Let's finally address the elephant on the page:  students are not a wealthy demographic. 

Whether it's the high cost of corporate tax textbooks, tuition fees or student accommodation; many students find it difficult to manage financially during university. 

Depending on the financial background of a student, and their parents' ability to help them pay living costs and university fees, different students have very different experiences. 

In the UK, tuition fees are always covered by a student loan. A maintenance loan also provided by a government-sponsored organisation also covers accommodation costs (in most cases). This leaves day-to-day living costs such as food, course materials, and activities which need to be paid for. 

On a means-tested basis, some students receive non-refundable grants from their university to cover these costs. Others receive a stipend from their parents. A final group must find a part-time job to raise the cash to cover these costs. 

My personal view is that if you need to take a job to cover your costs (which is taking 10-30 hours per week away from your studies), then now is probably not the right time to be investing. 

If you have surplus money to invest, it implies that you could have worked fewer hours and devoted more of your energy to the exercise of learning - which let's not forget, is the entire reason why you are at University. 

I would say that investing while as a student is only appropriate for those with pre-existing savings, or who can manage to spend less than they receive each week in financial support. 

While at university, my non-tuition loans and grants came to about £110 per week. I lived frugally in an attempt to save as much of this as possible. My journal shows that I spent an average of £40 - £50 per week during term time, meaning I could hope to save up to £1,000 per year which could go towards investments. 

This is what I visualise when I talk about investing as a student. I'm picturing modest sums being saved gradually in a way that won't distract from the core purpose of being at university. 

I won't pretend that investing £2,000 at the age of 20 will allow you to retire by 30. It's not the capital or the amount invested that matters at this important stage.

Investing as a student is about getting excited about money. It's about setting some grand financial objectives. It's about getting practiced at the art of investing, ready for when you can put away 'real money' from your salary during your career.