Be smart about spending at uni

Learning to manage money will set you up for life

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Students across the country braced themselves last Thursday when A-level results were released, a day that decided where many will spend the next three or more years.

My daughter Bella was one of the many who joyfully opened her email to discover shed been accepted into her first-choice university.

On January 31, the deadline to apply for university, there were 600,660 applicants, which is 1% higher than the 594,940 applicants in 2024.

University is the first place many of us learn lessons on money management, which can stay with us for life. With a little foresight, those lessons don't have to be harsh.

Costs & loans

Tuition fees alone often mount up to £30,000 for a three-year degree, even before textbooks and other costs are factored in.

That's before you've even bought a drink!

You can apply for a tuition fee loan, the terms of which changed for those starting university in 2023.