18 October 2022

Dear Students,

I do hope that the first few weeks of term have gone well. I wrote to you two weeks ago setting out the measures we had put in place to support you during the current Cost of Living crisis. I know that this is a time of financial uncertainty, and that this can cause us all to feel concerned, even anxious at times. We have therefore continued working on the development of a further package of support with your representatives from the Students’ Union in Cornwall and the Students’ Guild in Exeter, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks for their leadership and support on this issue. Last week I took these proposals to the University’s Council and I am pleased to say that these were approved.

My last message set out the help we have already put in place and below I am outlining the additional ways in which we will support you this year

• At the heart of these measures is a one-off winter payment of £150, which will be paid to undergraduate home fee-paying students who have a declared annual household income of less than £30,000. These payments will be made automatically to eligible students.
• All students, including those who have received the winter payment, can apply for additional support via our Hardship Fund, which may provide help if you are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties, or are unable to cover essential costs throughout the year. The Fund also offers specific bursaries including an IT bursary to help financially if you are struggling to afford computer equipment and support if you are unable to afford to pay for a diagnostic assessment (e.g. for Dyslexia). As mentioned in my previous email to you, we have added an additional £1 million to the Hardship Fund to increase the level of support we can provide this year.
• The new package of support also includes measures to help you minimise your costs, for example, to ensure we always have a low-cost hot meal available for you on our campuses, a range of low-cost food options in our shops and warm places to go on campus to help if you are trying to save costs on fuel.
• We have committed to the 13% rise in the PhD Stipend, having lobbied the UKRI to do the same. We have also added a further £250,000 to our Hardship Fund to provide support for self-funded PhD students who now find they are struggling financially.  
• We are continuing to support the Students’ Union and the Students’ Guild in the provision of free sanitary products across all our campuses
• Free healthy snacks are being introduced to our Hubs and Info Points
• We understand how important it is to stay active, particularly to manage wellbeing, and so we have made available various free and low cost sports and gym sessions.  The Students' Guild has also extended its ‘Give it a Go’ scheme to enable you to try new activities at low cost.

Throughout this process we’ve been working very closely with your representatives from the Students’ Union in Cornwall and Students’ Guild in Exeter. We are all united in our desire to do what we can to help you at this time. Our Cost of Living Task Force continues to meet weekly to seek additional ways to offer support and I, and the senior leaders at the University, receive regular updates from them. We are also working on a package of support for University staff, who also face challenges, and we hope to be able to share details with them soon.

• Remember that financial difficulties are also now included as a reason for seeking mitigation, for this academic year. You can read more about that change of policy on our web pages.
• We’re working with the UK’s leading debt advice charity, Step Change, to provide you with free, impartial and personalised support for your money and debt worries. You can get help from them in the following ways:

Online: use the online debt help tool to get advice now.

By phone: call 0800 138 1111. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturdays 8am to 4pm. Please use their budget form before calling.

• The Students’ Guild is running a Managing Your Money workshop every Monday this term. You can find out more and book your place here. 
• You can get in touch with the brilliant Students’ Guild Advice Team run by the Students’ Guild. They are here to offer support.  

 Keeping in touch

We will continue to update you throughout this term. Don’t forget that we have a dedicated webpage which details our initiatives and the support you can get, from financial help to offers on our campuses. Do keep checking back as the page is updated regularly. We are also sharing updates via our weekly University Updates and our social media channels.

If you think there are other ways in which the University may be able to offer additional support, please share these with your representatives in the Students’ Guild in Exeter via this page www.exeterguild.com/costofliving.

Your wellbeing

If your finances are affecting your mental wellbeing, please do get in touch with our wellbeing service for support and guidance; they are here to help. You can reach them here. 

I know this is a worrying time but we will continue to look for ways in which we can support you. 

Best wishes,

Lisa

Professor Lisa Roberts

Vice-Chancellor

Previous messages from the Vice-Chancellor

Message from 6 October 2022

29 May

Looking for summer work?

Check out Career Zone and follow the Career Zone Instagram for casual and part-time jobs and paid internships open to our students and recent graduates. If you’re looking for advice, the Career Zone can help you at every stage, and you can find more job opportunities on Handshake. 

Get a refund on your TV licence

When you finish Uni for the year, you could be due a refund on the months you’ve still got left on your TV licence – up to £48.50. See whether you’re eligible.

Financial Help

The Success for All Fund is there to help you if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study. It doesn’t need to be paid back and can help with the cost of things such as IT equipment, accommodation, travel, childcare, living costs, additional course costs and other unexpected outgoings. So, if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study, please apply for help through our Success for All Fund.

When you apply to the fund we’ll make an individual assessment based on your circumstances and a review of your supporting documentation. If successful, we’ll award you funds that contribute to the level of support you need.

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your Students’ Guild Advice Team or join them at one of their budgeting workshops. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Success for All hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's details of more support and advice on these Cost of Living pages, and please get in touch with your Guild Officers if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

22 May

Financial Help

The Success for All Fund is there to help you if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study. It doesn’t need to be paid back and can help with the cost of things such as IT equipment, accommodation, travel, childcare, living costs, additional course costs and other unexpected outgoings. So, if your financial situation is affecting your ability to study, please apply for help through our Success for All Fund.

When you apply to the fund we’ll make an individual assessment based on your circumstances and a review of your supporting documentation. If successful, we’ll award you funds that contribute to the level of support you need.

Apply online

Bringing your own food to campus

There are microwaves and hot water available in the following Hubs on Streatham campus:

Queen's - located in the cafe space
Harrison - located in the cafe space
Building One - located in cafe space
Amory - located in the study area
Peter Chalk - located in the Hub

And at St Luke's:

Cross Keys - located by the coffee bar.

Free soup at St Luke's Chapel

Every Thursday from 12:30pm to 2pm, the Chaplaincy offers a free soup lunch at St Luke's Chapel, St Luke's Campus. Drop in any time. People from all faiths or none are warmly welcomed.

More details and other free Multifaith Chaplaincy events

Too Good To Go app

Our Market Place Forum shop is listed on the Too Good to Go app. This is where you can buy a 'magic bag' of goodies that are at the end of their use by, or best before dates. It helps combat the huge issue of food waste and can bag a bargain. Items can be anything from sandwiches, to drinks and jars, and you won't know what you’re going to get until you pick it up.

There are other shops around Exeter which are part of this scheme and publicise what they have to offer through the app.

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your Students’ Guild Advice Team or join them at one of their budgeting workshops. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Success for All hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's details of more support and advice on these Cost of Living pages, and please get in touch with your Guild Officers if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

2 May

Super Savour £2 meals

We are subsidising hot meals on Streatham and St Luke's campuses. You can get a nutritionally balanced, hot meal for just £2.

Streatham campus: Super Savour Kitchen, first floor in Devonshire House (next to Exehale)
Available 11am – 2:30pm, Monday to Friday. See the weekly menu.

St Luke's campus: Cross Keys' £2 Dish of the Day, choose your hearty topping on a baked potato with a salad garnish.
available 11:30am - 2:30pm, Monday to Friday. See more details.

£2 breakfast deals

Grab a Facon (vg) or bacon bap with filter coffee or tea for just £2.
From 8am - 10:30am in Cross Keys, St Luke’s and 9am - 11:30am in Comida, Streatham.

Low cost food options

We’re making sure that there are low-cost options for hot meals, drinks and groceries in our Uni-run outlets at Streatham and St Luke’s, so we have something to suit all budgets.

Our super savour hot lunch choice is just £2.99 at La Touche and Cross Keys
Look out for the everyday low price products in the Market Place in the Forum
Pick up your BARiSCA coffee loyalty card to get your 5th hot drink free
20% off iSCA EATS pizza every day between 3pm and 5pm (in store only)
7 meals for £36 in catered halls - any meal, any day! Buy a card here

Choose ‘climate friendly’ and save

It’s been highlighted that eating less meat is one of the things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. In our campus cafes and restaurants, it can also save you money. We offer a range of wholesome plant based and vegetarian meals, that are a lower cost option than the meaty ones. And you won’t pay extra for plant-based milks in your drinks at our BARiSCA outlets.

Get the latest offers from our campus Eat and Shop outlets

Free soup at St Luke's Chapel

Every Thursday from 12:30pm to 2pm, the Chaplaincy offers a free soup lunch at St Luke's Chapel, St Luke's Campus. Drop in any time. People from all faiths or none are warmly welcomed.

See more details and other free Multifaith Chaplaincy events

Help and advice

If you need advice about budgeting and money, please book an appointment with your Students’ Guild Advice Team or join them at one of their budgeting workshops. The independent advisors can help you create a budget, apply to the Hardship fund or consider the best ways to make your money work better for you. There's details of more support and advice on these pages, and please get in touch with your Guild Officers  if you’d like to share any feedback or ideas.

Whether you’re just starting out at University or are returning to your studies, we have some tips to help you keep on top of your money. 

1. Consider opening a student bank account.

If you’re getting a maintenance loan you’ll need it to be paid into a bank account. Banks offer a range of different accounts with different benefits and incentives. Find out more about the types of account available at Money Helper or check out Money Saving Expert for their advice on choosing the best account for you.

2. Work out your budget

• Look at your money and how long it needs to last you. If you’re receiving a maintenance loan it will come in 3 termly instalments.
• Work out how much you need for all your essential contracted fixed costs, such as rent and your phone bill – make sure you can pay these first.
• Next how much do you need to live and study – for food, books and transport?
• Then look at what’s left for other things you want to do, and balance what you can afford.

The UCAS budget calculator may help you, or there are other free budgeting tools online.
And the Students’ Guild can help you with budgeting advice.

3. Make sure you’re getting all you’re entitled to

Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for extra financial support, bursaries or benefits. For example, if you have caring responsibilities, need help to join a society, or need additional equipment to support your learning, there may be extra money available to you. Find out more in our Success For All Fund FAQs or ask your Students’ Guild Advice Service. 

4. Look out for deals and savings

Lots of places offer student discounts and special deals. Check out Save The Student for the latest deals and freebies out there. Consider shopping together with your housemates so you can make the most of 'Buy One Get One Free' deals and bulk buying economies of scale.

5. Up your income

Consider a part time job if you can fit it around your studies. Career Zone advertise part time jobs that can help you gain experience and earn money while studying. Save The Student has a whole host of other money making tips, from shopping on cashback sites to completing paid surveys.

6. Don’t be tempted to use loan sharks, illegal money lenders, or quick-money schemes that may not be legitimate

If you’re struggling you can apply to our Success for All Fund for help during your time at Exeter. 

7. Deal with your debt

Although it can be stressful, problems with debt only get worse if you ignore them. Talk to your creditors about your situation and try to negotiate an affordable payment plan. If you’re struggling with paying your tuition fees, or the rent on your University accommodation, talk to us. You can contact us through the Student Information Desk (SID).  You can get advice on managing your debt from your Student Union or Student Guild advice service, or from debt organisations such as Step Change or National Debtline.

7. Ask for help

If you’re worried about your money, or dealing with debt, don’t keep it to yourself.  Please speak to your Students’ Guild Advice Service. They can help find the right advice and support for you.