This academic year, your Student Officer Team has been focusing on the issues linked to the cost-of-living crisis and has been working with the University to prioritise financial support for students.
In wider debate on the cost-of living crisis, students have often been overlooked, and are not seen to be a group that will see significant impacts on their standard of living. Our data, both nationally and local to Leeds Beckett, indicates that this assumption is wrong.
The National Student Money Survey 2022 found that students have been experiencing inflation higher than the national average by 14% with the sharpest increase in student spending being transport and household bills. Research by Student Minds found that 51% of students described the rising cost-of-living as an issue impacting mental health.
The Officer Team is really pleased to see the announcements from the University to support students with the cost-of-living crisis this academic year! The range of measures that have been announced show that the University is committed to supporting students and listening to the student body. We want you to be involved in the conversation! Tell us your ideas here.
This page is being updated regularly.
Support for Leeds Beckett students
Rent, Like most things, has gone up. The University absorbed 80% of the increase in accommodation costs for halls where they are the landlord, reducing the impact on students from 12.3% to 2.4%.
Our Students' Union bar, The Hive, always has many cheap meal options for you to choose from. For example, you can get our panini of the day and a salad for £2.45. The University is also making affordable meals available on campus every day. From Monday 3 October, there will be a £2 hot meal on the menu every day at Beckett Food outlets on campus. Follow Beckett Food for menus and offers – and for info on how to sign up for the Becket Food reward card.
Currently on a referral basis through our Student Services Team
During term time, a free shuttle bus runs to take students and staff between both Headingley and City campuses. A full timetable is available.
Leeds Beckett is looking at how they can provide hybrid options (with the permission of our students) rather than asking students to come in for a single session so money can be saved on travel.
The University is looking at ways to remove, reduce or subsidise extra course costs, including materials and study visits across all their courses. Supporting students to earn by sticking to consistent timetables, allowing you to plan part-time work around your learning. The University is also looking at how, with your permission, they can provide hybrid options rather than asking you to come in for a single session so you can save money on travel.
Supporting students to earn
By sticking to consistent timetables, this allows Leeds Beckett University students to plan part-time work around their learning.
Discretionary support for students in financial difficulty enabling them to progress on their course. They welcome applications from international students who find themselves in unexpected and exceptional circumstances that have impacted on their ability to fund themselves. International students must be able to evidence proof of funding for their time in the UK.
Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
- The student being the victim of crime in the UK.
- Serious illness to the student requiring hospital admission.
- Political crisis, pandemics, or conflicts, involving the student’s home country.
- The death of an immediate family member such as a parent, spouse, or child.
Summer Assistance Fund to support students who have dependents, or who are continuing to study over the summer period, such as PG students (the majority of our international students are PG).
On-to-one appointments are available through our Student Money Advisers. Student can contact our Money Advisers online through MyHub.
The Student Money team offers impartial advice on issues including accessing and establishing eligibility for funding, budgeting and money management. The team also administers UG loans, supportive schemes including a Hardship Fund, scholarships and bursaries.
The University doesn't want the cost of graduation to put students off attending, so they’re making gown rental free of charge and supplying two free tickets for friends or family to attend your ceremony.
Our Activities Team also have a programme of events ‘’Give it a go!’’ to allow you to socialise for free or for very little money this year. You can also book spaces in our venues to host your gatherings for free! If you want to learn more about this, contact lbsu-welcome@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
At Leeds Beckett Students’ Union, we will continue to work on our own initiatives to support students through the crisis. We will be sharing more information regularly so keep an eye on our channels. If you need support, you can contact our LBSU Advice Service for confidential and independant advice on academic, housing, and financial issues.