Managing your finances

The University’s social media channels and student support website for the Reach Out campaign provide information on how to access a range of support at Cambridge, including what to do if you’re struggling with money. See here for the range of support available.

Bank accounts

The University's Finance Division has provided a short guide to some of the banks available. 

• We’ll never contact students through social media channels such as WhatsApp or Instagram.
• Please review the spelling and grammar of the message as poor punctuation and misspelling are often signs of smishing.
• Keep an eye out for any suspicious emails, calls or texts around the time of an expected payment.
• Urgent messages are usually not genuine, for example ‘'failure to respond in 24 hours will result in your account being closed’.
• Think before you click by hovering over a link first and if in doubt do not risk selecting it.
• Always use official phone numbers, the online account and official communication channels to verify the contact received is genuine.
• Be mindful of information you share about yourselves   online, to help guard against identity theft.
• SLC, Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW) or Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) send a text message to students if a change has been made to their bank details. If you haven’t changed your bank details and receive a message, you should contact us immediately.

You can find guidance on identifying a scam on GOV.UK.

Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) if you are not entitled to free prescriptions* and you think you will have to pay for 4 or more items in 3 months (or you will have 12 or more items in 12 months). 

Cost of a PPC: • £32.05 for 3 months; or • £114.50 for 12 months. 

Apply online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc or ask at pharmacies 

This will cover all the NHS prescriptions you need during the period of the certificate.

*NHS prescriptions are free if you have a valid medical exemption certificate because you have: 

• a permanent fistula (for example, caecostomy, colostomy, laryngos-tomy or ileostomy) which needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance; 

• a form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison’s Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential; • diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism;

• diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone; • hypoparathyroidism; • myasthenia gravis; • myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism which needs thyroid hormone replacement); 

• epilepsy which needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy; • a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person; or 

• cancer and are undergoing treatment for: – cancer; – the effects of cancer; or, – the effects of cancer treatment

Further support from the JCR for Undergraduates 

JCR will reimburse up to 6 NHS prescriptions per student per year. Apply  here.

Always take your university card with you and ask for a discount, many shops will accept this. For others, you might need one of these apps/cards:

Free Apps (sign-up with your crsid email address '@cam.ac.uk')

Discount cards:

TOTUM

• Recommended by the National Union of Students (NUS), this is a student discount, proof of age ID and campus life card and platform .
• The one-year membership @£24.99 includes the ISIC membership - see below. 

International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

• The ISIC card allows students the world over to prove their official student status and make the most of thousands of targeted student benefits and discounts in over 130 countries/territories.
• Virtual cards from £12.00 per annum.

• Budget options for the U bus and other Cambridge buses: Cambridge City - Whippet - Tickets available from myTrip.
• Discounted groceries etc are available each day on the Too good to go app.   
• This national charity provides a directory of grants: Turn2us Grants Search.

• Checklist for Freshers- Which
• Student and graduate money - MoneyHelper
• Student discounts STS
• Student bank accounts - Which?
• Supermarket prices: which is the cheapest supermarket in 2024? - Which?
• 11 tips to save on the cost of your subscriptions - Which? News
• managing student finance - MoneyHelper
• cost of living guidance- MoneyHelper
• Student budgeting: make your money go further as cost of living crisis bites - Student finance | The Guardian

There are apps and other budgeting tools available online. Alternatively, see below for a personal budget spreadsheet for Undergraduates to help you review your finances.

If you need additional Financial Welfare support, make an in-person appointment ( in term-time) on:

• Mondays 2.30 - 4.30 pm (online only)
• Tuesdays 4.00 - 5.00 pm (face to face )
• Wednesdays 10:30 - 11:30 am (face to face)

 If you would like an appointment during the holiday, please email the Financial Welfare Officer.

Regular times are available on Monday afternoon in term time - other times available on request:  fwo@girton.cam.ac.uk

Please book face to face or online appointments here 

Zoom details:

Meeting ID: 819 8904 1138    Passcode: 6Zp18k

• Launch Zoom Meeting