Thousands of Queen’s students to get £400 from uni to help with cost of living crisis

However, the payments won’t be made until January


Thousands of Queen’s University Belfast students are set to receive one-off payments of £400 from the university as part of an £8 million package to help support staff and students through the cost of living crisis.

Approximately 3,600 students from families earning less than £25,000 per year will receive £400, whilst the remaining 21,000 students will receive £150.

Earlier this week, Queen’s declared a “critical incident” due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and told students it would move approve measures to support students imminently.

However the one-off payments given to students won’t be paid until January. Defending the decision, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Greer told BBC News NI: “Students have largely just received their student loan support funding, and we felt the time of greatest need would be just after the Christmas period.”

As part of the £8 million support package, staff will also be supported. All the staff, bar senior managers, will receive between £500-£750 in January.

Vice-Chancellor Ian Greer said: “The pressures for the cost of living crisis that I’ve outlined for students – things like fuel, cost of housing, cost of food – are real pressures for our staff.”

Other measures to support students include getting rid of any library fines for this academic year as well as halving all discipline fines. The university says it will continue to consider and discuss further support and help, including a decision on whether to provide free breakfasts to staff and students in the coming weeks.

Queen’s students who are graduating this year will also not need to pay any fees, the ceremony usually costs £47.

A spokesperson for Queen’s University Belfast said: “Following recommendations from a working group comprising the Students’ Union, trade union representatives and staff established last week, the university has agreed a package of new measures, including one-off payments to students and staff, particularly aimed at those most in need.”

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