August 20, 2012, by Fraser Wilson
Student finance: it’s all about the money…
Third year student Gemma Ubah takes us through the dos and don’ts of student finance. And as a Maths and Economics student, she’s worth listening to.
Gemma will be one of our student life bloggers from this September so watch out for much more from her!
Money, money, money…
One of the most important things you need to do before coming to The University of Nottingham is to open a bank account. There are a range of options when it comes to a student account and setting one up can be done by phone or in branch. And there are often perks – Natwest, for example, gives you a free 16-25 railcard if you choose their student account, which saves you 1/3 every time you travel.
There are branches of Natwest and HSBC on University Park which means that you can pop in if there is ever an issue.
Fivers from the cash machines…
But don’t worry if you have a bank account with another bank, you can still withdraw money from the cash machines on campus, including by Portland Building. The cash machines even give out £5 notes, which helps make sure you don’t withdraw or spend more than you actually need.
The Uni will send you a pack before you arrive, including details on how to pay your accommodation, deadlines, etc. Tuition fees are paid automatically by the government if you have applied for a student loan. So that makes everything easy and straightforward. But for more information, read the University’s how to pay your fees page.
Vouchers and discounts
To make your loan go further, I strongly suggest using vouchers. Many restaurants and shops always have offers and discounts – like Strada – and all you have to do is print it off or show them the code on your phone.
One of my favourite discount sites is studentbeans.com. They literally have vouchers for EVERYTHING!! Food, gym passes, beauty products, Cineworld cinemas… Plus you can get stuff for free, such as toothpaste samples.
And for your on-the-go needs, download a mobile phone app called Vouchercloud which tells you about the offers nearest to you.
If you have never budgeted before, don’t worry! The Uni will support you if you ever have financial worries or would like some friendly advice.
A word from Abba…
Bursaries and further financial help
The new academic year also sees the introduction of a whole host of different bursary options for Nottingham students. These bursaries range from £750 to £3,000 depending on a number of factors – see our Guaranteed Bursaries page for full information.
And, most importantly, we have our very own Financial Support team who you can call or email at any time. We also run drop-in sessions at each of our campuses where you can air any of your financial concerns. For more information on Financial Support, visit our Student Services web pages.
Plus, there are pages for everything you need when it comes to finances – including how to pay your fees.
Top tip: Try our budget planner.
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