Money & Finance

Our team of Student Money Advisers are based across the University and are here to help with money or funding issues. We offer one-to-one advice in person, via Microsoft Teams or email on taking control of your finances and gaining financial skills which can last for life.

We have pulled together some information below to help you manage your money and budget.

• Take care of your Financial Wellbeing
• Student Finance FAQs
• Student Bank Accounts and Credit
• Frauds and Scams
• Gambling
• Useful websites

If you need further help or support, please get in touch using the Student Enquiry Point.

Student Funding

If you are studying an apprenticeship, you are paid a salary from your employer which should cover your living and travel costs. Your employer pays your tuition fees.  This means that you are not eligible for student finance if you’re doing a higher or degree apprenticeship, but you will graduate having paid no tuition fee.  See the GOV.UK higher and degree apprenticeship page for more information.

Council Tax Exemption Certificates

Council Tax Exemption certificates are only issued to full time students meeting the eligibility criteria.  They are not issued to Apprenticeship students. See the GOV.UK how council tax works: who has to pay page for more information.

University Student Support Fund

Students, who are registered on an apprenticeship programme, are not eligible for general UoC Student Support Funding due to being employed.  Apprentices registered with the University, who are subsequently made redundant, can apply for assistance with essential course related costs only.  Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

NUS Apprentice Extra Card

The NUS Apprentice Extra Card is available for a small annual cost, which gives you access to lots of discounts.

External grants

You may be eligible to obtain other grants and funding by applying for an Educational Trust or scheme attached to a particular organisation. These are often based on your specific circumstances, and the amount you receive will vary.  The charity Turn2us has a useful search engine on their website. 

Care-experienced students

If you're an apprentice in England in care, or you have experience of being in care, you may be eligible for an apprenticeships care leavers' bursary of £1,000. For apprentices starting their apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, the bursary will be £3,000. It is payable in instalments over the first year of the apprenticeship. Find out more about apprenticeships care leavers' bursary.

Additional Advice and Support

The Money Advice Team are available to give you additional support, information and guidance. Visit the Money & Finance pages on My.Cumbria or contact the Money Advice team using the Student Enquiry Point.

Find out all about student finance and our tuition fees on our dedicated Student Finance pages.

Visit the Student Finance England 'How to' guide where you will find answers to the most common questions that undergraduate students are currently asking.

If you're going into your 2nd or 3rd year, you'll need to login to your student finance account and re-apply for your loan. Find out more information, including how to check the status of your application here.

If you have applied for your student funding but have not yet received any money, then follow our Delayed Student Funding processes 

Student Finance have produced a range of resources, guides and answers to frequently asked questions to help you too.

We have many scholarships and bursaries available for home students. Read more on our Bursaries and Scholarships page. International students can find out more on our Scholarships, Bursaries & Discounts page. 

See the Student Support Fund page for more information.

 The new Money Matters Autumn 2024 is available now and contains some great advice on managing your finances while at University.

National Student Money Week an annual event, established by the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA) aims to raise awareness of the money advice and support available to students. The theme this year is Survive and Thrive: building financial resilience.

Money feels hitting different? Connect your mood & spending habits at our cosy pop-up! Play our emoodji game; grab free hot drinks; and chat with our money team about making smart money moves. Additionally, Fraud Protection Police Officers will be around at our Fusehill Street & Lancaster campus' to help and offer advice too!

If you cannot get to an on Campus event, you can still be involved in our Emoodji Game and tell us how your mood affects your mental health by completing the Padlet.

Don’t forget there is support available from the Student Money Advice Team all year round. Check out: Take Care Of Your Financial Wellbeing for lots of useful information. You can also access support or advice from our Mental Health and Wellbeing Team or Money Advice Team outside of these events, by visiting the Student Enquiry Point and requesting support. 

Thinking about how to make your money go further?

The money team have put together some top tips to help get you started.

· Have a "No Spend Day" a simple but very effective solution to helping to save money and survive & thrive.

· Try the "Supermarket Downshift Challenge": Save £520 a year with one small change

· Try The Demotivator: A fun tool to show you just how much you spend on non-essentials, and to stop you spending when you can’t afford it

· Survive and Thrive! Spend less and eat healthy affordable food. Meal planning will save you time and money, use a planner to help Meal-Planner-Template.pdf

· Check out Save the Student 20 Ways To Cope With Rising Costs.

Want to know more? Follow Student Services on Instagram     

Contact the Money Advice Service through the Student Enquiry Point.

Other useful contacts:

University of Cumbria Student Finance Department