Managing the cost of living crisis as a postgraduate research student

It is common knowledge that students are among the group of people who struggle to make ends meet. But with the current state of the economy and the rising cost of living, there has never been a more pressing reason to hang onto every pound we can.

Here are my top suggestions for cutting costs as a full-time postgraduate research student at ARU:

Tuition fees

Unlike undergraduate students, postgraduate research students are responsible for making sure their tuition payments are paid themselves. This can be done by arranging a payment plan with the university prior to each academic year.

For me, my payments are set up three times each academic year. Fortunately, prospective students have several choices to help cover these costs:

Postgraduate Doctoral Loan. Even though loans may sound daunting, they may be a viable alternative if you wish to pursue a postgraduate doctoral degree, such as a PhD.

Postgraduate doctoral loans can help with course tuition and living expenses. Please take note that only UK students have access to these.

Scholarships and bursaries. Numerous scholarships and bursaries have been developed by ARU to help with the financial costs of your study, either entirely or in part. Both international and UK students can access these.

Jobs

Alongside your education, working is a great opportunity to supplement your income, build your CV, and make new friends. Personally, I think working up to eight hours a week would allow you to balance studies.

As students at ARU, we have access to the wonderful services offered by ARU Temps, our on-campus employment agency. As part of ARU's Employability Service, ARU Temps provide students with opportunities for paid temporary employment that can fit around your studies and act as a standout recruiting tool for businesses.

Money saving

Never forget to use your student ID because it will entitle you to several discounts. Here are some of the places I always look for these deals:

• UNiDAYS
• Student Beans
• Voucher Codes

If you own a smartphone, one of my favourite apps is Airtime Rewards.

This app allows me to regularly save money on my phone bill. All you need to do to receive rewards automatically is link a card. You can earn money off your mobile bill by doing your regular shopping.

I have earned points at stores including Boots, Greggs, Wilko, New Look, Papa John's, Halfords, and more! And it is free to download – BONUS!

As a student, coffee is another must. Whether it's a skinny decaf latte or a cappuccino with extra froth, I've visited several places.

My favourite chain of coffee shops is Caffé Nero, which offers 15% discount to students all year long in addition to seasonal in-app promos. All you need to do is enter your student email in the Caffé Nero app, and you're good to go!

Thanks for reading and best of luck with your studies!

By Andie Riches

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Andie is studying for a PhD at ARU's School of Psychology and Sport Science in Cambridge. Find out more about our research degrees.