Managing your money at university

Fees and funding

How fees work

If you’re a full-time UK undergraduate student, your tuition fees are usually covered by a student loan, so you don’t need to pay anything up front. The loan is paid directly to UWE Bristol, and you only start repaying it after you’ve finished your course and are earning over a set amount.

You may also be able to access loans and funds from the University to support with your living costs. You can apply for a maintenance loan to support you with expenses such as accommodation, food and travel. The amount you can borrow depends on your household income, including your parents’ or carers’ income.

Extra financial support

Alongside student loans, you might be eligible for scholarships, bursaries or additional support while you study. These don’t usually need to be paid back and are designed to support students from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.

Funding and support

Rent and bills

Where you live as a student can have an impact on your day‑to‑day costs, so it’s worth considering housing and household bills as part of your planning.

If you live in university‑managed accommodation, your rent includes utility bills such as water, heating and electricity, which can make budgeting more straightforward. If you’re thinking about private accommodation, you’ll usually need to budget separately for rent and bills, so these are important costs to factor in when deciding where to live.

There are also small ways to help manage everyday expenses. For example, free shower facilities are available on campus, and making simple changes at home can help reduce energy use.

If costs start to feel overwhelming, you may be eligible for support through the Student Support Fund, which is designed to help those who need it most.

And if you live within travelling distance of the University, you could consider living at home while studying, to save on accommodation costs.

Living at home while studying

Getting around

There are lots of ways to keep every day travel costs manageable and get around cheaply as a student in Bristol.

Public transport and student discounts

You can save money on buses, trains and coaches with student discounts and reduced fares.

You may find these useful:

• 16–25 Railcard– discounts on train travel.

• National Express student discounts – cheaper UK coach travel.

• First Bus student and young person tickets – for local travel.

• TOTUM card – discounts on travel and more.

Bikes, e‑bikes and e‑scooters

For shorter journeys, cycling or shared transport can be a low‑cost option, and the WESTbusSTop+ on campus makes it easy to switch between buses and other modes of travel.

• UWE Bristol bike loan scheme, offering an affordable way to borrow a bike.

• Showers and cycle storage are available on campus.

• E‑bikes and e‑scooters are available around our campuses, which can be a cheaper alternative for short trips.

Eating well for less

We have a range of affordably priced cafes and food outlets on our campuses, and the Students' Union (SU) at UWE offer cost saving schemes including 'Bring your Own Cup’.

Find out more from our SU

A great way to save money is to bring your lunch with you, and there are microwaves and hot water available for you to use free of charge on all campuses. Microwaves are located in the library (D block), Starbucks (E block) and the Student Centre at The Farmhouse at Frenchay Campus, within The Hub at Glenside, and within Traders (A block) at Bower Ashton, City Campus. 

Discounts and offers

• Tips on saving money on food.
• Find people giving away free food to their community.
• Sign up for a TOTUM card.
• Visit money saving websites for up-to-date deals.
• Reduce waste and get access to discounted food with the Too Good To Go app.
• Download The Afoodable Guide (PDF) containing 47 simple food hacks to save you money.

Paid work

We know that for many students, finding part-time work to help supplement their income is a necessity.

Take the time to consider how much work you can take on, and the impact it may have on your well-being. If it is something you are looking to do, then the Students’ Union JobShop or Infohub vacancies are great places to start. If you're an international student then you may need to take into account any restrictions that are in place.

You can also apply to become one of our paid student ambassadors and earn money whilst supporting university events, student recruitment and outreach activities.

If you need any support with applications, CVs or anything careers-related, the careers team is on hand to help.

Working part-time whilst studying

Technology, equipment and everyday essentials

There are lots of ways to get what you need without buying everything new.

Borrow before you buy

You can buy refurbished laptops and other IT equipment through our approved partner at a reduced cost. Computers are available to book across campus, with free short-term laptop loans available as well.

Borrowing, sharing and swapping can also help you save money and make more sustainable choices. 

The majority of course textbooks are available through the library, so check before buying.

You can also take advantage of discounted student membership fees for the Library of Things and borrow a wide range of occasional-use items. 

Swap, reuse and save

Check out the on-campus Sustainability Hub, Bower Ashton Community Corner and Students' Union uniform swap shop for low‑cost kitchenware, uniforms for placements, clothes and other essentials.

Get things fixed for free at one of our on-campus repair cafés.

Visit our Zero Waste Shop at Frenchay campus) which offers you affordable, ethical and refill options.

Free everyday essentials

Free period products are available across all campuses, with plastic‑free options and sustainable product trials.

Social life

Making the most of student life doesn't have to cost a lot. Getting involved, trying new things and meeting people are all part of the university experience — and many activities are free.

Cheap things to do on or around campus

VisitBristol is a great website to find out what's happening in the city, and has blog posts containing suggestions of things you can do for free.

There are lots of free events and activities happening on and around campus throughout the year. Find what's coming up, from one‑off events to regular drop‑in sessions you can join at any time.

Music and sport

The Centre for Music offers free student membership, giving you access to playing and singing groups, rehearsal rooms and studio space — whether you're continuing a hobby or trying something new.

You can also take part in the MOVE programme , which is free for students and includes a wide range of activities such as football, netball, yoga, aerial hoop and more.

Student life

The Student Life team works alongside the Students' Union to help create a welcoming and connected student experience, supporting events, activities and opportunities to get involved across campus. The Students' Union also runs a wide range of societies and events, many of which are free or low‑cost:

To explore what's on and find ways to get involved during your time at UWE Bristol, visit the Student Life hub.