Aisha

University of Manchester · Manchester

Adult Nursing · Year 2

left after rent every month

-£48

Four hours Sunday morning. Rest of the week is mine.

Where does Aisha's money go?

Four hours on Sunday morning covers my shortfall. The rest of the week is mine. I am about to graduate into an NHS Band 5 salary. Manchester was the right call.

💷Loan arrives+£1,021
🏠Rent£754
🛒Food£200
🚌Transport£65
💰What's left£48

To cover that gap, Aisha works 4 hrs/week. At minimum wage that's £211/month.

What Aisha's loan actually buys

Aisha's life on £1,021/month

🛏️
Halls room
£754/mo
✓ Affordable
🚌
Bus pass for placement
£65/mo
~ Stretching it
🍜
Meal out
£22
~ Stretching it
🐕
A dog
£60+/mo
✗ Can't afford
💅
Manicure
£25 Manchester
~ Stretching it
🏥
NHS placement shifts
Unpaid experience
✓ Affordable
👟
New trainers
£80
✗ Can't afford
🧻
Toilet paper
£3 Aldi
✓ Affordable

A week in Aisha's life

Wednesday
6am: Placement starts. NHS ward.
2pm: Finish. Exhausted.
3pm: Lecture notes in the library.
6pm: Cook at home. Pasta. £1.20.
9pm: Bed early.
Sunday
8am: Four hours at the café.
12pm: Finish. £48 earned.
1pm: Grocery shop. £30.
3pm: Study. Assignment due Thursday.
8pm: Call home.

Same course. Same loan. Different city.

Manchester
-£48
per month
London
-£485
per month

London would leave Aisha £437/month better off

See London vs Manchester

Aisha nearly chose King's College London. She'd have £437/month less every month.

Manchester gave her the same degree, the same NHS placement quality, and enough left over to breathe.

What happens when Aisha graduates?

Student now£-48/mo
Graduate year 1
Nurse (NHS Band 5) in Manchester, after rent
1,435/mo
Improvement1,483/mo
See full graduate salary data →

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