Just one in six on-campus rooms at Russell Group universities are affordable for students

According to a new study by Generation Rent, just 17 per cent of rooms on campus at Russell Group universities are affordable for students.

This means only one in six rooms are affordable for those studying at Russell Group universities, with the study highlighting a severe shortage of budget-friendly accommodation for students.

The study analysed 49,161 rooms across nine universities: University College London, Birmingham, Leeds, Warwick, Manchester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Queen’s Belfast. The accommodation examined included rooms with shared facilities, ensuite rooms, and self-catered and catered offerings. It did not include larger-scale rooms such as studios and family suites.

The National Union of Students (NUS) states that 35 per cent of rooms should be offered at 55 per cent of the maximum student loan. This means that UK universities are offering only about half the quantity of affordable on-campus accommodation needed for students.

The organisation’s chief executive, Ben Twomey, said: “University is an exciting time for people, especially young people embarking on the next stage of their lives. It should not be a time mired by money problems and difficulties covering the rent, as too many universities claim to look out for their students’ well-being while raking it in as their landlords.

“Our homes are the foundation from which we build our lives, relationships and aspirations. Student accommodation is no different. Universities must offer their students enough affordable accommodation so that every person undertaking their degrees and qualifications is able to thrive and to reach their full potential.”

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