Cost of Living

What is the University doing to help?

The University of Cumbria understand the challenges that our students are facing. 

We already have a number of initiatives in place to help.

1. The Student Support fund provides (means assessed) awards for students in hardship.

2. The Cumbria Bursary is offered to students from the most financially disadvantaged circumstances (household income less than £25K).

3. Reduced gym membership. Membership of partner fitness facilities is heavily subsidised by the University, students pay £125 for the academic year (staff £150) and via their membership with us have access to the Better Leisure (Carlisle) or Salt Ayre (Lancaster) facilities – the University subsidises this offer by circa £160K pa.  In January we offer a “new year new you” student membership where we reduce the cost to £85 (for new members for 8 months membership to August).

4. Subsidised travel – we have introduced a subsidised bus pass for Ambleside based students this year.

5. The SU red spots campaign provides free sanitary products for students.

6. The Money Advice team have pulled together some cost of living advice and guidance resources.

7. Students are employed across a range of the University’s services and the My Career Enriched platform has listings of part time work opportunities.

8. All students qualify for the Totum discount card (the only student discount platform approved by the National Union of Students).

9. No library fines (except for overdue recalled items).

10. Breakfast Offer - The University is delighted to be offering all students, including those living off campus, and staff, a free warm and hearty breakfast of porridge oats with a selection of toppings, and a range of cereal and milk from 8:30am – 9:30am Monday to Friday.  

    Can be served in disposable bowls for your convenience if you wish to take away.

    Catering outlets providing a free breakfast:

    Starbucks, The Gateway – Lancaster Campus

    The Cube, Skiddaw Building – Fusehill Street Campus

    The Works, Main Building – Brampton Road Campus

    The Barn Café, The Barn – Ambleside Campus

    The Conservatory - London Campus

11. Too Good to Throw offer - The University is delighted to be offering all students, including those living off campus, and staff a “Too Good to Throw” offer. At each campus we will offer ‘best by’ dated food on Wednesdays and Fridays. These items may consist of sandwiches, salad bowls, yogurt pots and traybakes.

    You can select 3 items for £1.50

    Catering outlets running "Too Good to Throw" offer:

    Cafe Martineau – Lancaster Campus - 15:00pm - 16:00pm

    The Cube, Skiddaw Building – Fusehill Street Campus - 15:00pm - 16:00pm

    The Works, Main Building – Brampton Road Campus - 15:00pm - 16:00pm

    The Barn Café, The Barn – Ambleside Campus - From 14:00pm

    The Conservatory - London Campus - 15:00pm - 16:00pm

    ​​​​​​​Due to Health and Safety, we cannot offer any food that would require re-heating.

12.  ‘Keep me going’ food pantries, designed to help campus based students access emergency food essentials. You’ll find your closest pantry here:

     

    • Fusehill Street: Learning Gateway, ground floor.
    • Lancaster: Library foyer.
    • Brampton Road: Sign Centre.
    • Ambleside: Rigg Cottage.

     

    Any students who are not based on a campus, or are based at Barrow or London, can continue to benefit from our electronic gift card scheme.

     

Things we're working on:

The SU continues to have conversations with the university, on issues you’ve raised with us. They include:

1. Reduced cost, or free, car parking

2. Subsidised food in our on-campus catering outlets

3. Clear and fair policies on reimbursement of travel costs for placement students, across all institutes

4. Quicker processing times for applications to the Student Support Fund

If any cost of living issues are affecting you, and we’ve not already got them covered, please let us know via the Student Enquiry Point.

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