Your guide to budgeting at university
Budgeting at university is an important part of student life. Discover our top tips on managing your budget to help get you started.
Average monthly student living costs
- Accommodation: £363
- Food shopping: £72
- Takeaways: £25
- Transport: £38
- Social life: £51
- Monthly streaming service: £7.99
- Personal care: £12 - £50
Student life is more affordable than you think
Coming to university is an investment in your future. Remember that you can take a student loan to cover your fees and you won’t need to pay anything back until you’ve graduated and you've got a job.
Please note international students are not eligible to apply for a student loan from the UK Government. You may wish to investigate financial support available from your home country.
Money-saving hacks
Shop second-hand
New love for old clothes
Student discount
Discounted food
A city experience without city prices
Preston is one of the most affordable cities in the North West to live and work in. When it comes to affordable rent, public transport, socialising and entertainment, it can’t be beaten.
Check out these stats below from Numbeo.com which show the average prices for everyday things. The stats show that Preston is consistently more affordable than the nearby student cities of Liverpool and Manchester:
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
Preston |
Liverpool |
Manchester |
|
Meal out |
£10 |
£15 |
£15 |
Meal for two |
£40 |
£65 |
£60 |
Beer |
£3.85 |
£4.58 |
£4.50 |
Cappuccino |
£3.02 |
£2.93 |
£3.19 |
Budgeting tips for university
From free sports centre membership to all-inclusive bills in our accommodation. There are some fantastic benefits to studying with us which will save you lots of money during your time at University.
Most of our students choose to earn some extra cash by getting a part-time job for a few hours a week alongside their studies.
As a student you'll have access to loads of exclusive discounts and offers. This will help you cut down on costs and save money during your time at university.
Budgeting advice from our students
Budgeting videos01 / 04
You might also be interested in
Cost of living support hub
Studying is one of the biggest investments you can make towards your future. We're here to make the fees and finance side of university as easy as possible to understand.
Not sure how student finance works? Don’t let the thought of student debt put you off applying to university. Find out why and how university is still affordable using our guide to university fees.
Fees and funding
Studying with us is one of the biggest investments you'll make towards your future. We're here to help you every step of the way. Find out about tuition fees and financial support available such as scholarships and bursaries.
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 supportThe monetary figures used on this page were taken from various sources and are subject to change. The sources include: