Managing your money at university: student living costs

Living costs at university

Living costs are expenses other than tuition fees, such as accommodation, food, travel, clothes and socialising. The costs will vary for each individual, depending on your spending habits.

Having an idea of how much things cost can help you budget for each month, making sure that your expenditure doesn’t exceed your income. Researching these costs before you arrive, along with tips on how to spend your money wisely (see our ‘Be savvy with spending’ section below) should help you feel better prepared. 

Your living costs might include:

• accommodation (see next section below)
• food
• toiletries and household essentials (including cleaning products)
• clothes
• course extras (will vary between courses, but could include field trips, equipment, books etc)
• travel (around the city, as well as visiting home)
• bills (such as mobile phone, internet etc)
• social activities (eating out, nightlife, clubs and societies, gym membership)

Extra costs in your first year

Aside from accommodation, living costs during your first year at university may be higher than subsequent years because of initial costs needed to help set you up for the next few years. For example:

• Household essentials - ranging from kitchen equipment to bedding. Check what your accommodation provides before purchasing, and remember if you forget something, there are plenty of shops near campus to stock up.
• IT equipment - While computers are available to use on campus, you might want to buy a computer to take with you to university. This cost is worth factoring in if you are saving up before you start.
• Course costs - All courses will have different requirements in terms of the extras that you might need to buy. Some courses will require you to buy very little, whereas others may have suggested or essential costs, such as books, field trips, or lab equipment. You can check with your relevant subject/department before you arrive if you are unsure of what you need.

Be savvy with spending

There are plenty of ways that you can keep your spending to a minimum while you are at university. Zoology student Molly (Penryn Campus) has put together some handy tips on how to budget and save money, along with a suggested food shopping list – read her blog.

The following tips might be useful to consider:

Buy second-hand 

Remember that many of the things you might need for your new home, such as kitchen equipment, could be bought second-hand. Course textbooks might either be available second-hand or to borrow from the library, if they aren’t available as online copies.

Home-made is best

Cooking at home is cheaper than eating out, especially if you cook in large batches to make several meals at once, or take it in turns with your housemates. You could also get yourself a reusable coffee cup and make your own hot drink at home before you leave for lectures.

Student discounts

As a university student, you can sign up for student discounts to get money off a variety of services and outlets including food, clothing, technology and leisure. You can also get a discount at some supermarkets – if in doubt, just ask at the till!

Shop around for phone deals

Mobile phone contracts can be costly, but that doesn’t mean it should stop you keeping in contact with friends and family. Ask for a student discount on mobile phone contracts or make use of student sim cards e.g. Voxi, ID mobile, giffgaff.

More budgeting tips can be found on the Students' Guild website.

Financial support

If you anticipate that you will require additional financial support, it is worth checking if there is other funding available that you may be entitled to. There are scholarships and bursaries, UK government grants and loans, and a range of financial support available to students who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Be sure to allow plenty of time to arrange financial support. For Tuition Fee loans, we recommend looking into this once you've received an offer from us.

Management and Marketing student Lydia shares her advice on how the University of Exeter can help students manage their finances – read her blog.

International students

If you are coming to the University of Exeter from another country, there may be a few extra things to consider budgeting for, including visas, travel costs and varying exchange rates.

Scholarships

On our Scholarships for International Students page you can find information about scholarships available for your subject.

We also advise you to seek information about scholarships from your own Ministry of Education, from the appropriate inter-university organisation or from the British Council.

Working in the UK

If you are an international student, your visa may include conditions relating to your right to work. Find out more about working in the UK here. You can also find information on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.

Finally, if you need to clarify anything about your eligibility to work in the UK, please get in touch with the International Student Support Team.

Advice and guidance

The Students’ Guild in Exeter and the Students' Union in Cornwall provide advice to students on a range of issues, including finance and budgeting. They can also provide guidance if you are struggling with finances.

Lots of our students get casual work during their studies – our Career Zone supports students finding jobs and runs a dedicated part-time job service if you decide to work alongside your studies.

If you are a mature student or have children, our Mature Students webpage includes information on financial support and childcare you may find useful.