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.

Here is a link to the College bill information 

This includes how and when to pay

Personal Development Project

Attendance at selected Girton Skills Programme events will allow individual students to accrue credits during the academic year.

These credits, if above a predetermined threshold, will allow you to access a grant towards a personal development project of your choice – travel, technical equipment, internship costs, volunteer work… so many opportunities!

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