Living Costs for Students

The survey of income and expenditure of residents in halls for 1977 currently being undertaken by the Accommodation Service will give up-to-date information on living costs for students and will be useful in documenting bursary submissions to the Minister of Education.

Before the end of September all full-time University students living in Victoria House, Helen Lowry, Everton and Weir House should have received a copy (printed on red paper) of the survey form Income and Expenditure of Residents in Halls for 1977 academic year. The date for the completion of the survey is the 8 October. Students have been asked to estimate their expenditure after this date (until after their final examination) so that this sum can be included in the totals.

All information obtained from this survey will be processed in a manner which will protect the confidentiality of individual students' finances and only average figures or a range of figures will be released.

This is the third year that Accommodation Service has surveyed living costs of students living in halls. This increases the value of the survey findings as it permits comparison with the 1975 and 1976 figures. The Accommodation Officer, Mrs M. Brown, expects this year's survey figures to reveal a big increase in living costs for students over 1976 figures.

The information on student living costs obtained from last year's survey was used by NZUSA and by the VUW Bursary Committee in its submissions to Government for adequate bursary assistance for students

The Government has undertaken at some time in the future to introduce a reformed bursary that will be adjusted annually to take into account increases in students' living costs.

A high response rate will increase the value of the survey findings and will indicate that the cost of living is a matter of grave concern to students.

Residents in halls can help next year's students by completing and returning their survey form by October 10 either to the Warden of their hall or to Accommodation Service Office, 6 Kelburn Parade.