Money has become such a widespread concern for students that it’s impacting attainment and threatening non-continuation on a larger scale than ever before: 96% of students report a monthly shortfall between what they have and need to feel confident they will be able to complete their degree.
As the experts in student money, we have built a powerful ecosystem that’s not only life-changing for students, but also has a real impact on recruitment, retention and attainment for institutions.
The ultimate university tool, Blackbullion combines award-winning financial education, money management tools and insights from over £2 billion of real-time student spending data. Trusted by over 100 universities, colleges and businesses to save time while supporting more than 450,000 students.
The most powerful way to use Blackbullion at your institution is across multiple departments. Here’s how:
Recruitment and outreach teams
- Differentiate your institution and stand out competitively by offering desired skills and prioritising financial wellbeing
- Financially prepare students and their families with accurate cost of student living data to reduce dropouts
- Streamline support fund management and distribution e.g. for Open Day travel costs
- Support students at feeder schools and colleges to make a confident, successful decision and transition
Marketing and communications teams
- Drive engagement and recruitment with powerful data insights
- Increase student engagement through campaigns
- Demonstrate the institution’s financial wellbeing commitment
- Use sustainable marketing assets personalised to the institution
Student services
- Improve student wellbeing and address the money and mental health interlock
- Identify at-risk students early, reduce dropouts and take a preventative approach through education, tools and financial opportunities
- Save time and admin with one platform for managing and distributing all support funds, bursaries and awards
- Get more money into students’ pockets with millions of supplementary funds
- Collaborate with the Students’ Union and other departments for a holistic, whole institution approach to support
- Improve discoverability of the institution’s support funds amongst eligible students and deliver a simpler, more impactful help-seeking experience
- Optimise support offering and underpin recruitment with powerful data insights
Careers and enterprise teams
- Boost employability, increase graduate outcomes and support student entrepreneurs through funded opportunities and employer partnerships
- Remove financial barriers to work with streamlined support funds for travel, clothing and interviews
- Build real-world financial skills and ensure a smooth, confident transition to monthly salaries with smart budgeting tools
International teams
- Ensure a smooth transition and strong start for every student
- Reduce drop-out by identifying and addressing financial stress early
- Save time with streamlined management and delivery of support funds
- Help students navigate UK financial systems
Students’ Union
- Strengthen advocacy with evidence-based insight into student financial stress
- Increase engagement in wellbeing initiatives
- Identify trends and target support with powerful data insights
Money and funding
- Save money by creating efficiencies and streamlining processes
- Save time, reduce admin and ease workloads increased by cost cutting measures
Data and insights
- Access real-time insights from hundreds of thousands of students
- Inform institutional strategy with data that supports policy, funding and retention planning
What Blackbullion provides:
1. Financial education & Financial Wellbeing Score: Building money skills and confidence
Students gain access to 80+ learning pathways, videos and tools to build essential financial capability. Supporting your recruitment, retention and attainment goals.
Money Ready for University and Career Blueprint content packs help students navigate key transition periods in the student journey. While the Financial Wellbeing Score provides a gamified learning journey personal to each student.
97% of students believe universities should provide financial information: you already have a trusted solution in place.
2. RetainIQ: Dropout early detection & intervention system
RetainIQ flags students at-risk of dropout using financial stress signals and delivers timely, meaningful support without the need for staff intervention (saving you time).
74% of at-risk pilot students say RetainIQ influenced them to stay.
3. The Funds Management System (FMS): End-to-end funding solution
Saves staff and students time by streamlining every step, for all of your institution’s funds. From application creation and management to instant payments and reporting.
- 10+ hours saved every week by staff using the FMS
- 2 in 3 staff members say the FMS is a “game-changer” for their workload and 61% say its improved
- their wellbeing at work
- 8x faster for students to supply accurate, bank statement evidence
4. Funding Hub: The UK’s largest hub of support funds, scholarships & grants
The Funding Hub gets more money in students’ pockets. It’s one central place for your students to discover and apply for tens of millions of pounds in supplementary funding.
£46+ million distributed to students through Blackbullion
5. Money Manager app: The first budgeting app built just for students
Supports students to budget smarter by tracking all spending in one place and rewarding them with discounts on things they love. With the help of intelligent voice, Coach.
4.8 app store rating (424 reviews)
Leverage Blackbullion across the student journey:
- In adverts and marketing materials: to stand out against your competitors and demonstrate your institution’s commitment to the financial wellbeing of students
- At open days and in outreach: to support and financially prepare prospective and pre-arrival students and their families
- During induction: ensure a smooth transition and strong start for all students, with personalised support for international students and minority cohorts
- At key transition points, including graduation: to boost employability, increase graduation outcomes and set graduates up for success with a smooth transition to life beyond university
Another department at your institution may already be using Blackbullion!
Book a call or contact us on hello@blackbullion.com to check if your university or college is a Blackbullion partner or discuss any of the above.
Expect to see real impact on…
Non-continuation:
of at-risk students say Blackbullion influenced them to stay
Attainment:
of students can better focus on their studies after applying for funding on Blackbullion
Student success:
feel more confident about their money after using Blackbullion
