STUDENTS are being offered £500 to give up their on campus rooms as the university welcomes a flood of new arrivals.

The university has traditionally offered on campus accommodation to all new students, with remaining rooms offered to third and fourth year students.

However, with student numbers growing, a problem has emerged and first year students have been billeted in the city in some previous years.

This year, university chiefs say they are offering money to students in order to ensure that enough rooms are available.

They say that all first year students who requested on campus accommodation by a specified date will receive it.

A university spokesperson said: "It is mostly third year students who have been asked if they would consider moving into off campus accommodation. Some students have already agreed to help.

"We offer first year students a room on campus if they respond by a certain date."

She added that there may be a need for some students to spend a short time in off campus accommodation as an interim measure.