Frequently Asked Questions
Get guidance or support on how to manage your student/smart card, including how to activate it, loading money, who can use it and what it can be used for.
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Who do I talk to if I need help with my student card?
You should contact Card Services on +44 (0)115 848 2857 or email the card services team.
You can also visit our Student Services Centre in person on all campuses. View more information on SSC opening times.
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What should I do if I can't upload a photo for my student card?
You should contact Card Services on +44 (0)115 848 2857 or email the card services team.
You can also visit our Student Services Centre in person on all campuses. View more information on SSC opening times.
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What should I do if I can't use my student card for purchases?
You should contact Card Services on +44 (0)115 848 2857 or email the card services team.
You can also visit our Student Services Centre in person on all campuses. View more information on SSC opening times.
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What can I buy with my student card?
You can use your student card to pay for purchases at the University's Taste NTU cafés, libraries and the print shops. Bars are excluded. View more information on Taste NTU outlets and opening times.
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What kind of food and drink can I buy at NTU?
NTU catering outlets sell hot and cold drinks as well as a range of sandwiches, pastries, and snacks.
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Can I buy my friends a coffee with my student card?
Yes, you can use your student card just like cash. Just present it when its time to pay.
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What is a sensible amount to put on my student card before I get to NTU?
As a student you get £20 free printing /copying at the start of the academic year, so we don't recommend you load any money for printing / copying before you arrive.
For food and drink, the typical cost of a lunch is £4 for a sandwich and a drink to £5 for a cooked meal and a drink. Assuming you had lunch at NTU everyday that would be £16 to £20 per week. There are ten weeks in the first term, so that would mean £160 to £200 for the first term.
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Once I've started at NTU, can my parents or guardians put more money on my student card?
Yes, your parents or guardian can put money on your student card at any time by going to the student card loading page.
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Can I use my student card in the Students' Union shops or bars?
No, sorry. The Students' Union is separate organisation from the University and cannot accept payment by a student card.
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Can I pay for the NCT buses before I arrive at NTU?
Once you have your student card, you can buy discounted Nottingham City Travel (NCT) bus travel for use on all of their buses, including to Brackenhurst Campus. The Navy 1 and 4 buses run between the City and Clifton Campuses and Lilac Line 26 runs between Nottingham and Brackenhurst Campus.
Special academic deals are available during September and October each year, which are available to buy on the NCT website, or on the NCTX Buses app, where your smartphone becomes your bus ticket.
You can also visit the NCT Travel Centre (NG1 2JS) with your Student card to purchase your travel.
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Once I've put money on my student card can I get a refund when I leave NTU?
Yes, when you have finished at NTU, we can refund the unused money held on your card. Please note that an administration charge of £10 will be made for any refunds. Therefore, request for refunds are only accepted when the unused funds exceed £10 in value. Please email cardservices@ntu.ac.uk or visit our Terms & Conditions for more information.
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What should I do if lose my student card?
Contact Card Services as soon as possible by calling 0115 848 2857, or by emailing the Card Services team. You can also visit your nearest SSC in person.
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Getting a replacement card
You can purchase a replacement student smart card onsite, or directly from the Student Services Centre Front Desk at City, or Clifton campuses. Card payment will be taken upon request.
You can purchase a replacement student smart card from the following places:
Student Services Centre front desk at:
- SSC at City Campus – Newton building
- SSC at Clifton Campus
- Libraries at City, Clifton, Brackenhurst and Mansfield Campuses
You can also order your replacement card via the NTU online store and have it posted to your specified address.
We will process the student card once we receive an e-receipt for orders that have requested to be posted.
If you require it to be posted to your home address, please allow 7-10 working days to receive your card.
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What should I do if my student card does not display the correct information? (e.g. name, expiry date)
If your card doesn’t have the correct information on it, get in touch with us so we can arrange a card replacement. You can:
- go to one of our on-campus SSCs
- call 0115 848 2857
- email the Card Services team.
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What should I do if my student card is stolen?
In the event of a student card being stolen, you can:
- go to one of our on-campus Student Services Centres
- call 0115 848 2857
- email the Card Services team.
You’re entitled to a free replacement card if you can provide a relevant crime number, so have this ready when you contact us.
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What happens if someone else uses my student card?
As soon as you are aware of someone using your card you should immediately contact NTU Security on +44 (0)115 848 6462 to have your student card deactivated. You will be credited the cost of any fraudulent purchases that take place after you have reported the problem.
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Can I move money between my printing / copying budget and my food budget?
No, due to incompatibilities between the two systems we cannot offer you the facility to move money between the two. We realise this is inconvenient and hope to be able to offer this facility in the future.
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Can I get my money back before I leave NTU if I don't use my student card for purchases?
No, any money you have on student card will be refunded when you leave the University. In special situations the University may make an early refund at the discretion of the Head of Customer Services.
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What is the minimum I can put on my student card?
£10.
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What is the maximum I can put on my student card?
There is no upper limit in total. However, you are limited to £1,000 each time you load money on via the web on the student card loading page.
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How can I check how much money I have on my student card?
Your student card balance for non-printing or copying is displayed whenever you use your student card. You can also go to the student card top-up page to see your balance.
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Can I use my student card outside of the University to pay for things?
You can use your student card to purchase Nottingham City Transport (NCT) travel passes.
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As a purchasing agent at NTU can I use my purchase card to load money on to a student card?
Technically you could do this. However, when you take into account credit card usage charges paid by NTU, the University would lose money. So, please don't do this. If you want to load money onto a student card from a University budget please contact Card Services.
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How can I load credit into my student / staff card?
You need to go to our online store and top up money with your debit/ credit card.
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What is the process for requesting my first student card?
New students enrol using the enrolment webpages.
Upload an appropriate photo (full-colour passport style photo) to ensure it is approved. When you upload your photo, Card Services can despatch your card to your requested address.
This typically takes between 7-10 days. If you have not received your card after 14 days, get in touch with Card Services.
When your card arrives, you need to activate it. Instructions to activate it are sent with your card.
Card Services can post your new card to any UK address. If the address field is overseas, or intentionally left blank the card is kept at Newton SSC for safekeeping.