Managing Your Money
As an international student at NTU, it's important that you budget properly because it isn’t just your fees you will need to pay. You will have daily, weekly and monthly expenses too. Get advice on managing your money, working in the UK while you study and find out about the support available to you.
Living costs
The cost of living for a student in Nottingham is cheaper than in other big cities in the UK, such as Manchester or London. You may find that the costs of goods and services in the UK is quite different to your own country and this can take time to get used to. How much you spend of course depends on your own lifestyle, but here is an approximate guide to what you can expect to pay as a student at NTU.
Average costs per month
| Groceries | £116 |
| Accommodation | £355 - £743 |
| Socialising (eating out with friends, for example) | £59 |
| Travel | £54 |
| Household bills (often included in the price of accommodation) | £64 |
| Clothes | £35 |
| Takeaways | £49 |
| Mobile phone contract | £18 |
| Health (e.g gym membership) | £20 |
| Course materials | £17 |
Based on National Student Money Survey 2022. Examples given above will vary according to lifestyle. You may also find the budget calculator on Which.co.uk a useful source of information when comparing costs.
Accommodation costs
Accommodation is the biggest expense for most students. Accommodation costs vary based on the number of people you live with, the amount of space you have, any private facilities, such as an en-suite, and the location of the property.
Budgeting
It's important to budget and to be well-prepared.
Your daily, weekly and monthly costs will be for your accommodation, food, entertainment and bills. Some things may be slightly cheaper if you pay for them in one payment rather than by instalments, for example. This can include things like a bus pass or an annual gym membership. Work out what the difference in cost is, whether it's worth paying up front, and whether you're sure you even need it.
There are many other ways to save money while you’re here – using your NTU student card for discounts in shops and on transport, for example. And you may want to consider working part-time to get some extra income while gaining valuable experience.
Getting started on your budget
Here are three simple steps to creating your budget.
- What income do you have?
- What expenses do you have? Remember to include small costs as these will add up.
- Calculate your budget by subtracting your expenses from your income.
Remember to track your spending each week or month and update your budget throughout the term.
An easy way to start planning your budget over the whole year is to download our worksheet on the link below.
What our students say
My rent is £600 per month, I live in a studio flat in the city centre with its own kitchen. My phone is around £10 per month and laundry is £5.50 per wash. I spend about £200-£250 per month on food, going out with friends and takeaways. You can get good student discounts on transport and shopping.
Shweta Sompura, India, MSc Branding and Advertising
Great ways to save money
When you arrive at NTU, the International Student Support Service can provide guidance on where to shop for food and household items. And if you need support with managing your money or setting up a budget, you can arrange to speak to one of our friendly financial support advisors by email.
There is more advice and guidance on managing your money as a student on the student hub.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is a discount website that is available for free to students worldwide.
Visit the UNiDAYS websiteTOTUM
TOTUM offers more discounts through their card and app and is recommended by the National Union of Students.
Visit the Totum websiteNCTX
Nottingham’s bus routes and trams offer discounted student travel. See more on the NCTX website.
Visit the NCTX website16-25 Railcard from Trainline
A 16-25 Railcard is a discount card that makes train travel cheaper for students.
Visit the Trainline websiteFinancial evidence for Student visa
If you're applying for a Student visa, you'll need to prepare the following financial evidence:
- Enough money to cover the outstanding tuition fees for the first or current year of your course, this is shown on your CAS.
- Another £1,023 per month of your course for your living costs, up to a maximum of £9,207. If you are studying at Confetti London the requirement is £1,334 per month.
This needs to be saved in a bank account in your name or your parents' name for at least 28 days before you apply for your visa.
Working in the UK
Visa regulations
You may want to work part-time while you study. This can be a great way to get some valuable work experience, and to earn some extra income. As an international student, you first need to check if you are legally allowed to work, how many hours, and what type of work. Our international student support team can advise you, and you can check the Working in the UK section on the NTU Student Hub.
You'll also find advice and information on graduate employment opportunities here, including the Graduate route (post-study work) visa.
Advice on jobs and careers
NTU's Employability team offer students a range of services, including:
- practical workshops and support for making job applications (for example how to write a CV and develop good interview skills);
- providing access to hundreds of part-time jobs through 'Job Shop' and opportunities for work experience and work placements available to you;
- giving careers advice no matter what stage you are at in your career.
They even broadcast an employability podcast which is a great listen.
Getting advice if you have financial difficulty
If you run in to difficulty with your finances during your studies, you should not ignore the problem as this will only make things worse. Our student financial support team can help current students manage their money and can talk through any financial concerns.
When you are a student at the University you can call the financial support team for help and advice.