'Students are asking themselves where they're going to sleep tonight'

Students are missing out on ‘huge aspects’ of the college experience as the housing crisis forces them to couch-surf or commute for hours every day.

That’s according to University of Galway Student Union President Sai Gujulla, who said there is an ongoing crisis in student accommodation.

Some 17% of students commute to college for more than an hour each day.

Technological University Dublin President David Fitzpatrick said an increase in the number of university students commuting long distances means many are missing out on “huge” aspects of the college experiences. 

Mr Gujulla told Newstalk Breakfast this is not a new issue.

“It’s important to know that it isn’t just an issue this year,” he said. “This was an issue last year.” 

Mr Gujulla said students who cannot find affordable housing in the west of Ireland face long commutes to lectures.  

“Students have been waking up at 6am just trying to get in their car to make a 9am lecture,” he said.  

“Some people don’t even have a car, so they have to rely on public transport, which is inefficient especially in the west of Ireland.” 

The commute is causing several “obstacles to higher education”, according to Mr Gujulla, especially as lectures and social aspects of college return to campus following COVID-19. 

Mr Gujulla said student have no time to take part in college life “because of all this commuting and this struggle”.

“[Societies and clubs] are valued but there's no time to take part in them because of all this commuting and this struggle,” he said.

As many students without housing will couch-surf or leave college as soon as possible, they have little room for a social life.

“When you’re in a lecture and you're trying to concentrate you’re thinking, ‘where should I sleep tonight, how should I get home’," Mr Gujulla said.

“Your mind doesn’t go to the fact that you can go to a society or club because you’re just under all this stress."

Mr Gujulla said cost and availability have both made any form of housing impossible for many students.  

“The average rent has gone the roof - it’s about €700 in Galway, which is what a student is expected to pay for a single room in a house,” he said. 

“That’s if it’s even available – availability has been a huge issue this year."

Even if students have part-time jobs or can access grants, they still don’t have enough to comfortably live near their campus. 

“It’s contributing to students commuting and putting mental and physical strain on themselves,” Mr Gujulla said.  

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