Ways to save money

If you’re coming onto campus to study, chill, or are just waiting in between lectures, did you know you can make the most of our free Wi-Fi access, charging stations and central heating?

That’s right, and at no extra cost. Check out our list of study spaces and where you can find them.

If you want to be extra snuggly and warm, you can even borrow a blanket whilst studying in the Main Library. Find them on each level right beside the lifts.

There are lots of free utilities on campus where you can fill up your water bottle, access kitchens, microwaves and hot (and cold) water taps. Find out more by checking out our handy list. 

You can also juice up your mobile phone for free in one of our lockers found in the Sports Centre, Ground Floor Teaching & Learning Building, Murray Learning Centre, and University Centre while you study, eat or go for a walk around campus.  

You can now collect free, environmentally friendly period products, including tampons and sanitary towels from more than 20 campus locations, including the Aston Webb Student Hub. Find out more.

You can also collect them at the following locations:

We appreciate that everyone may be feeling the pinch lately, but we don’t want anyone to struggle financially to the point where they can’t afford to eat.

Here are a few changes and initiatives that can help you if you’re struggling:  

• Working with our very own food and drink team, Food Fellows, we’ve reduced lunchtime staples and implemented an improved Meal Deal range which now includes some hot options. Tuck into a sandwich, drink and snack for £4.75, or upgrade to a wrap or panini for an extra 50p.

• If you fancy a coffee on the go, it doesn’t need to break the bank! All our coffee shops on campus offer a basic tea and filter coffee offer for less, alongside a full range of hot drinks. Using a resuable cup will also get you 25p off your drink so it's worth investing in one. 

• As well as Meal Deal ranges, we're introducing more discounts on food and drink. As of October 2024, our Japanese restaurant Kimiko (University Centre) is offering a 'Happy Hour' from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday. Get 15% off a Katsu Curry, Vege Gyoza, and Spicy Korean Chicken (discount available for in-store purchases only).

• Get the most out of your mealtimes on campus with the new Food Fellows app. Download the free app to collect loyalty points every time you spend at any of our 20+ Food Fellows outlets on campus and at The Exchange Café. To collect points, simply present the rewards QR code on your app at checkout. You'll be able to redeem accumulated points, and when you buy nine hot drinks, you'll get a hot drink for free. Find out more about the app and how to collect points. Oh, and did we mention you get a free drink when you sign up too? 

• Student Living Plus makes it easy to eat well at uni while managing your money. If you're in catered University accommodation, you can benefit from 10% off all food and drink (excluding alcohol) at Student Living outlets. 
• If you’re struggling to buy food, your Guild of Students’ Community Pantry can support you by providing a free one-off food parcel if you’re in need.
• Why not bring a home-cooked meal to campus with you? It’s so easy to prepare your own food and drinks on campus with Food Fellows’ Micro Markets. These self-service vending machines with built-in microwaves and hot taps can be found at Mason Arts, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Sportex, Wolfson Room (Medical School) and Biosciences. You’re welcome to eat your food in any of our social spaces and food areas, just make sure you clean up after yourself, please! 
• We’re also fighting food waste by teaming up with the online platform ‘Too Good to Go’. This free app lets you buy food (i.e. Magic Bags) that would otherwise go to waste at a great price. 14 outlets on campus and The Exchange are signed up, so see what leftovers you can get your hands on before the end of the day.
• You can drop by the Mermaid Bar at the Guild of Students every Wednesday morning from 9am until 11am for their Community Breakfast scheme. Enjoy a free, continental-style breakfast. All students are welcome.

Save money, time and the environment with Hazaar. 

With Hazaar, UoB students have access to their very own student in-app and in-person marketplace. Created by UoB alumna Harriet Noy, using Hazaar means you can find preloved items such as clothes, fancy dress costumes, household items, textbooks, sports equipment and so much more. 

Check out what secondhand gems students from UoB are selling through the app or in person at one of the monthly pop-up markets on campus, all at prices you can afford.

There are also opportunities to earn yourself extra cash from listing clothes and other items you no longer need. Whether that's through the app or having a free stand on campus during the pop-up markets. As all items bought and sold are collected on campus, saving you money on postage and packaging as well as helping the environment. 

To get started, visit the Hazaar app and sign up using your UoB email address. For more information, you can also follow the student marketplace on Instagram by searching 'JustHazaar'.

Research has shown that energy consumption can be reduced significantly by taking small steps. We’ve put together some resources on a few easy ways that you can save on your energy consumption whilst living in our accommodation and at UoB. 

• NUS Student Switch Off+ provides some great advice on understanding your energy bills and offers some tips about conserving energy and heat. 

• MoneySavingExpert regularly puts out guides on how you can cut the cost of your energy and water bills. 

• As mentioned above, you can also save money on your energy bills by working on campus. There are Study Spaces located around campus as well as the Main Library. 

Being sensible with your money is an important life skill but it doesn’t mean you can’t spend it at all. When you’re buying something, either big or small, it’s always worth shopping around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. From days out to clothes and fashion, many places offer discounts and promotions for students throughout the year. We’ve put together some handy tips to help you save where you can: 

• Invest in a TOTUM membership. TOTUM memberships are available to eligible students, professionals, and apprentices in the UK, and there are two memberships to choose from. You'll receive discounts across tech and mobile, travel, fashion, beauty, food and drink, fitness and more. 
• Free apps such as UNiDAYS and StudentBeans offer discounts at a variety of retailers, brands, and online subscriptions. You'll just to register or verify using your UoB email address. Check out our 'Discounts' tab to see some of the top offers available for 2024/25. 
• Many businesses such as hairdressers and nail salons also offer student discounts so it's always worth asking when booking. 
• Some UK banks offer student extras such as interest-free overdrafts or freebies for joining so we recommend shopping around to find the best account for you. 

When food or grocery shopping, you should have a think about which supermarkets best suit your budget. Non-branded items such as supermarket-own brands are often cheaper than branded items if you're looking to cut your food bill. 

You can often get food for cheaper by shopping in the evenings when food prices have been reduced (look out for the yellow stickers). Most items can be frozen so you can always snap up food with yellow stickers to eat at another time. 

If you have a freezer, buying frozen fruit and vegetables such as blueberries and carrots, can be more cost effective than buying fresh. 

Whether you're searching for affordable options, or just want to try some different tastes, students Srushti and Ishita have got you covered! 

Many supermarkets also have reward schemes such as Tesco Clubcard, Asda Rewards, Sainsbury’s Nectar Card and Morrisons More. There’s also lots of other ways to save money on food online, such as cashback apps and coupons: 

• Money Saving Expert - Supermarket Coupons UK

• Save the Student - Best Supermarket Cashback Apps 

You can save a lot of money by cooking with your housemates or friends, rather than ordering a takeaway.  

Not only will it save costs and reduce waste, but you can also batch-cook your meals and freeze them, which will prevent food from expiring and save you some extra time and money. Please note that many shops are removing best-before dates in an attempt to reduce waste. Whilst best-before dates only offer a guide on quality, you should still refer to the use-by dates to make sure your food is safe to eat. 

You don’t need to be a pro to have a go at cooking some healthy, cost-effective meals. There are lots of easy, cheap, and filling student recipes to get you started: 

• Save the Student: Student Recipes  

• Tesco: Student Recipes  

• BBC Good Food: Student Recipes 

• Student Eats: Student Recipes 

You may also want to take some inspiration from student May, who shares her favourite, quick and nutritious dishes that won't break the bank. Need some more inspo? Check out our 'Banging Budget Friendly Meals' series over on our Instagram and TikTok. The series features videos from our Student Content Shapers cooking their favourite affordable but tasty meals. 

Whilst it’s important to avoid spending money daily on takeaways, they can be a nice treat every now and then, especially if you’re busy or just don’t feel like cooking. 

• Check out this handy guide from Save the Student on the best ways to save money on takeaways. 

• Always check whether the restaurant offers student discount or even a freebie for students. 

• You can get a takeaway bargain by using Too Good to Go. Open the app and find Surprise Bags of Food from restaurants and shops near you. 

• The Food Fellows team have also been cooking up new ways to help you enjoy the food and drink you love on campus, for less. Find out more. 

A key perk of being a student is the discounts. Lots of companies and brands offer great deals when you're studying. 

As mentioned, student discount apps such as UNiDays, StudentBeans and TOTUM are full of great student discounts and offers for online or instore purchases.

If you’re out and about, always ask if the shop or retailer you’re visiting offers student discounts, especially around the local Selly Oak area. It’s more than likely that they do! Keep your student ID card on you, or a UNiDAYS ID, StudentBeans ID or TOTUM card. Check out the 'Shopping' tab to find out more about registering for these discounts. 

Here are some great student offers to take advantage of:

• Health and beauty retailer Boots offers 10% discount online or in store on lots of products if you have an Advantage Card. You'll need to pop into a store with your Boots Advantage Card and a valid student ID to activate your membership.
• Superdrug, another health and beauty retailer, also offer 10% discount for students if you have a registered Health & Beautycard. To use your discount in store, just show your Health & Beautycard and Student ID at the till. For online discounts, verify you’re a student and claim your unique code below via StudentBeans. 
• Students get a free six month trial of Amazon Prime for Students. Get access to Prime benefits such as unlimited next-day free delivery, Amazon Music and Prime Video. After your free trial, you can cancel your membership or continue the membership at half price. 
• Love listening to music or Podcasts? Students get Spotify Premium for free for 1 month. 

When it comes to clothing and goods, there are lots of second-hand shops that you can visit near the University to find a pre-loved bargain. It's more affordable and better for the planet. 

Keep in mind that there are plenty of enjoyable activities you can take part in without spending money. 

Free attractions

• Why not organise free, fun activities with friends? You can visit free attractions and museums, stay in to watch a movie, play board games or go for walks.
• One of the many perks of studying at UoB is the fact that your student status gives you free access to the different cultural attractions on campus, including the University's very own Lapworth Museum of Geology or Winterbourne House and Garden. Just bring your student ID!

You may be eligible for help with healthcare costs by completing a HC1 form and applying to the NHS Low Income Scheme. This could include full or partial exemption from NHS prescription costs, or help with dental and optical care.

We also offer Student Membership at the Sport & Fitness Centre. You could also explore alternative exercise plans such as Couch to 5K, utilise exercise videos on YouTube or join a club or society here at UoB.

Health and beauty retailers Boots and Superdrug offer 10% student discount which can be used on healthcare products and medication. 

Getting to campus and finding your way around is an important part of University. There are loads of ways you can cut down your travel expenses while at UoB.

Rail

We have our own University Train Station located right here on campus, and it's a quick and easy way to travel into the heart of Birmingham.

There are a number of Railcards available to purchase, with the majority offering 1/3 off rail fares in the UK. Our Student Train Travel Tips page has more information on other savings available if you're travelling in and around Brum. 

Cycling

Many students choose to cycle at the University, and it's great for your wallet! You can save hundreds of pounds on fares, parking charges, or petrol.

We operate a bike hire scheme, and you can find West Midlands Cycle Hire stations around the outskirts of campus.

Bus

UoB students benefit from an exclusive 20% discount on 4-week student tickets and monthly direct debits. These tickets are only available via the UoB Portal.

You can also explore a variety of other deals offered by National Express.

Don't forget to also download NX Bus’s mTicket App via the App Store or Google Play Store. It's a practical way to buy single tickets, passes and excellent-value group tickets. You can also make contactless payments on their buses. 

You can have different course-related costs depending on what you study. You can find information on the type of general and subject-specific costs by contacting your respective School or College.

Most courses require core textbooks. We suggest using our Library Services where possible, and always checking to see what books are available via our library catalogue, FindIt@Bham, before you buy.

If you need to purchase your own textbooks, opt for second-hand textbooks to cut down on costs via second-hand retailers like Ebay or Amazon. Plus, you can resell them afterwards!