Cost of living support hub
Survive and thrive at University. If you’re thinking of applying to study with us, there’s plenty of help and advice on offer to ensure that student life is both fun and affordable.
A lot of us are concerned about rising living costs. It's natural to wonder whether coming to university is a good idea in these difficult times.
You can count on us to support you throughout your time here. We’ve devised a package of attractive perks, discounts, practical support and money saving advice to help you survive and thrive during your time with us.
Lowest cost of living in the UK
We're proud to be the most affordable university in the country according to The Times (2023)Over £10m offered to students
In 2022 we contributed over £10 million in scholarships and bursaries to enable all our students to succeed at UCLanAffordable accommodation
Starting at only £85 per week, our on campus accommodation is almost half the national average.Graduates earn 30% more than non-graduates
Graduates earn on average 30% more over their lifetime than non-graduates (Department for Education, 2020)
Average monthly student living costs
- Accommodation: £380
- Food shopping: £91
- Takeaways and eating out: £103
- Transport: £60
- Social life: £33
- Mobile phone: £32
- Monthly streaming service: £4.99
- Personal care: £12 - £50
Please note that some of the cost information above has been taken from Save the Student.
Student life is more affordable than you think
Coming to university is an investment in your future. Remember that you can take a student loan to cover your fees and you won’t need to pay anything back until you’ve graduated and you've got a job.
Please note international students are not eligible to apply for a student loan from the UK Government. You may wish to investigate financial support available from your home country.
Affordable student accommodation with inclusive bills
At Preston we guarantee all first year, full-time students a place in University accommodation on campus. Rent varies depending on the room type and facilities available. Starting at only £85 per week, our on campus accommodation is almost half the national average.
If you opt to live in private accommodation you’ll need to set some money aside for rent, utility bills and Wi-Fi. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
All the thrills. None of the bills.
Our all-inclusive accommodation contracts mean you won’t have to worry about bills either. The costs of heating, water and Wi-Fi are all included in your rent, giving you peace of mind.
No transport costs
Everything in Preston is located right next to campus and a few minutes’ walk from the city centre, so you won’t have to pay any transport costs to get to and from the University.
Live in a great city centre location, without the price tag of Manchester or Liverpool.
Save living in UCLan accommodation in an affordable city. The average cost of private rent in Preston is £112 per week. This is in comparison to £152 per week in Liverpool and £193 per week in Manchester. (Numbeo)
Spend less. Live better.
All of our halls on campus are self-catering, this means food expenses will make up a portion of your monthly budget.
Putting aside a certain amount of money each month for food, and planning your meals, will help you keep on top of your finances.
Supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl provide great value for money and can help keep food bills down.
Live life to the full at UCLan
Socialising is an important part of university life and is something you need to factor into your monthly budgeting. How much your social life costs depends on your interests and lifestyle. Preston is one of the North West's most affordable cities. When it comes to affordable socialising and entertainment, it can’t be beaten.
Enjoy a range of budget-friendly activities and events with our Students' Union.
Save on travel costs.
If you’ll be commuting to university then you’ll need to consider transport costs. You can save money on the costs of bus and train travel by buying weekly, monthly or annual tickets in advance.
Train travel
Preston is one of the most well connected cities in the UK. Preston train station is a 10-minute walk from the campus, providing connections to the rest of the UK. Manchester, Lancaster, Liverpool and Blackpool are within easy reach. Because Preston is located along the West Coast Mainline, you can reach London or Glasgow in around 2.5 hours by train.
If you're travelling by train often, take advantage of student railcards. The 16-25 Railcard gets you one-third off costs of travel.
Cycle hire
If you're studying here you can hire a bike for 3 months at a time. Bike hire is by appointment only from the Bike Hub at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre. You can also get your bike serviced for free in the Bike Hub.
Mobile phone
If you are in a mobile phone contract and are about to pay it off, you could consider going sim only to keep costs down whilst you're at university.
If you need to buy a new mobile phone, consider buying a refurbished mobile phone as they are not as expensive as a brand new phone.
TV license / Monthly streaming service
Plan on watching live television whilst you're at university? Whether you watch live TV via an app like BBC iPlayer or via your TV channels, you will need to get a TV licence for your property. It is a legal requirement in the UK. You can split the cost with your housemates, the cost for a TV licence is £13.25 per month. Find out more about TV Licensing.
If you don't watch live TV and prefer to use streaming apps like Apple TV, Netflix, Now TV or Disney+, make sure you factor this into your monthly budget. Look out for deals, most streaming services offer a free trial, some of which can last for up to six months. The average cost of a streaming service is £7.99 per month. There are also other free streaming services you can use without the monthly subscription cost, such as All4, ITVX, Roku and Freevee.
Household essentials
Household essentials are non-food items and include things like cleaning supplies, toilet roll and batteries. If you live in shared accommodation, you could share the costs of these things with your housemates and have a joint fund that you all contribute to. It is worth shopping around to get household goods at discounted rates, places like B&M and Home Bargains often offer reasonable discounts on household essentials.
Save money by accessing microwaves, hot water, water fountains and showers across campus.
Supporting your studies
Our range of support services will provide you with the help you need throughout your time here and beyond. Our dedicated teams are here to help with every aspect of student life. From financial matters, health and wellbeing, to inclusive support and visas. Whatever you need help with, we're here for you.
Discover our supportFunding university study
Understanding your finances
From money saving tips to understanding maintenance loans, discover everything you need to know about financing your studies right here.
Advice from our students
Budgeting videos01 / 03
How much do I REALLY spend as a student? #CostOfLiving series
Financial support at university
Thinking of studying with us and worried about costs? You dont have to wait to arrive to get support, contact us on +44 (0)1772 891828 (Option 2) or email Student Support.
We can offer support and guidance at the Student Centre, where we can offer help with:
- Practical tips on managing your living costs
- Paying your student fees
- Budgeting and more
The Students’ Union also offer independent help offering assistance with any aspect of student life.
Don’t struggle in silence. We have lots of resources that can help you now. These include:
- Referrals to local foodbanks
- Further support is available if you find yourself in extreme circumstances
- Support from our Student Support Team
Hardship funds
If you find yourself experiencing financial hardship we may be able to offer you some financial support. This support could help with the everyday costs of student life through one of our discretionary hardship funds.
Please note hardship funds are very limited for international students. This is because you must demonstrate that you can support yourself whilst studying as part of your Student Visa application.
We want you to excel at university, whatever your background or financial income. We have bursaries and scholarships available to students from low-income households and those facing barriers which could prevent them from achieving their potential. We also have bursaries for students who are care leavers and/or those estranged from their families, as well as students with disabilities / learning needs.
Our Careers Team can help you with job applications and interview skills if you’re thinking of getting a part-time job to earn some extra income to support you while you study. This work experience will also be a boost to your CV which could help with your job prospects after you graduate.
We have a number of financial learning tools available to help you to manage your money as a student. We work closely with Blackbullion who provide an online platform with financial support modules, articles and workshops. These will help you prepare for study, manage your money while studying and prepare for your future beyond university.
Frequently asked questions about student finance
Most students living in the UK choose to apply for a student loan. This means that the government agrees to pay a student's tuition fees during their time at University.
Your student loan is made up of two parts:
- A tuition fee loan, which is paid directly to us.
- An optional maintenance loan to help with your living costs. This will be paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term.
The amount you receive will depend on your personal circumstances. This could be your household income and whether you live away from home or with your family.
You may get asked to contribute towards a small number of essential things you’ll need to get the most out of your course. This could be books, equipment and attendance on field trips. We’ll give you more details when you apply.
Financial support from us
We have extra financial support packages which you may be eligible for if you’re from a low income household or experiencing financial hardship. Find out more on our fees and funding page.
Other government funding
For details of other government support available, including:
- Child Tax Credits
- NHS bursaries
- Social work bursaries
- Help with costs of travel to UK clinical placements
Visit gov.uk/student-finance
You should apply for your student loan as soon as you’ve applied to us. The application process varies depending on where you live. To apply please follow the relevant link:
Postgraduate students can now apply for a loan from the Student Loans Company in the same way as undergraduate students. However, unlike an undergraduate loan, this will be paid directly to you. As a result, it is important to consider your tuition fees and when you need to pay these to the University.
To apply please follow the relevant link:
If you have been assessed as having “settled status”, you will be eligible for the same support from Student Finance as a UK student.
To apply please follow the relevant link:
As an international student you are unable to apply for a student loan from the UK Government. You must show that you can pay your tuition fees and support yourself during your studies as part of your Student Visa application.
We want you to excel no matter what your background. We have several bursaries and scholarships available to support you whilst studying with us. You may also want to research what funding is available from your home country to support you through your studies.
In England, you won’t start repaying your student loan until you’ve finished your course and you’re earning above a certain amount.
Student Finance England deduct repayments from your salary through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme.
Your repayments will stop automatically if your income falls below the threshold or you stop working.
Your monthly repayment will be a small percentage of the amount of your salary which is above the threshold.
Other parts of the UK have different repayment plans.
For more information about repaying student loans go to the repaying your student loan page on the government website.
If you go through Student Finance, you have the option to receive a maintenance loan from the government to help with your living costs. The amount you receive in your maintenance loan depends on your personal circumstances. This could be your household income and whether you live away from home or with your family.
Maintenance loans get paid directly into your bank account at the start of each term. Generally, maintenance loans will get paid into your bank account in September, January and April. This can vary depending on which university you study at and the course you are studying. Your maintenance loan is unlikely to get paid directly to your accommodation provider. Be mindful of this when you are working out your monthly budget as you will need to put money aside to pay your accommodation provider.
It is unlikely that your maintenance loan will cover all of your living costs. If possible, you may need extra financial support from:
- A parent or carer
- A government loan
- A scholarship or bursary provided by the university
- A part-time job
More money saving help
You'll find lots of independent tips and advice on the following websites:
- Turn To Us, free benefits advice and grant search tool
- Students’ Union Advice Centre
- Save The Student
- Citizens Advice
- Managing Money
- Money Helper
- Money Saving Expert
- Step Change Debt Charity
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