The Student View on The Cost of Living 2023

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Contents
1. Introduction (Page 2)
2. <strong>The</strong> Data (Page 3)
i. <strong>Student</strong>s' Union Freshers Week Research
ii. <strong>Student</strong>s' Union Survey
iii. National Union of <strong>Student</strong>s (NUS) Research
3. What the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union are doing? (Page 6)
4. Hardship Funding (Page 9)
5. Laundry (Page 10)
6. Catering (Page 11)
7. Transport (Page 11)
8. Recommendations (Page 12)
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Introduction
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> is so important, not only in
informing the University of student thoughts
but also involving them in the change making
process.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union presents the <strong>Student</strong>
<strong>View</strong> to the University every year, outlining
key themes and issues raised by students.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> highlights areas which can
be worked on to benefit the student
experience in the form of recommendations.
Last year, we changed the structure of the
<strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> to focus in and provide more
depth to the hot topics. <strong>The</strong> new structure
also allows us to tackle things as they arise and embed partnership throughout the
university by moving away from partnership projects and assigning issues to the relevant
existing groups.
This is our first <strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> of the academic year using this new structure. We hope that
this new approach will be fruitful, and we are already impressed by the work completed
thus far. This <strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> will focus on the ongoing cost of living crisis.
<strong>The</strong> cost-of-living crisis is beginning to bite our students deeper. In our own outlets we
are seeing students reducing their spending and making difficult decisions and even
across ‘freshers’ week’ more and more were telling us the concerns they had for the
academic year ahead.
For many, food and energy bills were placing a strain on their budgets and those of their
family; resulting in a reduction in the financial support they got from home. But also, for
many, they were worried about being able to engage in activities, socialise with their
friends, and doing many of the things they thought synonymous with university life.
Since freshers’, we have seen both the University and the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union implement
initiatives, but we have continued to receive feedback from students that this is simply
not enough.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong> <strong>View</strong> on the Cost-of-Living Crisis elevates some of the concerns faced and
raised by students and outlines a series of recommendations that the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union
believes would have a positive impact on students this academic year. <strong>The</strong>se measures
are designed to be in conjunction with deeper measures introduced by the University and
suggested by the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union in a previous paper.
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<strong>The</strong> Data
<strong>Student</strong>s' Union Freshers Week Research
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union conducted research into ways students would like to be supported
with the cost-of-living crisis during Freshers’ week. 1430 students were asked and
provided responses to the question
“What’s one thing the University or <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union could do to support you with the costof-living”.
Whilst the answers often suggest ‘free’ we believe these answers should be viewed and
considered in the light of reducing said costs. <strong>The</strong> answers below are provided as insight
into the current position of students and have not been fully analysed or costed.
Transport Free transport 148
Travel discounts/cards 43
Free parking 11
Free bikes 3
Food and Drink Cheaper drinks 31
Food discounts/deals with shops 154
Free food/food bank 92
Cheap recipe ideas 8
Information, Support
and Financial Aid
Financial and budgeting advice 120
More grants/bursaries 113
Decrease international student fees 3
Discounted fees 37
International student support 7
Menta health support 3
Academic support for work life balance 3
More jobs 31
Mental health support 4
Child care support 1
Placements Placement support 9
NHS better pay for students 1
Accommodation Free laundry 385
Cheaper accommodation 35
Better wifi 1
Lower bills 9
Campus Spaces More charging points 4
More study spaces 6
Library heating 2
Free gym 21
Resources Free stationery 6
Free period products 43
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Book swap 2
Cheaper books 8
Free lanyards 1
Free printing 41
Free massages 5
Loan laptops 1
Free blankets 3
Bin bags 1
Free toilet roll 15
Access to healthcare necessities 1
Social Free events 9
Free club nights 6
Reduce sport/society membership 3
As shown above students believed the best support would come In the way of discounts
In relation to transport, food, and laundry. <strong>The</strong>y also mentioned the need for financial and
budgeting advice, as well as the need for an Improved grant or bursary systems. Where
possible the <strong>Student</strong> Voice team engaged students In conversations around their answer.
From these discussions It was clear that students were not aware of the current
grants/bursaries available and did not know how they could access them. In Instances
where students did know they Informed us they were put off by the perceived complex
nature of the process.
<strong>Student</strong>s' Union Survey
Following Freshers, the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union conducted It's annual freshers survey to gather
feedback on students experience and to gain Insight into how they are feeling about the
academic year ahead. This year the survey included two cost of living related question.
<strong>The</strong> first question asked
"What one thing could Cardiff University or Cardiff <strong>Student</strong>s' Union do to support
you with the Cost of Living Crisis?"
This question received 556 responses with the major themes emerging Including money
and bills (176), money advice (128), food (93), employment (25), rent/housing (20), and
transport (17).
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"What one thing could Cardiff University or Cardiff
<strong>Student</strong>s' Union do to support you with the Cost of
Living"
Money and Bills Money Advice Food Employment Rent/Housing Transport Other
Responses themed as money and bills most often included the need for financial aid and
support from the University, as well as the need for discounts on Items and areas
considered essential to student life, Responses considered money advice most commonly
focus on areas related to budget advice and the needs for better financial advice.
Of most concern was the significant number of students who mentioned the need for
support with food. Responses under this theme included mention of food banks, food
vouchers, and the need for more free meal opportunities around campus.
<strong>The</strong> second question In the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union survey asked:
"What is concerning you the most [In relation to the cost of living]"
This question received 642 responses with the most common themes being bills (345),
rent (137), food (111), learning resources (7), and social activity (5). Comments related
to bills included energy, household, activity, fuel and other related expenses with
students expressing concerns that their student finance would not be enough to support
the Increases In these costs caused by inflation. Whilst only 1% of the comments related
to learning resources, we expect students to be having to make difficult decisions
between their learning and their bills as a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis and
therefore Imagine such responses would Increase If the research took further Into the
academic year.
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"What is concerning you the most [in relation to the
cost of living]?"
Bills Rent Food Learning Resources Social Activity Other
A number of responses listed above are things that are already being provided by the
University or the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union, so we believe that communication is key to raise
awareness of the services within the student body and enable them to better utilise
resources. Furthermore, based on this research, we have introduced certain events at the
SU and in this document have expanded on elements as we believe these are tangible
changes that could be implemented to support our students during this academic year.
National Union of <strong>Student</strong>s (NUS) Research
In June 2022, the National Union of <strong>Student</strong>s conducted nation-wide research of Higher
Education and apprenticeship students to understand students thoughts and feelings
related to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
As supported by the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union research and engagement with the students' union
advice service, the NUS' research found four key findings:
1. <strong>Student</strong>s believe there Is a cost of living crisis and are struggling.
2. <strong>The</strong>y are increasingly seeking extra support to help them manage Increasing cost
of living, with running their home the main pressure on their finance.
3. Both students and apprentices do not believe the government Is doing enough to
support them financially and would welcome additional means of support.
4. <strong>The</strong> cost of living crisis Is having a major Impact on the mental health of students
and apprentices.
Whilst the cost of living crisis is an issue affecting the majority of the population, support
for students is vital to ensure their academic success at University.
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What the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union are doing?
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union is well aware of the impact the cost of living is having, and will have,
on students this academic year. <strong>The</strong> cost of living will impact student spending decisions
across their academic and university experience, from eating and heating, to studying and
community development. <strong>Student</strong>s will be left with tough decisions to make, and often
this will mean they miss out on developing a sense of community, socialising, and in turn
looking after their own mental health and wellbeing.
<strong>The</strong> cost-of-living support incentives put in place this year by the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union are
aimed at supporting community development, as well as taking pressures off students’
wallets to ensure they are able to make better decisions in support of their academic
studies. Over the first term, the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union have introduced:
• £2.00 budget lunches: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union launched a new budget lunch offering
within the <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union building, ensuring students are able to eat a full meal
for as little as £2.00 a day on campus. Each day sees different menu items offered
at the budget price, including jacket potatoes and toppings, sausage and mash, and
other such meals. Thus far we have served over 1000 student meals.
• <strong>Student</strong> Kitchen: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union will be further developing the student
kitchen offering at both Cathays and Heath Park, including items such as kettles,
toasters, and microwaves ensuring students are able to bring their own items in
from home to heat up and eat whilst they study and enjoy the benefits of campus
life. However, we also understand that the cost of food items alone will prove
challenging to students. NUS’ recent report found that 25% students have less
than £50 a month after rent and energy bills, and 5% are already visiting food
banks. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union would therefore like, with the support of the
University, to develop a community kitchen and food bank offering to students.
In the interim, we have stocked our student kitchen with free tea and coffee and
delivered Feed Your Flat – <strong>The</strong> Essentials. This campaign delivered free cupboard
essentials and we saw around 400 students across the 3 stalls, two in Cathays and
one in the IV Lounge at the Heath Park campus. On the first day, we were out of
stock in the first ten minutes and had to do three restocks. <strong>Student</strong>s were queuing
for significant periods and had made the journey specifically for this free food. We
used a zero-waste dispenser and at one stage when we were waiting for a restock,
students collected the overflow and scooped it into bags.
“I think this attitude will help all the students. I love it”
“more stock please”
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union already provide a range of activities and resources that would
continue to support students struggling this year, and we plan to further promote these
across the academic year and would hope the University could support and replicate
some of these offerings. <strong>The</strong>se include:
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• Building Open 24/7: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union building is open 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week offering students somewhere warm to study, charge their devices, and
simply hang out. <strong>The</strong> lounge space includes a 24/7 kitchen space for students,
study booths, an esports game room, board games, pool tables, and exercise bikes.
<strong>Student</strong>s stuck lonely in their rooms with nothing to do because they cannot afford
it will have a knock-on impact on student success, retention, and wellbeing.
o We are pleased to hear that the university are extending the opening hours
of the CSL in January and this is an extremely big win for us.
• Free Period Products: We have free products throughout the SU building and in
some university residences.
• Jobshop: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Student</strong>s’ Union Jobshop continues to provide and offer students the
opportunity to find part-time and temporary work that is flexible alongside their
studies, including student roles within the University. This service continues to be
invaluable to students and put over £1 million back into the pockets of students
last year. Increasing the availability of student roles within the University will
financially support students whilst also benefit their employability skills and their
affinity with the institution.
• <strong>Student</strong> Advice and Support Web Pages/Cost of Living Specific Web Page:
Hub for students.
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Hardship Funding
Since the increase in the budget of the hardship fund, 356 students have applied via SIMS
and the intranet and 172 awards leaving 184, over half of applicants, without support.
Overall
Applications
Closed
due to no
response
Asked for
more info
Rejections
Numbers of
awards
made
FAPA SIMS 311 50 47 79 135
application
FAPA Intranet 45 0 4 4 37
form
Figure 1. Financial Assistance Programme - Update for period to October 31st 2022
Category Reason for Reject Number
of
students
Diagnostic testing
/ Digital capability
DYS - Needs to apply offline* 3
DYS - No financial need identified 1
Laptop (No hardship identified) 1
Does not meet Applied after course end date 2
essential criteria Applied before course start date 19
Not taken <strong>Student</strong> Loan 3
Tuition Fees ** 4
Withdrawn Application 1
Financial Situation not viable*** 1
No financial need Delayed <strong>Student</strong> Funding (paid since applying) 2
High balance (Applied close to course end date) 1
No hardship identified (Applied close to course end 2
date)
High balance 29
No hardship identified**** 19
Awarded in previous round 1
Figure 2. Financial Assistance Programme - Additional Information Provided 11/1122
*DYS – Needs to apply offline – this is support that we offer for those who need to pay
diagnostic tests for SPLD. <strong>The</strong> rejections for this is purely because the students made an
application in the wrong system and so it needed to be rejected and then the application
provided offline.
**tuition fees – this covers those who are asking for help with tuition fees only. <strong>The</strong> fund
cannot pay tuition fees but referrals to funding options would have been made.
***Financial situation not viable – <strong>Student</strong> who has no funding for fees or living costs and
no viable plan to fund these costs.
****“No hardship identified” category – students may not have a high balance, but may have
a regular source of income (such as regular parental contribution that there is no indication
of this needing to be reduced or stopped, wages, benefits etc) or sufficient funds so
assessment does not reflect a shortfall for essential costs up until next funding point.
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Figure 1 shows the reasons for the rejections of applications, and figure 2 shows that high
bank balance is the most common reason. Which shows that it is not just students from
low income backgrounds that are feeling the impacts of and struggling with this crisis.
Many students have expressed that applying for funding can be complicated and time
consuming, leaving those at most hardship at a disadvantage.
As mentioned previously, effective communications are an important aspect to ensure
students access the support they need. We would be keen and have expressed our
interest to help the university promote any information that is not getting across to
students who are trying to/would like to apply on social media i.e., how to apply, what
constitutes as financial hardship and when to apply. We have expressed that we would
like to break down the information into a reel-type video to explain the process and the
parameters and we are keen to put this in motion as soon as possible.
While the support package offered by Cardiff University has significantly increased, we
believe that our students do not find this accessible and other options of support such as
one-off payments to help with bills and rising costs of food would provide students with
the support they need at a very difficult time. Manchester University has recently
announced that they will be making a one-off payment £170 to each student, bringing the
total of their support package up to £9million.
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/university-of-manchester-launches-
9million-cost-of-living-support-for-students/
Many of our students are having to work significantly more hours to finance their
expenses, yet, having to work is not an acceptable extenuating circumstance but sever
financial hardship is leaving students with limited options when it comes to prioritizing
work or academic commitments.
Laundry
Currently It costs £4.50 for a basic wash and dry, students often complain that this does
not completely clean/dry their clothes meaning that often this cost double, especially
when the washing machines do not always work as they should.
Undeb Bangor completed a lot of work on the cost of laundry over the summer. <strong>The</strong>y
discovered that Circuit Laundry does not set the price of laundry costs, and this is a
decision of the University. <strong>The</strong>y have lowered theirs now to £1 a wash & £2 an a dry (a
£1.60 decrease) which is the minimum the university won't make a substantial loss at.
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Catering
We appreciate that Cardiff University foods isn't overly expensive but we believe there is
more that can be done to increase the affordability. <strong>The</strong> 10% discount on hot drinks
between 7.30 - 9 am is a brilliant initiative but for students to benefit from it, it should be
extended to 10 am as realistically, mostly staff will benefit from this.
On the university's website it states (something about prices may vary). It is unfair to
expect students to pay different amounts for the same things, purely because they study
in a different location. All catering outlets should have equal prices across campus.
Further to this, there is little to no affordable breakfast options available other than
pastries. Oatmeal and toppings might be a cost-effective way to provide a nutritious
budget friendly alternative.
As previously mentioned, we have introduced £2 lunches and we would be keen to work
with the University to see such an offer replicated across the University’s catering outlets.
For example, the soup deal could easily be made cheaper and reduced to £2.
Hot water should be made available for free at all Cardiff Uni food outlets.
Transport
<strong>The</strong> IV Lounge in the Heath Park campus is a 32 minute walk from the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union as
per Google Maps. <strong>Student</strong>s on this campus likely already have longer teaching days and
they have to add over an hour of commuting time to this. This may not seem like much,
but in the cold, dark and/or rain, this walk will feel much longer and put our students in
danger. Lots of students may choose to cycle, but this is unpleasant in the rain, so students
are left with the choice of paying for an expensive taxi or putting themselves in harms
way.
In order to combat this, we believe there should be student discounts on cardiff buses,
like they have in other cities such as Swansea or Reading. <strong>The</strong> government scheme for
discounted travel stops at 21 years, meaning that our mature students or students on
longer degrees are at a disadvantage.
In addition, we recommend that more students should have access to the university hall
bus service, specifically the Heath Park students living in Senghennydd hall or Gordon
Halls.
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Recommendations
<strong>Student</strong>s are clearly struggling and heading into the colder months and the energy cap
removal in March, we are extremely concerned for our students. We will continue to
update you if more feedback of this type comes through in Speak Week.
Recommendation 1: Improve the accessibility of hardship funding
<strong>The</strong> data shown in this student view highlights that students have a clear demand
and need for hardship funding and support, although the number of applications
received by the University does not seem to match the extent to which students
are telling us they need It. Through conversations we know students either do not
know how to apply or believe the process to be too complex and intrusive.
This student view recommends a review of the hardship funding process to ensure
It Is as accessible as possible with a reduction on how Intrusive and complex the
process can be. Furthermore, we believe the criteria also needs to be reviewed In
light of the crisis and the bar required to received funding lowered.
Recommendation 2: Reduction In laundry costs
<strong>Student</strong>s have told us that the cost of laundry is a clear and tangible thing the
university can reduce in order to support them during the cost of living crisis.
Access to clean clothes and affordable laundry will only serve students to live a
dignified and respected life whilst at university. No one should be forced into
choosing between eating and cleaning their clothes.
Recommendation 3: Increasing free/reduced food on campus
<strong>The</strong> cost of food is continuing to rise, and students are struggling to feed
themselves whilst at university. During the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union 'feed your flat'
programme we have seen students who are struggling on the bare minimum, with
one student telling us how they were surviving on rise and stock cubes. We believe
there are a number of things the University could do, including:
• Providing more spaces at the monthly Green Shoots dinner.
• Financially supporting the <strong>Student</strong>s' Union feed your flat programme and
the establishment of an essential community food cupboard.
• Providing schools with funding to run student community events which
includes free food.
• Ensuring no food goes to waste In the University food outlets
Recommendation 4: Run additional finance and budget advice activity
Whilst the messaging will need to be well nuanced, students are clearly asking for
support with managing their everyday finances. <strong>The</strong> University and <strong>Student</strong>s'
Union should work together to establish both practical tools and proactive advice
which can support students in managing their finance and in exploring ways in
which they can increase their Income.
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Recommendation 5: Improve the Extenuating Circumstances Policy
<strong>The</strong> cost-of-living crisis is an extenuating circumstance in-and-of Itself with It
clearly leading to impacts on students’ mental health and success. Measures
students need to take in order to support themselves through the crisis should be
included as reasonable extenuating circumstances. For example, students who
have had to take on additional hours of part-time work or have been unable to
heat their homes should be reasonably able to apply for an extension and
extenuating circumstance.
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