Queen’s University recently provided financial support for all students which ranged between £150-400 in a one-off payment, depending on household income. Many students at Ulster University have been left wondering if similar support will be made available for them, but so far there has been no update from the uni.
James, a Queen’s student has described the support as “a big help for all students”. As he travels from home to save money on the rent prices in Belfast, the payment helped to cover his monthly train ticket used to travel to and from his lectures throughout the week. When asked if Ulster Uni students should be offered similar support, he said, “I don’t know the differences in the two unis’ disposable income, but Ulster should definitely be offering some form of payment because we really benefitted from it.”
Grace Boyle, President of the Ulster University Students Union, told me, “[The] UUSU has been working proactively with stakeholders in the University to raise the issues and hardships the student population is facing.” Grace is part of the cost-of-living campaign with the UUSU and has been fighting hard for students to get financial support during these tough times. She said, “We have lobbied Ulster University to consider other financial measures such as a cost-of-living payment to students, and would welcome Ulster to support UUSU in lobbying for this intervention as per our NUS-USI Cost of Survival campaign asks.”
Currently, Ulster has offered support such as free breakfasts and changes to the hardship fund just to name some examples, but many students will want more following the news about Queen’s students, and we will be waiting in anticipation for an official update from the uni.
Ulster University’s press office were reached for a comment, but not responded at the time of publishing.
Related: Ulster University students discussing if the uni should offer support similar to that offered by Queen’s University to their students.
