Student money guide
Most online money-making tips are futile; here we have ranked the most useful legitimate ways to earn extra money, especially aimed at students in the UK. The options below are ranked from best to worst.
| Method | Realistic earnings | Effort | Required starting cash | Time | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank switching | £175–£220 per offer | Low | Varies | Weeks | 5/5 |
| Matched betting | £300–£800+ initially | Medium | £100+ | Days/weeks | 4/5 |
| Tutoring | £15–£40+/hr | High | £0 | Days/weeks | 4/5 |
| Paid research | £5–£100+/study | Low | £0 | Varies | 4/5 |
| User testing | £5–£50+/study | Low | £0 | Varies | 3/5 |
| Freelancing | Varies | High | £0 | Weeks | 2/5 |
Best for: fast one-off money
Banks often pay new customers to switch current accounts. Current offers are outlined below; bear in mind these change frequently and typically require you to be a new customer. Also note the conditions often require you to pay in a set amount of cash.
Full bank-switching guide →Best for: highest short-term earnings potential
This is a method involving turning free bets and offers from bookmakers into cash; it involves placing two bets covering each outcome on the same event to cover all possible outcomes and guarantee a profit.
Warning: Requires strict execution and exposure to gambling products.
Full matched betting guide →| Bank | Bonus | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| HSBC | £220 | Switch + £2,000 deposit + £500 spend |
| Barclays | £200 | Switch + £2,000 deposit |
| Nationwide | £175 | Switch + £1,000 deposit |
| first direct | £175 | Switch + £1,000 deposit |
If you’re a UK student, many banks offer other incentives for student accounts; find out more here.
These involve taking part in online research. They can be a useful way to earn money online, but the downside is the work is highly irregular and difficult to select for due to large amount of people applying.
£6/hour minimum platform rate.
Verdict: Best general research platform.
£5 for short surveys; £35–£55 for longer in-person research.
Verdict: Higher reward, fewer opportunities.
Potentially high-paying focus groups/interviews.
Verdict: Worth joining but selective.
Best for: Students with strong academic and social skills who want reliable, high-paid work.
This can pay significantly more per hour than surveys or apps, especially for GCSE/A-level students. Maths, sciences, languages and computing are the most valuable subjects. The main challenge is finding the first student, but after this it can be a consistent income.
Full tutoring guide →Best for: Students with a marketable skill who want flexible work with higher earning potential.
This lets you sell skills like graphic design, programming, video editing, writing, translating, social media management, or data work on a project-by-project basis. Earnings can vary massively, but if you build clients and reviews it can be well-paid. The main difficulty is getting the first clients.
| Platform or place | Best for |
|---|---|
| Upwork | Professional freelance projects, coding, writing, design, data work |
| Fiverr | Selling defined services or gigs |
| PeoplePerHour | UK-based freelance work spanning design, writing, marketing, tech |
| Freelancer.com | Broad range of jobs |
| Contra | Portfolio-based creative freelancing |
| Finding direct clients and small-business work | |
| Local businesses | Websites, social media, photography, design and admin work |
The UK trading allowance is £1,000 per tax year (income before expenses, not profit). If your total gross trading income is less than this, you don’t need to report it to HMRC. If it exceeds it, you might need to register for Self Assessment and declare it. Note that selling things on Vinted, eBay or similar doesn’t normally count as trading, provided it’s not reselling.
Read the short tax guideGood to know
Earnings, availability and eligibility vary. Check current platform terms and tax guidance before relying on any opportunity.
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