hands using a calculator and holding a BNU financial support document

Cost of Living Hub

Cost of Living Hub

In this Cost of Living Hub, we've pulled together all of the award-winning support currently on offer to our students at BNU, to give you reassurance that we are here to support you. There's also advice and tips to reduce your costs and manage your money more effectively. We'll continue to review our measures and this page to ensure that we're doing all we can to support you.

Colleagues from BNU receive award at The Brewery, London

BNU scoops award for its response to cost-of-living crisis

BNU scooped a prestigious and coveted award for its response to the cost-of-living crisis at a ceremony in London (26 April). The 2023 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCA), the leading higher education awards based solely on student choice, recognised the sector-leading partnership work of the University and Bucks Students’ Union to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis facing BNU’s students.

Read more here
Piggy bank and money on table with graduation hat in background

Financial support for students

At BNU we have a range of scholarships and bursaries to help our students through any stage of their studies. Whether you are looking to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, are an international student, as well as those who are  estranged from their families, have caring responsibilities, or are members of the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman and Boater communities. We have a range of bursaries you may be eligible for, including our Jay Blades Thrive bursary which offers up to £1,000 each year. The University and Bucks SU also pay the Real Living Wage for students they employ.

Take a look at what financial support we offer and if you could be entitled to any.

Students getting lunch in Beeches Cafe

Free and Subsidised meals

Since September 2022 Bucks Students’ Union have had reduced prices on meals served at The Lounge. As well as providing free hot meals, including a vegan option, on Tuesdays and Thursdays (5.30-730pm) and Sundays (6.30-8.30pm), to enable the BNU community to come together to share a communal dining experience in a safe, warm environment. The SU also run ‘Monday Monthly Meals’, funded by Bucks Council. Where our students can sign up and pick up a fee bag of ingredients and a meal prep guide for those ingredients.

Our new restaurant, Beeches, opened in October 2023 and offers a range of international cuisines from every corner of the world at student friendly prices. There are breakfast options such as a selection of fresh pastries made on site by Gather&Gather’s specialist baker, varieties of porridge, and cooked breakfasts. Global Street Food, BNU Classics, and a Lighter on the Pocket option are also available at lunchtime. There are also multiple free water fountains, providing boiling and cold water, and microwaves dotted around our campuses for students to use.

Group of students in Students' Union bar

The Big Deal

BNU is the only university in the UK to fund FREE access to a huge range of activities and opportunities to enrich your time with us, saving students up to £200 per month. We call this The Big Deal! Run by the Students’ Union, the Big Deal gives you FREE access not only to our Students’ Union’s events and entertainment, but a huge range of competitive and recreational sport; skills workshops, CV building activities and of course our societies.

Take a look at what benefits you can get from being a member of Bucks Students’ Union.

Health and Wellbeing

Three faces to show different emotion - mental health

Tackling period poverty

As of March 2021, the University, in collaboration Bucks Students’ Union, has been providing free period products in all campus bathrooms - not just those allocated to female-identifying students. Research suggests that users of period products spend approximately £10 on products every month. At BNU we recognise the financial struggles our students may face and approximate this scheme could save our student community thousands each year.

counselling_one_to_on

Counselling

We also understand that managing finances can be stressful and have a big impact on your mental health and wellbeing. At BNU we offer a range of services to help, including our confidential and free counselling.

If you feel anxious about your financial situation or it’s affecting your mental health, you can contact our counselling services in the following ways:

Come to us directly on the 1st floor of the North Building (N1.12) on our High Wycombe campus or on our Uxbridge campus (room 0.10).

Phone: 01494 605 018

Email: counselling@bnu.ac.uk

Transport

Campus link bus

Inter-campus bus service 

At BNU we offer a free inter-campus bus service between High Wycombe - Uxbridge and High Wycombe - Aylesbury, so you don't need to worry about finding your own way there. All BNU students can use this service for free as long as they show their valid Buckinghamshire New University ID card and scan it as they get on the bus. 

The shuttle bus travels from the Uxbridge campus to the High Wycombe campus and back. The journey between the Uxbridge campus and High Wycombe campus usually takes around 25 minutes. Although, when there is traffic during peak times the journey may take up to 35 minutes.

High Wycombe SU Sssh Bus 3

SSHH bus

We all love a good night out, and to make sure that our students get home safely, Bucks Students’ Union provide a free night bus on a Wednesday and Friday night (the most popular nights out) for our students to be able to get home safely and quietly. After midnight the bus starts taking students home along a circular route through the most common student accommodation areas.

Other support from Bucks Students’ Union

Rusty Bucks person in a buck costume

Rusty’s Refill Station

Rusty’s Refill Station offers students the opportunity to purchase a variety of consumables like washing detergent, rice, pasta, oats, herbs and other household essentials at a very low cost, while promoting sustainability. Rusty’s Refill Station is located at the High Wycombe SU Reception, so head over with your containers to save yourself money on essentials and help save the planet.

Book shelve with range of colourful books

Help Your Shelf

Also located at the SU reception, at both our High Wycombe and Uxbridge campuses, is ‘Help Your Shelf’. There are a variety of items on a bookcase which are all free and can include attack alarms, toiletries, non-academic books etc. Students can come and help themselves to any items they may need or find helpful.