Like all citizens, the students in Israel feel the cost of living very well, and they will be forced to pay about 10% more for their various expenses this year – according to the survey of the National Association of Students and Female Students published today ahead of the academic school year in Israel, which will open this morning.
The survey, published for the 13th year, was conducted by the Student Union and the Brain Pool Institute, and 14,140 male and female students from most academic institutions in Israel participated in it. He examined the economic status of the students in Israel, the employment and housing situation of the students and their satisfaction with the academic institutions where they study.
The survey shows a worrying picture in almost all the indicators tested by the surveyors. The students’ main monthly expenses are housing and apartment maintenance, which cost an average of NIS 2,731 a month – an increase of NIS 249 (about 10%) compared to 2021; Food costs NIS 1,372 – an increase of NIS 88 (about 7%) compared to 2021; And trips cost about NIS 770 – an increase of NIS 124 (19%) compared to 2021.
The monthly expenditure of students in non-budgeted colleges is the highest – NIS 7,421. Students at budgeted universities spend an average of NIS 4,876 per month (NIS 2,545 more).
82% of students reported that they work in some way during their studies – an increase of 11% compared to last year. Among the students who do not work, 72% reported that their studies do not allow them to work.
The average monthly salary of working students is NIS 4,967 – an increase of NIS 210 compared to 2021, and it remains about 20% lower than the total monthly expenditure of students who do not live in their parents’ home (NIS 5,980) and is almost the same as the total monthly expenditure of students who live in their parents’ house (4,838 NIS).
All of these lead to 43% of students reporting that they receive financial assistance from their parents during their studies (4% more than in 2021). The average aid amount is NIS 2,013 – a 14% increase compared to last year’s aid amount (NIS 1,765). About a fifth of the students in the sample (22%) took a loan during their studies, 66% of them took a loan of more than NIS 15,000.
Regarding housing: 6% of the students live in the dormitories, 35% with their parents and 46% in a rented apartment. The previous survey revealed that 7% lived in a dormitory, 42% lived with their parents and 38% lived in a rented apartment.
On this subject, there are clear differences between the sectors: 5% of Jewish students live in dormitories compared to 17% of Arab students. 34% of the Jewish students live in their parents’ house compared to 50% of the Arab students. 38% of the Jewish students rent an apartment compared to 19% of the Arabs.
In the satisfaction index among the students who were asked, Reichman University leads.
Elhanan Fellheimer, the chairman of the National Union of Male and Female Students, wants to make it clear that the results of the survey are an important warning sign and says: “We demand that elected officials put the young men and women in front of their eyes and promote long-term solutions to reduce the cost of living and guarantee a country in which we can live with dignity.”