St Mary’s, CAFRE, Belfast Metropolitan College and any Regional Colleges, are not eligible to receive the Cost-of-Living payment”.
QUBSU President Emma Murphy added that while the courses at the colleges “are accredited by Queen’s and are ‘academically integrated’”, the colleges have “their own independent management, Students’ Unions and are a separate legal entity”. Emma added, “Stranmillis or St Mary’s students can contact their elected Student Officers for more information”.
The Scoop contacted the Students’ Unions of St Mary’s and Stranmillis but did not receive a comment.
Ulster University, which announced a one-off cost of living payment for staff in June 2022, is yet to announce similar support for students. The Scoop contacted Ulster University to establish if similar support would be made available to Ulster University students but did not receive a reply.
Ulster University Students’ Union Vice-President for Magee, Dónall Hegarty, said that the SU is “aware that [their] membership is anxious to know what's happening with COVID payments”.
He added, “UUSU are calling for a Government cost of living payment for all HE/FE students in line with Covid payment made in 2021, and we are also lobbying the University's support on this.”
“The reason for this approach is that this would be a more substantial payment available to all HE/FE students, unlike the QUB payment, which isn't available to students in St Mary's or Stranmillis Teaching colleges, despite both being schools of QUB.”
“This approach does admittedly have its setbacks as it takes longer and requires a lot of lobbying, that is why we have put such a strong focus on the smaller wins such as: Free Breakfast, Free Winter Graduation, the changes in Hardship Fund Criteria, and ongoing discussions with the University and Translink.”
“The University has also committed to seeking further funding from the DfE to be made available through the Hardship Fund when the current funding runs out.”
While Queen’s University payments will be reaching the accounts of students on 31 January, many more students across Northern Ireland will be bracing themselves for a further semester of financial hardship and uncertainty.
Flavia Gouveia is The Scoop’s Science and Environment Editor and is a Journalism MA Student at Ulster University.