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We asked young people considering university what mattered most to them when thinking about life at uni. We listened, and built a university experience around the things new students told us they'd really need.

£2,000 for you – uni life, sorted.

Home students get £2,000 over your first two years at Kent – £1,000 in cash and £1,000 to spend on campus food and drink. International student? You can benefit from a £5,000 scholarship. Plus, with affordable meal deals and guaranteed accommodation, there's less to worry about for everyone.
Payment timeline

Internship, guaranteed – future you, sorted.

Your future starts at Kent. Enjoy a guaranteed virtual internship, plus opportunities for placements, study abroad and employer projects. Build experience, grow your network and graduate ready for what’s next.

Campus, city and coast – location, sorted.

300 acres of green campus. 50 beaches nearby. Plenty of space to switch off, recharge and make the most of your time at university. From city days to coastal escapes, you'll find the balance that works for you.

More support, more flexibility – more time for you, sorted.

Free coaching. Confidential counselling, if you want it. A student-friendly timetable that gives you space to work, socialise and recharge. Add free sports membership  and we've got you covered.

You asked. We listened.

Going to uni is big. There are as many questions as answers.

So, we asked you to tell us everything. What you're worried about, what doesn't add up, and how we can help. 

And you did...

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When will I receive the payments?

September starters

  • Mid-October: The £500 catering credit is expected to be available from mid-October. Canterbury students can spend this in specified outlets on the Canterbury campus. Medway students can spend this in The Deep End at the Medway campus when it reopens at the end of October. Find out more
  • Mid-November: You'll receive an email letting you know how to supply your bank details so we can process your £500 cash payment. 
  • Early December: The cash payment will be made via a bank transfer to your nominated bank account.
Read the FAQS


January starters

  • End of January: The £500 catering credit is expected to be available from the end of January. Canterbury students can spend this in specified outlets on the Canterbury campus, while Medway students can spend this in The Deep End at the Medway campus.
  • Mid-February: You'll receive an email letting you know how to supply your bank details so we can process your £500 cash payment. 
  • March: The cash payment will be made via a bank transfer to your nominated bank account.

Why Kent?

FAQs

Our Universal Student Package has been designed to give home undergraduate students more than just a degree. This enhanced offer is built around you, supporting your journey from day one and helping you succeed every step of the way. 

This package is not available for Medicine or Pharmacy students.

The £2,000 support package is designed to help with the cost of living when you start at Kent. It typically combines a cash payment with credit that can be spent on campus services, such as food outlets, shops, and other student essentials. This means you benefit from both flexible money in your pocket and dedicated funds to make day-to-day life on campus more affordable.

There’s no need to apply — the cash and credit instalments across your first two years will be applied automatically.

Full terms and conditions (PDF 95KB)

For September starters, the £500 cash payment is normally paid into your nominated bank account in December. Your £500 campus food credit (Canterbury) or digital food voucher (Medway) is normally issued in mid-October.

For January starters, the cash payment is normally paid in March, and the food credit or voucher is normally issued at the end of January.

These timings depend on you providing the required information and completing registration and enrolment in good time.

Affordable food is available across Canterbury campus, with hot meal deals starting from £3.50, including a main and a side.

Explore the new ‘Savour Range’ in Rutherford, offering comforting classics like pasta, curries, and chicken & chips. You’ll also find sandwiches, soups, toasties and pizzas across campus outlets.

At Medway, The Deep End serves great-value pizzas, burgers and hot snacks.

More info: Food and Drink at Kent 

The £2,000 is only available for Home students, but don’t worry. We offer a bespoke scholarship for international students if you are a self-funded overseas fee payer paying fees directly to the University of Kent.

We are delighted to offer automatic scholarships of £5,000 to eligible applicants who accept their offer to study at the University of Kent. This will be allocated over two years as a tuition fee waiver. The first £3,000 will be taken off the tuition fees for the first year of study, and the remaining £2,000 will be deducted from the tuition fees when you progress to the second stage of study. *If you are studying with us for just one year, you will receive the £3,000 tuition fee waiver only.

More info: Kent International Scholarship for Undergraduates

Every student deserves the right support, tailored to their needs. At Kent, you can book an initial wellbeing assessment, followed by ongoing appointments where our support team will help you explore the options that work best for you.

All UK-based Kent students can access free, confidential counselling at any point during their studies. Where appropriate, this may include up to five sessions of short-term counselling. If short-term counselling isn’t the most suitable or safest option, we’ll guide you towards alternative support and continue to work with you through our wider wellbeing services.

Alongside this, you’ll have access to a full range of Student Support & Wellbeing services, including Mental Health Advisers, Welfare Advisers, Disability Advisers, triage appointments, and connections to external support networks across Kent.

You’ll also benefit from 24/7, 365-day-a-year emotional support through our partnership with Spectrum Life. This service gives you immediate access to a trained wellbeing practitioner via phone or WhatsApp whenever you need someone to talk to — alongside additional mentoring and support when you need it most.

More info: Health and Wellbeing at Kent

Our Skills for Academic Success team are here to help you thrive.

Think of them as your academic personal trainers — helping you build skills in research, critical thinking, time management and more. Support includes:

• In-person and online learning resources
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
• Numeracy and study clinics
• Guidance on using AI responsibly

Whether you’re looking to catch up or get ahead, we’ve got you.

More info: Skills for Academic Success (SAS)

As a first-year student, you’ll receive free Kent Sport membership, giving you access to:

• Gym and fitness spaces
• Group exercise classes
• Sports facilities and clubs
• Social sport activities  

Simply activate your membership after enrolment to get started.

More info: Free Student Membership

Kent’s flexible structure is designed for balance:

• Many courses include a free day each week
• Assessments are spread across the year (not just one exam period)
• Three 10-week terms with clear breaks and real holidays
• No studying over Christmas
• Typically only two modules per term, allowing deeper focus and fewer deadlines

It’s a structure that supports both independence and wellbeing.

More info: Kent 2030 

Kent’s Employability Promise ensures you graduate career-ready:

• Guaranteed virtual internship in your second year
• Option for a year in industry or a year abroad
• Minimum of 100 embedded hours of employability activity (many programmes offer significantly more than 100 hours as part of your learning)

You’ll gain real experience, industry insight and professional connections before you graduate.

More info: Careers and Employability Service

We guarantee accommodation for eligible students who apply before the deadline, helping you settle in with confidence.

Rooms are allocated based on:

• Firm choice students with unconditional offers
• Insurance choice students
• Late applicants and Clearing students  

Apply early and make Kent your firm choice to maximise your options.

More info: Accommodation Offer Guarantee

Kent is committed to creating a more sustainable future. Set within over 300 acres of beautiful green space, you'll be joining a campus recognised with the prestigious Green Flag Award for its high-quality, well-managed environment and commitment to biodiversity. Get involved through initiatives including:

  • The Kent Community Oasis Garden (KentCOG)
  • Student-led sustainability societies
  • The Sustainability Forum, helping shape sustainability across the University
  • Biodiversity projects such as species monitoring, planting and more

We're proud to be creating opportunities for staff and students to play an active role in building a more sustainable and inclusive campus.

More info: Sustainability at Kent

Yes! 

Our much-loved ‘Pause for Paws’ sessions bring therapy dogs to campus to help you relax and recharge.

Meet Aslan, our “King of Kindness”, along with friends like Pancho, Peggy and Coco — all here to boost your wellbeing and bring a smile to your day.

More info: Library Events 

Here's a few more reasons to get your Kent start.

Whatever your passion, we've got 250+ clubs and societies.

We're top 20 in the UK for Work Experience.

We're 38th in the Times Higher Education rankings (REF 2021).

Connect with us.