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Cost of Living Support – University of Kent

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We’re here to support you with managing the cost of living.

Access to food

We are working with Kent Union to ensure no student goes without food.

£3 Meal Deals

  • Get a £3 meal deal at Rutherford Dining Hall, Canterbury. Deal includes a main with a selection of veg, sides and salad.
  • The Deep End at The Hub and Venue Cafe in Pilkington are now offering £3 meal deals at Medway campus.

Free snacks and meals

  • Kent Union’s Brunch Club offers free food from Canvas food truck.
  • Help yourself to porridge, cereal bars and tea/coffee for breakfast in the Oasis Lounge, Rochester Building.
  • The students’ unions at Medway are running free Community Breakfasts on specific days.

Microwaves and hot water points

  • We have microwaves and hot water points on campus.
  • Microwaves and hot water points at Canterbury can be found in the Community Lounge, Chipperfield Extension (microwave only), Eliot’s Corner in Eliot and Rutherford Lounge.

Campus Pantry and food packages

  • Campus Pantry in Mandela Student Centre provides short-term support to students in need of supplemental food.
  • At Medway, The Hub offers an emergency food package of 5 items.

For details please visit our website

More support on offer

Increased Hardship Funding

Apply for our wide range of financial support, including short term emergency funding.

Uni accommodation

We fix our accommodation prices, which includes bills, for the year ahead and do everything we can to keep them low.

Saying goodbye to Library fines

From 3 February we’re saying goodbye to library fines at Templeman and Drill Hall libraries.

Travel discounts

Kent students get discounts on public transport to help you save on your travel.

Cost of living report

Together with Kent Union, we joined forces with The Food Foundation to carry out the Cost of Living Survey across the Canterbury and Medway campuses.

The survey aimed to understand how the cost of living crisis has impacted Kent students and figure out how we can best support you at this time.

We had over 900 responses to the survey and we’re using this feedback to help understand the impact of the cost of living crisis on Kent students, and what we can do to help.

Survey results

How can we look after our mental health during a time of financial stress?

During a cost-of-living crisis, day-to-day activities can feel overwhelming, and your mental health may be worse than usual. Togetherall’s clinical team share some things you can do to ensure you’re keeping well and getting the right support.

As a Kent student, you have free access to Togetherall, where you can get support from real people going through similar experiences. Share anonymously, with no judgement or stigma and there is no waiting list, you can access in minutes.

For details please visit our website

Tips and advice to help with rising costs

Save money on your food shop

As the cost of food rises, read student tips to help you save on your weekly food shop.

Financial support contacts

Here are some useful contacts to help you with your finance questions and offer advice.

Looking for part-time work

Here are some tips if you’d like to get a part-time or a temporary job while you study.

Blackbullion app

Develop your finance skills with the Blackbullion app which is free for Kent students.

How our bursaries have helped

In 2021-22, the Kent Opportunity Bursary provided £15,000 to students in need. Here is what they had to say…

“I am now able to focus on my studies, pay some of my bills, visit my family more often and most importantly go grocery shopping without sacrificing on for the other.”

“The Kent Opportunity Bursary will allow me to pay off some of my accrued debt, which allowed me to focus on exams and cut my hours down at work. This has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.”

“The bursary has allowed me to continue my studies as a single parent, as without it, I would have had to work to pay for the expenses that I have to cover for both myself and my kids”

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