Miscellaneous

Poor students?

According to a new survey, city students are spending more than ever on living.

The survey by The Royal Bank of Scotland ranks Nottingham only behind Cambridge in its list of student living costs in provincial cities of the UK.

It is estimated that between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University students are set to spend a massive £235m on term-time expenses in the coming year.

Break this figure down further and it equates to an individual expenditure of £199 per week, otherwise known to some as ‘The Drinking Fund’.

Sadly that cash isn’t solely to fund the obligatory Wednesday night jaunt to Ocean.

Facts and figures suggest that the £235m outflow roughly breaks down as follows:

• £72.3m on rent – anyone would think students were living in a city penthouse apartments as opposed to the Clifton Estate.
• £29.1m goes on alcohol – In fact students spend more on alcohol than elsewhere in the country. However, students do spend less time on the phone – hardly surprising, as it’s quite tricky to hold a conversation and down a pint at the same time.
• £16.8m on other socialising costs – you mean there’s more ways of socialising other than drinking?
• And a mere £14.4m for books and course equipment – but that’s what libraries are for right?

The expenditure breakdown may suggest that students are a bunch of luxury living alcoholics but in reality, it simply depicts the actual cost of living the student lifestyle here in Nottingham.

It has to be questioned how this draining student life is funded. The survey interviewed 100 students in Nottingham and found that while 27% of those consulted relied on parental contribution a further 28% chose to take on part-time work as a means of funding the costly result of higher education.

One such student who fell into the latter category is Mike Tansley-Thomas, who recently completed a fine art degree at the university. He worked part-time as a barman while he studied.

Mike commented that: "I earned £60 a week to fund my way through university… for going out Nottingham is really good - there's always something going on… I think that means students can always spend a lot of money on socialising."

In saying that there is always something going on in the city Mike appears to pinpoint the reason for Nottingham’s soaring costs.

As a city, Nottingham has seen a massive boost in both urban and cultural development over recent years.

Since 1999 house prices in the city have risen by a staggering 124%. Nottingham has become a desired location for students and the city dwelling elite alike.

Nottingham has the bars, the clubs, the shops and the history and students simply have to pay the price for choosing to study in a 'trendy' city.

Counsellor Michael Edwards commented that: "We welcome students to the city. We know that they love studying here but we are sorry if things are getting a bit expensive. We would welcome a dialogue with the student union’s leaders to see if we could solve the problem and are looking at increasing student accommodation".

This is all very well but surely an increase in accommodation would just encourage more students to the city and therefore send the costs of living rocketing. The situation shows no signs of relenting so seems that all we can do is buy a Lotto ticket on Saturday and hope for the best.

Alternatively, The Royal Bank of Scotland survey did name Glasgow as the most cost-effective student city in the United Kingdom so grab your kilts guys, I think its time to head north of the border.