Cost of living

I love walking in the Peaks - a bus ticket is £1.80, so you can go for a walk for £3.60 and still have change for an ice cream on the way! Sunsets on Bole Hills park with a cup of tea brought from home or fish and chips is also a winner. And the range of coffee shops in Sheffield is huge.

Kate Galliford

Medicine

5 ways to save money on campus

1) Use the community fridges

Dotted across the student residences, with another in the Students’ Union (SU), these fridges are stocked with donations of food that has reached its sell-by-date but is still safe to consume. Combat food waste and save money!

2) Take the Safety Bus

Get home safe after a late night for free. As long as it’s within 2 miles, this minibus will take you from the SU straight to your front door. That distance covers all uni accommodation and the most popular student housing areas.

3) Go to the Clothes Swap Shop

Sheffield is full of great vintage clothing and charity shops, but you can also refresh your wardrobe for free in the SU’s Swap Shop. There’s no complicated system - just swap one item for another. 

4) Download the BetterPoints app

You can collect BetterPoints for every journey you make in Sheffield by foot, bike, or public transport. Collect enough and you can spend them on a free hot drink, shopping vouchers and more.

5) Give Give-it-a-Go a go

This programme of one-off events is subsidised by the SU to keep ticket costs low. Take part in a new activity or go on a day trip. Many activities are free and you can get an additional discount if you live in uni accommodation.

I also love attending the SU’s Film Unit Society, which typically sells tickets for their showings for only £3! They show such a vast range of films, introducing you to movies and directors you may have never previously considered watching.

Zahra Omar

BA Global Sustainable Development

Finding part-time work

The Student Job Shop in the SU can help you find work that fits around your studies. You can also search for vacancies on Careers Connect, the university’s own jobs board which is exclusive to current Sheffield students and graduates.

Support if you’re struggling

We provide cost of living support in lots of different ways, including free laptop and desktop PC hire. You can also visit the Student Advice Centre to get help with managing your money or identifying sources of additional financial support you may be eligible for.