Northern Irish work their way through college

A National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland survey of further education students in Northern Ireland reveals they have an annual income of only Pounds 656 a year in grants, student loans and parental contributions, but spend on average Pounds 3,000, an annual shortfall of Pounds 2,344.

The survey in three further education colleges, two colleges of education and the two universities showed that 60 per cent of students rely on part-time jobs to make ends meet, working an average 17.7 hours a week. Their average wage is Pounds 3.33 an hour, falling to Pounds 2.85 in rural areas. Eleven per cent of the students sampled owe more than Pounds 2,000 to banks for loans and overdrafts, while 20 per cent owe more than Pounds 4,000 to the Student Loans Company.