Summer study keeps money coming

Out-of-work university students are enrolling in summer school so they can borrow money to pay their rent.

Only about a third of students are eligible for an emergency unemployment benefit over the summer break. By enrolling in further full-time study over the traditional break, students can maintain their eligibility to borrow living costs on their student loan - about $150 a week.

University of Canterbury Students' Association president Richard Neal believed many students were being forced to "abuse their education" simply to get money to live on.

"They're just getting themselves into more and more debt because the Government won't cough up for a universal unemployment benefit for students," he said.

"Students are the only group in society ineligible for Government financial assistance while looking for work."

Canterbury University has enrolled 521 in its summer school, and has a further 580 provisionally enrolled for January - an increase of more than 30 per cent on its first school last year.

- NZPA