My experience of Student Living Plus

Aldi, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s… a year ago, I had absolutely no idea what any of these places were.

As an international student moving to Birmingham, one of the things I worried about most was food. Not just cooking, but figuring out where to shop and what was affordable. That’s why I was so relieved to learn about Student Living Plus at the University of Birmingham.

The easiest way to describe it? It’s like a meal plan but better!

Instead of rushing to a dining hall at a set time for limited options, Student Living Plus gives students a weekly allowance of £68 to spend at eligible food spots both on and around campus. Even better, whatever you don’t spend rolls over each week during term time, so there’s no pressure to use it all immediately. And every Friday, we get a top up which honestly starts to feel a little like payday!

One of my favourite things about Student Living Plus is the flexibility. Some days, I’ll grab lunch at one of the food halls on campus (Cuore is definitely a favourite), and other days, I will walkover to The Shack, which is conveniently only a few minutes from Mason.

But my favourite part has to be being able to use it at Costcutter on the Vale. Having access to groceries and household essentials made such a difference, especially during my first few weeks in Birmingham when everything still felt unfamiliar.

Unexpectedly, Student Living Plus also became a social thing for my flat. Since we all had it, we’d regularly plan dinners together, whether that meant eating out or bringing food back to our common room to sit, eat, and talk after long days of lectures.

And during exam season? The library café accepting Student Living Plus might genuinely be saving my degree. So if you see me with an iced coffee and a law textbook… just know Student Living Plus probably paid for both the caffeine and the motivation.