{"id":12357,"date":"2023-01-11T15:07:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T15:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=12357"},"modified":"2023-06-20T15:52:57","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T14:52:57","slug":"low-income-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2023\/01\/11\/low-income-student\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cUniversity Is Only for The Wealthy\u201d \u2013 The Truth About Being a Low-Income Student"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cUniversity is only for the wealthy\u201d. A statement I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve all heard at some point in your life. A statement which has probably induced many a panic about applying to university. A statement, most importantly, which is utterly false<\/strong>. As someone who came to university from a low-income background, I was particularly stressed about the financial aspect of university. I\u2019m sure there are many other prospective, or current, students who are also experiencing this. So through this blog I want to try and debunk some myths and put your minds at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to remember first and foremost that you deserve a place at university as much as the next student, and you shouldn\u2019t let your financial position define you, your worth, or your university experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Debunking common myths about studying as a low-income student<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2018University is unaffordable for students from low-income.\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I implied earlier, this is completely fictitious. Yes, living away from home can be expensive, however, it is not unaffordable. The way student finance works in England means that the allocation of the maintenance loan<\/a> varies depending on your financial situation. Students with a lower household income will receive a higher maintenance loan and vice versa. With a sensible budget, you’d be surprised at how affordable living away from home can be, without having to find part-time work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I will miss out on the social side of university.\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Again, another falsity I hear. I would like to reiterate that coming from a low-income background does not equal having to miss out or sacrifice different aspects of university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, there are many budget-friendly options to get the most out of the social side of university. For example, if you join a society, you can attend their socials at no extra cost after you\u2019ve bought membership. Most memberships are between \u00a35 and \u00a320 for the year, some are more expensive though! Check the YUSU website<\/a> to see what societies the Uni of York offers. You can also just meet up with friends and explore the city to find some affordable hidden gems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, if you want to go on nights out, you can! Clubs, pubs, and the on-campus student union bars all have student nights with great deals on drinks, making it more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, it comes down to budgeting again, being smart with your student loan, and prioritising where you want to spend your money. You don\u2019t have to drop \u00a3100 on a night out!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018There\u2019s no support for low-income students.\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The University of York offers a lot of support for those who come from low-income backgrounds or find themselves struggling financially. They do this in 3 ways: bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n