“A common thing said by students right now is: ‘Sorry I can’t, I’m skint,’” says Grace Armstrong, vice-president for welfare at Northumbria University’s students’ union. While students have long been financially stretched, the cost of living crisis is a major concern, with the increasing costs of rent, food, utility bills and, for students on some courses, the cost of materials, putting pressure on budgets.
Pretty much everyone is feeling the pinch, with research suggesting that mature students have felt the impact in particular. But there are things that students can do to help manage these costs, from finding out if they’re eligible for financial support schemes to accessing free meals on campus. We spoke to staff and students from Northumbria University for their tips on ways to cope – and to find out how the university is doing its bit to lend a hand.
Max out your use of uni facilities
A big cost at the moment for many students is energy bills. While most halls of residence have heating, lighting and wifi included in rental costs, students renting from private landlords usually pay their own bills, which can work out costly and difficult to manage. An effective way to keep these costs down is to spend more time on campus making use of the well-lit, warm spaces on site. Northumbria is encouraging students to make the most of places such as the library and break-out areas, many of which are open 24/7 in term time.
Reuse and recycle
Recognising the popularity of pre-loved everything – cheap, cool and good for the planet – Northumbria students’ union runs a swap shop where students bring their clothes and swap them for others. “It’s set up like an actual shop,” says Armstrong. “There’s no stigma around using it.” Students and staff also donate quality clothes, making the swap shop an especially good source of items when the seasons change, and for stocking up on winter woolies – as the weather gets chillier.
Check other funding you might be entitled to
Scholarships, grants and bursaries are key ways to save money on a big scale, and Northumbria has a wide range available to students. The awards can be linked to specific courses, or recognise talent in fields such as sport or design. Some are based on household income, others on the academic achievements of students.
The support can be in the form of cash payments or a significant discount on tuition fees. “We have a raft of scholarships across different courses,” says Kelley Evans, who is responsible for fees and scholarships at Northumbria University. “The awards have different eligibility requirements. If you have a household income of less than £40,000, you may be eligible to be considered for a scholarship. Some scholarships and bursaries have to be applied for, while students with good grades may be automatically considered for others. We strongly encourage students to research which scholarships and other support may be available to them as it could be worth hundreds, in some cases, thousands of pounds.”
A number of employer-funded grants are also available through the university’s Higher Education Without Barriers initiative, which aims to give people with the potential to go to university the opportunity to achieve their goals. These are sponsored by donors and based either on household income or awarded to talented students. Launched in January 2022, in its first 12 months the scheme raised £2m to support more than 500 students across the university.
Northumbria has collated a list of the funding available to undergraduates, and also offers a 20% discount to returning students. “Students who choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level, either immediately after graduating or who are returning to study after spending time working, are awarded a generous discount,” says Evans.
Pick up a free breakfast
As students become more mindful of what they are spending, many of them are looking for ways to save money. “A lot of our social spaces are filled with people bringing their own lunch and using the microwaves we have around campus to warm it up,” says Armstrong. Often, students will bring in meals and share them with their friends, or bring an extra portion in case anyone wants it, she says. “There’s an open culture around talking about money and sharing. It’s about creating a sense of community, and students try to help each other out.”
In collaboration with the students’ union, the university is doing its bit too by offering a breakfast club from 8am to 11am every day, where students can grab a free bowl of cereal or some toast. Anyone who gets peckish during the day, can head to their nearest Cereal Bar to pick up a free snack.
Earn while you learn
Part-time work is a useful way to gain experience, while building up your CV and bank account at the same time. At Northumbria, there is an online vacancy board, where students can find opportunities, and set up alerts, for part-time work both within the university and the local area. The university does recommend that students work no more than 15 hours a week while studying.
The university also employs students as paid interns. “It’s a fantastic way to gain experience,” says Northumbria’s academic registrar, Maureen McLaughlin. “We offer paid placement years and 100-hour internships across many areas of the university – you can work with the IT team if you have the relevant skills or as a consultant, sharing your experiences with our academic and support teams to ensure our services are inclusive for all students, for example. There are also casual employment opportunities too, such as helping to support open days or working as a content creator, documenting your experiences at university for our social media channels.”
Planning a budget
Sometimes managing your money can be a challenge, especially for those becoming responsible for their bills and finances for the first time. To help students with budgeting, saving and managing their money, Northumbria University provides all students with access to Blackbullion, a financial wellbeing tool that offers guides, hints and lessons on how to develop financial skills. For those struggling to make ends meet, especially if you are from a low-income background, the university is there to help you. Hardship funds can provide help across a range of costs, from food, rent and utility bills to laptops and wifi. There are also emergency funds, starting from £20, to pay for basic provisions for a few days. “We can also help with travel costs for those living outside of the city centre and needing to commute,” says McLaughlin.
Have a side hustle
Many students are coming up with new ways to earn money. Selling unwanted clothes on platforms such as Depop or Vinted is a popular, straightforward way to bring in extra cash. Some students complete paid surveys or share adverts on their social media accounts in return for small payments, which can all mount up.
Others are using their own interests to make some money. “I know students who have set up vegan businesses or sell jewellery,” says Armstrong. “I have a craft business – it isn’t a lot of effort and it’s something I enjoy doing.”
Take a look at degree apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships, which Ucas is adding to the application process from 2024, are a great way to earn a salary, enabling you to spend most of your time working at a company while also studying for a qualification. Many also have the option to do a top-up qualification to get a full degree. Specialist courses, such as the police constable degree apprenticeship at Northumbria, are designed with employers to ensure they are providing the skills that industry is looking for. On the police constable degree apprenticeship, you’ll train as a uniformed officer, earning a salary, and studying towards a funded degree.
For lots of students, although finances may be tough at the moment, help is out there if you know where to look. So watch out for opportunities to save yourself money and, at the very least, get your day off to a good start with a free breakfast.
For more information visit Northumbria University’s clearing hub
