Money Worries

If you are worrying about debt, it can be hard to know where to go. Take pressure off yourself and ask for free and confidential advice from a money advisor. Book an appointment using the Student Enquiry Point (StEP). Seeking advice does not affect your credit score and may help you feel less stressed and more in control of your life.

There is no obligation to follow their advice but support is free and can help provide an objective opinion on your situation.

Further external information can be found be found online by clicking the links to these various organisations.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice offer phone support and face-to-face help for anyone who may need it. Find one of their advice centres to arrange an in person appointment. 

Step Change 

Find our more about their online chat and phone support with a follow-up service.

National Debt Line

Here you can access the online chat and phone support with a follow-up service. 

Christians Against Poverty (CAP)

You don't have to be a Christian to access this service. Christians Against Poverty can offer face-to-face services and help with debt and the emotional issues surrounding it. 

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.

It is worth knowing that the University will automatically notify Student Finance of your enrolment and attendance on the course. If you have completed enrolment and are still experiencing a delay with a Student Finance assessment, you can make an appointment with the Money Advice Team.

It is also a good idea to check your eligibility for a 0% authorised overdraft on a student bank account.

Some students are eligible for Universal Credit (UC) while studying at university. If you are claiming UC it is worth checking with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) directly for information on how your claim will change whilst studying at university.

The Maintenance Loan and, if eligible, The Adult’s Dependant Allowance impacts on UC.

You will have to submit your full Student Finance entitlement letter to UC to allow them to recalculate your UC payments. Please note that you may receive an overpayment for the first month whilst UC are reassessing you as a student.

You might want to check the following with the DWP:

• That only the student finance maintenance loan, and if eligible, the Adult Dependants’ Grant are being considered.
• If your student finance entitlement letter mentions that you are eligible for The Special Support Element and if UC are disregarding that part of your loan. For 2025/26, The Special Support Element is £4,461
• That they calculate the UC during the months of the academic year that you are studying as a student, such as 8,9 10,11 or 12 months.
• That a small amount of monthly disregard income has been considered.

The final amount of Maintenance Loan that is being considered will appear under ‘other income’ on a Universal Credit Statement.

Example (for guidance only)

• A maintenance loan at £13,036 could have a Special Support Element, which means the first £4,461 is not considered.

This leaves £8,575 to be considered as ‘income’.

• If the term time course is over 9 months, then the monthly income of £8,575 is divided by 9 months.

This results in a monthly loan income of £953 a month.

• The second allowance is a monthly allowance of £110 a month. Resulting in £953 minus £110 leaving a final monthly loan income of £843. This figure reduces the monthly, term time UC award and appears as ‘other income’ on the UC statement.

According to the YGAM student gambling survey 2025, UK University Annual Gambling Survey - 49% of students have gambled within the last 12-months, with 17% experiencing low levels of gambling related-harms, 29% experiencing moderate levels, and 17% high levels. 

Gambling can be fun, but sometimes it can cause problems with money, relationships and more.

Is gambling a problem for you, or someone you know?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Have you ever lied to people important to you about how much you gambled?
2. Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?
3. Are you or have you ever been affected by someone else's problematic gambling behaviour?
4. Are you aware of how much money you are spending each month on gambling?

Below are some of the national organisations that provide information, support, advice and assistance to those who are having difficulty controlling their gambling. It is also worthwhile looking at our pages on debt, budgeting and making the most of your money as wider financial challenges are often associated with gambling problems.  

Sources of Support

• GamCare offers free, impartial and confidential advice and support about a gambling problem.  If you have questions or concerns about your own gambling or about that of a friend or family member, a good place to start is the National Gambling Helpline Call or WhatsApp Chat free on: 0808 8020 133.

• Gamble Aware on this website you'll find free advice, tools and support to help you learn about how gambling works, check if you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, and find tips on how to stay in control.

• YGAM Visit the directory of trusted organisations that provide direct services for anyone affected by gaming or gambling harms.

GAMSTOP: National ONLINE self-exclusion scheme.

Gamstop is a national online self-exclusion scheme. This is a useful tool for those who want to stop on-line gambling.

GAMSTOP lets you put controls in place to help restrict your online gambling activities.

Sign up for the service and you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.

GAMSTOP is a free service for users. GAMSTOP is available for consumers resident within the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) only.