Money Support

• The University has launched our Bursary Framework for students. All bursaries are open for application and include funding available to support items related to Cost of Study, Placements, Work Experience and Personal Development.
• The University also has bursaries designed to support students identified as most vulnerable, including Care Leavers, Parents and Carers, Minority Ethnic Groups and Disabled Students.
• The Student Financial Support Fund has received increased investment this academic year and is open to support students who find themselves in financial difficulty. 
• The Student Support Fund application form can be found here: Student Financial Support Form - Initial Application Form (Page 1 of 7) (office.com)
• The University offers a Digital Connectivity Bursary to help students who are unable to afford broadband or do not have access to a suitable device.
• The Digital Connectivity Fund application form can be found here: Digital Connectivity Bursary Application Form (Page 1 of 8) (office.com)
• Over the last eighteen months, the University have reviewed our support structures and have grown our Student Money Support team. This means that your application forms will be considered and processed quicker. The Student Support Fund and Digital Connectivity bursaries are awarded on a weekly basis and the other bursaries are now awarded at the end of each month.
• Remember to download your Council Tax exemption letter from the Student Hwb. Students are entitled to exemption if living on their own, or with other students. If a student lives in a property with non-students, then the property is entitled to a discount.

You can access your exemption letter here: Council Tax Exemption » Hub (uwtsd.ac.uk)  

The University understands that in the current climate, budgeting and money management can only help to a point. Our Money Support team is on hand to help to support you if you feel that you would benefit from a budget review.

• You can book a financial 1-2-1 with a Money Support Officer by email.
• The Money Support Team have collated some budgeting guidance and published helpful resources which you can access via the student portal. 
• All students have access to the Academy of Money Open Learn course developed by MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis and the Open University.

The current cost-of-living crisis arising from the surge in energy prices and exacerbated by the rising cost of other essentials has made it even more important to take a tight grip of your personal finances.  We offer a training course which  provides further information and guidance which can be accessed through the Hwb.

• The University has launched ’Food Hubs’, providing a range of free food and grocery items for students who need it on each of our campuses. Alongside this, there is a kettle and microwave for students to have access to in order they can heat the food and eat right away, whilst also providing food that can be taken back to residences, on or off campus to help at home too.
• On campuses where the University provides a catering offer, we have taken steps to ensure that our prices remain as low as possible, with hot meals priced at £3.60 and a sandwich meal deal at £3.50 and a filling homemade soup with bread at just £1. 
• Our University run accommodation remains the least expensive amongst Universities in Wales. Our lowest priced/highest quantity rooms are £100 a week and a commitment has been made to freeze this price for academic year 23/24. 

Supporting the emotional wellbeing of our students is important to the University. We understand the potential impact of money on individual wellbeing and healthy living. In addition to the above, the University has invested in the creation of the new Student Wellbeing team and an expansion of available wellbeing support.

You can view and access our Wellbeing services here.

In addition to our own services we also subscribe to a number of additional external support services on your behalf:

• The Student Assistance Programme exists to provide 24/7 support to UWTSD students on a range of topics, including wellbeing support and also on matters relating to money and money management.

Call 0800 028 3766 any time to speak to an advisor.

• The TogetherAll platform has a wealth of wellbeing resources available to help students manage their mental health. The platform also provides opportunity for student to connect with other students across the UK to discuss common challenges, share approaches and build support networks.

Log into TogetherAll here: Togetherall

• The Feeling Good App allows students to log and monitor their wellbeing and provides daily tools to promote positive mental health.

Access the Feeling Good app here: Feeling Good App

UWTSD Students’ Union offers support and opportunities to students on a range of topics, including work on cost of living. For more information on the work of the Students’ Union and how to get involved please visit the Students’ Union’s website: UWTSD Students’ Union

1. Rent/accommodation costs
2. Food / Toiletries
3. Utility bills (Gas/ electric/ water/ phone/ internet)
4. Books and equipment
5. Travel
6. Printing
7. Social activities
8. Household items
9. Sports/Social clubs
10. Work experience and placements
11. Clothing
12. Birthdays / Christmas gifts and events
13. Health costs such a dental treatment / eye tests/ medication.
14. TV or entertainment subscriptions (e.g Netflix, Spotify, Disney+)

Step 1:Collect up all the relevant documents

From bank statements to Student Finance Letter; gather anything that will give a picture of what is coming in and out your account.

Step 2:Work out how much you get

Work out how much money you will have coming in during the year. This includes the Autumn, Spring and Summer Student Finance payments, any income from employment or benefits and help you may be getting from family. If you are living with a partner, remember to include any income they are receiving from employment or benefits. If you are living alone or have a family of your own, remember that the student loans and/ or grants will need to stretch the full year so you should divide the total amount you receive from Student Finance by 12 to work out how much you will have to spend each month. (A) 

Step 3:Work out how much you spend on essential things

Work out every single essential outgoing that comes out of your account during the year. This should include all the essential things you have to pay for including rent, food, utility bills, council tax (where applicable), phone and internet costs, travel course costs etc. (B)

Step 4:Work out how much is left:

Calculate what is left (C) by subtracting your expenses (B) from your income (A).

Step 5:Consider what else you may spend on each month that are non-essential

Write down how much you spend on things like haircuts, socialising, birthdays etc then deduct these from the balance after essential costs (C)

Step 6:Work out your weekly allowance

Anything you have left needs to be divided by the number of weeks that the money needs to cover (e.g. the number of weeks in the academic year {38} if you are going home to live or work over the holidays or the number of weeks in a calendar year {52} if you are living independently). This will then give you a weekly allowance that is at your disposal to spend.

Always factor in some money for emergencies. It’s better to overestimate your sending than to run out of money