Students struggle in the cost-of-living crisis at Bournemouth University

With the cost of student accommodation barely even being covered by the government maintenance loan, many students in Bournemouth university must work long hours on top of studying to afford weekly food shops.
Bournemouth university student Finty Diss said: “I can’t even afford to travel home.”
In Purbeck House, one of Bournemouth University’s cheaper accommodation, students must pay £6310.08 for a forty-two-week tenancy leaving many of them with just £618 of their maintenance loan for the full year.
This works out at less than £15 per week for food and socialising.
For more expensive accommodations offered to Bournemouth University students such as Bailey Point, the lower government maintenance loans do not cover the full rent.
Priced at £174.95 per week, a student living there must work at least sixty-one hours on minimum wage to make up the full price of rent.
On top of studying, playing in the university football league and socialising; sports management student Harry Dayson said: “I’m so tired but I have to work to be able to eat.”
Student Finance England deal out maintenance loans based of household income although many of the students receiving the lowest loan do not get any financial support from their families.
Reports reveal that 55% of students keep jobs and work on minimum wage to have enough money to spend on food, household, and utility bills.
The current national financial state means that utility and rent bills are only set to rise. A staff member from Yugo, the company owner of Bailey Point student accommodation in Bournemouth, said: “Bailey could go up by at least £4 per week next year.”
This would bring the total cost just shy of seven and a half thousand pounds for the forty-two-week tenancy.
Students would be forced to work longer hours meaning they would have less time to spend on assignments.
Finty Diss added: “It’s really hard to find a healthy balance and have time to finish my presentations.”