Value for Money as a Student in Loughborough

Fri 04 Aug 2023

ONCAMPUS Loughborough offers international students the opportunity to study foundation programmes at a university that is not only high scoring in quality rankings, but is also in the top 10 in the UK for value for money, according to reviews from students themselves. From Loughborough University to the town itself, there are so many opportunities for students to make the most of their budget while living and studying here.

Free things to do in Loughborough:

A lovely market town located in East Midlands, Loughborough offers a wide variety of free ways to spend your downtime while you study. It is home to green spaces such as Beacon Hill Country Park and the Outwoods, both of which are full of beautiful woodland walks displaying an impressive array of wildlife. There is also Queen’s Park, an award-winning park in the town centre, which houses Charnwood Museum, which is great for a free day out if you want to learn about the history of the local area. As a market town, Loughborough of course is also home to several different markets throughout the week. These are free to visit and browse, with the option to spend some of your budget on vintage clothes or handmade crafts if any catch your eye!

Access to inexpensive transport:

Getting around campus is free thanks to the campus bus, and the low-cost Sprint shuttle can get you into town and to the train station in approximately 20 minutes. From the train station, it is easy and inexpensive to visit neighbouring cities such as Leicester, Nottingham, and Derby, and the city of London is also under 2 hours away. If you purchase a Railcard, you can save even more money on train travel throughout the UK. Loughborough campus is very cycle-friendly and has nearly two dozen secure places to safely store bikes. The town itself is very walkable with pedestrianised areas. Owning – and paying for – a car is not a necessity when living and studying in Loughborough.

Inclusive accommodation without hidden fees:

All the ONCAMPUS Loughborough accommodation options have fees that are inclusive of utilities, cleaning services, unlimited high-speed internet, contents insurance. If you live in catered accommodation, this is also included in the overall cost. If you live in self-catered accommodation, you will have the facilities to cook and eat at home, which can help save you money that you might otherwise spend on eating out. There are also affordable shops and places to eat located throughout the campus, meaning you can pick up essentials or grab a snack without breaking the bank.

Cost of living comparisons:

As a student town in the Midlands, Loughborough is a relatively less expensive place to live compared to bigger nearby cities like Leicester and Nottingham, and considerably less expensive than the capital city of London. For example, the cost of the university gym membership at Loughborough is £22 per month, compared to an average of £30 in London, and you can expect to pay roughly half the price of little luxuries like cinema trips and coffees on the go in Loughborough town than you would in London. Being able to enjoy yourself just as much for a lower cost makes Loughborough a great value place to live and study.

Tips to save money as a student:

As well as taking advantage of the great value for money Loughborough offers, as an international student it also helps to be prepared financially for moving to a new country to study. Loughborough University has a fantastic tool for building your budget as a student that can help you plan your expenses and feel safer in your spending. Making the most of your ONCAMPUS Loughborough student access to apps like UNiDAYS means you can benefit from discounts across a huge selection of online and high street brands. Being prepared and accessing benefits like this means you can make your money last longer and feel more in control of your finances.

Between the lower cost of living and the high standard of teaching provided at ONCAMPUS Loughborough, international students can expect a great quality of life if they choose to study here. For more information on the courses offered through the Undergraduate Foundation Programme and Pre-Master’s Programme, visit the ONCAMPUS Loughborough homepage.