Ways to Save and Make Money at Winchester

Managing your money as a student is a crucial part of enjoying your experience. Whilst studying at the University of Winchester I've compiled information on the part-time work available, the best deals on commuting to and from the campus, and everyday deals and discounts available. Let's take a look at what there is currently on offer.*

Commuting

 

Walk and cycle

You're already saving money when you come to Winchester because everything is so walkable. Unlike other universities our campus is within the city and only a 10 to 15 minute walk from the centre so if you're living in Winchester you can easily get to your lectures without needing to pay for transport.

We also have multiple open and covered cycle racks and bike lockers you can use free of charge. On campus we host regular visits from the Bike Doctor to give free of charge safety checks to your bike by a qualified team. You can also enjoy 10% discount at Hargroves Cycles and Halfords in Winchester.

 

Bus

At Winchester, we have a range of bus services by Stagecoach. Thanks to a government £2 bus fare cap, a single journey is only £2 until 31 December 2024.

If you need to commute regularly, however, here are some great deals our commuting students are currently benefiting from:

If you live in the Winchester area...

• You can get an Annual StudentRider Bus Pass from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 for £490, which equals only £1.34 a day of unlimited travel.

If you live outside the Winchester area...

• Get an Annual version of the Gold StudentRider Bus Pass from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 for £800, equal to £2.19 a day. This allows you to use any Stagecoach bus in Winchester and anywhere else in South England.

Students travelling from Southampton also currently benefit from a 20% discount off 30 day and 90 day Bluestar buses.

Train

The University currently helps students save an average of 34% on South Western Railway season train tickets. If you do not need a season ticket, you can also purchase a railcard for £30 (do look out for further discounts on them) which gives you a third off each journey.

Take a look at the map of nearby train journeys below to get an idea of commuting time:

 

Share your car journey

Winchester also benefits from an excellent Park and Ride Scheme. With five parking sites available around the city, you and up to six other students can get a dedicated parking space and a group bus ticket to and from the University for up to £3.50 all day or £3 if you park after 10.30am.

We also have regular parking deals if you're travelling by car which are renewed every year.

For more information and further deals, visit the Travel section of our website.

Take a look at our commuter map to see where students travel from:

 

You can also join our Commuting Students Network where you can meet up with others who commute.

Part-time work

If you're interested in earning some extra income, there are many part-time jobs available both at the University as well as within the city. Let's take a look at a handful of the many options.

At University...

• Student Ambassador - a very popular job, you can support the UK Recruitment Team with a range of Open Day events and Experience Winchester Days. Roles include answering questions at an Ask A Student stand, being a Room Show-er and taking guests on a tour of the on-campus accommodation, and registering visitors at various registration points.
• Non-Medical Helper - an extremely rewarding role where you help other students who need support to type notes at lectures and seminars, or social support when transitioning to University life.
• Student Content Creators - get a brief assigned by the University marketing team for creating content across social media, blog, print, etc. 

At the Student Union...

• The Winchester Student Union also offers a range of jobs for students. Their most popular roles include being a member of bar staff for their venues, as well as customer service roles in the Student Union shop, which sells a range of household, food and drink provisions. Make sure to check out their website for the latest jobs available. 

In Winchester city...

Our students are fortunate enough to have many venues and organisations where they can work on a part-time basis. Popular examples include clothing chains Primark and TK Maxx, entertainment shops HMV and CeX, as well as several supermarkets, restaurants, a local cinema, and many more.

If you're interested in finding out more, the University has an excellent Careers Hub for support with getting a job, as well as the job platform CareerConnect that posts University and external vacancies. 

What other deals and discounts are there?

Of course, that is just the start of what you can currently save at Winchester. Other ways to save at Winchester and in general include:

• Getting free surplus food on campus by following our snapchat: Free4AllUOW
• £2.50 food bowls in the University Food Hall
• Using the WINPAY app for loyalty points and hot drink vouchers
• Buying an NUS Totum Card to get discounts at a range of shops and restaurants
• Looking out for discounts on student websites including MyUniDays, Student Beans, SaveTheStudent and MoneySavingExpert

I hope this information will help you to save and make money throughout your University journey!

 

Blog written by Jennifer Crowdy, second year PhD student, Chair of Commuting Students Network and part-time Student Officer for Winchester Student Union.

*this blog is not sponsored by any of the featured businesses. Deals and information accurate at the time of publishing.

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