At a recent meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, a UUP councillor proposed a motion which aims to support local students who have been affected by, not only Covid, but also the cost of living crisis and the lack of affordable student accommodation.

The motion, which was proposed by Councillor Diana Armstrong and seconded by Councillor Matthew Bell during the Council meeting on Tuesday, December 6, calls on Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster to publish student timetables alongside letters of acceptance.

"This allows students, if they wish, to commute from home where attendance at in-person lectures is limited. The blended learning model has been successfully used during Covid and this will permit students to study at home while reducing the escalating costs of living and pressures on the availability of affordable accommodation in Belfast," said Councillor Armstrong, adding: "This motion proposes that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council writes to Queen’s University and Ulster University to request the early release of study timetables to allow students to make more informed decisions around securing accommodation in university towns and cities in Northern Ireland."

Speaking at the Council meeting about the reasons behind the motion she was proposing, Councillor Armstrong said: "We all know the drastic impact Covid has had on students in terms of disruption and their mental health and wellbeing, and now some local students are coming to me raising their concerns about the timetables which they only receive on their first days at University.

"Some local students have said to me that they have secured annual tenancy agreements only to realise on arrival at university that they have a lot of free time which could be spent at home with reduced living costs.

"However if local universities were required to produce timetables to coincide with their letters of acceptance, this would permit undergraduates to plan their study days on site by travelling from home to attend the small number of in-person lectures on their course," she said, noting that by doing so, they would be saving on the considerable full week living expenses and would be able to complete hybrid learning and study days at home, alongside taking on part time employment to supplement their living costs.

The motion was unanimously supported by all councillors present at the meeting.