More students working full time to keep up with college costs, Oireachtas committee told

There is a lack of transparency around such costs when students are applying to courses, according to Bryan O’Mahony, deputy president of the USI. One example includes students being required to have multiple different types of software for IT degrees. File photo

More students now are working up to 40 hours a week on top of studying and are being left “blindsided” by hidden costs associated with going to college, an Oireachtas education committee has heard.

The committee met with representatives from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) on Tuesday to discuss financial supports for third-level students.