Finance information for new students

This page gives you details about your finances while you're at Durham, and information about how to set a budget.

Your budget

The most important thing you can do as a student is to budget! It's a proven fact that students who budget are less stressed, have better mental health and achieve better grades.

Five easy steps for budgeting in College

1. Find out how much your first College accommodation payment will be.
2. Put this amount of money into a separate savings account.
3. Subtract any big costs you know you'll have during your first term (for example, books, travel home, special events).
4. Divide the remaining money by 15 (or the number of weeks in the term).
5. This is how much you have to spend each week until your next maintenance loan payment.

UK students

Your maintenance loan

The University is not allowed to confirm your registration to Student Finance England (or equivalent) until you have completed the University’s registration process. We'll give you information on how to complete this process when you arrive at Durham. 

It takes around two to four working days after confirmation of registration until you receive your maintenance loan payment.

Your tuition fee loan

Your Tuition Fee Loan will be paid by Student Finance England (or equivalent) to the University in three termly instalments. The first instalment should be paid in the first two weeks of the academic year.