Anna – University of Birmingham
Studying: Geography and Urban and Regional Planning
Anna discovered the giveaway through her student union’s Instagram page and boosted her chances by referring friends via her group chat. She plans to use the £3,000 to help with living expenses while continuing her part-time job. Anna describes Handshake as a student-friendly version of LinkedIn, offering tailored support to help her secure future job opportunities.
Anna receiving her £3,000 cheque at Birmingham University
Ananya – University of Cambridge
Studying: Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science (Masters)
Ananya plans to use the £3,000 to cover accommodation costs while completing her studies. She’s using Handshake to explore roles in the environmental sector, where she hopes to begin her career after graduation.
Ananya receiving her £3,000 cheque at the University of Cambridge
Rhianna – Ulster University
Studying: Communication, Advertising and Marketing
Balancing studies and two jobs, Rhianna will use the £3,000 to cover living costs, allowing her to step back from working overtime hours and focus on her degree. She previously secured a placement through Handshake and is now searching for graduate roles.
Rhianna receiving her £3,000 cheque at Ulster University
George William – The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Studying: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Currently applying for internships in a competitive market, George plans to use the £3,000 to build his savings and invest in personal development to strengthen his applications. He heard about the giveaway through the LSE Student Union Newsletter and is actively using Handshake to explore internships.
George William receiving his £3,000 cheque at LSE
Denzel – Imperial College London
Studying: Physics
An international student from Singapore with aspirations of becoming an astrophysicist, Denzel plans to use the £3,000 for rent and tech upgrades to support his studies. He discovered the giveaway via email and boosted his chances by referring friends and downloading the Handshake app.
Melek – University of Central Lancashire
Studying: Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation
Melek heard about the giveaway through her partner and plans to use the £3,000 to cover rent and focus on her passion for art, with hopes of starting her own business. She’s receiving career support from UCLan’s career team via Handshake to help her succeed.
Melek receiving her £3,000 cheque at the University of Central Lancashire
Emma – Kingston University London
Studying: Fashion Design
Currently doing a placement year, Emma will use the £3,000 to offset commuting costs and help with her move back to Kingston. She entered the giveaway through her university’s career service and is determined to land her dream role in fashion.
Emma receiving her £3,000 cheque at Kingston University London
Pooja – York St John University
Studying: Digital Marketing (Masters)
Pooja was surprised and delighted to win £3,000, a sentiment shared by her friends and family when she shared the news. Currently working at Asda to cover her accommodation costs, Pooja plans to use the money to ease her financial burden as a student.
Pooja receiving her £3,000 cheque at York St John University
Ben – Exeter University
Studying: Politics and International Relations in the Middle East (Masters)
Ben hopes to transition into law after completing his master’s degree, building on his undergraduate background in the field. He discovered the Live Rent Free giveaway through an email from his university and decided to enter. Winning came as a complete shock, and he’s still in disbelief! Ben plans to use the £3,000 to support his goal of traveling to carry out charity work after his studies.
Ben receiving his £3,000 cheque at Exeter University
Chaitanya – Queen Mary University of London
Studying: Intellectual Property Law (LLM)
An international student from India, Chaitanya plans to use the £3,000 to cover accommodation costs for several months. He entered the giveaway via through a Student Union email and is exploring job opportunities through Handshake.
Chaitanya receiving his £3,000 cheque at Queen Mary University of London
Lily – University of Hertfordshire
Studying: Digital and Technology Solutions
Lily plans to use the £3,000 to boost her savings and fund a passion: learning piano. She intends to purchase a keyboard while continuing her studies and pursuing a career in cybersecurity and ethical hacking.
Lily receiving her £3,000 cheque at the University of Hertfordshire
Lovish – Middlesex University
Studying: Psychology
Lovish, an international student from India, and plans to use the £3,000 to help pay course fees and ease financial pressure. She’s actively using Handshake to find a placement, with support from Middlesex’s career service.
Lovish receiving his £3,000 cheque at Middlesex University
Kirsten and Yuling – The University of York
Kirsten
Studying: Biomedical Science
Kirsten entered via her university newsletter and plans to use the £3,000 to help cover rent. She’s considering a placement year and plans to use Handshake to support her search.
Yuling
Studying: Community Music (Masters)
Yuling referred friends to boost her entries and will use the £3,000 to ease rent costs while balancing her studies and part-time work.
University of York Careers Service team collecting cheques on behalf of winning students.
Jessie – Sheffield Hallam University
Studying: Interior Architecture and Design
Jessie entered the giveaway as an existing Handshake user and was with a friend when she found out she had won. She couldn’t believe it—this was the first time she’d won anything. Jessie plans to use the £3,000 to rebuild her savings, which took a hit during her first year of university. Her goal is to save for a house in the future.
Jessie receiving her £3,000 cheque at Sheffield Hallam University
All 15 winners, selected at random from thousands of students across the UK, each have unique stories, aspirations, and challenges—but they all share one thing in common: their determination to succeed. This initiative was driven by what students told us they needed most—and we’re not stopping here.
👉 Don’t miss your chance to win! Sign up for Handshake today and be ready to enter the next giveaway.