Many are facing an economically challenging winter. Food, electricity and housing costs have all become more expensive. Also for the students. A calculation carried out by associate professor Asgeir Solstad at Nord University shows that the students are in a direct financial loss if they do not work in addition. Is it possible to be a full-time student today? – Theoretically yes, in practice no, says student Adrian Hanssen. OVER BUDGET: – If you want clothes or something else, you easily go over budget. Study support alone does not cover enough, says Hanssen. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news The scholarship must be increased He is studying international marketing in his second year at Nord University. The first summer as a student was intense as a result of working a lot to have enough money to spend. It is a well-known fact that students have to work in the summer, and to varying degrees have part-time jobs. The problem is something else, according to Hanssen: The stipend does not increase in line with the rise in prices elsewhere in society. Therefore, he believes that the scholarship must be increased. The fact that Hanssen has a lot of saved funds and a part-time job is the very reason why he makes ends meet today. Last time the students’ health and well-being survey was carried out, 16,800 students answered that they would not be able to pay an unforeseen expense of NOK 5,000 today. The number is a record low. – When you give people 36 hours of work each week, you must actually be able to finance it. As the scholarship system is today, he has less purchasing power than students before in the series. According to Hanssen, a minimum requirement is that a full-time student can afford to cover absolutely necessary expenses. – You can’t necessarily say that today. The students are in the red. Many spend so much time working that they no longer have time to be students. Docent at Nord University, Asgeir Solstad, has no doubt that the students need increased financial support. WEAKEST INCOME: – We generally know that those in the population with the lowest income suffer the most from large cost increases. The students belong to that category, says Solstad. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news He has recently carried out a calculation which states that a full-time student without a part-time job will lose NOK 1,178 per month. The calculation does not include study materials, which will cost the students between NOK 4,000 and 8,000 a year. In addition, a house rent of NOK 5,000 is a rare commodity today. – It will be much higher for the vast majority, says Solstad. – How solid is this calculation? – An uncertain variable is that household costs are seen as NOK 8,800. Many students will probably manage with a lower amount there. Still, it’s pretty sobering. – Students also have expenses related to nightlife and social activities which must be an important part of their lives. This is how he proceeded: The starting point was the study support that the students receive from the state for being full-time students. Compare this sum against the Norwegian Institute for Consumer Research’s household budget. Calculate from a 20-year-old student and see what it costs them in variable expenses to get by. There is an amount of NOK 8,800 which deals with what the students themselves want to pay for (food, medicine, clothing) In addition to an amount for rent for the sober ones NOK 5,000 The income from the student grant is NOK 12,636. Monthly deficit: NOK 1,178. Students in a pinch between work and study He believes the need for increased study support has increased compared to the past and indicates that the situation where students are caught between work and study is getting worse. – Is it so unreasonable that the students have to work alongside their studies to make ends meet? – Not in general. But when student aid is as low as it is today, it forces students to work much more than is beneficial for their studies. – I think these numbers show that it is absolutely necessary to work so that the students have a good standard of living. It takes an enormous amount to get by on the low incomes documented here. State Secretary: – Rimeleg State Secretary for the Center Party in the Ministry of Education, Oddmund Hoel, points out that the students have a job and income as prospects for further studies. – Having said that, we are very clear that it is hard to be a student. Of course, we understand that it is very difficult to get by on a student loan. Then you really have to cut costs. – Should the students accept that they have to work alongside their studies, even if they miss out on valuable teaching? – Then the students are a diverse group where some want to work to live better and go on holiday. Students are on their way into adulthood and make their priorities, says Hoel. Photo: Høgskulen i Vestlandet – Yes, I think so. Within reasonable limits, which are up to ten hours a week. It is a way to gain valuable work experience. Of the students who work, half report that they gain experience that is relevant to their studies. In a couple of weeks, the Støre government will present its proposal for the state budget for 2023. – Can the students hope for an increase in the grant in the state budget? – We have to wait and see for the budget to arrive. There is a lot people want out of that budget. The pressure on the Norwegian economy means that there will be a tight state budget. Everyone has to adjust to that in general, then we’ll see what it means for this particular field. – Our main focus is on building more student housing now when it comes to student finances, says Hoel. Back in Bodø, student Adrian Hanssen has finished the school day. He thinks the student aid is too low and would like to think of more time to focus on his studies. Because the problem, according to Hanssen, is not the money alone. It is the time that passes away from studies and over to work, which has consequences for the competence he wants to acquire. – It would have been very nice to think that you could focus on what you want, and also have a decent amount of free time.
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The students go into the red every month – news Nordland
