Money, Benefits, Student Discounts
Discretionary Funding
The University has different pots of money available to students that you can apply to if you are struggling financially, with some open to international and EU students. Each discretionary fund has different eligibility criteria.
For some of the funds, you will need to make an appointment with a member of the Money Team (check the application terms!) Even if you don’t need to make an appointment as part of your application, you can make an appointment to speak to an adviser and discuss your options.
To make an appointment, call +44 (0) 1334 46 2720 or email [email protected]
Money Mentors
The Money Mentors are two students who work with the Money Advice Team, who are offering tips and tricks on saving money. They have started a blog, and you can look out for more content on the Student Services Instagram.
Scottish Welfare Fund
This is a fund available from your local council for those on low income. You do not need to pay these grants back. Within this Fund is the Crisis Grant, to help you when facing an unexpected emergency (such as a fire, flood, or redundancy), and increasingly you may be eligible if you cannot afford food or heating. Find out more about the fund and how to apply here.
Benefits
You may be eligible for certain benefits depending on your income and individual circumstances. Please note that if you are on a visa, you may not be eligible for benefits (see more for students, and for non-students).
As a student, you may be eligible for certain benefits, but again it depends on your individual circumstances.
Use the benefits calculator from ‘entitledto,’ to find out what benefits you may be eligible for if any. Please note that tools like these are not 100% accurate, especially for students, so you will likely benefit from speaking to Citizens Advice.
Debt Advice
Being at University is expensive in any year, nevermind when the cost of living is so high. Many of you will be managing money on your own for the first time, and sometimes that means you can fall into debt.
Getting into debt is nothing to be ashamed of, and there are so many resources and supports out there to help you – please ask for help.
Support services:
- Money Advisers at the University
- Citizens Advice
- Cupar Branch
- Money advice – 0345 1400 094
- General advice – 0345 1400 095
- Opening Hours:
- General phone line 10:00-15:00 Monday-Friday
- Debt line 09:00-16:00 Monday-Friday
- Address
- St Catherine Street, Cupar, KY15 4TA
- Dundee Branch
- 01382 214633
- Opening Hours
- Monday-Friday 09:30-14:00 telephone advice
- Monday-Friday 09:00-15:30 by appointment only
- Address
- Dundee Central Library, Level 4 Wellgate Centre, Dundee, DD1 1DB
- Find your local bureau
- The dedicated Scottish debt charity StepChange
Some resources that may help you:
Best student bank accounts
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert is a great website to look at for the latest information on anything related to money. He also has a page about the best student bank accounts that is updated every academic year.
Some key points from Martin Lewis:
- Most banks only let Freshers apply for these accounts, and there may be some time limits on that. However, some banks let you switch later on, so definitely check!
- Switch to a top graduate account after you finish university
- Get the biggest and longest 0% overdraft you can – be careful though that you budget properly so you don’t spend more than your overdraft limit!
- You will be credit checked when you apply for the account – find out more about credit scores and building your credit history (one easy way to improve your credit score is to get on the electoral roll!)
Top accounts for 2023/24
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Santander 123 Account
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NatWest Student and RBS Student
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HSBC Student
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Nationwide FlexStudent Account
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0% Overdraft
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Years 1-3: £1,500 (provided you pay in £500+ each term).
Year 4: £1,800
Year 5: £2,000
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Start with £500
After first term and till end of Year 2: up to £2,000
Year 3+: up to £3,250
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Year 1: £1,000
Year 2: Up to £2,000
Year 3+: Up to £3,000
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Year 1: £1,000 (guaranteed)
Year 2: up to £2,000
Year 3+: up to £3,000
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Perks
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4 year FREE 16-25 railcard
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£100 FREE cash and four-year Tastecard
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£100 FREE cash if you use your debit card 5+ times within 30 days
One-year Headspace subscription
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£100 FREE cash if you credit the account with £500+ by 15 December 2023
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Who can apply?
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First years
If you’re not in first year, you may qualify but you’ll need to have 2+ years of study remaining
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Undergraduate course lasting 2+ years
Full-time PG student
If you’re not in first year, you can switch from another account at any point in your studies
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First year undergraduates
First year postgraduates
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First years on a full-time course 2+ years in length. You can apply up to 1 year after your course starts.
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Bank accounts for international students
You may be ineligible for certain bank accounts as an international student, so do double check when you apply, as you may need to have been resident in the UK for a set period of time.
Save the Student have put together information on bank accounts available to international students. The University have also put together a page of information about bank accounts for international and EU students. Please always check eligibility criteria thoroughly.
Budgeting
Budgeting at university is really important – your maintenance loan/grant/other funds will disappear quickly once you’ve accounted for rent, bills, and groceries!
Here are some resources that may help:
Support from your bank
Various banks and building societies have dedicated web content about the cost of living and money worries. You can find these pages from Barclays, TSB, Bank of Scotland, Nationwide, RBS, HSBC, and Halifax. If your bank is not listed here, they may still have content that may support you.
Barclays LifeSkills include a host of free online resources that can support you from school, right up to University and working life. Anyone can use Barclays LifeSkills, you do not need to be a Barclays Bank user. They have content on getting to grips with money and budgeting, as well as personal and professional development resources.
Student Discounts
There are lots of fantastic deals for students out there, and many only need you to show your matric card!
Save the Student have a weekly newsletter with the latest deals.
Get the UNiDAYS and StudentBeans apps – sometimes discounts are only available if you sign up!
General Providers
- Waterstones
- Waterstones Plus Student – you get an extra 5% discount on every transaction. You get a plus stamp for every £10 you spend in store or online, every 10 stamps earns you £10 plus balance
- Apple Music
- £5.99 a month with UNiDAYS
- Spotify Premium
- One month free then £5.99 a month
- National Express
- 15% off with UNiDAYS or StudentBeans
- Boots
- 10% off but you’ll need to sign up for a Boots Advantage Card (free). You can get this discount just with your matric card
- Superdrug
- 10% off if you sign up to their Health & Beautycard. You can get this discount just with your matric card
- WH Smith
- 10% off with StudentBeans
St Andrews
- Oliver Bonas
- 10% off with Student Beans online or in store
- Ryman
- 10% student discount with UNiDAYS
- Zizzi
- Often have offers, currently seem to have 30% of food Monday-Wednesday via UNiDAYS
Dundee
- Tinsmith
- Monday-Thursday £3.75 on selected drinks
- The Braes
- Sign up to the mailing list to receive discount vouchers – you’ll need to sign up with your student email address
- PureGym
- No joining fee and up to 30% off membership – check terms and conditions!
- Check on UNiDAYS too
- Frankie & Benny’s
- Leisure Centres
- £25 a month with full access to all facilities
Fife
- Fife Sports and Leisure Trust
- You can get their Active Concessions Scheme membership if you are a full-time student. The membership is valid for a year and you will need to renew it yearly
- Research students who receive funding from a sponsor are not eligible
- You can get 30% off membership
- Find out more about the Active Concessions Scheme and about prices
Angus
- Angus Leisure Centres
- Concessionary membership available to full-time students, reviewed every 12 months, with proof of student status.
- You can get the ANGUSalive Concessionary Entitlement by providing proof of student status. You should apply at your local centre.
- If you are 18-25 years of age, you can access all sites for £25 a month. You must provide proof of age.