Information for Postgraduates

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

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

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 crisid email address '@cam.ac.uk'):

• UNIDAYS
• Student Beans

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 .
• There are 3 membership levels, digital (1-Year free), Totum and TOTUM + Age ID Card (prices start from £14.99 for 1-year).
• TOTUM Memberships

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.
• ISIC - Which card is right for you?

Budget options for the U bus and other Cambridge buses: 

Cambridge City - Whippet - Tickets available from myTrip      

• managing student finance - MoneyHelper
• cost of living guidance- MoneyHelper
• 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
• Student budgeting: make your money go further as cost of living crisis bites - Student finance | The Guardian
• Student and graduate money - MoneyHelper
• checklist for Freshers- Which

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

• Download .xlsx file

If you have any other queries, please get in touch by email with the Financial Welfare Officer, or via the in-person appointments or online drop-in sessions (details provided below).

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 - 11:30am (face to face)

Book here 

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

Online meetings 

Here is the link for an online meeting on Monday afternoon - other times available on request:  fwo@girton.cam.ac.uk

Zoom details:

Meeting ID: 819 8904 1138    Passcode: 6Zp18k

• Launch Zoom Meeting