Your student loan and any income from a part-time job will be your main source of income so it is a good idea to plan ahead and work out as best as you can your study and living costs while at university.
Living and study costs
Average Living Expenses
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A single student will need around £17,500 to cover living expenses for a full calendar year although you might be able to make savings in some areas, for example, if you go home to parents during summer, you may not have to pay for rent, utilities, etc. during this period.
Monthly Total (no children, living away from home) = £1,450~
TV Licence* (if applicable)
Monthly Subscriptions** (e.g. Gym/Netflix/Spotify/etc.)
Childcare** (if applicable)
*Only 30% of students pay for a TV license, an alternative may be to subscribe to a cheaper subscription service e.g. NOW TV, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, etc.
**These prices can vary widely and may be significantly higher
Additionally, this doesn't include any non-student loan debts that students may have been paying off e.g. credit cards.
You may be able to reduce your accommodation costs by staying outside of Glasgow City Centre.
For those with children, childcare costs can vary widely but a rough estimate would be £920 per month per child (not including their living costs such as food, after school clubs, toys, clothes, etc.).
Travel Expenses
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Cycling Bike for Good offer free bike maintenance classes in Glasgow to teach you how to keep your bike in working condition, reducing costs down the line.
Public Transport Often buying weekly/monthly tickets works out cheaper, take a look at the travel options below:
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) - Cheapest of all is the 10 week zone card for unlimited travel by rail, subway, most buses and some ferries in Strathclyde.Citylink - Best for students travelling from outside the Strathclyde area, for example Stirling, Falkirk and Perth. Check the Citylink website for current offers.ScotRail - A rail card will grant holders 1/3 off all rail travel nationwide (after 10am). To apply go to the rail card website .First Bus - They offer options for students. These change regularly so check the First Bus website for up to date pricing.Driving your car If you planning on driving to university, remember this can be expensive and you will need to take into account not only the parking, but also the fuel costs , road tax, insurance and if any unexpected repairs pop up! Parking in the city centre can be expensive (you'll have to either pay at the machine by the roadside or use the RingGo App, check out the car parks close and if you are driving, think about car sharing!
From 1st June 2023 the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will come into force in Glasgow City Centre. All vehicles entering the city centre zone area will need to meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge. Check the Glasgow City Council Website for more info.
SAAS funded students There is a contribution element towards travel costs included in your Student Loan.
Nursing, Paramedic and Allied Health students can apply for help towards placement travel if eligible. See SAAS for more information.
If you are having difficulty meeting the costs of your travel to and from GCU, or you have exceptionally high travel costs, you can apply for extra help towards travel through the Discretionary Fund .
Travel tips
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Travel Tips Some student bank accounts also include a free rail card, so be sure to check with your bank! If you are regularly using public transport you may also be better off buying weekly or monthly tickets as they are usually cheaper than buying daily individual tickets. However, make sure you do the maths to see if you commute often enough to save money with a monthly pass. If possible walking/cycling is a great way to commute. Not only will it save you money, but it will also help you stay healthy. Depending on when your classes are or when you want to study, you may be able to get off-peak tickets which are cheaper. Most trains (and some bus companies) offer off-peak tickets after 10am when it’s not rush hour so be sure to double-check if this is an option before buying your ticket If you are under 22 you can get free bus travel in Scotland. If you have a bike, many charities and organisations offer free or cheap bike repair such as Dr Bike GCU have a Brompton folding bike locker on campus (outside the Students Association), these folding bikes can be booked for £5 for a 24hr period, however GCU students have access to 1 FREE 72hr voucher per student. Alternatively NEXT bikes can be around Glasgow across 31 locations (maxing at £20 for a full day).
Insurance tips for Students at University
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With nearly two-and-a-half million students planning to start or return to university in September, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is urging students to make sure their valuables are insured and to protect their belongings against theft or damage as the new year kicks off.
Check your parents’ and university’s policies – it may be possible for an existing home insurance policy to be extended to cover possessions at university, or, there may be an insurance cover already in place in student halls. Check to see if there are any limits on the value of your possessions and if so, consider taking out a separate policy. If you are staying in privately rented accommodation, make sure you keep your door locked (this goes for gym lockers as well), and remember to not leave anything valuable behind outside of term time.Shop around for the best deal – when it comes to buying any kind of insurance, it is always worth shopping around to find the best deal that works for you and ensure that the cover you are being offered is adequate - use comparison sites.Don’t leave valuables unattended –avoid leaving valuables like laptops unattended when you are out and about, as this increases the chance of theft.Consider marking and hiding your valuables – hide your valuables at home and when your room or property is unoccupied, keep your valuables away from view. Security mark your valuables with your details or register them on www.immobilise.co.uk , a police-supported national property register, to help police identify them if they do go missing.Lock your windows and doors – if you are moving into student halls, to minimise risk, remember to shut your windows and lock the door when you are out of your room. For those moving into private accommodation, make sure your front and back doors are strong and secure, with good quality locks.
Food Planning tips Planning meals for the week can save money and reduce food waste! By listing your main meals and needed ingredients, you avoid overspending and last-minute, less healthy choices. Use what you already have, especially fresh items, and incorporate them into your plan.
You can use our GCU Weekly Meal Planner to plan your weekly menu, prepare your shopping list and work out what you have in the fridge or freezer that needs to be used up.
Our Student's Association offers a free Food Pantry during teaching weeks, a slot must be booked in advance here .
Food Shopping
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Check your supplies: Regularly check your cupboards, fridge, and freezer before shopping to avoid overbuying and reduce food waste.Plan and budget: Create a well-organized shopping list and set a spending limit before you shop.Bring your own bags: Save money and help the environment by using reusable bags instead of buying plastic ones.Use loyalty cards: Sign up for supermarket loyalty programs to earn points and save money on future purchases.Shop weekly: Shopping less frequently helps you stick to your budget and reduces impulse buys. Choose supermarkets that fit your needs and prices.Shop smart: Avoid shopping when hungry, try the 'Downshift Challenge' to find cheaper alternatives, and double-check supermarket deals to ensure real savings.Avoid pre-prepared items: Whole foods are often cheaper and more economical than pre-sliced or pre-packaged alternatives.Check use-by dates: Select products with the latest use-by dates to minimize waste.Buy frozen and tinned food: Frozen items and tinned products like beans and pulses are cost-effective, long-lasting, and versatile.Freeze near-expiry food: Freeze items close to their use-by date to extend their shelf life.Use saving apps: Apps like ‘Too Good To Go’ offer discounted food from cafes and supermarkets, reducing waste and saving money.Buy in bulk: Share shopping with flatmates to split costs and maximize savings.Love Food Hate Waste
Student-Friendly Recipe Ideas
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There are a huge range of websites and apps that can give you ideas for what to make in the kitchen. We've put together a few to get you started.
The Student Food Project
BBC Good Foods Student Recipes
Recipe Land - Recipe Land is a really useful website as you can type in the ingredients you have in your fridge or cupboard and it will list recipes that include these ingredients. This is a great money-saving website when you want to use up the food you have in your kitchen but are unsure what to make!
Delicious Magazine
Save the Student
Access a local food pantry
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For a small fee you will be able to select about £15 worth of food (10 items). For more information and to find a local pantry go to Scottish Pantry Network .
Love Food Hate Waste
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The average family of four can save as much as £70 per month by reducing their food waste! Saving food means saving money. Check out Love Food Hate Waste for tips on smart shopping, using up left overs and great easy recipes.
Energy saving tips Energy costs have greatly increased due to the cost of living crisis. Whilst as individuals we can’t tackle the energy crisis as a whole, that doesn't mean that simple changes can't have a big impact. Understanding energy bills and how to save energy has never been more important.
If you are trying to find an overview of understanding energy and the energy price cap ‘Save the Student’ has a useful article that summarises this information well.
Tips to help save energy
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Down below are tips on how to save energy. Whilst some of them may sound simple even small changes can make a big difference when it comes to lowering energy waste and saving money!
Key tips:
If no one is in a room, make sure the lights are turned off Instead of leaving appliances on standby, turn them off completely. When you boil the kettle, only put in as much water as you need. Try to put your dishwasher on ‘Eco-Mode’ or ‘Energy-saving’ mode more, this will reduce the temperature of the wash and is a simple way to make savings. Keep the heat in. Simply closing your blinds or curtains in the evening can help stop heat loss. Additionally, tin foil behind your radiators can help stop heat from escaping. Don't use your washing machine until you have a full load, and use a lower temperature when you do (for example 30 degrees). Defrost your fridge freezer regularly to prevent it from using more energy than needed. If you can, take a shower instead of a bath (and shorten the time you spend in it). Cook with the lids on and match the size of the ring to the size of the pan. Tumble dryers are expensive to run; clothes can be dried for free outside (weather permitting) or on a clothes rail inside. If you can't heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and your bedroom right before you go to bed. Use draught excluders to help keep the heat in your rooms. For more tips in how to save energy the Energy Saving Trust has a great guide called ‘Warm Home Hacks ’.
Understanding Energy Bills
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If you learn how to read your meter correctly and make it a habit to do so, you'll be able to keep track of your energy use and bills easier. This will also help with your budgeting since you'll know how much you spend on energy each month.
Money Saving Expert has a good article which explains how to read your energy bill which can be found here:
Struggling to read your meter? Depending on your accommodation you might have a dial, digital or smart meter. If you are unsure what kind of meter you have or how to read it then ‘The Uni Guide ’ has a great article on how to identify and understand different meters.
GCU Discount Codes
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How to socialise on a budget
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Even though socialising with friends is an important part of being a student, it can also be expensive! Below are some tips to help save money when hanging out with your friends:
Try to start a ‘kitty’ or joint fund with your friends for nights out. This can help you limit how much you spend and help you keep track of your funds. Also, if you have a set amount for a night out, it’ll stop you from being as tempted to pop to a cash machine to take out more money. If you are going out to a restaurant for a meal check to see if they offer student discounts or have any other special deals on. Also, most places will be more likely to have promotions on during the mid-week when it is less busy. Websites like Money Saving Expert keep you up to date on the latest deals and ways to save money on a wide range of activities such as the cinema, eating out, travel and more. Plan ahead, if you know you have a few big events coming up try to set a spending limit for them. It is easy to overspend if you don’t have a budget in mind, so having a set limit can help you manage your spending. If you are easily tempted you could bring only a set amount of cash with you to the event. Just make sure you also set aside enough money to get home safely! Not all activities have to cost money! If you’re trying to save money and still socialise, instead of going out you could always invite your friends round for a film or games night. Alternatively, Glasgow also has lots of attractions around the city which are free. Visit Scotland has a great article which links some of the best free things to do in Glasgow. This article is also really great as it can help you to get to know your way around Glasgow and see more of it! When eating out, go for the ‘Pre-theatre’ menu to save money. Websites such as 5pm and Itison which will show you what restaurants in Glasgow have promotional deals.
How to dress on a budget
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Whilst clothes are essential there are still ways you can cut down on your shopping habits which can help save you money in the long run and is better for the planet:
Try to buy second-hand if you can. There is a huge variety of clothes in charity shops or on websites such as E-bay, Depop and Vinted. Whilst also saving money, it is also a great eco-friendly way of getting a new outfit! You can also sell your own old clothes on these websites and make some money at the same time. Have a minimalist wardrobe. It can be tempting to buy whatever is in style, but make sure it's something you see yourself wearing long term. It is better to have a few quality pieces of clothing that you will actually wear as opposed to clothes that you will wear once and then forget about. Before you make a clothes purchase check to see if the shop offers a student discount. Most high street shops offer student discounts which usually range from ten to twenty per cent so it’s always good to double-check as these savings can really add up! Try to mend your clothes if you can! It's tempting to just throw something away if it has a hole in it, but not only is this wasteful it can also be pricey if you have to buy a replacement. By mending or sewing your clothes, you can give them a new life and help the environment at the same time. You don’t have to be particularly crafty to sew, and there’s an abundance of videos on YouTube that can teach you the basics. For more inspiration, ‘Which ’ has 15 top tips to help you save money on clothes as a student.
Review any services you don’t need
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Review your bank account and cancel services and recurring purchases that you don’t use or can’t afford anymore. As most of these purchases are direct debits, it is easy to forget that those expenses are leaving your account.
If you don’t want to get rid of subscriptions, you may want to share them with a flatmate or a friend so you split the cost.
Access free period products on campus and in your local area.
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GCU Students are able to collect free reusable period products (including reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups) from GCU Students’ Association Advice Centre. Drop in Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Single-use products are located:
In the female and accessible toilets in levels 1 and 0 of the Students’ Association Building. In the ground floor female and accessible/gender-neutral toilets in all buildings on campus. In the female and accessible/gender-neutral toilets on all levels of the Library In Caledonian Court in the Laundry room and the Social Hub toilets
Switching your broadband
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At the moment, switching an energy provider may appear difficult to achieve. However, there may be other bills that you can save your money on, such as broadband. For example at BroadbandDeals.co.uk
Before switching, thoroughly check the terms of the contract. Make sure you know if there are any hidden costs, how long you'll be tied into the contract for, and whether there is a fee to terminate the contract early.
Support services for families
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Holiday spending
Cheap flights
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Our top comparison sites to find the best deal:
Kayak Skyscanner Google Flights Tips:
Make any purchase in ‘Duty Free’ and put whatever isn’t fitting in your luggage in the extra bag
Cheap Accommodation
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Hostels – Happy to share a room with strangers for a fraction of the price?
Hotels – The standard and reliable option
Airbnb – Particularly cost-effective if you’re travelling with a large group
Our top comparison sites (remember reviews are just as important as the price tag):
Booking.com Airbnb
Travel Insurance
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We highly getting travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. This is not expensive (for what it is worth) and can cover you for:
Cancellation(s) before you travel e.g. medical issues/bereavement/home emergency Medical costs while abroad Cutting your trip short Baggage lost/stolen Personal liability – if you accidentally hurt someone/damage property/etc. You catch Covid Travel insurance can be bought for a single trip or annual cover (it’s much more cost efficient to get annual cover and can cover either Europe/or the World.
You’ll want to get specific cover for a cruise and ski holiday.
Find your best policy rate.
Top tips
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When paying for anything over £100 you will get an extra layer of protection when paying with a credit card, assuming you have paid off the full amount that you have spent on the card. Where possible travel with a friend, especially at night and in unfamiliar areas. Check official government advice on travelling to your destination: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice When flying wear your heaviest items to reduce baggage costs Liquids may be banned through airport security, but food is not If asked to pay in pounds of the local currency, choose the local currency as this will be cheaper Make sure whether or not your current SIM will allow you to data roam in your given country If your flight is delayed more than 3 hours you are entitled to compensation
What to bring
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Passport UK GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card); this is steadily replacing the old UK EHIC which will get you medical treatment for the same price a local would pay o Get one for free here: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/ Travel Insurance documents Cash in the foreign currency Sun-cream Weather appropriate clothing Power Bank (s) Necessary Toiletries (airport appropriate volume for liquids) Charging cable(s) + adapter(s) Collapsible/Foldable Water Bottle (lightweight way to stay hydrated) Google Maps (download the map for where you’ll be travelling to before
Hiring a Car
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You must have a valid license (take this with you) If you're hiring a car abroad, then as well as taking your driving licence you should request a personal code from the DVLA. You can do this up to 21 days ahead. Its so companies can check for points on your licence – you may need to provide the code when you go to the counter to collect your car. It’s also worth checking whether or not they will accept debit cards to pay the deposit as most companies will only accept a credit card Best Comparison Sites:
If you’re travelling to the EU, your passport needs to be less than 10 years old on the day you enter, and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
