Inflation hits students hardest

Last Modified: 18 Aug 2008
By: Channel 4 News

Students in England face inflation of almost 50 per cent above the national average, according to new research.

This is because students spend a higher share of their total budget on items which have risen in price fastest over recent years, such as accommodation, tuition, food and drink and transport.

The Open University research put student inflation at almost 7 per cent, compared to the 4.4 per cent consumer price index.

Student inflation: your stories

To get in touch email news@channel4.com

A Scottish perspective

"After watching your show today I do agree with the Open University's research on high inflation hitting students the most.

"I don't drink a lot and I don't smoke, yet I do have to work at least two full days and three nights a week to keep up with rent, electric, food, study material, transport and keeping clothed. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) pays our course fees etc and also offers a loan/bursary.

"I am in receipt of a loan and a bursary to the amount of £5,200. This works out to around £400 per month. My rent is £495, electric is between £45 and £60 on average and food is whatever is left to be honest.

"The student loan system is not working in Scotland for people like me, who have no financial support from parents. It makes you think university really is only for the wealthy as it is more a struggle to live than it is to pass exams!"

Matt McLeary, Edinburgh

College crunch

"I've just finished my GCSEs and I'm living by myself. I'm planning on going to college next year, but due to inflation I've had to think twice about it.

"I get £47.95 from the council per week for living on and £66.23 to go towards my room. Now the cheapest room I could find in Milton Keynes was for £75 a week.

"Now that leaves me with £39.18 to last me a week. And now to have enough money for the first month's bus pass and college uniform I can only spend around £10 per week on food. The price of transport is just too high.

"There was a guy on the News at Noon talking about the price of the five main things that have gone up. I can barely afford three of the five things now: accommodation, food and drink and transport.

"I used to be a smoker, not anymore, can't afford. I used to go out for a drink with my mates once in a while, not anymore, can't afford.

"The government needs to sort this inflation business out, because it's getting harder and harder to get a job, and the money I get from the council just isn't enough to live properly on."

James

Student loans

"I have just been watching your lunchtime news and wanted to point out that students DO NOT get interest-free loans. "I graduated from university six years ago, with a loan of almost £12,000. I have been in reasonably well-paid jobs since, so have been paying it back from the day I graduated.

"Due to the interest on my student loan, it is still over £9,000. I have made payments of, on average, £1,000 a year for six years and will continue to pay it off, for many more years to come.

"While I was at university my loan only just covered my rent and I had to work, as well as studying full-time, to provide for myself. This obviously meant I accrued more debt, in the form of an overdraft that I have since worked hard to pay off.

"I feel it needs to me noted that student loans are NOT interest-free and I feel strongly that they should not be publicised as so.

"If we want our economy to pick up we need skilled workers that can compete with employees from other countries, some of which have a much more highly skilled workforce than the UK does, due to their investment in students and education and training.

"We need to support our students, not sell them as freeloaders that just spend their interest-free loans on booze."

Lucy Tomlin

Sick pay problems

"I am a full-time student at the University College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth about to enter my second year. I also work in a shop for 20-25 hours a week.

"Because of this it is impossible for me to get subsidised medical costs as I have another source of income. I have also recently been in hospital and have been signed off for six weeks, so I am currently on sick pay, which consists of 12 hours a week at £5.52 per hour which is my contract, which doesn't even cover my rent.

"I can't get any funding from the government so I am left to depend on my parents, which is lucky as they are financially okay, however, this is not the case for every student! "Also, on the way the loans are sorted out, which is based on your parents' income, so if they are well-off the child gets less. However, what if the parents do not wish to help?"

Casie Hodges