Northern Ireland Students Face Dilemma: Heating or Eating Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis

A recent survey has indicated that students in Northern Ireland are foregoing meals as a consequence of the cost of living crisis. The poll, conducted by NUS-USI (National Union of Students NI), additionally found that more than 50% of respondents had not used heating. A student welfare officer at Queen’s University Belfast informed BBC News NI that “For some students it really is a choice between heating and eating.” In response to the financial struggles faced by some students, universities are now implementing programs designed to assist them through the cost of living crisis. Among these initiatives is The Pantry at Queen’s, which functions as a complimentary food refill station for students. Launched in 2022, the service has experienced a significant increase in usage, with approximately 5,000 individuals utilizing it since September. The survey, which included more than 600 students and apprentices across Northern Ireland, revealed that 19% had utilized a foodbank within the past year, marking a 12% rise annually. Muphuselban, a master’s degree student in science at Queen’s, relies on the Pantry. Muphuselban stated to BBC News NI, “My breakfast is solely dependent on the Pantry.” “The foods I get in the Pantry I find very costly in supermarkets and I can spend my money on other things. “Using the Pantry keeps me healthy – I can eat more of a range of foods because I’m not worrying about cost. “I have to work, I have assignments to do.” The Swap Shop, which commenced operations approximately two months ago, represents another program aimed at assisting students with the cost of living. This shop enables individuals to exchange one clothing item for another. Jess, a welfare officer at Queen’s Students’ Union, informed BBC News NI that “Its main purpose is sustainability but it also has a big cost of living element.” “Half of students only have £100 left after they’ve paid their rent per month, for a lot of people that’s not including bills.” She continued, “For some students it really is a choice between heating and eating – buying new clothes is just out of the question for a lot of people which is why the Swap Shop is a good idea.” Jess contends that additional measures are necessary to bridge the financial gap for students once essential expenses are covered and to “control the spiralling costs of rent.” Among the survey participants, 44% acknowledged experiencing challenges in affording housing expenses. Furthermore, 92% of respondents cited problems with their accommodation, such as mould and infestations. Chris Murray serves as a representative for students at Ulster University’s Coleraine campus. He posed the question, “The cheapest purpose-built student accommodation in Belfast is £550 a month, that’s not even covered by a student loan so how does the government expect students to eat?” Murray added, “Sometimes students are paying for a contract that they can’t get out of, having to move home to their parents’ house which could be hours away just to get free meals.” Financial hardships are also affecting students’ academic pursuits. The survey indicated that 22% of students have skipped classes due to an inability to afford public transport fares. Chris noted that this situation is also impacting students’ mental health. Chris stated, “The stress surrounding ‘Am I going to eat my next meal?’ is going to impact a student’s ability to focus, concentrate and do their studies…any stress surrounding the cost of living would have just taken up all my mind.” Commenting on the survey’s findings, NUS-USI president Ben Friel declared: “It’s simply unacceptable that so many students are struggling to afford basic necessities like food and rent.” He continued, “We’re seeing a generation of students building credit card and loan debts just to keep a roof over their heads.” Friel concluded, “These alarming rates of student poverty are not normal.”