International students in Wales are reportedly sleeping in university buildings and libraries due to a lack of affordable accommodation near their universities. Postgraduate students with families are particularly affected, as they are not eligible for university housing. Welsh universities are aiming to increase international student numbers as they may be charged up to four times the amount that domestic students pay. There are 20,920 non-EU international students studying in Wales, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
A room has been opened by Bangor University’s students’ union to allow students to prepare meals. Patience Otaigbe, a project management student at the University of South Wales, had to live in a shared house for seven months with her partner and two children before finding suitable accommodation, despite being able to afford the rental prices on offer. Otaigbe said landlords would not accept her application because she had children, adding “I never saw this coming. I felt that if I had my money, I should have been able to get accommodation for me and my family.”
Sioned Williams, a Member of the Senedd said international students often came with the impression that university accommodation would be available for their family. Alfred Oyekoya of the BAME Mental Health Service, which supports international students in Swansea, said estate agents had “unreasonable expectations”. He cited the common requirement for a six-month record of earnings, which is impossible for many new arrivals. He added that some international students who can afford rent for a year cannot find accommodation. The UK government said it was “fully focused on striking the right balance between acting decisively to bring down net migration and attracting the best and brightest students to study at our universities”.
Universities Wales encouraged students facing difficulty to talk to their institution. Bangor University’s support office provides guidance on available accommodation and welfare issues. Swansea University expressed sadness at reports of students staying in “inappropriate or unsuitable” spaces, and said it was committed to providing comprehensive support and guidance to ensure all international students had access to suitable accommodation. The University of South Wales said that international students are informed of the high demand for private sector accommodation in the area, particularly for those with dependants and families, and the increase in costs, before they travel
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