The Ultimate Guide For International Students Moving To London
The Ultimate Guide for International Students Moving to London
You’ve accepted your offer, and you’re preparing for the Big Move to London. There are a hundred-and-one things to do, so we’ve put together our Ultimate Guide to steer you in the right direction.
As an international student, not only are you facing the (potentially daunting) start of your university life, but you also have to deal with moving hundreds or thousands of miles away from home and immersing yourself in a new culture. It can be a struggle, but with the right foundations laid you’ll settle in in no time.
This guide covers:
Visas
UK Bank Accounts
Budgeting & Finances
Student Discounts
Mobile Phone Contracts
Healthcare
Travelling Around London
Visas: Help!
Before you even board your flight, you need to consider the visa situation.
Studying in the UK requires a visa but the type of visa you need will depend on where you’re coming from. You can apply for your visa 3 months ahead of your course start date, so make sure you’ve done your research and know what you need to do. If you want to apply online, you need to do that while you’re still outside the UK - so it needs to be on your to-do list before you arrive!
Chances are, you’ll need to get a Tier 4 (General) visa if you are outside the EEA. If this is the case, the cost of the process totals £348 per person (including any dependants you are bringing with you) and is payable online.
To figure out which visa you need, the UK Government has put together an online process - take a look here. Make sure you properly understand the restrictions of your visa before you arrive, so that you’re sticking to the regulations. Some visas let you work while you study, for example, while others are more stringent on what you can or can’t do while in the UK.
If in doubt, your university will have help for international students, so get in touch with them.
Should I open a UK bank account?
You may think it’s easier to keep your existing bank account from your home country, but we highly recommend opening a UK account to use while you’re in the UK!
Benefits of opening a UK bank account include:
No currency exchange fees when paying your UK bills
If you’re planning on working, employers will want to pay you using a UK bank account
Setting up direct debits is much easier
You can pay back friends more easily
Opening a UK bank account is simple - and can often be done online, depending on which bank you choose (NatWest, for example, is entirely online, while Lloyds Bank will need you to visit a branch to confirm your identity). Whichever bank you choose, you’re likely to need the following:
Proof of identity - passport or driving licence
Proof of address - often a utility bill is preferred, but if you’re in managed accommodation a rental agreement will suffice
Proof of your student status - a UCAS letter or offer letter from your university
Once your account is open, you can transfer money between your international and UK accounts using BIC or IBAN numbers. Often there are bank charges incurred, so make sure you check with the bank beforehand.
How much money do I need to live in London?
London can be expensive. And as a student you’ll want to soak up everything London has to offer - which is a lot! London is a great place to live and there’s always something going on, so it’s a good idea to get your budget sorted out so there’s money to spare to enjoy yourself!
Most visa types will require you to have at least £1,265 a month to support yourself, in addition to your tuition fees - but if you’re careful with your money you can certainly afford to enjoy the best of London on a budget!
Outside of your accommodation and tuition fees, we’d recommend the following as a rough monthly budget:
Food: £150 per month
Travel: £60
Toiletries/Health: £30
Mobile Phone: £25
Clothes/Misc: £50
Total: £315 per month
If you’re staying with us, your accommodation fees are likely to be between £400-£1,000 each month, so all in you’re looking at spending somewhere between £700 and £1,395 per month, which leaves you a margin for enjoying yourself too!
What can I do to save money?
As a student in London, there are many opportunities to make the most of student discounts. Perhaps most importantly, you can secure a 30% discount on public transport in London by getting a Student Oyster Photocard - this card lets you tap-in and tap-out of tubes and buses across London, and you’ll be charged 30% less than full rate. It’s a no-brainer if you need to get a bus or tube into university, or if you’re likely to be travelling throughout London for fun too!
Student discounts aren’t just limited to travel, though. Lots of retail shops offer student discounts, and you can sign up for Unidays or an NUS Extra (or Totum) card to secure online student discounts too. The NUS Extra card also gives you international benefits too - so you can continue to get student discounts when you’re home for the holidays!
If you’re anything like the typical student, food and drink is likely to consume the vast majority of your budget - so it’s the area where there’s most opportunity to scrimp and save a little. Some tips for reducing your grocery bill:
Plan your meals for the week in advance - to prevent impulse buying! Try a digital meal planner if you’re a fan of keeping things organised - or take a look at our weekly shopping list for ideas
Shop for fresh fruit/veg in the clearance aisles - make the most of the reductions
Shop around for the best deals, rather than sticking to one supermarket
Visit a local market to shop sustainably (visiting near the end of opening times can reveal bargains too!)
Check out our full guide on saving money while at university here.
How do I sort out my mobile phone?
You’re likely to want to keep in touch with friends and relatives back home while you’re here in the UK, as well as keeping up with your new social crowd in London. While it’s much easier now than it used to be, with WhatsApp and other services providing wifi calling, but it’s still worth looking at your options to make sure you can do everything you need to do on your phone.
If you’re happy with your phone currently, the best (and cheapest!) option is to go with a SIM-only plan - you’ll pay less, you can use it in your current phone, and you’re less likely to be tied into lengthy contracts. Most UK mobile carriers offer SIM-only deals, but you’ll want to make sure you’re getting one with international calls included or as a bolt-on. Some carriers offer a specific international SIM deal - for example, EE offer a £15 per month deal that includes 250 minutes of calls to many international countries. Shop around for the best deal for your needs.
If you’re in the market for a new phone too, you’re likely to need a bigger budget, especially if you’re after the latest fancy handset. If you’re hoping to spend less, try going for a slightly older model or even a refurbished option - GiffGaff have a number of good refurbished options, and they offer really flexible SIM plans too.
What happens if I need healthcare?
Unlike many countries around the world, the UK offers its citizens free healthcare services - and if you’ve got a studying visa, you’re covered too! The healthcare process in the UK is fairly simple. The first step for you is to find your local GP (General Practitioner) and register with them.
The GP surgery is the first port of call for any health-related issues. If necessary, they can prescribe medications and even perform some minor surgeries. If the issue is more specialist, they will refer you to another medical professional, usually based in a hospital, who is better suited to dealing with your concern. Either way, the GP is the person you should speak to first.
If you require medication, your GP will provide you with a prescription - a piece of paper that you take to a pharmacist (Boots, for example) who will provide you with the medication. There is a charge for prescriptions, which is currently £9 per item (although if you require regular medication, a pre-payment certificate could be cheaper for you).
You can, of course, choose private healthcare too - but you will need to pay for private medical insurance to qualify. If you choose this, the GP will still be your first point of contact, and any necessary referrals will be made to a private medical professional through your insurance provider.
How does London public transport work?
You’ll quickly get the hang of London public transport, even if it’s daunting to begin with! Central London is always busy, but there are a number of options for getting from A to B quickly and easily.
The whole of London is covered by an extensive network of buses and tubes, which run regularly and often throughout the night. If you need to get somewhere, the chances are that a combination of buses and tubes is the best way to do so. The simplest way of planning your journey is to use the Transport for London journey planner - input your starting point, your end destination and when you want to leave/arrive by, and you’ll see the recommended route. You can adjust your preferences if you’d prefer to avoid buses or a long walk between transport.
If you’ve got yourself a Student Oyster Photocard, hopping on a bus or tube is simple - just tap your Oyster card on the receiver when you get on the bus or when you’re entering the underground station, and then do the same when you get off or leave the station. Tapping out is just as important as tapping in - if you forget to tap out, you’ll be charged extra!
There is some unspoken etiquette on London’s public transport system, which you’ll get the hang of quickly. For a brief insight, check out this Beginner’s Guide to the London Underground.
How do I get to know London better?
Once you’ve settled into your studying and living routine, you’ll no doubt want to start exploring.
We suggest starting close to home, as the Bayswater area has a lot to offer! Check out some of the more offbeat things we’ve discovered here, or the best places to get a good meal, or some of the most fun free activities if you’ve got an eye on your budget.
Your university will also have plenty of tips and tricks, so make sure you go to as many student events as possible to get to know people! You’ll find your friend-crowd quickly, and then you can explore London together to your heart’s content.
What if I need more help?
We can’t possibly cover everything here, but we can point you in the right direction for help. Your university will have a number of resources available for international students, as well as being able to give you more specific advice about your studies, but if you’re in need of a quick helping hand, try these resources:
Study International: the ultimate portal for all things international study! News, advice and rankings - everything you could possibly need.
What Uni?: a great source of advice for general student living, as well as advice on more academic topics like clearing. Definitely worth checking out - and their Ultimate Guides are incredibly helpful!
Save the Student: not specifically focussed on international students, but does cover an awful lot of student life! If you’re in need of general student advice, start here.
UK Council for International Student Affairs: a charity focussed on international students in the UK, UKCISA provides advice on everything from visas to legal regulations. If you’re looking for help with more ‘official’ things, this is your best bet.
The Student Room: founded many years ago, The Student Room has a huge active community of UK students and its forums allow you to find answers from people who’ve been there and done that already. And if your question hasn’t been asked before, you can easily ask it and get advice from people who’ve been in your situation before. It’s a great place to get real advice!
That’s it - everything we think you’ll need to get settled into your new London life! Being an international student is daunting, but exciting. There are so many opportunities for you in London, so once you’ve got the basics sorted out the world is your oyster!
