Do Exeter’s students deserve more cash?

Why aren’t Exeter’s students given enough money to pay for basic living costs?

| UPDATED

Several days ago, Sophie Thomson revealed that Exeter’s student rents are one of the most expensive in the country, with the average cost of living hovering around £90 a week (not including gas/electricity). Yet despite this, Student Finance don’t give Exeter’s students the amount needed to pull through the year.

Most final year students receive £4,583 a year from the government, which does not cover the high costs of accommodation – on average, students are expected to pay £4,620, which does not include food or drink expenditure.

It seems downright unfair that students do not receive a little more money to keep up with the costs of rent. While Londoners receive the extra money from Student Finance to help with the higher living costs, Exeter is left forgotten. Why? After so much evidence, why should Londoners receive all the special attention, but not Exeter?

Because of their oversight, some students had to tighten their belts to pull through the year. Imi, an English student, has found that she won’t be able to keep up with the high costs of Freshers Week and the months afterwards, despite receiving the highest amount possible from Student Finance. “Some students can work over the summer to top up their loan, but for those of us who can’t find anything – including myself – it makes the first few weeks of Uni very difficult financially if we’re not being given enough money to get by.”

How can this problem be solved? I believe Student Finance should also consider the relative rent cost of the student housing near the university. Londoners already receive this benefit, so the same should be implemented for the rest of the country.

Gregory, a second year student, likes the idea. “I think mitigating the amount of finance by regional rent cost will really help those who need it most.

“I understand that it’s hard for Student Finance to calculate the perfect amount for each and every student, but by this point it should be obvious that we need a little more help.”