The cost of living crisis is still ongoing and students continue to be some of the most severely effected people across the UK. According to Save The Student the average monthly cost to be a student at UoS is £497 per month (not including rent). Last year UoS subsidised car parking for all students saving them up to £40 a month. 

For the new academic year UoS decided to bring back the parking charge of £2 a day for all students attending the Ipswich campus. The impact of which is now being felt by a variety of students; a large proportion of students need to use the car park daily to attend campus and complete their studies. If this doesn't change, students are going to continue to struggle to attend university. Free parking will remove students' financial anxieties around attending university allowing them to focus on their studies, and complete their course to the highest standard possible.

Feedback from students in the academic year 22/23 stated that:

"The free parking was fantastic, especially for students living in accommodation"

"Free parking has made such a big difference to my budget. I'm so grateful for it"

"After a long commute and using a lot of fuel, it was reassuring to have free parking. It's the little bit of help that makes a big difference"

It is clear that such a small gesture makes a massive difference for students at UoS. That's why we are calling for the university to make parking free for students once again to help combat the cost of living and ensure students can attend campus stress free.