Welcome to the first Student Hub digest of the new academic year. As thousands of students converge on campus this week and in-person classes and lectures resume we look at some of the issues that have arisen.

'We're hearing of students deferring because they can't find accommodation' The scramble for accommodation is an annual rite of passage for students, involving long waiting lists for rooms on campus, days spent scouring online ads, and tales of landlord sharp practice. Read more.

Disabled students in private colleges to have access to State supports: Move follows refusal by authorities to provide supports to Dublin teenager. Read more.

College students commuting up to four hours because of accommodation:  UCD accused in Dáil of charging up to €15,000 a year in 'rent for profit'. Read more.

Four in 10 students struggle to afford living expenses, survey finds: Total of 71 per cent plan to work part-time to cover costs, survey finds. Read more.

College after Covid: what to expect: It was a year of college – without the experience. No large lectures, no bars, no chance, late-night encounters with new classmates. Normal People, it wasn't. Read more.

Ireland ranks in last place in OECD for investment in education: School completion rates higher in Ireland compared to most wealthy countries. Read more.

The Movie Quiz: Which hit film was the name of a classic Seinfeld episode? Plus: Which pair shares the record for most best acting Oscar noms without a win? Read more.

College lecturers should 'walk away' from unsafe classrooms, says union: Tens of thousands of staff and students returning to college campuses this week. Read more.

Third-level students express mixed views on return to campus learning: Universities planning face-to-face lectures, with some remote classes for larger groups. Read more.