Best Student Bank Account in the UK: Compare Features, Fees, and Perks

When you’re a student in the UK, your best student bank account, a current account designed specifically for people enrolled in higher education, often with interest-free overdrafts and no monthly fees. Also known as student current account, it’s not just a place to store your money—it’s a tool that can help you manage rent, groceries, and emergency costs without getting hit with surprise charges. Most banks offer these accounts only if you’re enrolled in a UK university or college, and they usually require you to deposit your student loan or maintenance grant each term to keep the perks active.

What makes one account better than another isn’t just the size of the overdraft. It’s how easy it is to track spending, whether you get cashback on shopping or travel, and if the app helps you avoid going overdrawn. For example, Monzo for students, a digital bank that gives real-time spending alerts and budgeting tools built into its app lets you see every coffee or bus fare as it happens, so you don’t end up surprised by your balance. Meanwhile, Starling Bank for students, a mobile-first bank that offers automated savings goals and helps build credit history lets you set aside small amounts automatically, which is useful if you’re trying to save for a trip or a new laptop.

Some accounts still offer big interest-free overdrafts—up to £3,000 in some cases—but those can disappear after graduation, so it’s smart to plan ahead. Others give you free railcards, Amazon vouchers, or discounts on food delivery. But don’t get distracted by flashy offers. The real value is in avoiding fees: no charges for using ATMs, no hidden costs for international payments, and no penalties for going slightly over your limit.

What you’ll find below are real comparisons from students who’ve used these accounts through exams, moves, and part-time jobs. You’ll see how Monzo helps someone juggling three part-time gigs track cash flow, how Starling’s savings tools helped one student build a £500 emergency fund, and why some students switched from big high-street banks after getting hit with £15 fees for going £5 over their overdraft. There’s no fluff—just what works, what doesn’t, and what actually saves you money.