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Dublin: 11 °C Thursday 20 June, 2013

Affording college the biggest worry for 40 per cent of students

Over a third drink at least once a week while Limerick offers the best value for money in accommodation, says survey of 1500 students.

Students enjoying themselves at the Trinity College Ball
Students enjoying themselves at the Trinity College Ball
Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

WITH LEAVING CERTIFICATE students preparing to receive their first round CAO offers for college places on Monday, a new survey of existing  third level students has found that affording college is their biggest worry.

40 per cent of students said that getting the money together to pay for college was their biggest concern, according to the survey of 1,500 students carried out by MyHome.ie, followed by the stress of exams (26 per cent) and not liking their course (22 per cent). A further 10 per cent said they worried about not making friends.

However despite the concerns over finances, alcohol ranked as the highest item of expenditure after food. Over a third said they drank at least once a week, 37 per cent said they drank two days a week and 19 per cent said they drink three days a week.  80 per cent said they did not smoke.

Meanwhile, Dublin came out as the most expensive city to find accommodation in. Limerick was the cheapest.

“As you’d expect Dublin is the most expensive with students on the south side paying around €500 while those  on the north side pay €450. In Cork it’s around €350 while in Galway its €380. Limerick appears to offer the best value at €300. If you share a room prices will be cheaper again” said Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie.

Students gave a generally optimistic view of their employment prospects. Just under half said they were hopeful of getting a job with a further 29 per cent very confident.

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Comments (27 Comments)

  • There should be a good low interest student loan system in place where students pay back after they graduate. It gives them ownership and responsibility.

    Other countries have that system like finland and it works great.

    Reply
  • If you really want it you’ll make the sacrifices! I have a mortgage and im paying 4800e this week to start in September! I saved my ass off for it..Staying in at the weekends-Taking the bike to work Etc….Its Do-able trust me!!

    Reply
  • Education is fast becoming an elitist system, but I do find it strange that so many students drink so often. I’m about to start college, and I do drink, but I intend to do so in moderation and when I can afford it. For me my main concern is where the hell I’m going to find €2,400 to go to college in the next few weeks.

    Reply
  • My father died recently. Missed out on a grant by €270. Wanted to further my education but back to full time minimum wage for me. Not bitter, just born 5 years too late it would seem.

    Reply
  • Would love to see an after picture of them lads. Seen some horrors of pictures of girls with puke on them after the trinity ball.

    Reply
  • people saying education is a right and college should be free??? are ye actually serious? investing in yourself is the best investment you can make and for 2500 a year for a 4 year course to come out with a degree and the ability to increase your salary over time by this amount every year thereafter it doesn’t seem too bad, the bank of Ireland loan is a perfect option and gives students flexibility and independence. the government wouldn’t have to increase the fees If the grant system wasn’t abused by a minority by using the money for holidays and cars when their parents have plenty to put them through. If all else fails there’s always been a thing called a part time job or budgeting, if some students aren’t mature enough to not be baby sat then they aren’t mature enough to be in college in the first place.

    Reply
    • Rory I hear you. I didn’t my grant until the day I finished my exams. 6.5k I got, mental! I could mange to pay my rent and other bills out of my BTE (obviously I know not everyone doesn’t get that), so the state paid me to rent out a villa on a Greek island for two weeks and a speed boat for a few days. You have to hand it to us Irish, my girlfriend said it was the best two weeks of her life (I would agree except for holiday sessions with the boys).

      Reply
  • “Over a third said they drank at least once a week???

    but

    37 per cent said they drank two days a week and
    19 per cent said they drink three days a week.”

    33+37+19 = 89%

    Over 89% said they drank at least once a week.

    I’m guilty of being one of the 89%, but I still managed to pass first year statistics!

    Reply
  • Affording the rental house repair & cleanup at the end of term is even more worrying for the Parents…!!!

    Reply
    • Not really, students/parents already pay this at the beginning of term with rental deposits. The repairs and cleanup are prima facia paid for from the beginning, it’s the absence of these things which allow for an equitable redemption of those costs.

      Reply

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