How affordable is campus living?

At the University of Warwick, all undergraduates are guaranteed on-campus accommodation in their first year. However, with rising university costs and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, just how affordable is campus living at Warwick?

Warwick offers a broad range of accommodation options across campus, with a total of 13 residences. Yet only four of these cost under £190 a week: Rootes, Tocil, Claycroft, and Cryfield Standard, with the latter being the cheapest at £121 per week.

Recently announced plans to demolish Whitefields (Warwick’s previously most affordable accommodation at £91 per week), along with the recent loss of shared bathroom options in Westwood, are indicative of the upward shift in living costs, which may come as a shock to many.

Maintenance loans in England often fall short of covering rent, leaving many students unable to make ends meet without family support or part-time work

Other student expenses are also increasing. The Government recently announced a rise in tuition fees from £9,250 to £9,535 per year starting in September 2025. This increase will coincide with a rise in the maximum maintenance loan, which will go from £10,227 to £10,544 per year. According to the Government, these changes are intended to align with inflation and to support universities.

Inflation has also driven up the average student rent in the UK, which rose from £6,520 in 2021-22 to £7,475 in 2023-24, according to research by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI). Notably, these figures deliberately exclude Edinburgh and London, to provide a more ‘equal’ view of standard rent prices. HEPI has cautioned that maintenance loans in England often fall short of covering rent, leaving many students unable to make ends meet without family support or part-time work. Beyond rent, students also face essential expenses for items like food and transportation. To manage these costs, over half of students have taken on part-time jobs, according to HEPI.

In a recent survey conducted by The Boar, Warwick students were asked whether they felt their campus accommodation provided good value for money. Responses came from students across 11 different university accommodations, with 57% expressing dissatisfaction, and many criticising the high prices and limited affordable options. Students also noted that the quality of facilities, especially in shared spaces like kitchens, did not justify the high costs. These results highlight the financial strain that campus living places on students, particularly those on tight budgets.

Several students voiced concerns about how student loans often fall short in covering accommodation costs

The survey also questioned whether the University of Warwick offers a good range of affordable accommodation options, with 75% of respondents saying it does not. Students’ concerns were consistent: on-campus accommodation was perceived as too expensive compared to off-campus options and the rates at other universities. There was also a noted lack of lower-cost choices, which particularly impacts students from lower-income backgrounds.

Students expressed frustration over annual price hikes for many accommodation options. One student remarked: “Prices have risen by huge percentages, sometimes over 20% in just four years. That’s unacceptable and shows the university profiting off the cost-of-living crisis to an unreasonable extent.”

Additionally, there were concerns over the high cost of en-suite options. Many students who prefer an en-suite are now required to pay a minimum of £191 per week, with Heronbank being the least expensive en-suite option.

Finally, students were asked whether they had experienced any financial difficulty in meeting campus accommodation costs. 29% of respondents said yes, while 71% said no. Several students voiced concerns about how student loans often fall short in covering accommodation costs. One student shared that: “My maintenance loan just fully wasn’t enough to cover the cost of accommodation. I was spending my entire student loan on accommodation and that wasn’t even remotely enough. It is not sustainable at all.”

Another student shared a similar experience, noting they had to supplement accommodation costs from their own funds because student finance payments did not fully cover rent. In these cases, students often must cut back on essentials like food, social activities, and other living expenses.

The affordability and value-for-money of these accommodations remains a growing concern among many

Concerns about the high prices in campus shops were also raised, with one student stating: “All shops on campus are unnecessarily overpriced,” adding that “campus seems set up to drain your money rather than help you save.”

The rising cost of campus accommodation continues to place a heavy financial burden on many students. While Warwick University offers a variety of options, the affordability and value-for-money of these accommodations remains a growing concern among many, particularly for those from lower-income backgrounds.

As costs continue to rise, there may be a growing need for Warwick to explore more affordable housing solutions. A closer examination of how the university can better support its student population in this regard might be necessary.