University accommodation (no parental help)

Thanks for asking this question because it is a really good question. I am sorry that your parents may not be able to offer you any financial support. I know things are very tight for many families at the moment. It is good to hear that you are being so prepared and looking at your other options already. I am presuming you have checked on the Student Finance England calculator (assuming you’re a student in England)? If not here's the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

Whatever you’re entitled to it is worth exploring any scholarships or bursaries that your top choices of university may offer so that if you get a place there you know what you may be eligible to apply for (of course what is on offer can alter from academic year to academic year so this might be something you need to double check nearer the start of your course).

Alternatively, some universities offer student support funds although some of these funds are limited to supporting students in times of unexpected hardship, but it is worth having a look, you might find this link a good starting point:

https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university/university-and-college-hardship-funds

Another way to provide for yourself financially whilst at university would be to save up from your job before you go to university. I do not know if you are studying now, but if you are, I know from my A-Levels that it can be hard to balance work, study, and student life. But if you can balance this, then I would recommend saving up, so you have a financial cushion when you start at university.

Renting with your girlfriend sounds like a great idea if you can find somewhere affordable. Remember if your girlfriend is not in full-time education then she should be entitled to a 25% council tax discount as you should not have to pay council tax as a full-time student:

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/who-has-to-pay

I know dentistry can be an intense but rewarding course, therefore you might find you can’t fit in much part-time work during term time, but many students then work full-time in some of their university holidays to put money aside for the term ahead, so this might be an option for yourself.

Last but not least once you become a student you will have access to student discounts! I would recommend downloading the apps Student Beans & UniDAYS as a starting point, but there are plenty of ways to save money such as using browser extensions that automatically search for coupons and discounts for wherever you’re shopping online and getting quality food at a significantly reduced price on apps like Too Good To Go.

I hope this helps, feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. I am very happy to help. Good luck with your future studies!


Lucy 😊
(Official University of Salford Student Rep)