Issues relating to rent increases
Since 1997, the accommodation fees at most Cambridge colleges have been increasing at an average of about 6.5% per year, which is faster than approximately 90% of U.K. universities. Some colleges have even threatened immediate increases of up to 60% in one year. The average cost of college accommodation is now greater than that at most other U.K. universities, and is continuing to rise. Many colleges regularly involve undergraduates and graduates in some form of negotiation over proposed increases but in general, it is the Bursars' arguments that Junior Members' charges must be raised to reduce deficit that prevail.
Much of the pressure to increase charges results from the Government's review of funding in 1997 which resulted in declining public funding for colleges. It should be noted that at the same time, students saw their Maintenance Grants removed, and Tuition Fees imposed. Today's students thus find themselves saddled with greatly increased costs (and debts akin to the higher education system of the USA) while public funding for higher education is stagnating at levels far below that of the United States or indeed most other European countries.
Colleges are in the uncomfortable position of facing students who have less disposable income, while they themselves receive less public funding. Their response of charging Junior Members more is threatening access to the university for those who are already deterred by financial pressure, particularly now that the average fees charged by colleges are higher than fees for equivalent provision at most other UK universities.
It may be argued that standards of living for undergraduates and graduates at the University of Cambridge are superior in some ways to those at many other UK universities; many live in historic or attractive buildings, with elegant gardens and dining halls. This, however, is not the main attraction for potential students. These features and facilities are not instrumental to the excellent education offered by the university. Although it has historically been possible for colleges to provide such finery because of greater levels of subsidy, it is not necessarily reasonable to maintain this level at the expense of today's Junior Members. Students who choose to come to Cambridge for an excellent education should not find themselves forced to pay for extravagant accommodation. (For more on how Cambridge compares with other universities, please read the How to draw comparisons page.)
A guide to rent negotiations, written by the CUSU Rents and Charges Officer for JCR AND MCR training in 2003 can be downloaded here:
For more detailed background information, a lengthy report compiled in 2000 by Peterhouse's Sexcentenary Club (JCR), detailing the arguments against proposed increases in accommodation fees and other costs can be downloaded here:
Click here to download a PDF file of the 2000 Peterhouse JCR report