Make the Most of Campus Without Spending a Penny

University life doesn’t have to be expensive..

Across all UWE Bristol campuses, there are plenty of free facilities, activities, and events available to support your wellbeing, studies, and social life. Whether you’re looking to add a bit of movement to your day, meet likeminded people, or simply save money day to day, here’s a guide to what you can access completely free.

Free Everyday Essentials on Campus

Small things add up and UWE is there to help you:

• Free water dispensers available across all campuses
• Free use of microwaves in key student spaces, including: OneZone, R Block, Q Block, Parts of X Block
• Comfortable communal areas for studying, relaxing, or eating your own food

Free Sport & Fitness: UWE MOVE

UWE MOVE offers free, instructor-led and self-guided activity sessions for students across Frenchay, Glenside, and City Campus.

Activities include (but aren’t limited to):

• Basketball
• Swimming
• Pilates
• Fitness classes and recreational sport

Some sessions are instructor-led, while others provide free access to equipment so you can use them independently or you can join from the comfort of your own space with online sessions. 

How to Book via the UWE Sport App 

Centre for Sport MOVE Page

Centre for Music: Create, Practice & Perform

All UWE students get free membership to the Centre for Music but you require to register for each academic year, giving you access to:

• Rehearsal rooms
• Piano
• DJ booth facilities
• Free music taster sessions including:
• Singing
• Piano
• Guitar

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced musician, it’s a great way to explore creativity without spending anything. If you enjoy a particular skill, you can continue developing it by booking 1-2-1 lessons or exploring other paid opportunities available through CFM. 

Students’ Union: Events, Clubs & Support

The Students’ Union offers more than 100 clubs and societies some free to join, others with a fee depending on the clubs and society you join. Even if you don’t join a society, there are lots of free events and initiatives, such as:

• Placement uniform swap shop (Glenside Campus) placements can be expensive which is why SU created this to 
• Repair Café (free electronics & clothing repairs)
• Advice Centre 
• Cost of Living Help
• Tea & Toastie sessions
• Book Swaps
• Community and wellbeing events

What’s on: https://www.thestudentsunion.co.uk/whatson/

Student Life Events: Free & Subsidised

The Student Life team runs a wide range of free on campus and off campus events, as well as some other heavily subsidised activities, including:

• Film screenings
• Board game nights
• Karaoke
• Craft activities (knitting, paint-a-vase, tie-dye)
• Cultural celebrations such as: Nowruz (Persian New Year), Lunar New Year
• Christmas & New Year & Halloween

Free Study & Wellbeing Support

UWE Bristol offers a wide range of free academic and wellbeing support, including:

• Study skills workshops
• Academic writing support
• Neurodivergence support sessions
• Library-run academic development workshops

These sessions are designed to help you succeed, academically and personally.

Outdoor Spaces to Explore within Campuses

If you need fresh air or a break from screens, UWE Bristol has beautiful green spaces nearby:

• Stoke Park Estate: perfect for walking, running, or relaxing
• Duchess Pond
•  Community Garden at Frenchay Campus
• Ashton Court Estate by Bower Ashton Campus, you may even see deer if you’re lucky 

All completely free and open year-round.

Sustainability Hub: Swap, Reuse & Save 

It is a student-friendly space dedicated to making sustainable living easy and affordable on campus. Based at Frenchay Campus, the Hub operates a simple swap system where students and staff can donate clean, good-quality items and exchange them for others. It could be from clothing and kitchenware to books and small electricals. Even if you don’t have anything to donate, most items are available for a small pay-as-you-feel amount, encouraging reuse and reducing waste as part of the University’s wider sustainability goals. It’s a great way to save money, reduce your environmental impact, and help build a greener campus community. 

Make the Most of What’s Free

From fitness and music to food facilities, events, and green spaces, there’s so much available at UWE Bristol without spending a penny. Whether you’re new to campus or returning, it’s always worth checking what’s on and getting involved.