BEING a student in this day and age is becoming harder with an increasing number of students now applying for some form of financial aid to help support themselves through university.
State benefits given to the parents of children studying in higher educational institutions, which began in 1998, used to come to €1,700 per year per student but this became means tested on a sliding scale as of 2012, resulting in a reduction in aid for many.
Those applying for state benefits now, must possess the necessary financial criteria to receive any benefit and according to an official at the finance ministry each case is looked at separately.
“We look at the cost of tuition, the financial state of the student’s family and the income of both parents,” the official told the Mail. Before 2012 anyone studying in a higher educational institute was entitled to the state funding.
The University of Cyprus has its own welfare department and does not rely on state contributions to help students with financial troubles but their budget has been slashed, coinciding with an increase in student applications. Tuition at UCY is free.
“We run a small department which has been operating since 1996 and even though our budget was €80,000 in the 2011-12 academic year, we managed to collect around €40,000 extra to give assistance to 206 needy students,” director of the University’s welfare department, Philippos Pattouras said.
“Our budget for the 2012-13 academic year has been reduced to €50,000 which makes things very difficult for the department as this has come at the same time as an increase in applications from students for assistance,” he added.
Pattouras revealed that last year the department received 650 applications while this year it has received 800.
“The economic crisis, which is severely affecting our society, has affected a large number of our students,” he said.
Pattouras explained that his department and the university in general were troubled by the increasing number of families that are unable to financially support their children during their studies. To deal with the increasing needs of students, the welfare department has organised different activities and events in an attempt to collect funds.
“In the last three months we have successfully organised three events which have helped collect €4,600,” Pattouras said.
As well as financial help, the University also provides moral and psychological support to its students, whether they are suffering financially or otherwise.
“Financial aid is given based on certain financial criteria,” Pattouras explained. “Specifically speaking, the total amount of aid which can be given is calculated each year, taking into account the amount of funds possessed by the department,” he continued. “The amount each student receives is based on their grades and what other financial help they receive from the state or family,” he added.
Applications are usually submitted in October after the department sends out an SMS to all of the university students. Applications can also be submitted during other periods of the year but only in cases that are deemed to be serious enough.
“I assure you, the procedure in judging each case is completely fair and objective,” Pattouras said. “The final decision is made by a 17-member committee which is populated by different members of the university; students, teaching staff, and managerial staff,” he added. “The whole procedure is evaluated at the annual general meetings of each group and is overseen by an independent and private office of approved auditors,” he concluded.
The economic crisis has affected a large number of UCY students in terms of grants and assistance