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Constant Cycle Of Work And Study Forces Westmeath Student Out Of College

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 12:39

Kosi Okeke studied Biomedical Science in Galway last year.

"A constant cycle" - that's how a Westmeath student describes having to work long hours in order to afford the cost of college accomodation.

Kinnegad's Kosi Okeke went back to college last year to study Biomedical Science in Galway, and worked a 35 to 40 hour week just to pay rent and tuition costs.

He dropped out of that course, and is now taking a year out of his studies to work and save money, with the aim of going to college in Dublin in order to be closer to home.

Mr Okeke says it was a tiring process:

Laois's Molly Hickey is also a student at the University of Galway, who spent over a month on the hunt for accommodation before securing a place.

The final year Human Rights student found the search difficult as they needed to be near a hospital due to a medical condition.

In their first year, they found themselves commuting into the city from Athenry in County Galway.

They say it's always been a struggle to secure a place:

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