Students enrolled at the University of Glasgow have called for a cap on intake, due to fears some students are being forced to sleep rough.
The Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council (SRC) are demanding a public commitment by the organisation to put a cap on numbers for the next five years, and has claims the university is considering doing so - according to the Tab. This comes after the accommodation crisis was described as ‘unprecedented’ by letting agents.
Students have been unable to find accommodation this year, with the university previously suggesting dropping out of their studies if housing couldn’t be found. Last month, 70 students were reported to be without accommodation, with the university paying for hotel stays in some cases.
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The SRC claims students are couch surfing, or even sleeping rough, due to the crisis. This was met by the university saying student numbers have grown by nearly a third in the past five years.
The SRC have asked for a cap on the student numbers for the next five years, a review of policies on admissions, and support for existing students as well as asking the university to form a group to address student experiences for the 23/24 academic year.
Translation studies MA student Alex said: “I spend more time on trains and in train stations than I do at uni. I also can’t have a social life because of the last trains so I feel so out of everything.”
The SRC also said campus spaces, clubs and societies have been overwhelmed. They added: “The university needs to fulfil its role to students to provide a safe and high-quality education.
“The strain on our estate and staff is damaging the quality of our education.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow University said: "The University is sympathetic to the points the SRC make and is committed to working constructively with them on this - having already committed to zero growth for the next year.
"Planned, appropriate growth is a positive thing, giving access to HE to more talented students who want to study at Glasgow and we have invested heavily in staff and facilities to meet this.
"FTE on-campus student numbers show growth of 31.5 per cent since 2017, with undergraduate first degree student numbers growing by eight per cent which is broadly in line with many of our peer universities in the Russell Group.
"We continue to work hard to help meet the demands of a private accommodation shortage in Glasgow and Scotland."
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