Best Credit Cards for Students in the UK

Updated on: 2021-10-16 - 5 mins read
best-credit-cards-for-students-in-uk-title

Are you planning to study in the UK or are you already studying in the UK? UK, a global leader in many areas of education including engineering, management, science, art and design, and business.

UK’s prominence and estate as a global centre for scientific research makes it a magnet for some of the very best thinkers in the world. So, you might be thinking of getting some credit cards with attractive offers.

Student credit cards are specifically designed for those pursuing post-secondary education and who are at least 18 years of age or the age of the majority in their province of residence. For making several major life decisions after graduation such as renting an apartment or applying for a loan needs a good credit score.

Opening a college student credit card is a realistic way to initiate raising credit quickly while taking privilege of rewards and special financing offers. There are exuberant college student credit cards available, all offering various benefits for distinct type’s students – from travellers and foodies to commuters and international students.Moving to a new city can be confusing and tedious in terms of settling in and finding their accomodation.

Amber is an international accommodation booking platform that assists millions of students in finding their perfect home abroad from student housing in London to student accommodation in Oxford. Coming back to credit cards,Some cards are forbearing with no credit history requirements, which means, you may be enabled without any credit history. You have to be 18 years of age and have a secured and fixed source of income. Here we have compiled few credit cards in United Kingdom with their offers and best deals:

1. HSBC Student Credit Card

HSBC Student Credit Card endeavours students and beginner a no-embellishment credit card that could help them get evoked on building credit rating. The card offers a cashback with selected visa. This card also endeavours manageable credit limit. To be eligible for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • Hold an HSBC student bank account.
  • Have been a resident in UK for at least 3 years.
hsbc-student-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.99%.
  • Additional card fee is £0.
  • Purchases interest-free period (days) is 56.
  • Minimum credit limit is £250.
  • Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £500.
  • Late payment fee is £12 .
Pros: Cons:
  • No annual fee.
  • Not required to hold higher credit score in order to be approved.
  • Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases.
  • To apply, you must hold a student bank account with HSBC.

2. RBS Student Credit Card

RBS Student Credit Card has no annual fee and applies 18.9% APR. the card comes with low credit limit and also gives an advantage of up to 56 days 0% interest on purchases. To be eligible for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • Have RBS student bank account.
  • Should be UK resident.
rbs-student-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.75%.
  • Cash advance fee is 3% (min. £0).
  • Late payment fee is £12.
  • No fee for additional card.
  • Minimum credit limit £250.
  • Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £500.
Pros: Cons:
  • No annual fee.
  • Not required to hold higher credit score in order to be approved.
  • Up to 56 days to spread the cost of purchases.
  • To apply, you must hold a student bank account with Royal Bank of Scotland.

3. TSB Student Credit Card

TSB Student Credit Card comes with no annual fee and low credit limit. TSB issues a personalised credit limit while opening your account. The card also gives an advantage of interest free purchases for up to 56 days. To be eligible for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • Must have current TSB account.
tsb-student-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.95%.
  • Minimum credit limit £500.
  • Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £1,000.
  • Balance transfers is 21.95%.
  • Cash advance fee is 3%.
  • Late payment fee is £12.
Pros: Cons:
  • No annual fee.
  • Relatively higher credit limits.
  • Existing TSB student customers only.
  • No rewards or other incentives.

4. Barclaycard Forward Credit Card

Barclaycard Forward Credit Card that has no annual, don’t require any credit history, control your money, and track your spending. The card also highlights personalised credit limit. Applicants can request a credit limit between £50 to £1200 or higher depending on your financial circumstance. To be eligible for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • There is an income requirement of £3000.
  • You must a UK resident.
barclaycard-forward-student-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Purchases is 0% for 3 months reverting to 33.9%.
  • Purchases interest-free period (days) 56.
  • 4 Additional cards available.
  • Balance transfer fee is 2%.
  • Late payment fee is £12.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.99%.
Pros: Cons:
  • There's no annual/monthly account fee.
  • Introductory 0% interest rate for 3 months, and long interest-free repayment period.
  • 2.99% fee on overseas transactions.

5. Tesco Foundation Credit Card

Tesco Foundation Credit Card comes with no annual fee and low credit limit. The card also gives an advantage of interest free purchases for up to 56 days. To be eligible for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • There is an income requirement of £5000 .
  • You must a UK resident.
tesco-foundation-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • Collect 1 Tesco Clubcard point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 Clubcard point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco in each purchase transaction. Must have available credit to collect Clubcard points. Clubcard points are turned into Clubcard vouchers every 3 months or sooner using Faster Vouchers. Clubcard vouchers can be used in Tesco or with Clubcard Reward Partners to get even more value on dining out, hotel stays and travel.
  • Balance transfer fee is 3.99%.
  • Minimum credit limit is £100.
  • 1 Additional cards available.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.75%.
Pros: Cons:
  • Earn Clubcard points on day-to-day spending.
  • No annual fee.
  • N/A

6. Chrome Card

Chrome Card is offered by Vanquis Bank. This card is designed to build a positive credit history and has no annual fee. There is no minimum income requirement. The eligibility criteria to apply for this card is :

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • You must a UK resident.
chrome-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Minimum credit limit is £250.
  • Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £1,500.
  • 1 Additional cards available.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.99%.
  • Late payment fee is £12 .
Pros: Cons:
  • You could get approved even with bad credit.
  • No annual fee.
  • Late fee payment charges.
  • Charges foreign transfer fee.

7. Aqua Classic Credit Card

Aqua Classic Credit Card offered by NewDay Ltd. The is designed for customers who have a limited credit history. The card also gives an advantage of 48 days interest free purchases. The eligibility criteria to apply for this card is:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • You must a UK resident.
aqua-classic-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • N/A
  • Minimum credit limit is £250.
  • Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £1,200.
  • Balance transfer fee is 3%. iv). Late payment fee is £12.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.95%.
Pros: Cons:
  • Applicants with low credit scores may be eligible.
  • No annual fee.
  • Late fee payment charges.
  • Charges foreign transfer fee.

8. AMEX Platinum Cashback Credit Card

AMEX Platinum Cashback Credit Card provides return on all purchases, with no spending cap on rewards. If you clear your balance in full each month, you will get benefit of up to 56 days of 0% interest on purchases each billing cycle. To apply for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • You must a UK residentand has UK bank or building society account.
amex-platinum-cashback-credit-card
Annual Fee: £25 per annum
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • As a new Cardmember, get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership.
  • £30 per friend/family member that successfully applies for an American Express card (Excl. Basic card) and uses Referral Programme (maximum £150 per annum). The cashback rebate is not payable in respect of any month in which the minimum payment is not received by the due date.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.99%.
  • Late payment fee is £12.
  • Representative APR is 27.3 (variable).
Pros: Cons:
  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible.
  • Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with American Express.
  • £25 annual account fee.
  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible.

9. Marbles Classic Credit Card

Marbles Classic Credit Card offered by NewDay Ltd comes with no annual fee and gives a maximum credit limit of £1200. The card also gives an advantage of interest free period of up to 56 days on purchases. To apply for this card:

  • You must be 18 years of age.
  • You must a UK resident.
  • You must not have taken out an Aqua, Marbles, opus or Fluid card in the past 12 months.
marbles-classic-credit-card
Annual Fee: £0
Rewards: Additional Features:
  • You could get a credit limit increase after three months. Choose a monthly repayment date that suits you and change it up to twice a year.
  • Foreign usage charge (EU) is 2.95%.
  • Late payment fee is £12.
  • Minimum credit limit is £250.
Pros: Cons:
  • No annual or monthly fees.
  • Applications accepted from customers with limited or poor credit history.
  • Higher interest rates.
  • Fees charged for late payment or for exceeding your credit limit.