University of Exeter invests over £3m to support students with cost of living
Eligible students across Cornwall and Devon will be offered financial aid
Last updated 26th Oct 2022
The University of Exeter has invested over £3 million to support students across Cornwall and Devon during the cost-of-living crisis.
The University and SU have worked together to explore ways in which the University with campuses in Cornwall and Devon can strengthen its support to students. It'll include an £870,000 one-off Winter Support Bursary of eligible students.
Lee Elliot Major OBE, Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter said: "The cost-of-living crisis is now a frontline issue for universities, with more and more students suffering real hardship. "These are worrying times as it follows a pandemic that has already further entrenched educational inequalities in schools. It is paramount that universities do all they can to enable all students to flourish irrespective of their financial situation or family background".
At the start of the academic year, UOE allocated £1m to its Success for All Fund to help students who are in financial difficulty, which a scheme offering funds and bursaries including help with IT equipment costs.
They're now supporting Universities UK and the Russell Group in lobbying the UK government over maintenance grants to rise with inflation, after they rose by only 2.3%.
It comes after a debate at Westminster Hall on Tuesday 18 October discussed the effect on the cost of living crisis on young people.
In it, it was said: "Young people across Britain, who have had to live through the pandemic, are now faced with a cost of living catastrophe”, and that University students "who have also missed out on learning because of the pandemic and are currently facing huge financial problems, but who risk being a forgotten group of people suffering from the impact of the crisis".
Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Exeter said: “We know this is a worrying time for many of our students and their loved ones, but we are hoping this investment and the many initiatives we have put in place will go some way to reducing their anxiety about the cost of living.
“We will continue to work together to support each other, and we encourage our students to reach out to the many support services available if they feel they need help.”
Other initiatives include a wide range of meal deals, extension of its free sanitary products scheme and an increased mileage subsidy for BMBS students on work placements.
The University hopes to continue to work with student communities across both Devon and Cornwall to find more opportunities to can lessen the impact of rising costs on students.