Student Current Account

Get your student finances sorted with our free everyday banking account

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Account features

App features

 

  • Freeze your card – gives you the ability to stop your card being used whenever you like
  • Manage your subscriptions – manage everything with ease in the app
  • Mobile alerts – whenever you spend on your card, we’ll let you know

 

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You’re eligible for a Student Current Account if:

  • You're aged 17 or over (to apply for an arranged overdraft, you have to be 18 or over)
  • You've lived at a permanent UK address for the past 3 years
  • You’re studying on a full-time course that lasts for at least two years, or on a one year access course leading onto a full-time degree.
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Are you an international student?

If you have not been a resident in the UK for at least three years, you will not be able to apply for a Student Current Account.

Instead, you might want to take a look at our other accounts.

View other accounts

Arranged overdraft information

An arranged overdraft can act as a short term safety net. You can use it to borrow money up to an agreed limit through your bank account.

There is no fee to set up an arranged overdraft and you’ll only pay daily arranged overdraft interest if you use more than your interest-free amount. If you use your arranged overdraft over your interest free amount but pay it back before the end of the day, then you won’t pay any arranged overdraft interest for that day.

  • Applying – You can do this at the end of the Student Current Account application or any time after your application. 
  • Amending – You can reduce or remove your arranged overdraft whenever you like through the app, Internet Banking, over the phone or in branch. But you must repay anything you owe if you want to remove an arranged overdraft or anything over the new reduced limit you want. You can also apply to increase it. Using an arranged overdraft increases your overall borrowing and may affect your credit score.
  • Cost calculator – use this to calculate how much it will cost you to use an arranaged overdraft. 
  • Keep in mind – If you don’t have enough money in your account or available arranged overdraft to make a payment, we may either let you borrow through an unarranged overdraft or refuse the payment. Missing payments and using an unarranged overdraft may damage your credit score, so please get in touch if you find yourself in these circumstances.

All overdrafts are subject to application and repayable on demand. You must be 18 or over to apply.

If you are given an arranged overdraft limit higher than the interest free amount, you will be charged interest on any borrowing over and above the interest free amount. Please see Fee Information Document (pdf, 160KB) for further details of our interest rates.

Representative Example

A variable representative rate of 0% APR

A variable annual interest rate of 0% EAREAR is the Equivalent Annual Rate. This is the annual interest rate of an overdraft. This means you are charged over the year based on how often and how much you are overdrawn by, and the effect of compounding it – charging interest on interest already charged. This interest rate does not include any other fees and charges.

Based on Borrowing £1,200

This example assumes you are in the second year of your studies

How much does my overdraft cost in pounds and pence?

As an example, the interest cost of borrowing £500 is:

£0.00 for 7 days

£0.00 for 30 days

£0.00 for 60 days

How does our overdraft compare?

You can use the representative APR to compare with other products or credit providers, this can help you make sure that you chose the right type of borrowing for you.

Useful tools

You can use our calculator to work out how much your arranged overdraft borrowing could cost over different periods of time.

 

Cost Calculator

You can use our eligibility tool to find out if you are eligible for an arranged overdraft.

 

Eligibility Tool

Arranged overdrafts are subject to application and approval and repayable on demand. You must be 18 or over to apply. Arranged overdraft limits and interest rates vary based on your individual circumstances. 

Find out more detailed information on overdrafts such as interest rates, charges and managing your arranged overdraft limit.

If you already have a current account with us, you can apply for an arranged overdraft through Internet Banking or Mobile Banking. You can also apply to increase your existing arranged overdraft limit too.

Apply for an arranged overdraft

 

  • Sometimes we need to plan for the unexpected and having an arranged overdraft limit set up can provide you with the flexibility of extra money to help tide you over.

    The Student Account comes with an interest-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,500 in years 1-3 and up to £2,000 in years 4-6.

    When you graduate, we’ll still be here to help, converting your student account to a graduate account which also provides an interest-free offering.

    The amount of your arranged overdraft that is interest-free will depend on your year of study.

    For Student Account

    student account overdraft

    Year

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    Year

    Year 1 of study - first 6 months from accounts opening

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    £500

    Year

    Year 1 of study - months 7 – 9 from account opening

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    £1,000

    Year

    Year 1 of study - months 10 – 12 from account opening

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    £1,500

    Year

    Years 2 and 3 of study

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    £1,500

    Year

    Years 4 - 6

    Interest-free arranged overdraft amount

    £2,000

How to apply for a Student Current Account

You need to be aged 17 or over, on a degree course or equivalent full-time education and have been a permanent UK resident for the past 3 years. 

I'm a new Bank of Scotland customer

I'm a new Bank of Scotland customer

You’ll just need to apply by filling out an application form online or in branch. Here’s what you’ll need:

 

  • Your 4-digit UCAS code confirming your place on your course (you can find this in the UCAS portal)
  • Proof of ID (e.g. a passport or driving license) 
  • Proof of address (anything with your name on it that’s less than 3 months old, but not a mobile phone bill)
Apply for an account

I’m already a Bank of Scotland customer

I’m already a Bank of Scotland customer

You can change your current bank account into a Student Current Account through Internet Banking. Your sort code an account number will stay the same and we’ll ask you for your 4-digit UCAS code.

Change my account

  • If you have opened a Bank of Scotland Student Current Account between 1st August and 8th October 2023; and successfully deposit at least £500 into your Student Account by 31st October 2023; you qualify for £100 cash offer.  

    Customers who open a Bank of Scotland Student Current Account from 1st August to 20th September 2023   

    To qualify for the £100 cash offer, the following conditions apply:  

    • Open a Student Current Account between 1st August and 20th September; and  
    • successfully deposit at least £500 into your Student Current Account by 31st October 2023.  

    You are not eligible for this offer if:  

    • You already have a Student Current Account with Bank of Scotland;
    • You do not deposit at least £500 into your Student Current Account by 31st October 2023.

    This offer applies to applications received in branch or online from 1st August to 20th September 2023. 

    The offer is subject to change and can be withdrawn without notice at any time. Only one cash offer is available per customer. The £100 cash offer will be paid directly into your Student Current Account in one payment by 30th November 2023 and will appear as a cash credit.
     

    Customers who open a Bank of Scotland Student Current Account from 21st September to 8th October 2023  

    To qualify for the £100 cash offer, the following conditions apply:  

    • open a Student Current Account between 21st September and 8th October 2023; and  
    • successfully deposit at least £500 into your Student Current Account by 31st October 2023. 

    You are not eligible for this offer if:  

    • you have held a Student Current Account or Graduate Current Account with Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland or Halifax since 1st August 2020;
    • you do not deposit at least £500 into your account by 31st October 2023.

    This offer applies to applications received in branch or online from 21st September to 8th October 2023. 

    Only one cash offer is available per customer. The £100 cash offer will be paid directly into your Student Current Account in one payment by 30th November 2023 and will appear as a cash credit. Your Student Current Account must remain open to receive the cash offer. 

    The offer is subject to change and can be withdrawn without notice at any time.

  • When you are no longer eligible for the Student Account, for example you graduate from your course, we will convert your account to a Graduate Account, unless you make alternative arrangements with us.

    If you are not eligible for a Graduate Account (for example you leave full-time study before graduating) we will convert your account to a Classic Account (or similar account if it is no longer available).

    Arranged Overdraft
    You can apply for a tiered interest-free arranged overdraft (subject to application and approval). Up to £2,000 in your first year after graduation, £1,500 in your second year and £1,000 in your third year.

Key account information

Bank of Scotland Bank Account conditions (PDF, 173KB)

Student Account welcome pack (PDF, 1.5MB)

Fees and charges

Student Account Fee Information Document (PDF, 160KB)

Graduate Account Fee Information Document (PDF, 158KB)

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Bank of Scotland plc, Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.

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