Cost of living support hub
Survive and thrive at university
A lot of us are concerned about rising living costs. It's natural to wonder whether coming to university is a good idea in these difficult times.
You can count on us to support you throughout your time here. We’ve devised a package of attractive perks, discounts, practical support and money saving advice to help you survive and thrive during your time with us.
3rd cheapest in the UK
Over £10m offered to students
Best city in the North West of England to live and work
Graduates earn 30% more than non-graduates
Funding university study

Understanding your finances
From money saving tips to understanding maintenance loans, discover everything you need to know about financing your studies right here.
Advice from our students
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Financial support at university
Struggling with the cost of student life? We have expert financial advisers based at the Student Centre who help with:
- Practical advice on managing your living costs
- Paying your student fees
- Budgeting and more.
The Students’ Union run an independent advice centre where you can get support with any aspect of student life.
Supporting your studies
Our range of support services will provide you with the help you need throughout your time here and beyond. Our dedicated teams are here to help with every aspect of student life. From financial matters, health and wellbeing, to inclusive support and visas. Whatever you need help with, we're here for you.
Discover our supportFrequently asked questions about student finance
Most students living in the UK choose to apply for a student loan. This means that the government agrees to pay a student's tuition fees during their time at University.
Your student loan is made up of two parts:
- A tuition fee loan, which is paid directly to us.
- An optional maintenance loan to help with your living costs. This will be paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
The amount you receive will depend on your personal circumstances. This could be your household income and whether you live away from home or with your family.
You may get asked to contribute towards a small number of essential things you’ll need to get the most out of your course. This could be books, equipment and attendance on field trips. We’ll give you more details when you apply.
Financial support from us
We have extra financial support packages which you may be eligible for if you’re from a low income household or experiencing financial hardship. Find out more on our fees and funding page.
Other government funding
For details of other government support available, including:
- Child Tax Credits
- NHS bursaries
- Social work bursaries
- Help with costs of travel to UK clinical placements
Visit gov.uk/student-finance
You should apply for your student loan as soon as you’ve applied to us. The application process varies depending on where you live. To apply please follow the relevant link:
Postgraduate students can now apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company in the same way as undergraduate students. However, unlike an undergraduate loan, this will be paid directly to you. As a result, it is important to consider your tuition fees and when you need to pay these to the University.
To apply please follow the relevant link:
If you have been assessed as having “settled status”, you will be eligible for the same support from Student Finance as a UK student.
To apply please follow the relevant link:
As an international student you are unable to apply for a student loan from the UK Government. You must show that you can pay your tuition fees and support yourself during your studies as part of your Student Visa application.
We want you to excel no matter what your background. We have several bursaries and scholarships available to support you whilst studying with us. You may also want to research what funding is available from your home country to support you through your studies.
In England, you won’t start repaying your student loan until you’ve finished your course and you’re earning above a certain amount.
Student Finance England deduct repayments from your salary through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme.
Your repayments will stop automatically if your income falls below the threshold or you stop working.
Your monthly repayment will be a small percentage of the amount of your salary which is above the threshold.
Other parts of the UK have different repayment plans.
For more information about repaying student loans go to the repaying your student loan page on the government website.
If you go through Student Finance, you have the option to receive a maintenance loan from the government to help with your living costs. The amount you receive in your maintenance loan depends on your personal circumstances. This could be your household income and whether you live away from home or with your family.
Maintenance loans get paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. Generally, maintenance loans will get paid into your bank account in September, January and April. This can vary depending on which university you study at and the course you are studying. Your maintenance loan is unlikely to get paid directly to your accommodation provider. Be mindful of this when you are working out your monthly budget as you will need to put money aside to pay your accommodation provider.
It is unlikely that your maintenance loan will cover all of your living costs. If possible, you may need extra financial support from:
- A parent or carer
- A government loan
- A scholarship or bursary provided by the university
- A part-time job
More money saving help
You’ll find lots of independent tips and advice on the following websites:
Visit us this autumn
Discover our facilities, explore campus and talk to academic staff and students about the courses you want to study at one of our autumn Open Days.
Book an Open DayUseful information
Ask a student
Need advice on course choices or which accommodation to choose when you study with us? Our friendly student ambassadors are ready to share their experiences. Simply register and start chatting to our current students.
Student life
Make friends for life, explore your potential and discover new passions. Find out what to expect from your student experience and why you'll love living in the North West.
Contact us
If you have a query, question or concern you can get in contact with us using the contact details and useful links on this page.