Lack of part-time work to hit students

A SHORTAGE of part-time work may be affecting students’ ability to put themselves through college, despite a fall in rent and other costs.

A 17% fall in rents in the past year has helped reduce the overall costs for those who are at college away from home by almost 8%, according to a survey for Dublin Institute of Technology. It shows that students will also benefit from the continuing drop in food prices of around 26% in the year to June, bringing the likely cost of a year in college to just under €7,800.

But, with public transport costs up 13% in a year and college registration charges up €600 to €1,500 for anybody who doesn’t qualify for a grant, many will feel the pinch during the coming college year.