How will I pay for uni?

If you're wondering how you're going to pay for uni, our guide will help you navigate your way around student loans and other financial support.

Deciding how you’re going to pay for university might sound daunting but there's plenty of help and support out there for you. Our guide will help you navigate your way around student loans and other financial support. Plus, we have a few tips for making money while you're studying.

We know that thinking about how you’re going to afford university isn’t the most fun part of applying. But, thinking about it now and taking time to understand the options available to you will definitely help you later on.

When you take into account tuition fees, any additional course costs and paying for your accommodation, you can see how costs begin to add up, and that can seem scary. To help you get your head around it all, we’ve done some of the leg work for you and have gathered some useful links.

If you have any questions about student finance, feel free to contact us using the live chat below and we’ll point you in the right direction.

You won't need to apply for student finance just yet (we cover that in a later week). However, it’s always a good idea to have the information you need to hand before you apply.

How will I pay for uni?

Tuition fee loans

While this is probably the biggest cost, don’t worry.

Your tuition fees are likely to be the biggest cost you’ll have to pay, but remember, you don’t need to pay these up front. Tuition fee loans are available and you don’t need to repay them until you’ve finished your degree and are earning more than the amount specified in your loan repayment plan.

When you earn enough to start paying back your tuition fee loan, the Student Loans Company will take a small percentage out of your salary every month until the loan, plus interest, is repaid, so you don’t need to worry about paying it back all at once.

The tuition fee loan is paid directly to the university, so once you’ve applied for it, you can forget about it and focus on your studies, knowing that it’s all taken care of.

Here’s some more information on tuition fee loans:

Maintenance loans

There is also a maintenance loan available to help you with day-to-day living costs. This loan is purely optional, but if you need a hand with funding, it’s worth considering. If you apply for a maintenance loan and are successful, the money is's paid into your bank account over three termly instalments.

Part of this loan is means tested which means that if you’re living at home when at university, you’ll still be eligible to receive money, but you won't get as much as if you lived away - you’ll get slightly less. The loans are also based on your household income (also means tested). This means that the amount you get is dependent on how much your parents earn.

Here's some more information on maintenance loans:

When do I pay for uni?

You don't have to start paying for university until after you have completed your degree. Your student loan will be paid directly to the University and you pay it back when you’re earning above a certain amount.

What other financial support is on offer?

You can also apply for bursaries, scholarships and grants that may be offered by your university. Many of these are non-repayable and are there to help you cover any additional financial costs.

Here at Solent, we offer quite a few, from scholarships for doing well in your A Levels or BTECs, to grants that offer general support, and bursaries for students from a range of different backgrounds.

It's definitely worth investigating what types of additional financial support the university you're considering applying to is offering.

How can I save money while I’m at uni?

The cost of living crisis is hitting everyone hard and it’s not always easy to make ends meet when you’re studying. However, there are lots of ways to save money while studying. Meal planning and sharing your weekly food shop with friends means you can bulk buy some items like pasta, tins of food, and other kitchen essentials.

Universities also often offer financial advice and guidance and can help you budget and advise you on the best ways to make your money go further.

As a student you’ll be able to take advantage of a huge number of student discounts - these cover everything from eating out, travel, concert tickets, clothing, and everyday essentials. Check out the student discount websites to see how you can save money.

How can I make some money while I'm at uni?

You can also make some extra money while you’re studying, but be wary. There are plenty of dubious ‘get rich quick’ schemes and websites that promote opportunities to make money online, but they’re not always as they appear, so if in doubt, do your research before signing up to anything.

The safest way to make a bit of extra cash while studying is by getting a part-time job. It’s also a great way to build your CV. Most universities will have a job site that advertises carefully vetted jobs. Here’s ours.

Many universities will also run an ambassador scheme which lets you work around your studies. This will usually find you assisting at events like Clearing and open days, or promoting the university at UCAS fairs or in schools and colleges.

Your university might also run freelancing initiatives. For example, we have Solent Creatives, an in-house agency that offers paid-for freelance opportunities for students on courses like graphic design, animation, and media production. Again, working in freelance roles like these is a great way to build your CV and your portfolio and to connect with potential future employers.