Students

In addition to our existing £2.1m Keele Access & Success Fund and Bursary Budget (which provides funding to students in targeted groups within our Access & Participation Plan) we also have a Hardship Fund of £184,000 for 2023-24. This fund normally provides a 60% grant towards costs for eligible students who are in urgent need of financial support, but we have increased this percentage contribution of assessed funding need to 100% and increased our maximum allocation to £2,500.

We also provide supermarket vouchers for students who are in urgent financial need, and we have increased the number of vouchers that are available. Further information regarding how to access this scheme can be found here.

In addition to the above, our students have access to internal and external advice and support, including via the Student Assistance Programme, drop-in and online advice services with specialist staff, and a new referral system in place with Step Change for students facing problems with debt. To access these services, please click here.

We understand that juggling work and study can be difficult, especially when you need to work more hours to increase your earnings through the current cost-of-living crisis.

As such, our new Exceptional Circumstances process allows students to access a seven-calendar-day extension to coursework up to three times per semester. No evidence is required for students to access this, and it is in place to ensure students have the flexibility to balance study with other commitments, such as paid work. This is in addition to the option to submit a full exceptional circumstances request, with evidence, to access another assessment opportunity, if a student has been significantly affected by external factors.

We also provide a Support to Study scheme. This allows students to work with their School and Student Services if they are struggling to engage with their studies due to external factors, and it is in the best interests of the student.

The University offers many inclusive social and extracurricular activities that are delivered in warm spaces, including board games nights, lunchtime hang-out at Keele Chapel, and wellbeing and craft activities in various locations on campus. We are also developing a skills programme that will help students to learn key skills that will aid their wellbeing and their wallet, including cookery class, money saving resources and make-do-and-mend sessions.

There are a number of other events such as film nights and quizzes, in addition to spaces that are already open and warm such as the Library and Chapel.

Keele Students’ Union and Keele Postgraduate Association also offer events and spaces for students to use.

For a full list of activities and events, please check the What’s On section on the Keele App.

We’re making improvements to the Wi-Fi around campus to ensure you always have a free, strong, and secure wireless connection at Keele. You can also access free internet through Eduroam at various locations including the Royal Stoke University Hospital, County Hospital Stafford, and Staffordshire Libraries. Eduroam is also available across most UK university campuses and some college campuses worldwide, so you can access a free and secure internet connection wherever you may be - your Keele account is your key to access this.

For those studying on campus we have a range of affordable food offers in our Food Court, located in the Chancellor’s building, available all year round.

We have clearly labelled the best value items on the menu with a ‘Value Meal’ icon, which includes jacket potatoes from £3, a salad box from £3 and a breakfast bap for £2.85.

In addition, for breakfast we offer coffee and a pastry for just £1, and at lunchtime we offer soup and a buttered roll for £1 too, both from CENTRAL To Go within our Food Court.

All students can help themselves to free tea and coffee within Keele Chapel’s kitchen. There is also a microwave in the kitchen that you are welcome to use.

The 25 bus route that serves the Keele campus, and all other routes within the Potteries area, are now subsidised by the Government, and as such a daily “Smart” ticket for travel anywhere in the Potteries area (which includes Keele and Newcastle-under-Lyme) costs as follows:

£2 single fares will continue to be available.

Information correct of September 2023, more information can be found here on the First website.

Travelling to/from campus from outside the Potteries area 

However, we appreciate that not all colleagues live within the Potteries area and therefore the subsidised Keele Key Bus Ticket will continue to operate for those who need to travel from Keele to outside these areas (for example, to Crewe and Nantwich). The current fares, which allow travel anywhere within the service area for Keele students and staff, have been reduced from £4.50 per day to £4.00, and the weekly fare has been reduced from £17 to £15. An annual ticket costs £400. These fares are subsidised by the University in order to support our students. 

Keele Key tickets may be purchased within the Smart/Potteries area for travel beyond into the wider Keele Key area. To purchase a Keele Key Ticket you will need to present a valid Keele Card when purchasing tickets directly (on the bus) from D&G and/or First, or declare your University e-mail address when purchasing online (website and the app).  Make sure that you have your Keele card with you when you travel as you will be asked to present it.  

As part of our cost-of-living support, we are now offering free period products on campus.

Students can pick up the free period packs - with no questions asked - from the receptions of:

• Student Services Centre (Tawney Building)
• Denise Coates Building Reception
• Sports Centre
• Islamic Centre
• Campus Library
• Students' Union
• KPA Clubhouse
• Keele Chapel

Our Library has a wide range of resources available 24 hours a day on campus in our warm and welcoming space. In order to make the most of your time on campus, you can book a study area in the Library (last bookings for study rooms is 7pm).

We also offer e-resources which you can access remotely without having to travel to campus. If you need any help finding what you need, please contact the Library via the Library Self-Service Portal, email: library.help@keele.ac.uk, or start a Live Chat.

There is also access to virtual desktops so that students can access the software required for their course remotely. For further details please see: https://www.keele.ac.uk/it/

You can watch free films or TV series via two services:  

• Box of Broadcasts
• Kanopy 

These provide access to an unrivalled selection of Freeview, academic and cultural content. 

In addition, the Library has introduced Libby - a new range of magazines, books and audio books for study and leisure. These resources will be available to all users of the Library. See https://www.keele.ac.uk/library/usingthelibrary/onlineresources/#libby-app---ebooks,-eaudiobooks-and-emagazines for more information.

We also provide laptops that can be loaned for the day or on a four-week loan if required. These can be collected from the Library. The laptops are loaded with all the software you need to carry out your studies including some accessibility software.

As a high number of students work at Keele in casual roles, we are pleased to announce that from March 2023 we have agreed to increase our casual hourly rates in line with the voluntary living wage of £10.90 per hour.

We will provide up to a £50 refund for Nursing and Midwifery students who are on external placements or who are attending the Clinical Education Centre.

A £50 refund will be applied to students who have the full year permit.

A £25 refund will be applied to students who have a single semester permit.