UK student budget calculator
Add your loan, grants, work and costs for the year to see how much you have to spend each week, and whether your money will last.
Your student budget
Add your money coming in and going out to see your budget.
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How to use the student budget calculator
Fill in the money you expect over the whole year, then your costs. Rent, food and other weekly costs are entered per week. Course costs and one-off costs are entered for the year. The calculator adds everything up and shows how much you have left to spend each week, or how short you are.
Use real figures where you can. Your Student Finance award letter shows your loan and any grants. Your tenancy agreement shows your rent and how many weeks you pay it for.
Money coming in
Most full-time students in the UK can get a maintenance loan to help with living costs, and some get grants, bursaries or scholarships on top. The amount depends on where you live and study, your household income and your course. The loan is normally paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term, so it is worth keeping enough from each payment to last until the next.
A part-time job, help from family and savings complete the picture. Include only the amounts you are fairly sure of.
Money going out
Rent is usually the biggest cost, and it often covers fewer than 52 weeks. Remember to include bills and internet if they are not in your rent, plus food, travel, your phone and subscriptions, and what you spend on going out. Add books, equipment and trips home as yearly amounts.
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not usually pay Council Tax. Check with your council if you live with someone who is not a student.
If your budget is short
Talk to your university early. Most have a hardship fund and money advice team, and the sooner you ask the more they can help. You can also check whether you are getting all the support you are entitled to through Student Finance, and whether you can cut costs in the biggest areas, such as food and going out.
What this calculator assumes
- Weekly costs run for the number of weeks you enter. Rent runs for the number of weeks you pay it.
- Your loan and other income are treated as covering the whole period. The calculator does not model each term's payment date.
- Family help is counted for 12 months a year, and part-time pay for the weeks you say you will work.
- Tuition fees are not included, because most students borrow them separately and repay them after the course.
- The result is an estimate to help you plan, not financial advice.
Questions people ask
How much money do students need each week?
It varies a lot by city and by housing. Rent takes most of a student budget in many places, so what is left each week for everything else can be small. Enter your own rent and costs to see your own figure instead of relying on an average.
Do students pay Council Tax?
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not pay Council Tax. If someone who is not a full-time student lives in the house, you may still get a bill. See the GOV.UK guide to student Council Tax discounts.
Why is my loan paid in three parts?
The maintenance loan is normally paid once at the start of each term, so it needs to last you until the next payment. Plan each instalment as a term's budget, with a small amount held back for emergencies.
Should I budget for 39 weeks or 52?
If you will be living away and paying costs all year, use 52. If you only budget for the academic year and expect to be home or earning over the summer, 39 may fit better. Try both and see which gives a realistic picture.
Is what I type stored or shared?
No. The calculations run in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to us or saved. Our privacy page has the details.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a planning guide for information only. For advice on your own situation, speak to your university's money advice team.