Issue 410
FR
EE
November 25
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@concreteuea www.concreteuea.co.uk
Page 4
Campus nail tech keeps students polished under pressure
Disillusionment and the rise of alternative politics
Page 32
Page 26
UEA activists challenge Career Central in fossil-free push
Foreign students exploited Students condemn by housing agencies • Fears that landlords take advantage of international scholars Angus Coulson An international student studying at UEA has said that private agencies in Norwich are exploiting international students, with high rent prices and strict agency rules making it di!cult for many to "nd affordable housing. The student, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his tenancy, said that securing accommodation in Norwich was a constant struggle. “I tried to get accommodation at UEA,” he
explained. “There weren’t many options on campus, and the ones that were available were unaffordable. The one option that was affordable was not given to me.” He currently shares a house with other international students, as well as some postgraduate professionals. He described signi"cant pressure from the agency that manages the property. “The agency is harsh and puts pressure on us to pay on time. I receive around 20 emails a week about rent. Many of us have "nancial di!culties, so payments
may be a few days late,” he said. Increases to the cost of rent have added to the strain. He explained that the agency had already raised rent mid-contract, and planned to do so again at the beginning of January. “I may have to look for alternative accommodation,” he said. The student, from Afghanistan, said that the "nancial pressure affected his studies and described how he and his housemates “are unable to focus when there is so much stress about living conditions.”
Finding part-time work has also been di!cult. “I’ve been trying for two months to get a job but haven’t found one. I come from a poor country, and I am expected to pay very high rent,” he explained. He claimed that a lack of access to UEA scholarships for international students from certain countries made the transition harder. “Afghanistan receives very few [scholarships]. This should not be the case. People from Afghanistan deserve help due to the political situation back home.” Continued on page 3.
tuition fee rise
Melissa Battley Students at the University of East Anglia have criticised the government’s decision to raise tuition fees in 2026, calling it a “blatant attack” on the working class. The cost of a year’s study at university is set to increase annually in line with inflation from September 2026 onwards. It was announced by Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, in October. But students are worried that the rising costs will discourage young people from low-income households from attending university. Charis Hughes, a history student, said that the government’s decision made it “near impossible” for working class people to access opportunities for their futures. She claimed that the government were creating “deterrents” to people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds “when trying to gain necessary qualifications to improve their lives.” Universities UK CEO, Vivienne Stern, stated that raising fees would “help half the long-term erosion of universities’ sustainability following a decade of fee freezes,” and promised that the decision would be a “much needed reset” for the universities. Physiotherapy student, Rueben Spurdens, said he was concerned about other increasing expenses for commuting students. Continued on page 3.