Up to 11,000 Reading uni students to benefit from wage rise

The University of Reading is home to 23,000 students, who live on campus, in private accommodation and in the town centre.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), 50 per cent of students will face financial difficulties during their time at university, forcing many to take part-time work alongside their studies.

Poppy, 20, who studies Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading said: “Working part-time was never optional but rather a necessity: between eating, paying rent, and socialising, it all very quickly adds up. I found myself walking around the shops on the calculator trying to make sure I remained within my food budget.”

An increasing number of students work while studying, as many as 69 per cent; with a third reporting a negative impact on their studies consequently. 

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Poppy added:  “In my first term, I managed to get a job at a restaurant in the town centre where I found myself on minimum wage (£8.60/hour). With my wages being so low at a time when the prices of essentials were rising rapidly, I found myself working 20-25 hours a week - leading me to miss some lectures and seminars throughout the month.”

A fellow student called Anna has had this experience as well, who works in a pub alongside her studies. 

With first-year accommodation costs starting at£5,600 in 2023-24, and the minimum maintenance loan being just over £4,700, Anna says many students are “left with a huge gap to fund themselves."

Anna explained: “Finances are a big stress to have on top of living costs and keeping up with studies.

Budgeting is crucial these days and overspending on food or necessities
could lead to me falling short of being able to pay for my student halls”.

The experiences of these students has been seized on by Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, who has welcomed an increase in the minimum wage allowing working students to earn more.

Yuan Yang, the Labour MP for Earley and Woodley with James Haxell, the President of the Students Union at the University of Reading. (Image: Office of Yuan Yang MP)

The rise was announced in the Labour government budget, increasing the minimum wage for 18–20-year-olds from £8.60 to £10 per hour.

Labour politicians claim the rise equalises the amount of pay young workers can receive, and state that a rise in the headline minimum wage to £12.21 will see three million workers get higher pay from April 2025.

Poppy explained: “I personally cannot wait for the new minimum wage increase in April as it means I should be able to reduce my hours at work, giving me more time to focus on my studies.”

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Welcoming the increase, Ms Yang said: “We’re lifting the minimum wage, so it becomes a proper living wage, especially for those hard-hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

“And young people like Anna and Poppy will see even more of an uplift – I’m glad they and their peers will be able to focus on their studies as a result.

“Over time, our Labour government has the ambition to create one living wage for all workers regardless of age, so that young people can have a much-needed pay rise and enjoy the same protections as everyone else.”