10 FREE Things you can take Advantage of as a Student in the UK

Here's a list of all the amazing stuff you can do here. Most of the things on this list are FREE.

1. FREE medical check up and prescriptions!

You read that right! Once you’ve registered with your GP, simply visit them and ask about the HC1 form (or order it online). Fill this in, go to the post office to send it off and wait for your HC2 certificate to be delivered to you. Show this to the GP/dentist/pharmacist and it will give you:

• free prescriptions (these are medicines you get from the pharmacy, that your GP can give you when you are sick)

• free dental treatment

• reduced price for optical needs (you can even get FREE prescription glasses!)

• And many others! Source

You cannot qualify for this cert if you have more than £16,000 in savings! Prescriptions would usually cost £9 without the cert!

Left: HC1 form you need to fill in. Right: HC2 cert you get in the mail.

2. FREE sevices: Careers Service and other support groups

(e.g counselling)

Support for almost everything is readily available here in the UK. Take advantage of the Careers Service based in King's Gate, where you can get your CV checked and attend workshops that can help you with CV writing, cover letters, interviews, etc. Careers service also hold Career events all year round, where you can talk to different companies and get some freebies! Click here for more info.

Mental health is also more of a thing in the UK. There is a free counselling service available for students in Newcastle University. It takes a bit of time and patience to get in touch with someone however it's worth the wait. Click here for more info.

Graphics from the Careers Service website

3. Student discounts: Unidays, railcard and clubs/societies

(eg. ISOC)

You can enjoy many many discounts as a university student. First off, there's Unidays, which is an app that offers exclusive student discounts in restaurants, fashion, technology and some educational apps! If you want a fancy meal but don't want to spend too much money, browse for a restaurant through Unidays, and you'll be in for a good deal.

You can get a 1/3 off train journeys if you purchase a £30 railcard called the 16-25 railcard. Source.

Clubs and societies host events where you can get free/ discounted food. A good example is ISOC, where you get free food during Ramadhan, in the prayer room (located in King George VI Building) as well as food/ shopping discounts!

Bottom left: ISOC membership card, bottom right: Discounts for ISOC members.

4. FREE or discounted FOOD when you download certain apps

Here's a list of apps you can download where you can get free or discounted food.

- Tastecard. Get a 50% discount when you eat out. Source.

- KFC: Get free chicken just for signing up to the KFC app! Source.

- Krispy Kreme: Get a free donut for joining! Source.

- Taco Bell. Get a free taco for signing up to the app! Source.

- Graze. Get a free healthy snack box when you subscribe to Graze. Source.

- Tesco delivery. Get free home delivery if you spend more than £40 or free Click+Collect for £25. Helpful during the Covid Era too! Source.

- Others: Here's a site that shows the latest free stuff in the UK.

5. The microwave in the Coffee Room in Leech Building

Microwaves are scarce in the Medical School. The microwave at the Dentristy common room closest to all the lectures you'll be having (If you are a BMS student) suffers from long queues. To skip the queue for the microwave and enjoy a quiet place to eat, go to the Coffee Room on the Second Floor of Leech building.

6. Jobs!

Many students take on jobs, typically in retail or F&B during their degree because pay here is great (£6-8 per hour) and the hours are very flexible, i.e, they can be as many or as little as you want! The easier jobs to get tend to be working as a waiter/ waitress in restaurants that are not franchises like in Chinatown (look for Mamak like places).

University jobs are higher pay. If you decide to become a student ambassador, you can get around £10 an hour! However, getting a place is competitive as spots are limited. There's also JobsOC (Jobs On Campus), which is less competitive.

Please take note that on a Student Tier 4 visa you can only work for 20 hours per week. Also you need to have a National Insurance number to work, here is where you can find the phone number to apply for one.

7. Getting paid to participate in studies!

You can also get paid to participate in research. There are flyers all around the med school, and emails you may receive, looking for test subjects. During your final year project (if you do BMS) many of your coursemates may be given projects where they require people like you as test subjects. So be sure to take that opportunity for free, quick cash!

8. LOTS of volunteering opportunities

Newcastle University Student Union (NUSU) has excellent accessibility to volunteering opportunities. If you want something new on your CV, or just want to build on your people skills, I highly recommend.

Here is a list of a few however there are so much more available in Newcastle, which you can browse here: (less now because of COVID outbreaks)

- N.E.S.T : North East Soliditary Teaching (N.E.S.T) is a student-led project based in Newcastle University, which aims to empower refugees and asylum-seeking communities. You can join in their community events, mostly engaging in conversations to improve learners' English language, and other sessions such as sports.

Here's Dania's experience volunteering with N.E.S.T:

"My experience volunteering with N.E.S.T. can only be described as magical."

"For the first time in my life I felt completely at home, doing amazing work and making a real difference. N.E.S.T. genuinely is a family, and our collective love and passion to support those in need has really lit up my world. I’m sure the project continues to light up the worlds of so many people.

"I spent my weekends volunteering with N.E.S.T. during the Community sessions. I started off with the one-to-one sessions, which was daunting at first, but very easy to get into once you start. One-to-one is very rewarding, as you’re able to provide tailored help to your learner and watch them progress over the weeks. During my second semester in Newcastle I became more involved in the Community sessions, and was offered the chance to lead these sessions a few times, organising the rooms for the lessons, ensuring the logistical needs were met, and supporting our teachers and learners throughout the day. Though I was anxious to lead as a new volunteer, the community of volunteers and learners were extremely supportive and continuously provided feedback, so we were always able to improve.

"Currently during this pandemic, we’ve managed to move online almost overnight! The project runs an average of two classes daily on Zoom, including a one-to-one safeguarded session. Alongside these lesson, additional content is uploaded on our YouTube channel, such as exercise videos and bedtime stories translated in Arabic to cater to the majority of our learners. What sets us apart is the efficiency in which we were able to move online at a time when we were all living amidst major uncertainty. As always, N.E.S.T. went above and beyond by providing virtual social sessions for volunteers to continue to communicate and have fun, including a virtual pub quiz and Arabic lessons, by volunteers for volunteers!

"N.E.S.T. is definitely a must-try, regardless of your previous experiences volunteering. We’ve got a role for everybody, whether you prefer teaching, supporting teachers, welcoming our learners during the morning rush, or even offering them a warm breakfast, there’s definitely something for you! The best part? You meet such like-minded people from all over the world, and these are friends you make for life.

"Volunteering at N.E.S.T. has been the most pivotal period of my life. It has instilled in me skills I wouldn’t have been able to gain anywhere else. No amount of expression can ever communicate how grateful I am to have been introduced to the project."

- Action Tutoring : This non-profit organisation aims to help pupils and college students who cannot afford tutoring prepare for exams. You are trained, given a workbook, and then left to lead small groups of students, teaching them how to do English or Maths.

Teaching and interacting with students is actually harder than you think! However it's incredibly rewarding, especially seeing how you're helping them.

- FareShare : This charity aims to feed the homeless, the elderly and children by distributing unwanted food and items. You can help sort out their stock in their warehouses, or promote their cause, collecting donations from shoppers.

Left: Sabbo volunteering for Fareshare. Right: Post N.E.S.T community session picture!

9. FREE menstrual products! And other things 😉

Around the study spaces of the NUSU building, there are not only food vending mahines, but also menstrual product vending machines! What's amazing is that they are dispensed completely FREE of charge! You can also get free condoms in the main reception.

Above: Vending machines in the NUSU building that dispense menstrual products (i.e. pads, tampons).

10. FREE entry to museums and art galleries

Finally, learn something new by visiting museums and art galleries around Newcastle. Subject to COVID outbreaks.

Here is a list of some free entry places to visit:

• Hancock Museum (Great North Museum, located beside main campus) : This is very family friendly and chill. Well kept museum with lots of animal related things to see.

• Hatton Gallery (Around main campus, follow the signs) : Exhibits change every couple months, worth a quick visit

• Discovery Museum (Blandford Square, near the Newcastle Central Station) : Lots of different exhibitions, from history of Newcastle, to engineering, to lego!

• Baltic Centre for Contempary Art (Quayside, across the Millenium Bridge)

Above: The Hancock Museum.

Co-Authors

Thank you to all the contributors who helped out for this blog!

Khairiyah Murad for ideas and ISOC card pics

Yi Ting, Heng Jun Wei and Ranita Subramanian for contributing!

Dania Bassim for N.E.S.T section and picture!