.png)
Cost of Living Support and Resources
Find out about the support and resources available that may help you with the rising cost of living.
We’ve created this hub to bring together the financial and wellbeing support that is currently available at Newcastle University to help you with the rising cost of living.
The package of support available to students at all stages has been increased this year to over £1.7 million which includes an increase in student financial support, participation bursaries through the Students’ Union and additional jobs for students through Jobs On Campus. Additionally, the Students’ Union have launched a free Pantry and an on campus laundry facility in University accommodation is now available to all students.
This is a working list that will continue to be updated as new initiatives from the Cost of Living working group are introduced so please keep checking back.
Please also visit the Newcastle University Students' Union's Cost of Living Crisis Hub.
Meet with a Student Finance Advisor
- All students can meet with a Student Finance Advisor who can provide professional and impartial advice, individual and tailored one-to-one appointments and information about bursaries, scholarships and other funding schemes.
- Email student.fin-supp@ncl.ac.uk with your enquiry or book an appointment online directly.
- Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students who may need financial support to get involved with extra-curricular activities through the Students' Union.
- Open to undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students who do not have access to a suitable device and / or internet connection where they are experiencing financial difficulties and cannot access support through other IT provision provided by the University.
Scholarships, Bursaries & Prizes
- There are a range of scholarships and bursaries available to students, including the Opportunity Scholarship for students whose household income is at or below £35,000.
Funding from Charities & Trusts
- There are many external bodies and educational trusts with funds available for students. Please note that eligibility, the application process and the value of awards varies enormously between organisations.
- If you run out money and can't cover your living costs, the Student Finance Team may be able to provide a short-term, interest free, emergency loan.
Student Financial Support Fund
- Provided by the University to give discretionary financial assistance to UK students to help them participate in Higher Education. The assessment process involves identifying students who have particular financial needs or who are in unexpected financial difficulty.
- Check out our myth buster to find out more about the fund, the application process and the support available.
- Provided on a discretionary basis by the University to help International and non-UK EU students in financial hardship. The Fund assists students in serious and unexpected financial difficulties due to circumstances beyond their control, by providing short-term loans or awards.
Urgent enquiries or immediate financial difficulty
- Call 0191 208 2693, 0191 208 7098 or 0191 208 4488.
£1 breakfast and lunch options
- As part of an affordable student meals initiative, we will be offering £1 breakfast and lunch options in a selection of campus cafés to all students.
£1 BREAKFAST (10:00 - 11:30)
Chicken Shack: Porridge pot or breakfast bun and a hot drink or orange juice
Bites (Medical School) and Business School café: Porridge pot and a hot drink or orange juice
£1 LUNCH (12:00 - 14:00)
The Courtyard, Bites (Medical School) and Business School café: Soup and a bun
You can find details of these locations and opening times on the Catering website. To claim these value options, please present your student card when ordering.
Available while stocks last. Value options are part of an affordable student meals trial and cannot be purchased in conjunction with any other offer. Comments welcomed to catering@newcastle.ac.uk.
- The free Pantry can be accessed by all students to take what you need (you do not need to consult with anyone). You can find the new Student Pantry inside the Students' Union (Ground Floor, next to the Welfare & Advice Hub).
- All students can use the laundry facilities at Kensington Terrace accommodation between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday at a subsidised cost of £1.10 a wash, £1.10 a dry and £2.20 for a wash and dry.
Financial advice from the Student Finance Team
- Click ‘Find out more’ on the webpage for advice about a range of topics for all students from Banking & Credit to Living Costs.
- Undergraduate students can join the money management course in Canvas to find out about making the most of your money at uni.
- As members of NASMA (National Association of Student Money Advisers), our Students’ Union Advice Centre can provide support and guidance to all students on a range of financial issues and queries, including assisting students requiring hardship money from the Student Financial Support Fund.
- Supporting all students within University-owned and managed partnership accommodation through a free organised events programme and free interactive ResLife ‘Hacks’ on topics such as finances and budgeting.
Navigating finances as a student with our Student Content Creators & Lowes Financial
- Join Student Content Creators, Diya and Emma, as they meet Michael Dodds, a Newcastle University graduate, and Helen Grieves, both from Lowes Financial, to discuss navigating finances as a student!
Advice from the Student Advice Centre about utilities and energy
- Water bill rises
Water UK has confirmed Water bills in England and Wales are set to rise from April by the largest amount for 20 years. An average household will see a rise of about £31 to £448 a year (equivalent to around 60p more each week).
If you are struggling, it might be cheaper to switch to a water meter. However, once installed this cannot be reversed so ALWAYS check your tenancy agreement clauses and get permission from your landlord first.
Your water company might also have hardship funds or agree to repayment plans if you are unable to pay, get in contact with your provider to see what support is available.
- Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) vouchers
If you have a gas or electric utility traditional prepayment meter (PPM), you can claim Energy Bills Support Scheme Vouchers (EBSS).
Like other households, you are entitled to government support with your energy costs, including £400 off your bills this winter. It’s believed 1 in 5 households with pre-payment meters have not cashed in their energy vouchers issued to help pay bills!
Check your post, emails, texts, spam for information about your vouchers from your energy provider. If you haven’t received anything, contact then to ensure they have your up-to-date contact details. Vouchers expire after 90 days but you can ask the supplier to reissue them if lost, not received, or expired.
All vouchers must be redeemed by 30 June 2023.
- Money Boiler Saving Challenge
You could save money on your heating bills by making one small change to your boiler. Take a look at our recent article about turning down your flow temperature to save money.
If you need further guidance or advice on the Cost of Living or budgeting, please book into the Student Advice Centre via our online booking form.
- From 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023, several bus companies have introduced a £2 fare cap on single tickets. For students who occasionally travel by bus, visit the Government website to see the bus routes included in the £2 fare cap.
- From 2 January 2023 to 31 March 2023, Nexus will cap single journeys at £2 and all-day travel at £4 for Metro customers who travel on Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG). The £2 cap will also apply to people with a Pop 19-21 card and to bus services that are contracted by Nexus. For students who occasionally travel by metro, apply for a Pop PAYG Card or use an Android smartphone with the Google Pay app installed.
- The Student Metro Season Ticket is available for all students to use in three different zones all day and is the most cost effective method for students who travel on the metro regularly. You can choose an annual ticket or a four weekly one. You need to apply for a FREE Season Tickets Pop card and then renew your ticket online or at any Metro station ticket machine.
Please note that the £2 single fare cap may benefit students who travel occasionally by metro but for students who travel regularly, a Student Metro Season Ticket may work out cheaper, depending on circumstances. Please visit the Nexus Pop PAYG FAQs for further information.
- Take a look at how our different Student Wellbeing Teams can support all students, the additional support available and how to contact the service.
NUSU Welfare and Support Centre
- Our Students’ Union's Welfare and Support Centre is a space for all students to access support, resources, and information you might need to support your wellbeing, welfare, & safety whilst you study.
- 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.
- The iNCLude self help app is designed for all students to help take small steps to improve and maintain wellbeing.
- The Student Health and Wellbeing Service provide a wide range of workshops for all students, each one running at different points in the year.
Part-time jobs & paid opportunities
- All students can use the Careers Service to search for jobs and internships from employers seeking Newcastle students and graduates. There are also a wide range of paid opportunities available on campus each year, including temporary jobs, paid internships and opportunities within the Careers Service.
- All students can apply for funding to support with the costs of attending interviews or work experience, developing a project or initiative or exploring a business idea.
- 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.
- All students can access the Careers Service through MyCareer to book a careers appointment, sign up for events and find online support.
- Funding for Masters students comes from a variety of sources. The funding you could apply for may depend on your personal circumstances, your intended course of study, and your financial situation.
22/23 Cost of Living Impact Funding Scheme
- Provides financial support to those Doctoral and MPhil Students who are self-funded and where their commencement or continuity of studies is at risk.
Postgraduate Wellbeing Support
- Information from Newcastle University and the Students’ Union for postgraduate students on where to receive advice and support.
- The Newcastle University Students' Union’s activities programme is for ALL students. The programme is open to all abilities, no membership is required, and it includes hundreds of exciting activities ranging from crafts, social sports, discounted tickets, and tours and trips to get involved with.