Cost of living in Nottingham
Nottingham is based in the Midlands, which is the cheapest region to live as a student in England (National Student Money Survey 2024). Managing your money can help you thrive at university and make the most of life in Nottingham – here’s how.
If you're an international student, check out our page for more information on managing your money in the UK.
Living costs
Your tuition fees are a big part of the expense of going to university, but you also need to plan for rent, food, travel, and everything that student life at NTU has to offer.
For help with the cost of living in Nottingham, as a full-time home undergraduate student, you can apply for a government Maintenance Loan and receive up to £10,227, depending on your circumstances. That's alongside the Tuition Fee Loan. If you won't be receiving a maintenance loan, there are other ways of covering your living costs.
Home Masters students can apply for a Postgraduate Masters loan up to £12,471 to cover tuition fees and living costs.
* Based on full-time Student Finance England Maintenance Loans for the 2024/25 academic year. Maintenance Loan amounts for the 2025/26 academic year are TBC.
Regular expenses
How much you spend depends on your own lifestyle choices, but the below serves as a rough guide to what your outgoings might look like during a year as a student at NTU**.
**Based on selected fees for the 2024/25 academic year.
Budgeting
Managing a lump sum of money for the first time can be a daunting prospect, especially when you need to make it last. It’s important to budget carefully and to be well-prepared, and we recommend starting with a weekly budget.
Follow these steps when creating your budget:
- Divide your income for each term across the number of weeks that it needs to last. What income do you have? When do you receive it?
- Set up a second bank account and transfer your weekly or monthly allowance. This helps reduce the danger of you overspending.
- What expenses do you have? Remember to include small costs as these can easily add up.
Download our budget worksheet for an easy way to plan your budget over the whole year.
Course costs and student benefits
Depending on your course, you may also need to budget for additional costs such as printing, course materials and non-mandatory trips. Full details can be found on our course pages.
To support your success, we offer a host of benefits and free services designed to enhance your student experience, including £20 printing credit each academic year, a free of charge laptop loan scheme if you’re unable to access a laptop for your studies and a free copy of Microsoft 365.
Accommodation costs
Accommodation is a big expense for most students. You’ll want to find accommodation where you can comfortably live and study for the full academic year. Here are some things to consider when choosing your accommodation.
What can you afford?
Think carefully about what you can afford. The student finance calculator shows how much undergraduate maintenance loan you will receive. University-run halls of residence costs cover bills, whereas some private accommodation might not.
You may also be required to pay a large instalment at the start of Term One alongside your deposit, so make sure you check what payments are involved before making your decision.
Rent instalments
Rent payments are not always split into equal amounts, so make sure you know how much you owe and when. NTU accommodation usually provides 44-week contracts, while private landlords may expect a full year of rent, whether you're there or not.
Location
Think about where the accommodation is, how close it is to the university and how much travel will cost. If you live locally, you may be thinking about commuting. There are many factors to consider here, including the impact on your maintenance loan.
Have a look at our Accommodation guide for more information. You can also contact our Accommodation Services team for advice on fees and choosing your new home.
Working while you study
Many students choose to work part-time while studying. Employment not only boosts your income, but can provide valuable experience to put on your CV. It's a great way to meet new people too. We can help you find paid work, from in and around the city to part-time paid roles within the University.
Financial and wellbeing support
We understand that financial struggles can be challenging and might impact your mental health. Our services can ensure you find the right help at the right time - whether that's financial help or health and wellbeing. It’s important to take care of your physical, mental and emotional health at university, and seek help if you need it.
Bursaries and scholarships
A university bursary can help students who may not have otherwise been able to afford to attend university. Find out what extra help you may be able to get to help you pay for uni.
Great ways to save money
Students are the beating heart of Nottingham, and many of the businesses here have regular student offers. Remember to always ask about student discounts and deals in shops, restaurants, leisure activities, and more.
Additional discounts are available by signing up for UNiDAYS and TOTUM accounts.
UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is a discount website that is available for free to students worldwide.
Visit the UNiDAYS websiteTOTUM
TOTUM offers more discounts through their card and app and is recommended by the National Union of Students.
Visit the Totum websiteSave on student travel
Discounted bus travel
Nottingham’s bus routes and trams offer discounted student travel. See more on the Nottingham City Transport (NCTX) website.
Visit the NCTX websiteStudent tram travel
Season tickets for students are available to save on tram travel during each academic year.
Visit the Nottingham Tram website16-25 Railcard from Trainline
A 16-25 Railcard is a discount card that makes train travel cheaper for students.
Visit the Trainline websiteCommuting students
If you’re relatively local to NTU, commuting — rather than living in our halls of residence — can be a great way of keeping your costs down.
Any questions?
If you have any further questions, please call +44 (0)115 848 2494 or email our Student Money Team.