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HSBC Student Bank Account

The current account that's built for student life

Stay on top of your money while you study

Our Student Bank Account makes it easy to manage your finances, and comes with an interest-free arranged overdraft offer.1 Helping you to make the most of your newfound independence.

You'll need to be 18+ and have a confirmed place on a qualifying course at a UK university or college.

Had an unconditional offer?

Apply for an account today with your 16-digit UCAS code.

How to apply

International students

Recently arrived in the UK? Find out how to apply for a UK Bank Account.

What you'll get

  • An interest-free arranged overdraft

    Get an interest-free limit of up to £1,000 in your first year, which could rise to £3,000 by year 3. Your overdraft explained.

  • Easy mobile and online banking

    From checking your balance and paying your bills, to temporarily blocking your card, depositing a cheque and live chatting with us, you can do it all – quickly and easily – with our mobile app or online banking.

  • Guides to help you master your finances

    If you're new to managing your own budget, our free student finance guides and financial education content will help you do it with confidence.

  • Protection against theft and fraud

    Suspicious activity is picked up by our systems, helping to protect you against fraudsters. And if your card gets lost or stolen, block it in seconds in-app or online.

Overdraft representative example

0% EAR2 (variable), giving a representative rate of 0% APR3 (variable). Based on an assumed arranged limit of £1,200.

How does our overdraft compare? A good way to find out how we compare against other overdrafts or ways of borrowing is to look at the APR (annual percentage rate). An APR shows the cost of borrowing over a year. They're designed to help you compare one credit product (like a loan or an overdraft) against another more easily.

Our app puts you in control

Settle up in seconds

Need to split the bill? Send money quickly and easily to your friends via our app with PayM. There’s no need to enter any bank details – all you need is your mate's mobile number.

Stay informed with instant notifications

Get push notifications every time you make a purchase, a Direct Debit leaves your account or your student loan comes in. You'll also be able to spot any unexpected payments right away – giving you a bit more peace of mind.

Get help whenever you need it

Want to block or activate your card, manage your overdraft or simply ask us a question? You can do it all in our app. Whatever you need, we're always here. 24/7, 365 days a year.

Be the master of your budget

With our Balance After Bills tool, you can quickly see how much money you'll have left to play with after bills and other regular payments. Making budgeting a whole lot easier.

Things you should know before applying

Overdraft charges and charges for using your card abroad 

Arranged and unarranged overdrafts

An overdraft lets you borrow money through your current account. 

An arranged overdraft is where we agree an overdraft limit with you. This can help in months when you have extra expenses. An unarranged overdraft is when you make a payment that takes your account over your arranged limit or overdrawn when you don’t have an arranged overdraft in place.

We’ll always consider an unarranged request and make the payment if we can. Unarranged overdrafts may result in declined transactions. We report account activity, including overdraft usage, to credit reference agencies. An unarranged overdraft lasting more than 30 days could have a negative impact on your credit rating.

Overdrafts are repayable on demand. They are not suitable for long-term borrowing and usually result in interest.

If you take an arranged overdraft, you can later ask us to increase, reduce or remove your limit at any time online, by phone or in a branch.

If you end your overdraft you’ll have to repay any overdrawn amount and any interest owed. If you want to reduce your limit, you’ll first need to make sure you bring your borrowing down within the new limit.

To find out more, visit our overdrafts page where you can find out if you’re eligible and use our overdraft cost calculator.

Overdraft charges during your course

We offer an interest-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 when you open this account.4 You can request to increase your limit up to a maximum of £2,000 in year 2 and £3,000 in year 3, subject to status and how your account has been used.

Overdraft charges after you graduate

If you have an HSBC Student Bank Account, your account will change to an HSBC Graduate Bank Account at the end of your third year. We’ll then ask you to start paying back your arranged overdraft, reducing it each year, giving you time to pay it back after graduation.

In the first year after graduation, you may be eligible for an interest-free overdraft facility up to £3,000, and up to £2,000 in your second year after graduation. In your third year after graduation, we’ll move you to an Advance account or standard bank account. You may be eligible for an arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 interest-free to help make life easier (subject to status and how your account has been used).

Any arranged overdraft above these amounts will be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.

Overdraft text alerts

If you’re going to go overdrawn, we provide a couple of tools to help make sure you know about it.

If you try to make a withdrawal at any HSBC cash machine that would take you over your arranged overdraft limit, you'll get an on-screen alert to let you know how much money you have available to withdraw.

We’ll send you overdraft text alerts if you’ve used or are due to use an arranged or unarranged overdraft on your account. This is to help you monitor your usage and let you know what action you can take to avoid interest.

If you don't provide your mobile number or let us know when you've changed it, we won't be able to send you these text alerts.

You can opt out of the arranged or unarranged texts at any time by phone, or by going into a branch. If you choose to opt out of text alerts, this will apply to all personal current accounts you hold with HSBC UK.

Charges for using your debit card abroad

If you pay for something using your HSBC Visa debit card while you’re outside the UK, you’ll need to pay a ‘non-sterling transaction fee’ of 2.75%. So, for example, if you spent £100, you'd be charged a fee of £2.75.

If you withdraw money from an ATM, you’ll also need to pay a ‘cash fee’ of 2% (minimum £1.75, maximum £5) as well as the non-sterling transaction fee. So if you took out £100, you’d be charged a total of £4.75.

Any transactions you make will be converted into pound sterling (unless you choose to pay in local currency). To make sure your exchange rate is as competitive as possible, you’ll pay the exchange rate set by Visa.

More about using your card abroad

Opening your account is easy

You can apply for a Student Bank Account if you:

  • are 18 or over
  • live in the UK and have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for at least 3 years
  • don’t have another student account elsewhere
  • have proof you've been accepted onto a qualifying course at a UK university or college
  • have read the important account documents above

List of qualifying courses 

What proof of university acceptance you need 

What proof of identity and address verification you need 

New to HSBC?

If you don't have an HSBC account already, apply for your account today.

Already an HSBC customer?

Apply online and we'll automatically upgrade your account to a Student Bank Account once you've completed your application.

Apply online This link will open in a new window

New to the UK?

If you've been living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for less than 3 years, please apply for an HSBC Bank Account for International Students instead.

You might be interested in

Student Credit Card

 

Our Student Credit Card could help you cover unexpected expenses and build a good credit score.

Student guides

 

Get help on everything from prepping for university to borrowing money as a student.

Understanding your overdraft

 

If your overdraft is calling you, make sure you know how it works first.

Protect the things you own while at university

 

Cover your phone, gadgets and more with Select and Cover, our multi-insurance policy. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs, limitations and exclusions apply.

The small print

 

1.Overdraft offers are subject to application and an assessment of your financial circumstances. You must make regular credits into your account in order to keep any arranged overdraft limit we agree. Back to 'What you'll get'

2.EAR means effective annual rate. This is how all UK banks must show interest rates on their overdrafts, to make it easier for you to compare one bank’s overdraft with another. Please note that it doesn’t include any fees you might be charged in addition to interest. Back to 'Overdraft representative example'

3.APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the rate at which someone who is borrowing money is charged, calculated over a period of twelve months. It takes into account not just the interest, but also any other charges that may have to be paid and any interest free amount". Back to 'Overdraft representative example'

4.Overdraft offers are subject to application and an assessment of your financial circumstances. You must make regular credits into your account in order to keep any arranged overdraft limit we agree. Back to 'Things you should know'

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