The UK’s cost-of-living crisis is impacting us all. From energy bills to food costs and transport, watching what we spend is more important now than ever. It may appear that there is little to be done on an individual level, but there are many opportunities to reduce costs and consumption and take advantage of student funding, offers and discounts, all of which can lead to savings. We have created this webpage (which we intend to update on a regular basis) to highlight the many ways you can seek support.

Don’t forget… Please contact us if you need help.

Talking about money can feel uncomfortable at times, and it can be hard to know who to talk to. Our Student Advice team provide targeted information and guidance and their trained advisers can direct you to a range of support and funding opportunities that you may be eligible for.

Below we highlight the most relevant support and financial services available to students, and other practical suggestions to make your money go further.

Available Support

Support Available

How to access it

Dedicated Warm Spaces – Dedicated spaces to help you keep warm. Drop in and work/study/socialise. No need to book. NB. Eating and drinking is not permitted in all warm spaces.
  • The Library – Open until midnight every day during semesters.
  • CELT open 8:30 to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 until 4:30 Friday.
  • Ermine Community HUB & Library Open 9am – 4pm Tuesdays and 9am – 3pm on Wednesdays
  • The Students’ Union – Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
  • Union Bar area – Open all day
  • The Common Room – Open all day

BGU Learning Fund – A discretionary hardship fund available to all students.

To find out more contact Student Advice at studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk

BGU Bursary scheme – A range of schemes available for certain students including parents, carers, estranged students,, care experienced and mature

To find out more contact Student Advice at studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk

Advice on statutory funding to maximise income, including direct phone lines to Student Finance England

To find out more contact Student Advice at studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk

Advice on welfare benefits/tax credits for eligible students

To find out more contact Student Advice at studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk

Pastoral support and friendship

Drop-in to the Chaplaincy Offices in the Skinner Building or Students’ Union.

Budgeting Advice

To find out more contact Student Advice at studentadvice@bishopg.ac.uk

Bring & Ping – Need to cook your lunch or make a cuppa? The Student Common Room has a microwave and kettle for use by all students.

Available in the Students’ Union Common Room

IT Hardware & Software – Need help in sourcing cheaper refurbished computers or free software for your studies? The BGU IT team can provide support and advice in all things technical.

To find out more, contact BGU IT Team at helpdesk@bishop.ac.uk

Community Larder – Operated by the Students’ Union for all students, providing a range of free non-perishable food. Donations are also accepted.

Available in the Student Common Room in the Students’ Union.

Period products – Available free to students through the Students’ Union.

Available in the Student Common Room in the Students’ Union.

Swap Shop - like a charity shop with clothing, shoes and household items available, but all items are FREE.

Located in part of the Snug Annexe (the room off the Snug, next to the Chapel).

Textbook Donation - Before you buy a new text book for your course, you might be able to pick it up for free, donated by a previous BGU student

This project is co-ordinated by the Library. Look out for portal announcements each Autumn.

Local External Organisations Support

Lincoln Community Grocery

Lincoln Foodbank

Lincoln Community Larder

Lincolnshire Food Partnership - Provides information on all food related matters across Lincolnshire.

Lincoln has been voted 3rd in the UK, in the most cost-effective university location category in the NatWest Student Living Index 2023.For more information click here.

Pay It Forward Scheme

BGU is renowned for its sense of community, compassion and kindness, and the BGU Cost of Living group wants to enable everyone, who wishes to help others, easy and effective ways to make a big impact on the lives of others across the University.

The ‘Pay It Forward’ scheme offers a simple and anonymous way for individuals to contribute to the welfare of their fellow community members.

It's really simple to contribute to the scheme.

Next time you order something from the Refectory or Curiostea, ask for a ‘Pay it Forward’ before you pay. A £1 donation will be added to your bill.

It really is that simple!

Your contribution will go to a centralised fund specifically designed to support initiatives which combat food insecurity for those in need across BGU. These initiatives include free breakfasts, food vouchers and contribution to essential items required in the Community Food Larder on campus.

Workshops, Events & Activities


  • Money management advice and budgeting: Available anytime through Student Advice. Look out also for finance workshops hosted by CELT & Student Advice.
  • Wellbeing activities: free nibbles and therapeutic sessions to combat anxiety and stress including crafting, yoga and other relaxation techniques. Offered at specific times of the year. Contact CELT for more information
  • Anxiety and stress: Our ‘Live and Learn’ series of workshops provide input on how to manage anxiety and stress. To find out more contact the Learning Development Team in CELT.
  • Our Wellbeing Toolkit (previously known as the Resilience Toolkit) covers techniques to help manage anxiety and stress and is available via Blackboard.
  • Cooking With CELT: videos of low-cost recipes and cooking skills
  • National Student Money Week activities: look out for these in February each year.

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  • Trips and activities - many free or subsidised - organised by the Chaplaincy team and catering to a wide range of interests and preferences (from paintballing to opera!).
  • The Students’ Union hosts events with the Chaplaincy and the ARCH (Autism Resources Community Hub) group to provide free food and meals to students on a regular basis. Look out for announcements by the SU and/or Chaplaincy on the Student Portal

Wellbeing Support

Money worries can have a significant impact on your mental health and overall wellbeing.

If you are finding things difficult, as well as contacting our Student Advice team for practical help you can also access our range of wellbeing support here, including other external support such as Student Minds or from our partners at Togetherall who have recently published this article on how to look after your mental health during a time of financial stress.

Earn While You Learn

One way to invest in yourself and meet your bills is to work part-time during term-time, and potentially full-time in the University holidays. As well as paying bills, work experience will help you develop skills and learn more about what you want from work. Recruiters love people with part-time and short-term experience, so it’ll help you secure interviews later in life too.

You can access a range of careers related webinars by searching ‘BG Futures’ on Planet eStream such as routes into different professions, CV writing and much more.

Need help in finding work, earning money, freelancing, side hustle or self-employment? The BG Futures Team can help. You can find out more by visiting their website or pop into BG Futures or go to BG Futures On-Line to see information boards featuring lots of casual employment opportunities. BG Futures On-Line also promotes external part-time employment opportunities.

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    Types of paid opportunities on campus:

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    Ways to be a Savvy Saver

    Energy Consumption

    Reducing your energy use is good for your bank balance and the planet. Don’t forget, there are places on campus where you can charge devices or ‘bring & ping’ your own lunch or make yourself a hot drink. You can also raid the Library’s blanket box if you’re in the Library and feeling chilly.

    The Students’ Union and Events team host film nights, so why not grab yourself some popcorn and go along? (Look out for announcements on the Student Portal)

    Other ways you could save energy:

    For those in a position to change energy providers it's not a great time, but that doesn’t mean small changes can't make a big difference to your wallet.

    The Energy Saving Trust have great advice on energy efficiency when renting a home.

    NUS Student Switch Off+ have advice on energy charges and ways to reduce energy consumption .

    Money Saving Expert has a site dedicated to ways to cut energy bills and consumption.

    Saving energy, Saving the planet! is a useful blog for tips and advice from the University of Reading’s Energy & Sustainability Director on reducing energy consumption and saving money.


    Travel & Transport

    Walking is by far the easiest and best way to get around the city, and is important for general health and wellbeing, but if walking isn’t your thing there are lots of other ways to get around.

    Public transport is by far the cheapest way to travel and you can apply for a range of Student Bus Tickets depending on your travel needs. If you are travelling by train then you can apply for a Student Railcard for 1/3 off rail fares.

    Don’t own a bike? No problem. You can hire one through HireBikes on campus and multiple spots across the city.

    If you really need to use a car, then FREE parking is available on campus for those days you’re here. Make sure to get your parking permit from the Estate Office first!


    IT Hardware/Software

    Buying a computer can be expensive. Don’t just rush out and panic buy - the BGU IT team is here to help!

    - They can help you source refurbished computers and provide general advice on what to look for and what is a good deal. They can also provide short term loans if your device is in for repair.

    - As a BGU student you receive Microsoft Office 365 for FREE, including 1TB of OneDrive storage and coverage for up to 5 devices! Depending on your course, other FREE software may also be available.

    Food & Drink

    The Student Common Room has a microwave and kettle so you can make your own food and drink for free when on campus. As well as the kitchen, the Common Room has sofas, Amazon Lockers, heating, water and areas to charge electronic devices. In addition, the Students’ Union Bar offers free water, areas to charge your electronic devices and access to game consoles and TVs free of charge.

    ‘Tea & Toast’ and ‘Slow Cooker Events’, and a host of other food related events, are run by the Chaplaincy and SU team – keep an eye out on the Student Portal or contact the Chaplaincy team for more information.

    Other ways to be food savvy:

    • Schedule time for shopping. Rushing around the supermarket (or rushing an online shop) can lead to impulse buys. Money Helper found that people who shop while tired spend an extra £14.53!
    • Shop late in the day when perishable items are often reduced for last minute sale.
    • Check out the Save the Students guide to saving money while grocery shopping.
    • Buy supermarket or value brands. These tend to be cheaper than named brands and often taste just as good - if not better.
    • Look out for special offers like 2-for-1 deals, but be careful to only buy what you need and not just because it seems like a bargain!
    • Lots of shops are removing 'best before' dates to reduce waste, but be sure to look at 'use by' dates so you have time to eat the product safely. Remember, ‘best before’ dates are about quality and ‘use by’ dates are about safety. You can read more about this from the Food Standards Agency.

    Get a student cookbook with nutritional low-cost recipes. Useful websites include:

    Try a 'no-spend weekend' once a month where you use up leftover food from the week and do stuff for free like movie night, board games, and museum visits.

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    Freebies!

    You can grab things such as Amazon or high street vouchers, BGU catering vouchers, gym passes and free food just for engaging with some CELT activities or student initiatives. Watch out for announcements from CELT via the Student Portal.

    You can also pick up a variety of freebies throughout Freshers and at other CELT activities/events.

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    General Tips, advice and discounts

    • Sign up for a TOTUM card. It’s the only card recommended by the National Union of Students and provides discounts on meals out, travel, fashion, entertainment and more.
    • UNiDAYS is a free student discount website for a wide range of services and products.
    • Exploit cashback opportunities for online purchases. Although cashback might not be received immediately, it could help you out in the future. Examples include Funds4Uni, Quidco and TopCashback. Some banks also offer cashback on purchases, so check with your bank too.
    • Amazon and Spotify offer student discounts on their annual and monthly plans and you can often pick up great deals at Amazon Warehouse.

    Further Information, advice and support

    The Student Advice team are here to help with your financial questions, whether it's regarding your tuition fee or maintenance loan, Bursaries and Awards or advice on how we can support you if you are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties. If you are struggling with debts, Student Advice can offer advice and assistance to help you manage payments to your creditors. Visit the Student Advice webpage for more information in how to get in touch with the team.

    Alternatively, you may wish to explore the following options via debt advice organisations…

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