For many students, the end of a degree does not represent a finish line so much as a launchpad. The prospect of trading libraries for Lisbon or deadlines for day trips is tantalising, but the question remains: how can you actually afford it?

While some young graduates go straight to work, keen to save money for the future, others are discovering that a combination of careful planning and opportunities can make extended travel more possible than it initially seems. From subletting your rented place to handling property you never intended to own in the first place, here are some of the resources that students can tap after they’ve turned in their final papers and exams.

Strip your spending back to the essentials

Travelling isn’t synonymous with luxury. Plenty of graduates fund long trips by tightening their belts a few months before they travel. That might mean moving back in with family, selling what you can live without or cancelling unnecessary subscriptions and setting strict weekly budgets. There are apps such as Monzo, Starling, and Splitwise that help track spending and let you add more money to a dedicated “travel fund” without feeling deprived.

Small things, such as walking rather than taking public transit, or cooking at home instead of eating out, can easily start to add up when you’re doing them regularly.

Take on short-term or remote work

More graduates are opting for gigs and remote jobs versus traditional nine-to-fives. Freelancing, tutoring, casual hospitality shifts and seasonal work (like at summer festivals or ski resorts) can offer a financial buffer before you leave, or even while you’re away.

Remote work, specifically, enables you to earn money while travelling, thereby opening up longer travel opportunities for more students who’d rather not wait several years to pursue this.

Consider your options if you inherit a property

While it might not be a lifestyle most associate with student life, inherited property is a situation some graduates find themselves in. And though it can be a lot of responsibility at an already transitional time, it can also provide some financial freedom, if approached with care.

Indeed, many graduates are unaware of how expensive it is to sit on an empty property. Council tax, insurance, maintenance and possibly renovation costs all mount up, especially if the place you own is far from where you live. If you don’t want the long-term responsibility of being a landlord or the slow-moving process on the open market, then your options include letting the property, selling through an estate agent, or going with cash house buyers who can offer a guaranteed sale within seven days.

This, of course, won’t be the correct route for everyone, but for graduates looking to unlock resources without enduring months of misery and paperwork, it can make sense.

Travelling after graduation offers valuable experience for life. Whether learning a language, volunteering or just finding your way around the world according to your rules, the confidence that trust brings can be as valuable as any lecture.

With some careful planning, it’s entirely possible to unlock a portion of your funds for travel. It’s a sensible next step toward the world outside campus.