Students unions say the rising cost of going to college is negatively affecting the student experience.
The overall cost of studying at third level has risen by more than €500 a year, to an average of €15632 euro a year.
Cork is the third most expensive place to go to college behind Dublin and Maynooth according to the latest Student Cost of Living Guide by Switcher.ie.
President of the Students Union at the University of Galway, Faye Ni Dhomhnaill says students can't afford to enjoy themselves:
"So many of our students now are working part time jobs so they can't join clubs, they cant join societies, they are just missing out on that college experience. It has definitely gone from college being a pursuit of education and a bit of freedom for yourself, to moving out of home and getting a job and that's really what college has become. It's not very fair on students."
