A recent Palatinate investigation (22.04.2022) found that college accommodation costs are increasing, rising from £7960.65 to £8301 for a standard room at a catered college. In the 2012/13 year, accommodation costs were £5955, meaning that residency costs have increased by 40%. Student support, given by the government over the same time frame, has only increased by 36%.

Regardless of the wider historical increases in college accommodation costs carried out by Durham University, the current proposal is an increase of 4.1% in relation to college room expenses last year. With government maintenance support only going up by 2.3% since last year, there is a considerable gap between financial support given to students, and rising accommodation fees. Furthermore, a study carried out by the government shows that while they are increasing the support by 2.3%, due to inflation it is actually a real cut of 7%. The increase in accommodation costs at college will dramatically squeeze the pockets of students at Durham and discourage students attending Durham University from lower economic backgrounds.  

The decision to increase costs has also been taken during the busiest and most stressful time of the year for students, the examination period. To add further stress to students and condemnation to the university’s actions, it was done without notifying the student body. One cannot help but see this decision as strategically planned by Durham University, as student response will be kept to a minimum due to the pressure of exams. It is our belief that this decision will negatively affect the mental health of many members of our student community, particularly those from lower economic backgrounds, due to the content and timing of the decision by Durham University.

Therefore, the purpose of this petition is to demand Durham University to drop the planned increase in college accommodation costs. Furthermore, to reduce college accommodation costs to be in line with the real cut students are facing in their maintenance grant due to inflation. Finally, we also demand that Durham University publicly promises that no plans to increase college accommodation costs or build new colleges will be considered for the next ten years.