by Heather Milner of www.VoucherCodes.co.uk

As we all know, a new university term means the start of a gruelling 12 week social schedule of house parties, themed pub crawls and sporting initiations.

But with fees at an all-time high, enjoying your university experience to the full without getting into serious debt can be a bit of a challenge. On top of an average £8,000 in tuition fees, there is rent, food and books to consider which seriously squeezes the funds available for fun.

This got us (the VoucherCodes.co.uk team) thinking about the price of drinks and how they can differ across the UK. Which students get the best value for money when buying a round of drinks and which are paying a premium? Now this is something we need to know…

Click the image below to enlarge it.

Price of a pint

The Price of a Pint Index explores the price list of student union bars at the UK’s Top 20 universities. The results showed that students at the University of the West of England are enjoying the cheapest pint in the country, coming in at a rather impressive £1. The Bristolian university also offers the cheapest vodka and mixer at a reasonable £1.50. Surprisingly, the capital’s University of London offered the best value glass of wine at £2.00 a glass.

How to pay less

So are you paying over the odds? The research reveals the average price of a pint at UK student unions costs £2.20, the average for a glass of wine is £2.60 and £2.24 for a vodka and mixer.

But if you’re unlucky enough to attend one of the UK’s more expensive universities, do not worry. We’ve pulled together some top money saving tips for having a good time without putting too much strain on your wallet.

• Escape the dark and dingy confines of the student kitchen and take your housemates for dinner. There are so many vouchers and codes available online meaning half price grub is easy to come by. Major chains such as Prezzo, Pizza Express and Strada all offer amazing discounts - you’d be crazy to miss the feast.
  
  
• As established, being a student does not necessarily equate to having access to cheap drinks. Therefore why not order your booze online? The major supermarket chains such as Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco all offer bargains to new online customers. And what’s more, you get it delivered straight you your door. What’s not to love?
  
  
• Once you have ordered the drinks online, why not settle down for a movie night with your housemate? Sites like LoveFilm often offer free trials which you are eligible for each time you move address, so potentially once a year as a student! It’s also pretty good value if you want to extend your membership, and there are often deals online.
  
  
• Look out for restaurants and cafés which allow you to bring your own alcohol. Some eateries don’t want to pay for a license to serve alcohol so you’re allowed to bring your own. Not only does this mean that you can bring your own drinks which will be cheaper than paying restaurant prices but you also get dinner out for less.
  
  
• More of an outdoorsy type? Sign up online to The Outdoor Swimming Society. Team up with other daring lake-lovers and dive into swimming hot -or should we say cold- spots all over the country for a day out with a difference. Best thing of all? It’s totally free!
  
  
  

Although the research reveals that student union bars across the country have differing price points for their students, hard done by students shouldn’t panic too much. There are plenty of ways to save money as a student, you just need to shop around and stay super savvy. Would this information affect your choice of university? Probably not, so enjoy the city you are in, the friends you meet and the drinks you down!

Cheers!