Living Costs Food You can expect to spend around £35-£40 per week on grocery shopping. It is usually cheaper to shop at larger supermarkets rather than smaller local stores. You will find that supermarkets stock their own brands of many products, which tend to be cheaper than national or international brands. You may also be able to save some money by joining a supermarket loyalty card scheme. Unless you are planning to save money by bringing a packed lunch and drinks with you to Centre each day, you will need to budget for between £10-£15 per week to cover the cost of buying lunch and snacks. Utilities For basic utilities (electricity, gas and water rates) you should allow £5 per person per week, if you are sharing a privately rented property. When sharing a property, it is advisable to ensure that the names of all the tenants are on each utility bill, so that the liability for payment is shared. Mobile phone For most people having a mobile phone is seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. If you really need to have a phone then you may want to consider a ‘pay as you go’ phone for essential calls only. This way you are not tied into expensive contract, and you avoid running up large phone bills that you are unable to pay. Insurance It is highly advisable to take out an insurance policy to cover you against damage, loss or theft of your personal property. Endsleigh Insurance Company has policies specifically designed for students who are living in educational residences or in a shared house. Prices start from £16 per person per year, and from around £60 per year for private accommodation. For more information see the link below. www.endsleigh.co.uk Photocopying and printing An average weekly cost is around £4. This cost is likely to be significantly higher at certain times of the year than others (for example, preparation for coursework submission, examinations, and final year projects). Books and equipment The annual cost of books and course equipment can vary between £200-£250, depending on your course of study. For further guidance on these costs please check with your Lecturer. TV license If you are living in a shared house and there is only one TV being used in a communal area then only one license is required. However, if tenants use TVs in their own rooms then each tenant requires a separate license, unless you have a joint tenancy agreement. A colour license costs £142.50 a year. If you prefer not to pay the full amount, it can be paid in monthly or quarterly instalments. Refunds are available on complete unused quarters, which can be useful if you are not using the TV during the summer vacation. www.tvlicensing.co.uk Health costs UK students If you are aged 19 or over and receive NHS treatment you will be asked to pay for prescriptions and some health care services unless you meet certain exemption criteria. Check the NHS website to find out if you are entitled to help with health costs (such as free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests and help towards an glasses or contact lenses), how to make claims and apply for refunds. EU and International students If you are from the European Union (EU) or from a country that has a ‘reciprocal health care agreement’ with the UK, you can have free treatment from the NHS. The Department of Health website publishes a detailed guide and a list of countries with a reciprocal health care agreement to NHS services for overseas visitors. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/International/index.htm If you are in the UK with a visa that lasts for six months or more, you should be able to have free treatment from the NHS from the start of your stay in the UK. You have to be accepted as being an ‘ordinary UK resident’, which means being in the UK for a ‘settled purpose’ (a short term course of study may not be considered enough for this). To be able to obtain free NHS treatment, you need to register with a doctor. You can then register with a dentist who accepts NHS patients (check up and treatment are not free, but the cost will be lower than if you are accepted as a private patient). Eye checkups may sometimes be cheaper if you can prove that you are an NHS member by showing your medical card. Even if you can have free treatment from the NHS, you will probably have to pay some charges for medicines – ‘prescription charges’, and for dental and optical treatment. If you cannot receive free treatment from the NHS, you should buy health insurance (if possible, before you arrive in the UK). Treatment at Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinics, which deal with sexual diseases, is free for anybody. Note that there may be some advantages in paying for private health care instead of relying on free NHS care. Money Matters British Council – Learning This site contains information and guidance for international students wanting to study in the UK, including useful information on funding sources that may be available. The British Council has many offices throughout the UK and the world. Visit the British Council website for details of the office nearest you. www.britishcouncil.org/learning Student Finance The Student Finance section of the Directgov website provides information about financial support and advice for students entering and continuing Higher Education. www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance S F S EU Team If you are an EU student wishing to apply for Higher Education Support you should contact: Student Finance Services European Team www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and click on ‘students from other EU countries’. Ten great money saving tips for students… Starting life as a student can be daunting, especially if you have never lived away from home before. Managing your finances can be a challenge, so below are a few money saving tips to help you along the way. Budget Prioritise and plan ahead. That way you should know how much you have to spend each week and should limit yourself from overspending. Books Save money on course books by borrowing from the library, sharing with friends or buying second-hand from websites such as Ebay, Amazon and Abebooks.co.uk Bank Accounts Choosing the right student account is important. Look out for special promotions banks offer you to open a new account, but keep an eye on the small print on things like overdraft limits and charges. Bills How much you can pay for utility bills can be surprising if you have never lived away from home before. Make sure you shop around for your suppliers – dual providers can tend to work out cheaper, as can paying by direct debit. Discounts Sign up to the moneysavingexpert.co.uk newsletter and log on to the website, updated daily, for great deals, vouchers and discounts. Food Plan your meals in advance to stop yourself over spending. Buying in bulk and buying fruit and veg from the market usually saves you money. Get a Job Earn some extra cash and find a part-time job while you are studying. Not only will you earn cash, but you will save money on going out and enhance your CV. Travel Plan ahead when booking tickets to save money on advanced bookings. Visit the National Express website for bus fares from £1. Those aged 16 – 25 and students 26+ that are in full-time education can purchase a Young Person’s Railcard for £26 to save a 1/3 on national train fares. Plan nights in with friends Visit Lovefilm.com and cdwow.com and take advantage of their free trial offers for a night in with your mates, a DVD and some popcorn. Sell your old stuff You know the saying, one persons trash is another person’s treasure. Make money out of your unwanted items by selling it on sites such as Ebay.