Our roundup answers some of the most frequently asked questions from the Reddit community. This month, we cover topics including our campuses facilities, budgeting tips and advice for utilising your commute time.
By April Baniqued. Published 27 September 2024.
Here are the questions:
- Can I access facilities across the University’s multiple campuses?
- What are the benefits of each University campus?
- How do I create a student budget?
- What are some tips for socialising as a Fresher?
- How do I make the most of my free time as a commuter student?
1. Can I access facilities across the University’s multiple campuses?
Our students, including our satellite and online students, are able to access the on-campus facilities at several of our University locations. Simply use your ID card and scan into the building to use the common areas, cafes, libraries and so much more.
All our sites include free Wi-Fi, a library, a silent study area and a café. Some campuses have specialist facilities, such as the mock courtroom in Leeds, the legal tech hub at London Moorgate and the mock crime scene suite at London Bloomsbury.
Below is the list of campuses that all our students are able to use. Check out the virtual tours to explore each one:
Only students studying at our satelitte campuses (partnerships with other universities) have access to the facilities at their designated campus.
For instance, if you are studying at our Exeter satelitte campus, you can use the facilities at the University of Exeter and our owned campuses listed above - but if you are studying at our Bristol campus, you can only use the locations listed above.
2. What are the benefits of each University?
We have 17 campuses to choose from, each with its own unique charm. Curious about a particular one? Click the one you’re interested in and uncover the hidden gems of the city.
Our University campuses:
Our satellite campuses:
- Newcastle University
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of Chester
- University of East Anglia, Norwich
- University of Exeter
- University of Liverpool
- University of Reading
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
We also have our Online campus, allowing you to study wherever you are in the world.
3. How do I create a student budget?
Financial responsibility is something new for many university students. Here is a step-by-step guide and budgeting tips.
Step 1: Work out your income
You first need to know how much you earn every month. This can be from your student finance maintenance loan, job salary, bursaries or grants, benefits and your parent’s contribution.
Step 2: Note down your expenses
Now you’ve discovered your income every month, you can start organising your expenses. Separate your expenses into two categories: essentials and flexible spending:
- Essential spendings are the payments you must make - this can be your commute to university, groceries, savings, rent, house bills and phone bills.
- Flexible spendings are the payments that you can live without. These are typically for leisure purposes- this can be clothing, movie tickets, books, takeaways, pubs, a Netflix subscription, or holidays.
It is best practice to put your essential spending aside. This means you can freely spend your money on things you want, without having to worry if you have enough to pay for the things you need. If you’re easily tempted to spend your essentials, some online banks have locks. Monzo lets you create a “pot” to lock your money away and schedule its release when it’s time to pay.
Step 3: Figure out how much you want to spend
This is the hard part. You need to be honest with yourself and prioritise what’s important to you. Financial responsibility is all about balance. You might find that buying groceries and cooking for yourself is a lot cheaper than ordering takeaway every week. Or maybe you don’t mind taking the bus to campus instead of the taxi if it means you can have a more expensive shopping day.
Step 4: Track your spending
Your budget is not always going to be the same. It can change every month and commitments might pop up, such as weddings, birthdays and holidays.
It can help to visualise your spending. You can do this using pen and paper, spreadsheets or a tracking app. There are lots of free resources available to do this.
Spreadsheet-wise, Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are both cost-friendly options as they are free to use. You can create formulas to help you calculate how much you can afford to spend each month.
As for a tracking app, the BlackBullion Money Manager app is also free to use. Instead of looking at how much you spend in multiple bank accounts, you can link it through this app and track them simultaneously. You can set daily budgets and spending goals, and be rewarded with prizes when you reach your targets.
Step 5: Save money
As you manage your spending, it’s helpful to research best practices that you can incorporate into your daily routine to become more cost-effective.
- Student discounts: before making your purchase, search for student perks. If you travel by train a lot, Trainline offers railcards. Simply enter your age, travel status and if you travel within London and the South East, and it’ll suggest the best plan for you. The 16-25 railcard may be of interest, which means you can save 1/3 on eligible train rides. Check out our blog for more suggestions.
- Cook at home: repeatedly eating out and ordering takeaway is very tempting. Opt for cooking at home and meal prepping to help resist the urge.
Also don’t forget, your freezer is your best friend. You might find you have leftovers, instead of leaving them to spoil, freeze them to eat for another time. Don’t forget to look out for the reduced items section in grocery stores for great deals.
- Exercise: as great as it is to have a personal trainer and regularly go to the gym, this might not be a luxury everyone can afford. A great alternative is YouTube home workout videos. There are many channels that can guide you and motivate you. Our blog also recommends some great fitness and well-being apps.
- Pre-plan: you’d find early bird really does catch the worm when it comes to budgeting. You may find if you book earlier, you can save money. Trainline has advanced train tickets. These are single train tickets that go on sale before the day of travel, typically 12 weeks but can go as far as 24 weeks in advance.
You can get lots of information and resources about budgeting, saving and boosting your income on our cost of living hub.
4. What are some tips for socialising as a Fresher?
Making friends can be nerve-racking but know that everyone feels the same way. Here are some tips to help you:
Make the first move
It’s common to feel a bit anxious about making the first move. You can simply say “hi” or compliment their outfit or book choice. This way, you're inviting them into a conversation which can reassure them and make it easier for them to engage back.
Ask questions and listen
As easy as it might be to talk about yourself, allow time for the other person to talk about themselves too. Listen to what they’re saying and ask questions to show you’re genuinely interested. Follow-up questions are also helpful if you're unsure how to respond in a conversation.
Join a society
Consider joining some of the University’s clubs and societies to find students with similar interests. This will make conversations flow easier as you have something in common to talk about. From football to book club, you’re bound to find one that you like - and you can create your own if you have something in mind too. Our student-led groups fall into the following categories:
- Academic
- General interest
- Liberation
- Political
- Religious/Cultural
- Sport
Find out more about the clubs and societies available on our Students' Union website.
5. How do I make the most of my free time as a commuter student?
As well as the time you have on your commute, you may also have free time around lectures. Here are some ideas of how to make the most of it:
Study
You can go through what you’ve just learned in class to make sure you really understand the topic. You can also complete any assignments you’ve just been given - you might find it easier to finish the task when it’s still fresh in your mind.
This is also a great way to feel accomplished once you reach home and makes it easier to relax knowing you’ve had a productive time learning.
Socialise
Take this as an opportunity to get to know your coursemates. You could invite them for a coffee or catch a movie at a local cinema. You could also make it a regular meet-up to ensure you all unwind after a lesson.
You can also continue learning together. You may be struggling and need some help understanding a difficult lesson or need a study partner for an upcoming exam. Remember to make use of our University library, silent study rooms and common areas. Improving these relationships means you can work together better during group projects and help one another when difficult assignments pop up.
You could also befriend other commuters from your course or across the wider campus, and share what you've learned or your experiences during the trip home.
Do hobbies and explore interests
After learning so much, you may feel the need to rest. Reward yourself by doing what you love. This can be playing games on your phone, reading a book, listening to music and streaming a movie.
You can also explore a new interest. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint or crochet? Or speak a new language? Or play a new instrument? If you’re self-learning, make use of sites like YouTube which have plenty of educational videos.
Improve your health
It’s easy to overlook our health, whether that be mentally or physically. Having this free time can help you prioritise your wellbeing. You can find an outdoor space to meditate or go to the nearby gym and exercise.
Explore the city and nearby
One of the great benefits of commuting is that you get to discover a new city. Explore by eating out in different restaurants, joining societies and clubs or going shopping. If you’re trying to save up, bring your own lunch and eat out in a nearby park or read a book in the local library.
Once you’re done exploring that city, you can visit nearby cities too. Not sure what to do in your campus city? Check out the gems of your location in question two above.
Need more ideas to fill up your commuting time? We’ve got you covered. Find more in this blog.
Feel free to reach out to Student Support for any extra help.
