Members

What will I need to pay for?

Whatever university you choose to go to, you will be asked to pay tuition fees, which go towards the cost of your course. The good news is that you do not have to pay any of this tuition fee whilst you are at university - unless you want to. Instead, you will be able to borrow a tuition fee loan, which you do not have to pay back until you have finished your degree and are earning a decent income.

If you don't live at home (and sometimes even if you do) you will need to pay rent. Find out if your rent includes extras such as bills or any meals.

How about food? You'll need to eat. You can save money by shopping in supermarkets and making the most of special offers. Take a shopping list with you, so you only buy what you really need.

You will need to pay household bills, including you share of the electricity, gas and water bills. In halls of residence these charges are usually included in the rent you pay. If you bring a TV remember to buy a TV licence.

Will you need to buy any other specialist course materials? Don't forget you'll be able to borrow books for free from the library and you might be able to get cheap second hand books.

Other things to think about:

Insurance - for a small premium each month you could protect your belongings.

Mobile phone - pay as you go is a better than a contract, as you can keep up with what your spending.

Transport - how will you get to and from university, could you save money and walk?

Tuition fees - how much does it cost to do your course? Remember, there are loans, bursaries and grants available to help you pay your fees. Look at our jargon buster at the back of this book for full explanations of what these are and how they can help you.

Top tip - keep a little bit of money back each week. It will be useful in emergencies or if you spend more than you meant to one week. Once you've saved some money, you can then treat yourself for budgeting so well.