Hidden Course Costs

Hidden course costs are costs that students did not think they would have; it includes things like printing costs, textbooks and course packs. Basically, this is all of the things that you need for your course but weren’t told about when you applied.

This is an issue raised annually within SSLCs. Union Council thought it apt to create policy on it, mandating the Education Officer to raise awareness and raise the issue with the University to fight the rising costs.

The profile of this issue has decreased over a number of years but it still remains. The last set of questionnaires looking at this was sent out in the academic year 08-09. The results showed that hidden course costs had increased in some departments (such as the Medical School) but students were not as concerned about it in previous years.