College students living away from home over the next year could face costs of over 1,500 euro a month.
It's a sharp rise on the amount students would've paid when they were last on campus.
At TU Dublin in Grangegorman, the campus is almost deserted - but from next month, there'll be a buzz again as students start to return.
And it looks like they'll be facing significant costs.
A new Cost of Living Guide prepared by the college estimates students moving to Dublin will need almost €14,000 to get by.
That's up from just over €12,000 needed for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Mark O'Donnell, the president of the college's students union, explains what needs to change:
"The fees are too high."
"Also the SUSI grant hasn't increased, even though the cost of Dublin has, in terms of rent in terms of food."
"Even transport is expensive for students."
He continues, "the rental situation in Dublin is really really problematic for everyone."
"But especially for students."
I've given NUI Galway over €15,000 since 2016.
About to creep over €22,000 in a couple weeks.
The least I could ask for is an in-person graduation when suitable.— Criodán Ó Murchú (@criodanomurchu) August 17, 2021
The guide estimates around €5,200 annually in rent, nearly €2,000 on food and almost a thousand on travel.
The Union of Students in Ireland says many students will already be under financial pressure after losing jobs during the pandemic.
