By working out your budget before you arrive, you will be confident that you'll be able to manage your money while at uni and be in control of your finances.
Putting together a realistic budget plan, where you factor in what money you have coming in and going out, as well as exploring ways to increase your income through things like part-time work, will help give you peace of mind. If you follow these steps we hope you'll feel prepared but if you need any help, our friendly Student Support Advisers are on hand to support you:
We would recommend that all students create a personal budget before arriving, so you can manage your money right from the start.
- First, find out how much you might be entitled to from Student Finance England by using their online student finance calculator.
- Work out what other income you may have or could apply for.
- Once you know what your income is, you also need to work out what your outgoings might be, from accommodation to food, mobile phone contract, to utility bills, and much more. The budget planner from Money Advice Service is a good tool to get you on the right track.
Don't forget our Student Money Adviser can help you pull together a budget plan.
The maintenance loan from Student Finance England, scholarships or bursaries, although very helpful, are unlikely to cover all of your living expenses, so you may need to think about how you or your family can financially support your time at university and ways to boost your income such as:
- Part-time work – you can sign up to Unitemps, the University's recruitment service for students, before you arrive to help you find a job in and around the University. A part-time job is also a great way to develop skills, try something new, settle in and make new friends.
- External funding - take a look at these websites for further funding opportunities: www.turn2us.org.uk or www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk
Our Student Support Advisers are on hand to give advice on all money matters, and if you need help planning your finances, it's never too soon to contact us: T: 01227 922675 or email studentsupport@canterbury.ac.uk
For information on financial support available once you are a student.
As your Student Money Adviser I can help you with any budgeting or money management questions you might have. You can join catch me at one or our many drop-ins or at our Wellbeing Café on Thursday from 2pm-4:30pm, where you can enjoy a free hot drink and biscuit while playing a board game that helps encourage conversations about money management.
KerryStudnet Money Adviser
