A giant inflatable pig has been at Salford University today as part of an NUS campaign to highlight the issue of student debts.
The campaign, called #CutTheCosts, involves the huge blow-up animal trotting to universities all around the UK in order to meet as many students as possible.
The NUS is demanding change over ‘unsustainable’ living costs for students and high tuition fees.
Megan Dunn, President of the NUS said: ” Students are not the government’s piggy bank.
“The #CutTheCosts campaign calls on the government to invest in education instead of shifting debt onto the shoulders of students.
“Debt isn’t just a student loan. It’s students in overdraft, borrowing money or choosing whether to eat or heat their flats. Debt limits your choices, or leaves you with no choice at all.
“Debt is a disaster waiting to happen. The burden of debt being piled onto students’ shoulders is creating a crisis – not just in education, but for the economy”.
A spokesperson for Salford University said: “The University takes the issues of access to University, student debt and the cost of living for our students very seriously.
“The University offers bursaries to support students who are care leavers and those from low income households.
“We’re proud that through this widening participation work we have much higher levels of students from non-traditional backgrounds than other Universities in the city region.
“We also offer support to students who may be experiencing financial difficulty through our trained student finance advisors and the Salford Support Fund.”
