Student Services : Cost of Living

It can be a challenge to budget for the whole year and there's lots to think about. However, our Student Services Advisers are here to help! We have twice weekly drop-ins for practical budgeting advice – just book online via AUB Bookings.

You can also access helpful budgeting and cost-of-living calculators on sits such as Money Saving Expert, WhatUni and Save the Student.

• Money Saving Expert – student budget planner
• WhatUni – cost of living calculator
• Save the Student – student budget calculators

These sites also have loads of helpful budgeting advice. Save the Student even has a save money section with 83 ideas to help your budget stretch that bit further!

Working with AUBSU, we've put together some real-life examples of student budgets. Don't forget, everyone and every budget is different depending on individual circumstances. These examples have been put together to help you get a feel for how your monthly spending could look.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help your money go further while studying.

• You'll get your maintenance loan paid to you at the beginning of each term. Make sure you budget it out per month to ensure you can pay your bills or any outgoings you might have. Set up bill reminders on your calendar so you know what's going out and when.
• Spend consciously – do you really need it? Can you borrow or buy second-hand? If you can't afford something you probably shouldn't buy it.
• Have an emergency money pot. You don't know what's around the corner so it's always good to be prepared.
• Don't spend all your money during Freshers' week, set a budget so you can keep on track.
• Set up a student bank account – if you really need it, look for options with interest-free overdrafts. Lots of banks have signing on perks, too.
• Get a part-time job or sign up to Makers Markets to sell your creations.
• Be careful of payday loans – they might seem quick and tempting to get you out of a spot, but they usually have really high interest rates.
• Meal prep – make your food shop go further by bulk buying ingredients and bulk cookings meals. An easy way to save money is by bringing your own lunch to uni.
• Apply for scholarships and grants – check the criteria as you could be eligible.

At AUB, we offer bursaries and additional funding through the Access and Participation Fund, as well as for eligible Foundation Students.

We run a number of on-campus initiatives in collaboration with the Student Union to ensure there are plenty of helpful options available. Here’s what we currently have to offer.

Part-time work can be a great way to support yourself financially while building skills and experience during your time at university. At AUB Careers and Enterprise, we're here to connect you with opportunities that fit around your studies and help you take your next steps now, not later.

Our Jobs and Opportunities Board features local part-time jobs, commissions, open-calls and short-term paid gigs, all hand-picked by our team for AUB students and graduates. Every listing is tailored to the creative industries and our local community, so you can find work that’s relevant, flexible, and worth your time. You’ll also find the AUB Brand, Marketing and Future Students team recruit annually for roles such as Student Ambassadors, where you can represent AUB at events, support on-campus activity and gain valuable, professional experience.

Access Careers and Enterprise Resources for job hunting support (including CV writing and interviews), or if in doubt book a 1:1 careers appointment to get your questions answered.

If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription "season ticket". Find out more information about PPCs on the NHS website.

Our Student Services Advisers will be happy to help you with any applications you may need to make, so please contact them to discuss.