The University of the West of Scotland has been ranked as offering the best value student accommodation in Scotland, according to new research.
The study by digital bank Monzo found halls at the university cost an average of £111 per week – making them the cheapest in the country and the third cheapest across the UK.
That figure is well below the UK average of £192 per week, highlighting a significant difference in affordability for students choosing where to study.
Across Scotland, accommodation costs average £175 per week, still lower than the UK figure but higher than the prices found at UWS.
Other universities offering relatively low-cost accommodation include the University of the Highlands and Islands (£130), Robert Gordon University (£135) and Glasgow Caledonian University (£145).
At the other end of the scale, the University of Edinburgh was named the most expensive in Scotland, with halls costing an average of £324 per week.
The research comes as concerns continue to grow over the cost of student living, with accommodation now playing a major role in university decisions.
Figures show 85% of students said accommodation costs influenced their choice of university, while 50% said they had to take on a part-time job during term time to afford living expenses.
Despite this, students reported budgeting just £103 per week on average for accommodation – far below the actual cost.
More than a third (36%) of students said they chose not to live in halls at all because they were too expensive.
Overall, 82% of students and recent graduates said they had felt overwhelmed by accommodation costs.
Monzo’s research also found that even the cheapest rooms can take up nearly half of a student’s maximum loan, leaving less money for everyday living.
Chris Mucklow-Norell, Head of Brand Marketing at Monzo said: “The myth of the ‘cheaper’ student lifestyle is officially over. Our data reveals that even the most affordable rooms can become a fair chunk of a student’s loan, leaving less for actual living.
“Monzo is built to give students the real-time visibility they need to navigate this, using features like Pots and instant spending notifications to manage their money simply. Our goal is to make sure students get the most out of every pound, so they can enjoy the university experience without the financial overwhelm.”
The study analysed accommodation costs at 144 universities across the UK and surveyed 1,000 students and recent graduates.