Cost of Living Hub

Funding available

NUSU Activities Access Fund

Your Students’ Union recognises that financial obstacles can arise, preventing some students from accessing the activities that offered. The Activities Access Fund aims to encourage equality of opportunity to access and participation for the home undergraduate student community, contributing to a sense of belonging and inclusion.

The Activities Access Fund, when available, is open to eligible undergraduate students who pay Home Fees and meet one of the eligibility criteria set out by the University’s Access and Participation Plan. It helps cover some costs of getting involved in activities.

Further information about eligibility, FAQs and registration is available on the Activities Access Fund webpage.

Student IT Hardship Fund

The discretionary Student IT Hardship Fund supports eligible students who are experiencing financial difficulty and cannot access IT provision needed for their course.

Other opportunities

Scholarships, bursaries and prizes

There are a range of scholarships and bursaries available to students. These include subject scholarships and the Opportunity Scholarship for students whose household income is at or below £35,000.

Funding from charities and trusts

Many external bodies and educational trusts offer funds for students. Please note that eligibility, the application process and the value of awards vary between organisations.

NHS Low Income Scheme

If you have a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme could help you pay for:

• NHS prescription charges
• NHS dental treatment charges
• the cost of sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
• the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
• NHS wigs and fabric supports (check with your hospital for their arrangements for supplying NHS wigs)

How much help you get depends on your weekly income and necessary outgoings, plus any savings or investments you have at the time you apply. If the amount you have left is low, you may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Money Matters – Canvas Course

Our online money management course, available on Canvas, is designed for home UK undergraduate students. The course takes approximately an hour to complete but you can go through the modules at your own pace and don’t need to finish it all at once!

There are five modules:

• How am I going to manage? The basics of income and expenditure
• Budgeting
• Staying safe from fraud
• Money and your wellbeing
• Supermarket shopping and healthy eating habits

International students can find useful information about money management through the British Council.

University libraries

All students can make use of the free access to textbooks and academic resources at the University libraries. If you’re unable to access a particular resource, visit the Library website to request directly, make a recommendation of a book not held by the Library or request a resource through Inter-Library Loans.

Be well@NCL

The Be well@NCL collection is a collection of tried and tested books, chosen in partnership with the University's Student Health and Wellbeing Service and other health professionals. The collection includes print copies in the University libraries, as well as e-Book and audio titles. They are available to be borrowed by any student to help understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing.

Titles related to money worries have been added to the core collection, including:

1. Manage your money (print copy)
2. How to save it: fix your finances (print copy, e-book and audio title)
3. Why didn’t they teach me this at school? 99 personal money management principles to live by (print copy)
4. What they don't teach you about money: habits to get you unstuck and on the road to financial freedom (print copy, e-book and audio title)
5. Deborah Meaden talks money (print copy, e-book and audio title)
6. Money a user’s guide (print, e-book and audio title)
7. Money mindset for teens and young adults: practical lessons and activities to attract wealth, master budgeting, understand student debt, and start building a stress-free financial future in 31 days (print copy)

10% Student Discount Food Fob

All students can access an exclusive Newcastle University student discount. Pick up a Student 10% Discount Fob from any campus café or reception. It works by loading your Fob with your chosen amount of funds and using it as your payment method at the till, to receive 10% off every time.

Student Pantry

The Student Pantry at the Students' Union is a free resource for students in need, helping them to keep their shelves stocked. All items in the pantry are free to take as needed, without consulting anyone. The Pantry is stocked with rice and pasta (including gluten-free options), tinned goods, cereal and grains, toiletries and stationery. Additionally, the fridge is stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as reduced-items from the Co-op. You can find the Student Pantry inside the Students' Union (Ground Floor, next to the Welfare & Advice Hub). It is accessible during the Students’ Union’s opening hours.

Advice and tips

Student Financial Support Team

All students can book a one-to-one appointment with our student finance advisers for help managing your money and planning a budget. Our advisers are members of NASMA (National Association of Student Money Advisers).

The team also offers helpful financial advice on their website, including information around council tax, insurance, mobile and broadband and TV licence.

‘Five ways to budget your way through uni’

Check out some top tips for budgeting whilst at university from Leyla, our Student Content Creator.

£2.50 bus fare cap

For students who occasionally travel by bus, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has announced a cap of most adult bus fares in the region at a maximum of £2.50 on single tickets. 

Student ticket options on buses

For those students using the bus, each commercial bus company in the region offers their own student ticket options. You can find out more about the options available on each company's website or app:

• Go North East
• Stagecoach
• Arriva

Network One Students and Young People Travel Ticket

For students who travel regularly on both the bus and metro, a zone based ticket is available from Network One. This gives the flexibility of using both bus and metro but please note it is a higher price.

Cycling

Keep an eye out on the Sustainable Campus Events page for visits from Dr Bike, delivered by local charity WATBike. You'll get a safety inspection and minor repairs for free, and a safety report detailing any large repairs that are needed, that you can then take to a bike shop!

Rate Your Landlord

Rate Your Landlord is a review and ratings website where student tenants can share feedback about their renting experiences. It allows students to discuss their personal renting experiences, helping others become savvy, safe and happy renters. Many students are brand new to the world of private renting, so other people's opinions can be a useful tool. Rate Your Landlord provides an open, fair and balanced forum for tenants to have their say, for landlords to respond and for students to learn what's what in the world of renting.

Academic support

Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC)

We understand that during the current cost of living crisis, you may be experiencing additional financial hardship, responsibilities or anxieties relating to paid employment, which may have a negative impact on your ability to study or complete assessments.

While known employment responsibilities are not usually accepted as Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) grounds, we appreciate that the current cost of living crisis is having a negative effect on many of our students and so there may be times when you need to take on additional paid work in order to meet your financial responsibilities. In these circumstances, you are able to submit a self-cert PEC for an extension of up to seven days to any assessment without the need to provide any additional evidence of your circumstances.

If you require any adjustments beyond a short extension (of up to seven days) to the submission date of an assessment, you will need to complete a full PEC request and attach supplementary evidence. In these circumstances, a personal statement outlining your current situation will usually be appropriate. Guidance on writing a personal statement can be found in Appendix 2 of the PEC Procedure.

TalkCampus – 24/7 Help

A free-to-download app for all students where you can talk with other students from around the world if you’re struggling and worried about your mental health.

INCLude – 24/7 Help

The iNCLude self help app is designed for all students to help take small steps to improve and maintain wellbeing. 

Careers support

Careers Service

All students can access the Careers Service through MyCareer to book a careers appointment, sign up for events and find online support.

START UP Funding

START UP can award between £250 and £3,000 to help you create your own work opportunities and self-employed income*. If you want to start or grow a small business or find freelance work, START UP can support you in everything from selling online to building your brand and more.

*For UK-based opportunities. International students must have the correct visa permissions to be eligible.