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cost of living Articles

Rising demand sees nearly half of Work Experience bursary applicants rejected

Rising demand sees nearly half of Work Experience bursary applicants rejected

As competition for graduate roles toughens, students are increasingly turning to unpaid internships and work experience, despite the limited support available from the University
A Red Brick Budget? The northern student’s guide to a new fiscal year

A Red Brick Budget? The northern student’s guide to a new fiscal year

The 2025 Budget might provide some boons, but it won’t level the playing field for regional competition
Fight the Rent Hike returns for another academic year

Fight the Rent Hike returns for another academic year

The student campaign group is mobilising over estimated rents of £235 per week in the new Fallowfield halls currently under construction
University cost of living support fund payouts fall to lowest level since 2021-22

University cost of living support fund payouts fall to lowest level since 2021-22

Payouts to students in the 2024-25 academic year totalled £261,350, compared to £416,810 in the 2023-24 academic year
Football and Capitalism: Is the trajectory of football sliding away from the working-class?

Football and Capitalism: Is the trajectory of football sliding away from the working-class?

Football clubs have prioritised profit at the expense of community and fans – to the sport’s detriment
“I wouldn’t go back if you paid me!”: Students start petition to lower rent price of “dreadful” Brook Hall accommodation

“I wouldn’t go back if you paid me!”: Students start petition to lower rent price of “dreadful” Brook Hall accommodation

University of Manchester students have started a petition asking for the “unnecessary raise” in rent prices to be changed
LeadMCR 2025: What do UoM students think is the biggest issue affecting them at the moment?

LeadMCR 2025: What do UoM students think is the biggest issue affecting them at the moment?

With LeadMCR elections looming, we spoke to students across campus about the biggest issues they felt were affecting them
Nearly half of student gamblers are gambling more than they can afford

Nearly half of student gamblers are gambling more than they can afford

The majority of students (60%) had gambled in the past 12 months, although this was a decrease from last year (71%) 
We’re still in a cost of living crisis. Where’s our £170 this year?

We’re still in a cost of living crisis. Where’s our £170 this year?

The University’s forgotten about the cost of living crisis, and has left students grappling in the same tough financial circumstances; this year, with a £170-shaped hole in their pockets
Funding boost for cost of living support

Funding boost for cost of living support

The bonus given to the Cost of Living Working Group will boost initiatives and funds aimed at supporting students in financial hardship
Cost of living pressures mount for students as average rent increases nationally

Cost of living pressures mount for students as average rent increases nationally

Cost of living pressures have pushed the average student rent to £7,566, with the average maintenance loan being around £7,590
The student rent crisis isn’t just a financial burden, it’s an academic one too

The student rent crisis isn’t just a financial burden, it’s an academic one too

Not only do students face academic and social pressures at university, but they face a financial one too: being used as cash cows by the rental market and the government
The true cost of university sports: membership fees increase by up to 35%

The true cost of university sports: membership fees increase by up to 35%

Changes in the way the university charges for sports memberships has led to an increase in prices whilst leaving students feeling “ignored” when concerns were raised.
Fetishising financial hardship – when will university students stop playing ‘poverty simulator’?

Fetishising financial hardship – when will university students stop playing ‘poverty simulator’?

The financial barriers to university are clear to students from low-income backgrounds. So why should we tolerate seeing our wealthier peers ‘playing poor’?
Dirty underwear, a broken boiler and £400 in cleaning fees: a laundry list of problems with Thornley Groves

Dirty underwear, a broken boiler and £400 in cleaning fees: a laundry list of problems with Thornley Groves

From holes in the roof to melting oven trays, students tell us about their experience renting with Thornley Groves Fallowfield and how it’s impacted their wellbeing
What have your SU execs been up to this year?

What have your SU execs been up to this year?

The Mancunion investigates whether each member of the 2022/23 Exec Team has fulfilled the promises in their manifesto, whilst looking into the structure of democracy at our SU more widely
Redundancies in hospitality sector raise anxieties among students

Redundancies in hospitality sector raise anxieties among students

Several redundancies in the service industry have left many students uncertain and anxious about their time at the University. We look at how recent Manchester closures are affecting student employees.
Royal Exchange Theatre hosts an uprising

Royal Exchange Theatre hosts an uprising

No Pay? No Way!, a contemporary retelling of Dario Fo’s Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!, is having its UK premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre
If books could kill: Are course books too expensive?

If books could kill: Are course books too expensive?

Should students be made to fork out hundreds of pounds each year for course books? We explore the social and financial implications of the prices of university books.
350 or 44: How many students are engaging in the rent strike?

350 or 44: How many students are engaging in the rent strike?

UoM Rent Strike predict up to 350 students are engaging in organised action, whilst the University ‘anecdotally’ advise only 44 student have contact with Credit Control