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• Thursday the 19^th of September, 2019

7 essential tips for international students new to the UK

Open a UK bank account

If you're staying in the UK for longer than a few months (so longer than a semester), we would recommend setting up a bank account. This will make it easier to pay bills, keep your money safe, and avoid foreign currency charges you'd otherwise be paying if you used a non-UK bank account to pay for things in Britain.

You can complete most of your application on the internet. You can find all the best International Student Bank Accounts here. Some may ask you to go into a local bank to finalise your application, with branches located around campus. It's best to take money with you to cover the first month of your stay, while you sort your bank account.

Sort your Student Accomodation ASAP

You'll want to get your accommodation sorted before you land in the UK – the last thing you want is to turn up and have nowhere to stay. As at your University as they wiill often offer guarantees to house all students who apply before a certain date.

Most students either live in university accommodation (called 'halls of residence' or 'halls' for short) or rent a room from a private landlord.

Living in halls is best for your first year of study, as it removes the hassle of trying to find a suitable room elsewhere, and some universities even have halls specifically for international students to help you make friends easily.

Unlike American universities, the vast majority of rooms both in halls and private housing are single occupancy – meaning you won't have a roommate, but a room to yourself.

Accomodation will either be self-catered (meaning you'll have access to a shared kitchen to cook your own meals), or catered (meaning your meals will be provided at a canteen). If you're looking to save some money, self-catered is by far the cheaper option.

If you're not interested in halls and you'd prefer to find accommodation yourself, find a student letting agency in your local area, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Prepare for British life

Culturally, the UK is very diverse and welcoming of people from all around the world. You'll find plenty of fellow international students at all universities, and most will have societies to help you meet like-minded people, and those from similar backgrounds.

We would also recommend searching for Facebook groups related to your university (they often have groups specifically for international students) so you can discuss any questions you have and even make some friends before you arrive!

In case you weren't already aware, the UK is known for its cold and wet weather! Pack lots of warm clothes and a waterproof coat for the winter months, and don't expect summer to be very hot very often. It's not student budget (or environmentally) friendly to have the heating on all the time, so warm clothes are essential.

Make sure you have Healthcare Insurance

All international students - from both inside and outside the EU - need to prove they have health insurance to cover them for any healthcare they need while in the UK. Here's how it's done:

EU nationals

If you're from the EU, organising your health insurance is a doddle. You'll just need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which will entitle you to free or reduced healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS) while you're here in the UK. If you don't have one, it's as simple as applying for one through your home country's national health insurance provider.

Non-EU nationals

If you're a student from a country outside the EU, you'll have to pay a health surcharge as part of your visa application, giving you access to the NHS during your stay here. Also check any health insurance you already have, as that may also cover you while you're abroad. However, don't forget that neither the EHIC or health surcharge will cover any extra expenses or losses incurred as a result of illness or injury – cancelled travel plans or lost course fees, for example.

Make sure your phone works

If you're panicking about whether your current phone will work in the UK, the answer is most likely, yes. The UK operates on the same GSM band as most of the world, but if you're coming from Japan or North/South America, your phone may not work in the UK, so this is worth checking.

However, the worst thing you can do is keep your current SIM card in your phone while studying in the UK. You'll pay extremely high charges for calling back home, as well as local numbers.

For calling local numbers

If you already have a mobile phone then you will need a new SIM card. With a Pay As You Go (PAYG) SIM you'll need to top up your phone with credit, which is a good way of keeping track of your spending but can be a hassle if your credit runs out at an awkward time. Monthly contracts are usually much better value for money and easier service. You'll likely get unlimited (or close to) minutes and texts, but you will need a UK bank account for this. You can get your UK bank account today here.

For calling back home

In recent years there have been lots of low-cost international call providers popping up, such as Lebara, LycaMobile and RebTel. From what we've gathered, RebTel offer the best value, with some calls under 1p a minute and your first call free. Alternatively, use services like Skype, FaceTime, Viber, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to have audio and video chats for free.

Figure out public transport

Getting to grips with the public transport system when you first land in a country can be a bit daunting – so here's a simple guide.

Local travel

All cities will have a local bus service which is often the most convenient way of travelling around a city. First suss out how far away you're going to be living from campus, and whether it's worth investing in a student bus pass to save some cash.

Bigger cities might also have a subway system, like the Tube in London or the Metro in Newcastle, and you might be able to invest in a yearly pass to help keep costs down. For travel in London specifically, take a look at the Oyster card – it can be used across various different modes of transport.

If you're confident enough, travelling by bike is a great way to save money while being environmentally friendly too.

National travel

If you're over in the UK for the first time, you'll probably want to visit a few different cities and sights while you're here.

Your two main options here are coach or train.

Trains are often the quickest and most comfortable way to get around the UK. However, tickets should be booked as early as possible to save money.

You'll probably also want to invest in a 16–25 Railcard or a 26–30 Railcard, which will save you a third on all rail fares.

Coaches are a cheaper alternative to trains, but they can take twice as long to get from A to B. You can open a bank account with Natwestand get ⅓ off coach travel for 4 years

Our top pick for saving money is Megabus, with journeys starting at £1 between the major cities. But if you can't find a suitable arrival and departure point, then try National Express as they offer the largest coach network in the UK.

Travelling by plane is also an option for longer distances, for example if you're travelling from London to Edinburgh, although it can be expensive.

Know how many hours you're allowed to work

If you want to make some extra cash while you're studying, then you may be wondering what your rights and options to work in the UK are.

If you're from a non-EU country, you'll be able to work up to 20 hours per week while studying, and full-time during the holidays, as well as before and after your course starts.

If you're coming from an EU country, you are free to work as many hours as you wish and can continue working as long as you'd like after graduation.

However, you shouldn't rely on a part-time job as your main source of income to fund your living costs in the UK. While they're a great way to boost your finances, you'll unlikely be able to earn enough to live off, and working long shifts will distract from your studies.