Please note: This content was written with undergraduate home students in mind. If you are an international student please contact DMU Money Advice or International Student Support directly for further advice and guidance.
September
Put together a budget: Make sure you've got your budget in place before the start of term:
Look for a part-time job: Increase your income by securing part-time work:
Open a student bank account: If you haven't already, open a student bank account and arrange an interest-free overdraft.
Share utility bills for your house: If you plan to share a student house, it's a good idea for you and your housemates to be jointly responsible for all the utility bills. Save the Student have a useful guide on setting up, splitting and managing utility bills. TIP: Take meter readings when you move in and submit them to your provider, you only want to pay for what you use.
16‒25 Railcard: If you think you’re likely to be travelling a lot over the next few months, you might want to buy a National Rail 16-25 Railcard which gives a 1/3 off ticket prices. Don’t worry if you’re over 25, you can still get the railcard if you’re a full-time student. Make sure to check the eligibility details.
Young Person’s Coachcard: Prefer to travel by coach? National Express offer the Young Person’s Coachcard for 16‒26 year olds, which gives a 1/3 off ticket prices.
Worried about the cost of textbooks? Why not buy second-hand? Save the Student have lots of great ideas on how you can save money.
October
First student maintenance loan payment: Your first instalment will be paid on the first day of term, if you have completed your registration on time.
Delay in receiving your student funding: If you experience a delay in your student funding and are struggling with your finances, we may be able to help. Book a 15-minute Quick Query appointment, a 30-minute Money Doctor appointment or contact us via email. Despite the delay, you should still be able to register as a student. DMU Money Advice may also be able to offer short-term financial support depending on your circumstances and eligibility.
Council Tax Exemption: Full-time students are exempt from paying Council Tax, more information is available on our Housing Matters web page.
Get your TOTUM Card: TOTUM is the only student discount recommended by the National Union of Students. Make sure you ask everywhere you go if they offer student discount.
November
Get support with your finances: November might be when you start to notice your bank balance getting low. If this happens to you, try not to panic. Book an appointment with a Money Doctor who can help you review your budget and make sure you're receiving all the funds you're eligible for. You might also find it useful to review some of the mini-courses on Blackbullion, our online financial skills platform, for example: Budgeting 101 and Make Budgeting Work For You.
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund, which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
January
Sell any unwanted Christmas presents: If you’re looking to boost your finances in the new year, selling any unwanted gifts might help. Consider websites like eBay, Music Magpie, Shpock and Vinted.
Second student maintenance loan payment: The second instalment is normally paid in January. Check your student funding 'Notification of Entitlement' letter for the exact date.
Book your Easter travel early: If you’re planning to travel home at Easter, booking your train tickets early could save some money. Cheaper train tickets are usually released 12 weeks in advance.
February
Start house hunting for next year's accommodation: Take your time finding somewhere that’s right for you and your budget. Visit the DSU Advice website if you need any advice about housing matters and tenancy agreements.
Financial support towards the deposit for next year’s accommodation: If you are in financial hardship, DMU Money Advice might be able to provide a financial contribution towards the deposit for your accommodation for next year. To find out more, take a look at the DMU Support Fund. Please check the eligibility criteria before applying.
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund, which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
March
Returning to study next academic year? If you are a returning student, you have to re-apply for your student funding each year. The application cycle for returning students normally opens in March. Check the following websites for more information:
April
Third student maintenance loan payment: The final instalment of the academic year will be paid shortly after Easter. Remember, if you are continuing your studies next year, this money is supposed to last you until your studies start again next academic year.
Thinking of working over the summer? If you think you are going to run out of funds over the summer, now would be a good time to start looking for a summer job. Try searching Unitemps, Indeed and Student Job. You might be able to claim for your travel to an interview.
May
Need some extra financial support? If you are in financial hardship, consider applying to the DMU Support Fund, which helps with general living and course-related costs. Please check the categories it can help with and the eligibility criteria before applying.
June
Returning to study next academic year? If you are a returning student, you have to re-apply for your student funding each year. The deadline to apply might be this month, you can still apply after the deadline, but you might not receive the loan at the start of the academic year. Check the following websites for more information:
Moving out of your accommodation: make sure that you do meter readings for all utilities on the day you move out and give these to the energy provider straight away.
July
Summer jobs: The summer vacation is a good time to boost your finances and save money for next year by getting a summer job. Try searching Unitemps, Indeed and Student Job. If you have started working part-time, make sure you are paying the correct amount of tax. The Low Income Tax Reform Group have a Tax Guide for Students, which includes things to know to get your tax right.
Savings: Try to save any money from summer jobs for next academic year. Blackbullion, our online financial skills platform, has a Savings mini-course which covers the importance of saving and strategies for reaching your financial goals.
Reclaim your money: If you have moved out of your rented accommodation:
- make sure that you get your damage deposit paid back to you as soon as possible
- check that your energy supplier has used your meter readings and you haven't overpaid on any of your utility bills
- check if you can get a refund on your TV Licence if you are moving out of student accommodation over the summer. Visit the TV Licensing website for more information.
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