University and money

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hey there , I understand your worries and I hope this helps . I advise you to start working full time over the summers till you start Uni. This may not be a lot of money but you could have 2-3 thousand in savings by the time you start uni without having to work while you are in school now.
This money will be a good place to start but once you are in Uni depending on which course you are in , you can try to work on weekends and when around your academic timetable. It was easier for me to work in first and second year but in third year I don't work much because I can't handle all the stress.
I also worked full time over the summers for my university and a clearing assistant , it was an amazing experience and paid well. It helped me to have enough savings to keep me going for bit.
Myself and my friends each have a spread sheet to monitor our spending with the money we do have , this has helped me alot. I definitely think you can make it work , it won't be easy and you might have to miss out on a lot of things that other people get to do but ultimately you will get the degree you want .
I hope this helps !!
Cece
Energy Engineering Student

Hi
This is a totally normal consideration when coming to university. However, please remember that there are lots of different grants and ways to get funding from the university. I would advise you to reach out to your university finance department as they will be able to advise if there are any additional grants that you can access from your course.
I hope this helps,
Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hi,
I completely understand your concerns. I had the exact same worries when I decided to come to Kingston - my maintenance loan only covered half of my rent, and although my parents agreed to provide some financial support, it still wasn't enough to cover food/living costs. Luckily, I was able to find a part-time job relatively quickly whilst at university, and I haven't found it interferes much with my studies. I can easily work day shifts during the weekends without it affecting my social life, and as a student ambassador for my university I can pick up flexible work opportunities when I need a bit of extra cash.
Furthermore, as Matt (WrexhamUniRep) pointed out above, most universities do have some form of grants/funding available for students who need additional financial help to meet their basic needs. Most of these are listed on each university's website - when you start looking for universities in the future, you can always double check to see whether these funds would be available to you.
Best of luck with your GCSEs! 🙂
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Are you aware that you apply for student finance to receive a loan to pay tuition fees and a maintenance loan to help with living costs? The maintenance loan amount is based on your household income - the lower the income the more you will receive (up to a maximum). Universities also offer bursaries to students from low-income households.
Have a read through the following to see what is available this year:
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/new-fulltime-students

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!

Hey, I totally get where you're coming from—university can feel like a huge financial challenge, especially when you're balancing studies and the worry about costs. But don’t let that stress you out too much! There are actually a lot of ways to make it work, even if you come from a working-class background.
First, definitely look into scholarships and grants. Many universities offer financial aid based on need or merit, so even if you're worried about not having enough money, there might be some support available to you. It’s worth checking out the financial support pages on the universities you’re interested in.
Student loans are also an option in the UK, and they can help cover tuition and living costs, which you only start paying back once you're earning a certain amount. It’s definitely something to research further.
As for the job situation, don’t feel like you have to take on a full-time job right away. Many students manage with part-time jobs or even summer jobs before starting university. The workload can be intense, so it's about finding a balance that works for you. Some universities also offer paid internships or work-study programs that align with your studies, which could be really helpful.
Also, remember that a lot of people feel overwhelmed by the cost of uni—you're not alone in that. Universities are really used to supporting students from all kinds of backgrounds, so don’t be afraid to ask about support options if you need them.
Geometry Arrow

Hi @anonymous #1,
I’m a second year Geography BA student at the university of Southampton and I was in the exact same boat as you. It’s honestly really good you’re starting to think about the practicality of going to university!
Of course university isn’t the only way to achieve an amazing career path. It’s worth considering apprenticeships and even degree apprenticeships where you’ll be able to earn money whilst getting those valuable skills for later on. A few degree apprenticeships I looked into before choosing to just do a straight university degree actually offered to pay for your tuition, so it’s worth looking into.
But if apprenticeships aren’t for you, I’d suggest looking into university schemes for sixth formers. I took part in Exeter University’s “Exeter Scholars” (there’s a south-west and a national version of this) and Southampton University’s “Ignite your Journey”. These have eligibility criteria in order to take part in. But if you are eligible you could end up getting a scholarship plus a range of other benefits such as lower entrance grades. From Exeter they offered me £1500, and from Southampton they offered me £1000.
I obviously chose Southampton because I preferred the course, but later on I found out I could then be eligible for their Ignite your Success scheme where I managed to achieve a £3000 scholarship over my three year course.
These are mostly all free to sign up for but will require you to take part in sessions and tasks. Some of these can be online or in person but worth researching into as it’s helped me significantly throughout my studies.
I’ve seen that other replies have mentioned working, and I agree that summer is definitely the best way to raise and save money. Honestly work as hard as you can over summer so you don’t have to get a job at university otherwise it can be quite stressful juggling it all.
University’s may also offer jobs to students such as through being a student ambassador. I’m an ambassador at Southampton and I can sign up to help with open days and offer holder days. It doesn’t happen very often but it’s an easy way to boost money.
Most universities will also have a student hub and at Southampton they have advisors on most things including financial situations. So if you become worried about anything you should be able to contact them and they’ll be able to find ways to support you.
I hope this has helped and if you have any other questions at all don’t be afraid to ask!
Lucy

Thank you this is really helpful!! Is there a limit to the amount of scholarships/bursaries/loans i can apply for?

Hi, I have a few years until I go to university, but I am so worried about how I am going to afford it- I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a job as I already struggle with energy to revise my GCSEs, let alone A-Levels and a job on top of that, especially with the intense workload. But I’m worried that I won’t have any money for food, rent etc (I come from a working class background) But my dream is to go to a really good uni, any advice or information? Thanks!