Student Life on a Budget in Stoke-on-Trent

Hi everyone, Kurtis here and I am a student at University of Staffordshire which is in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent.
This thread is here for anyone to ask any more specific questions because everybody's situation is different <3

University life is expensive so I’m gonna be discussing what it’s like being a student in Stoke with very little money.

Luckily, it is one of the cheapest UK cities for university accommodation therefore focusses can be on other things to reduce the stress. According to StudentCrowd Stoke is the 7th cheapest for accommodation in the UK, the average for accommodation is £125 a week and I spend even less than that on mine which is right next to the university itself (about £90 per week).

There are a plethora of different affordable shops around the area too, with the regular supermarkets making an appearance around every other corner I swear. Therefore, food shopping is quite cheap and you can vary your diet easily.

I’m someone who loves a good coffee, so I was worried about this when I came to university. However, the on-campus coffee shop is extremely cheap (Squeezebox), like where else am I able to get a large iced coffee with a syrup for £2.80?????

You’re able to have a lot more money on hand if you utilise the cheap accommodation effectively so once you’ve got that down, university life will be sorted 😊

This thread is here for anyone to ask any more specific questions because everybody's situation is different <3

Thanks,
Kurtis
L5 Esports Student at University of Staffordshire

Reply 1

Samrollins

Hey Kurtis! I really appreciate your breakdown; I honestly couldn’t agree more. I’m also studying in Stoke at the moment and the cheap accommodation here is a lifesaver when you’re trying to juggle uni, food, travel, and the occasional iced coffee addiction 😂
For anyone new to Staffs Uni or moving next year, the best areas I’ve found for student-friendly shared accommodation are:

•

Shelton

•

Stoke Town Centre

•

Leek Road

•

College Road

All of these are literally walking distance from campus and usually way cheaper than the official halls.
I recently checked out a place called Verta Suites too, it’s basically modern shared accommodation right by the uni. Fully furnished rooms, bills included, and the weekly cost is actually lower than a lot of the on-campus options. If you want something clean, stress-free, and not ridiculously priced, it’s definitely worth looking into.
If anyone wants budgeting tips for Stoke, cheap food spots, or the best areas to live as a first-year, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned! 😊