Student Additions Account

We make student money simpler

Apply in minutes with the award-winning Barclays app¹

Here’s why you want a Student Additions Account

Free 12-month subscription to Perlego – an online library of books, academic texts and tools trusted by students worldwide. Terms and conditions apply²
Apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to £1,500 over the course of your studies
No hidden charges for student banking – you don’t have to pay to open or use your account
Our app helps you keep tabs on your spending and bills
It’s easy to get in touch online, by phone or at a branch

Let’s check you’re eligible

If you have lived in the UK for less than 3 years

Unfortunately, you can’t apply to a student account if you haven’t been a UK resident for 3+ years – but you can still apply for a Barclays Bank Account in the Barclays app.

You must

Be 18 years or older
Be studying full-time in the UK
Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
Intend to use this account as your main bank account where your student loan and/or income will be paid
Be studying as part of
o     An undergraduate degree (2 years’ minimum length)
        o     A postgraduate degree (1-year minimum length)
        o     A Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4+)

Get the Barclays app

Haven’t had your offer yet?

If you haven’t received an unconditional or confirmed offer from your college or university yet, you can still start your application. You won’t be able to complete it until you’ve received your offer.

Postgraduate or Higher Apprentice?

You can start your application in our app. Then you'll need to visit a branch to provide a letter from your university or employer confirming your course or apprenticeship details.

Apply in the Barclays app

Ready to apply?

If you're new to Barclays

Download and open the Barclays app from the App store
Create a passcode to access the app safely
Take a picture of your identity document
Record a short video of yourself, which we’ll use to check your ID
Provide some details about your course and your UCAS status code
Consent to a credit check

That’s it – we’ll let you know when you can start using your new account. Then you can switch any regular payments from another account to your new account with us.

Already got the Barclays app?

Open the app and tap ‘Products’, ‘Current Accounts’, 'Student Banking’, ‘Full Details’, and check to see if you’re eligible. Then follow the instructions to apply.

Interest-free arranged overdraft

If you’re a UK student, you don’t need to pay interest on arranged overdrafts up to £1,500.

Our maximum interest-free arranged student overdraft limits are

From account opening and during your first term: up to £500
Year 1: up to £1,000
Year 2 and beyond: up to £1,500

No interest is payable on arranged overdrafts.

The maximum arranged overdraft amount could be different than the amounts shown above (subject to application, financial circumstances, borrowing history and lending criteria). Arranged overdrafts are repayable on demand. Interest charges are variable.

General information about overdrafts

An overdraft limit is a borrowing facility which allows you to borrow money through your current account.

There are two types of overdraft – arranged and unarranged.

An arranged overdraft is a pre-agreed limit, which lets you spend more money than you have in your current account. It can be a safety net to cover short-term outgoings, like an unexpected bill. It is not suitable for longer-term borrowing. We charge you for every day of the month that you use your arranged overdraft where you go beyond any interest free limit you may have.

An unarranged overdraft is when you spend more money than you have in your current account and you have not agreed an arranged overdraft limit with us in advance or you have exceeded an existing arranged borrowing facility.

You can only make payments from your account if you have enough money in your account or through an arranged overdraft to cover them. Barclays will always attempt to return any transaction that could take your account into an unarranged overdraft position. Having enough money in your current account or having an arranged overdraft limit could help prevent payments such as priority bills from being returned unpaid.

On very rare occasions we may be unable to return a payment (eg due to an offline transaction made on a flight) and the account may enter an unarranged overdraft. No additional charges will be applied in this situation.

Information regarding the conduct of your account may be sent to credit reference agencies. As with any debt or borrowing, this may affect your ability to get credit in the future.

Our Eligibility tool can show you the likelihood of getting an arranged overdraft and the overdraft calculator lets you see how much it could cost to use an overdraft. To use these tools and find out more about overdraft charges, please visit barclays.co.uk/youroverdraft.

If we hold a valid mobile number for you, we’ll automatically enrol you to receive relevant alerts regarding borrowing and refused payments, to help you avoid charges. You can also choose to receive additional alerts, including Low Balance and Large Credit or Debit. Tailor your alerts to your personal needs online, by phone or in branch. To find out more, visit barclays.co.uk/alerts.

Spend, save and budget with the Barclays app

We know money can be tight when you’re studying. That’s why our app gives you lots of ways to track your spending so you can stay in control of your money.

See where your money goes

Check when regular payments will leave your account and compare how much you spend at shops and businesses month by month.

You’re in control

Can’t find your student debit card? A few taps in our app and it’s frozen temporarily. You can also get a secure PIN reminder, and set limits on how much you can take out at cash machines each day.

Pay the easy way

With Apple Pay³ or Android’s Contactless Mobile⁴ , you can pay for stuff with your phone or smartwatch. You can also use mobile numbers to send, spend and receive money, without having to share your bank details.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a current account with extra features you can use while studying at university. These include the ability to apply for an interest-free overdraft, subject to application, financial circumstances, borrowing history and lending criteria. You can have any income or your student loan paid in, then make payments by debit card, contactless, Direct Debit and standing order. You can track and manage the money in your student account using our app.
You can apply in the Barclays app – you can download this from the UK App Store or UK Play Store. We’ll require proof of ID, 3 years of address history and a UK mobile phone number. You must have been living in the UK for at least 3 years to open a student account.

Documents we accept as proof of ID include

Passport

UK/EU/EEA full driver’s license (excluding Romanian)

UK biometric residents card
Opening a student account must be done on our app. If you’re unable to apply through the app due to lack of accessibility or another issue, please call to book an appointment. Our team will be happy to help you apply.

Lines are open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 9pm

Call 0345 600 4545

We’ll require proof of ID and your UK address. Documents we accept as proof of ID include:

UK/EU/EEA photo card driver’s licence (excluding Romanian)

Passport

UK biometric residence permit

We accept the following as proof of address

UK utility bill (from last 3 months)

Council tax bill (from last 12 months)

Bank account statement (from last 3 months)

Credit card statement (from last 3 months)

UK credit union statement (from last 3 months)

Mortgage statement (from last 12 months)

Benefit entitlement letter (from last 12 months)

HMRC letter (from last 12 months)

Tenancy agreement (from last 12 months from local council or housing association)

Council tax exemption certificate issued within the past 12 months, for the current tax year

Foreign bank statement dated within the last 3 months that shows your UK address

Foreign credit card statement dated within the last 3 months that shows your UK address

HM forces family offices letter dated within the last 12 months

UKVI trusted sponsor letter from your employer, dated within the last 3 months. It must confirm you have a fixed-term contract for at least one year.

Royal Mail postal redirection notification to your current address, dated within the last 3 months

Residential nursing home letter dated within the last 3 months

Student Finance letter for the current or next academic year, dated within the last 3 months

Universal Credit statement dated within the last 12 months

We’ll also need proof of your student status, this may include

Trusted sponsor letter (from an educational establishment or your employer)

A letter from your university or education provider confirming your course
No, you need to have been living in the UK for 3+ years to be eligible for a Barclays student bank account, but you can apply for a Barclays Bank Account through the app (subject to a successful credit check. You may alternatively be offered a Barclays Basic Bank Account).
Yes, you can open a Student Additions Account alongside your other current account with us.
No, you need to have a UK mobile phone number to apply.
You can find your UCAS code in your UCAS account. You will need to navigate to a different page depending on when you started your course.

If you started in 2021 or earlier (or were due to start in 2021 but deferred to 2022), log in to your UCAS account and select ‘Opening a student bank account?’ where you’ll find your UCAS code

If you start in 2022 or later, log into your UCAS account and select ‘Student bank account info’ where you’ll find your UCAS code
If you applied with UCAS and have a conditional offer from a university, you can start your application for your student account. Once your place has been confirmed, you’ll need to return to the app to submit your application.
If you’re a postgraduate or Higher Apprentice, you should start your application in the Barclays app. We’ll need to see confirmation of your course or apprenticeship to complete your application, so you’ll need to visit us in one of our branches – please call to book an appointment.

Lines are open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 9pm

Call 0345 600 4545

You’ll also need to bring proof of your ID and address. See which documents we accept in our “What if I can’t apply on the app? FAQ
All overdrafts are subject to application, financial circumstances, borrowing history and lending criteria.

Our maximum interest-free arranged student overdraft limits are

From account opening and during your first term – up to £500

Year 1 – up to £1,000

Year 2 and beyond – up to £1,500

If we agree to arrange an overdraft, your limit could be lower than the maximum limits. All overdrafts are subject to application, financial circumstances, borrowing history and lending criteria. Arranged overdrafts are repayable on demand. Interest charges are variable.
Contact Perlego’s customer services at: help@perlego.com
You can cancel your account any time up to 14 days after either opening it or receiving your account terms and conditions – whichever is later.
It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to enter the details we need. If we approve your application, you’ll get your account details and can start using the account straight away. Your debit card and PIN will arrive separately within five working days.

Apply in the Barclays app

Get the Barclays app for your device. Your application will begin when you first open the app.

Student finance, fees and costs

Studying isn’t the only thing you need to think about before going to university

Make the most of uni

Tips on making the most of your time at university

How to save money as a student

8 hacks from recent grads

Account information and fees

Read all the details about banking with us and the terms and conditions of our Student Additions Account.

Terms and conditions for personal accounts
Current accounts – our bank charges explained [PDF, 1.67 MB]⁵
Fee Information Document - Student Additions [PDF, 355 KB]

14-day trial period

If you’re not happy with your account, you have a 14-day period in which to cancel your account or switch to another account. This begins on the account opening date or the date you receive your terms and conditions and other account information, whichever is later.

Your feedback

We want to hear from you if you’re unhappy with our service. You can complain in person, at a branch, in writing, by email or by phone. You can get a leaflet detailing how we deal with complaints in any of our branches, on this site or from the Barclays Information Line on 0800 400 1004. The line is open between 7am to 11pm, seven days a week. Alternatively, write to Barclays, Leicester LE87 2BB.

If we don’t resolve your complaint internally to your satisfaction, you may be able to refer it to The Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London, E14 9SR (08000 234 567). The Financial Ombudsman Service is an organisation set up by law to give consumers a free and independent service for resolving disputes with financial firms. Details of those who are eligible complainants can be obtained from the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Important information

You need to be 18 or over to access this product or service using the app. Terms and conditions apply. ^{Return to reference}
Perlego terms and conditions

1. This offer is for new Barclays Student Additions Account holders only.

2. Promotional subscriptions to Perlego’s online library will be available to qualifying Student Additions Account holders between 1 April and 18 December 2023, providing they comply with these terms and conditions.

3. On the date you redeem the offer on the Perlego website, you’ll have access to Perlego for exactly 12 months. After that, you’ll be able to buy a regular subscription directly from Perlego if you want to keep using its library.

4. To be eligible for the offer you must

a. Be a student enrolled in your first year of higher education at any UK university, starting in the 2023-24 academic year

b. Open a new Barclays Student Additions Account by 18 December 2023

c. Redeem the subscription with Perlego by 11:59pm on 31 December 2023

5. The promotional subscription will be available from Perlego’s website, redeemable with the registration code and instructions emailed to you. It allows you to use Perlego’s online library of e-books for free until the expiry date.

6. You must create a Perlego account to redeem the promotional subscription, and you’ll need to accept the Perlego terms and conditions and privacy policy to do this. You’ll have access to Perlego’s online library until the expiry date, or as long as Perlego continues to operate – whichever is sooner.

7. If you’re already a Perlego customer, you can either extend your subscription by 12 months for free, or replace your current subscription with a new free 12-month subscription. To do this, please contact Perlego at help@perlego.com or through their online chat.

8. The offer is limited to one promotional subscription for each customer.

9. Promotional subscriptions are only valid for access to Perlego’s catalogue of e-books, which may vary from time to time.

10. This offer isn’t transferable, refundable for cash, or replaceable if lost, damaged or stolen.

11. We may withdraw this offer at any time without notice.

12. In these offer terms and conditions ‘Barclays, we, us or our’ means Barclays Bank UK PLC.

13. Perlego is an online e-book subscription service provided by Perlego Limited.^{Return to reference}
Apple Pay is compatible with:^{Return to reference}
- iPhone 6 or later
- Apple Watch – paired with an iPhone 5 or later
- iPad – iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3 or later.
Google Pay works with Android devices with operating systems of 4.4.2 or above that are NFC capable.^{Return to reference}
To view PDFs, you'll need to have a PDF file viewer installed.^{Return to reference}

Student Additions Account

We make student money simpler

Here’s why you want a Student Additions Account

Let’s check you’re eligible

If you have lived in the UK for less than 3 years

You must

Haven’t had your offer yet?

Ready to apply?

If you're new to Barclays

Already got the Barclays app?

Interest-free arranged overdraft

If you’re a UK student, you don’t need to pay interest on arranged overdrafts up to £1,500.

General information about overdrafts

Spend, save and budget with the Barclays app

See where your money goes

You’re in control

Pay the easy way

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply in the Barclays app

Student finance, fees and costs

Make the most of uni

How to save money as a student

Account information and fees

Important information

Our products

Help

Site information

Find us