HSBC have launched a new bank account aimed at 17 year olds. The new bank account will have several features attached as standard including an international debit card, a mobile banking service, 24/7 online internet banking, online budgeting tools and access to financial advisors.

Should the account holder then gain a place at a University, more features will then become available including an interest-free overdraft of up to £2,000, an option to take out a student credit card with an APR of 18.9%, and two years of travel insurance.  Read more... (169 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

The UK Government has recently heralded that the average graduate will earn about £400,000 more over their lifetime than if they didn’t have their degree, and they have taken this as justification for raising tuition fees by up to £3,000 a year.

However recent research by PricewaterhouseCoopers has shown totally different figures – in fact, the average additional gross earnings over a graduates lifetime was calculated at £160,061 – a far cry from the £400,000 claimed by the government.  Read more... (222 words, 1 image, estimated 53 secs reading time)

There are always more applicants than places at the top Universities, particularly for the more popular subjects. So how can you ensure that you give yourself the best fighting chance? Here, we give you a guide to the top ten mistakes that people make when applying to University:

1. Relying on Rumours
Don’t rely on anything that someone has said to you about the University, of something that you have read online. If you have questions, ring the University themselves. If possible, you should also try and arrange a visit to the campus before starting your application so that you can get a feel for the place and whether it is the right University for you.  Read more... (637 words, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

With the introduction of University Fees, students these days must accept that most of them will need to borrow money in order to fund their education. The big issues are finding the best ways of borrowing and using the money wisely.

It is important to get a grip on your finances. Now is the best time to learn how to budget as this will set an excellent foundation for good money habits in the future, and will also minimise the debts accrued whilst at University.

Tuition Fees  Read more... (940 words, estimated 3:46 mins reading time)

Recently, a lot of big insurers have heralded a new type of “first time buyer mortgage” – one where a group of friends can buy a place together. At first glance this may seem an attractive proposition, however there are a few things to take into consideration.

- What happens when someone wants the Other Half to move in? What happens if someone in the household gets pregnant and suddenly there’s a child in the house?

- What happens if someone cannot pay their bills or falls behind with the mortgage? How will you cover this shortfall, and what do you do if it is a long-term problem?  Read more... (549 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

Gap years are becoming increasingly popular. There’s a huge range of things for you to do - some more appealing than others! Here, we list the top ways to spend your Gap Year along with each choices pros and cons.

1. Volunteer in the UK
It’s not as glamourous as jetting off around the world but it is a superb way to meet new people and help your local community. It will also impress future employers more than a jet set round the world trip. You may also get a small allowance which will help boost University finances!  Read more... (451 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

It can be hard staying in the black when you are student, however it can be done! Here are our top ten tips for staying out of debt whilst you are at University.

1 – Get a job
A few hours behind a bar each week can net you some much-needed cash plus you will still be able to socialise with your friends as you work. Your student union should be the first port of call – they employ a lot of students on the campus itself and should also have information about any off-campus jobs around.  Read more... (538 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)