FIRST STEPS

FIRST

STEPS

A pre-departure guide for international

students coming to study in the UK

2019–20

‘It’s important to integrate into

the local community. I’ve made

lots of friends locally and it’s helped

me understand local behaviours.’

‘It is nice to know you are interested

in our safety.’

CONTENTS

Congratulations 3

Preparing to study in the UK 4

Preparing for your journey 6

Checklist for your place of study 10

Checklist for your journey 11

Arrival in the UK 12

Onward travel: how to get from

the airport to your final destination 16

Checklist for onward travel 17

Settling in 18

Well-being 24

Checklist for studying 24

Checklist for settling in 25

Out and about 26

Useful organisations 28

Further information and guidance 30

We hope that the time you spend

visiting the UK will be an enjoyable

and rewarding experience.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations on your decision to study in the UK. Every

year, the UK welcomes hundreds of thousands of students

from all over the world. Perhaps like you, they come here to

experience the fantastic opportunities a UK education can

offer, and the amazing social and cultural mix you can enjoy

while living here.

For those of you who are getting ready to come to the

UK you will benefit from excellent teaching, world-class

facilities and support and guidance from staff at your

institution. The website www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk

is a free resource containing activity-based interactive

learning to help you prepare for your study in the UK.

This guide is designed to help you get ready for what we

hope will be the experience of a lifetime, and it’s packed

with useful and important information. There’s a lot to

take in, so please take the time to read it carefully.

In its pages, you’ll find everything you need to know,

and what to do, before you leave home, as well as advice

about your arrival in the UK, settling in, getting organised,

and making the most of your new student life.

It includes information about immigration, fees and

finances, preparing for your journey, travelling, the weather,

the clothing you’ll need, looking after yourself, studying,

shopping, enjoying yourself and more.

We’ve also provided a list of useful organisations and a

web address where you can download further guidance if

you need it. We look forward to welcoming you to the UK.

PREPARING TO STUDY IN THE UK

Obtaining your visa

Unless you are a British citizen or an EEA or Swiss national,

or you already hold immigration permission that allows you

to live and study in the UK, you will most likely need to obtain

immigration permission before travelling to the UK to study.

The UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.

uk/browse/visas-immigration gives up-to-date information

on how and where to apply as well as local application

procedures. You should read through the information

note on Tier 4 students: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-

general-visa

As part of your visa application you will require a

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Information

on obtaining a CAS will be available from your institution.

You should be given a comprehensive guide to obtaining

your visa once you have received your CAS.

Names on documentation

Occasionally, problems occur with the spelling of names

and addresses, especially in connection with students from

countries that use a different alphabet from English. It is

best to decide on how you wish your name to be spelt in

English and then use this spelling at all times. Preferably,

this should be the spelling that is given in your passport.

Biometric Identity Document (BID)

Your visa will be issued for a period of 30 days, which provides

you with time to travel to the UK, and then you must collect

your BID, which contains your permission to stay longer.

When you complete your visa application you will need to

provide contact details in the UK and/or those of where you

are studying and which post office you wish to collect your

BID from. You can use your institution’s address for this

purpose, so you may need to know the address of the

nearest post office.

You will need to take your passport containing your visa and

the letter which you received when your visa was issued when

you go to collect your BID.

Accessing healthcare in the UK

You will be required to pay the immigration health

surcharge before applying for your visa. Please check

these details carefully for the surcharge required:

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/

overview

Students doing a short course of study in the UK

You can stay in the UK for six months for any short course

(including English language courses) or short period of

research if you are 16 or over or for 11 months if you are

16 or over and taking an English language course:

https://www.gov.uk/study-visit-visa

Tuberculosis (TB) screening

TB screening is compulsory for those applying for a visa

for longer than six months in certain countries. Further

information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/

tb-test-visa

Visiting Europe and the USA while in the UK

If you are planning to visit Europe or the USA either on holiday

or on a course field trip while you are studying, you may find

it easier to apply for an entry visa from the appropriate

embassy in your country before you travel to the UK.

PREPARING FOR YOUR JOURNEY

Make sure you have your student entry clearance before you

travel to the UK. Being well prepared for your journey makes

life a lot easier. With this in mind, make sure you’ve got

everything organised with plenty of time to spare before

you leave home. Your place of study should have sent you

information. Read it all very carefully: it will help you with

your pre-departure preparations. You should also have been

provided with a 24-hour telephone number and the name of

someone you can contact if you have any problems on your

journey, or if you arrive later than planned. You should plan

your journey from your point of entry into the UK to your

final destination, and know when and where you are supposed

to arrive.

If you do not have the above information, contact your

place of study as soon as possible so that you can be fully

prepared for your journey. You may also want to look up

your place of study on the internet before you leave.

Many institutions offer a ‘meet and greet’ airport or railway

station collection service for your arrival in the UK. If you

want to use this service you will need to book it in advance.

It is important you arrive in time for your institution’s

welcome or orientation week. This is a part of the institution’s

overall welcome and helps international students settle into

life in the UK. Usually the international office or National

Union of Students (NUS) runs a welcome international

or orientation programme in September each year. The

programme will provide you with dedicated local support

and information to help you to settle more quickly. This

includes support with opening a bank account, registering

with the police, registering with a doctor or dentist,

details about local shops and other useful information:

https://www.nus.org.uk/en/who-we-are/how-we-work/

Visit Britain may have an office in your country – consult

their website at www.visitbritain.com – they will be able

to give you help and advice on planning your journey.

It is assumed that you will be arriving at an airport in the

UK, although other methods of transport are detailed

in the ‘Arrival in the UK’ section on page 12. If you will be

studying in or near to London, you may wish to book your

flight into Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted or London

City Airport: www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/

travel-to-london/airport

If you are studying elsewhere in the UK, you should book

a direct flight to one of the 24 commercial international

airports, or book a connecting flight from a European

airport or one of the London airports.

Documents required for your journey

Certain documents are needed when you arrive at

the airport in the UK, where you will be interviewed

by immigration and health officials:

 Your completed landing card given to you during your

flight (if you’re not from an EEA country).

 A valid passport, with a visa or UK entry clearance

(if applicable).

 Your BID decision letter which sets out the leave granted

and explains the BID collection process in the UK; and

your short-term visa vignette in your passport. This visa

will have a validity of only 30 days from the expected

date of travel to enable you to travel to the UK and to

collect your BID.

 An air ticket.

 Vaccination certificates, if required.

 An X-ray certificate, if required:

https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa

 A letter of acceptance from your place of study (Tier 4) or

work (Tier 5). Keep information about the course you’re

studying (Tier 4) or the place you are working (Tier 5) in

your hand luggage. This must be a paper copy (not an

electronic copy on tablet or phone). This includes your

university CAS number or Confirmation of Sponsorship

(COS) if you are coming as a Tier 5 applicant.

 Documentary evidence that you have enough money

to pay your tuition fees and accommodate yourself

while you’re in the UK (recent bank statements, proof

of scholarship or sponsor’s letter).

 Originals (or certified true copies) of any degree

certificates or technical qualifications.

Make sure you keep the above documents and the following

in your hand luggage:

 Some warm clothing.

 Some British currency.

 Insurance documents.

 A list of what you are carrying in your luggage in case

you have to make an insurance claim.

 Any prescribed drugs or medicine you are taking, plus

a letter from your doctor explaining what they are.

 An address, telephone number and travel instructions

to your final destination.

 The First Steps pre-departure pack.

 A reference letter from your bank in your own country –

this will be useful when you come to open a bank

account in the UK.

Check hand luggage restrictions:

https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/overview

Medical insurance

You may be entitled to free NHS treatment while in the

UK (see pages 21–22), but you should still consider taking

out insurance which covers other medical-related costs.

An insurance policy may cover, for example:

 Lost fees if you are unable to complete your course.

 Costs of returning home if a relative is ill.

 Costs of a relative visiting you in the UK if you fall ill.

 Cost of returning to your home country for treatment.

 Or in the worst possible situation, returning a body

home for burial.

There is often a long wait for NHS treatment, sometimes

many months. An insurance policy which gives you access

to private medical care could give you much quicker access

to the treatment you need.

If you already have medical insurance in your home country,

check whether you can extend it to cover your stay in the UK,

as well as looking at options available from UK insurers.

Money

You need to order British currency and travellers’ cheques

and bring enough money to cover your immediate needs

on your arrival in the UK, including customs charges, rail

fares and any emergency expenses. About £250 should be

enough, but if you have any family with you, you will need

correspondingly more.

If you are travelling to the UK from a country outside the

EU and carrying more than €10,000 you will need to declare

this to customs.

It is also likely that you will have to pay a deposit for your

accommodation before you move in. This is normally the

equivalent of one month’s rent but it can be substantially

more, depending on the type of accommodation you are

renting. You will need to ensure that you have sufficient

funds immediately available to cover this. The international

student calculator will help you work out how to manage

your money and build a budget for living and studying in

the UK: http://studentcalculator.org

To check the banknotes used in the UK and for further

information visit https://www.bankofengland.co.uk

See also ‘Banks and money’ on page 20.

Transfer of funds

If you are planning to transfer extra money to the UK you

should arrange this before you leave your home country.

Also before you leave home, check whether you need

permission to transfer money to the UK and whether your

government has restrictions on the amount of money you

can take out of your country. Opening a bank account in

the UK can take a few weeks.

Clothing and other items

You should have enough warm clothing for your flight

and subsequent journey. Several layers of lightweight

clothes are better than a single shirt or dress. It is probably

cheaper and easier to buy warm winter clothing in the UK,

rather than in your home country.

It is worth bringing items of your national dress to wear

at social events, and photographs of family and home may

be of interest to new friends who would like to learn about

other cultures.

It is useful to bring some passport-sized photographs

of yourself. See also ‘Climate and clothing’ on page 22.

Luggage

You will have a free baggage allowance, which will be shown

on your air ticket; this is usually from 20kg with a restricted

weight of 32kg per single item of luggage. Only essential

personal possessions may be brought in addition to research

materials. You may be charged for excess baggage if you

exceed the baggage allowance, so check with the airline

before you leave if you are not sure of your allowance.

When you are packing your suitcase you should be aware that

some food, plant and medicines are made from endangered

species and are not allowed through UK customs.

Advice on importing personal effects and goods into the UK

may be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods

Insurance

You should always take out travel insurance covering

your journey to the UK. This should cover delays, medical

emergencies and the cost of replacing any belongings if

they are lost on your journey. If you are coming to the UK

for less than six months you should also take out travel

and medical insurance for the duration of your stay.

Personal security

The UK is generally a safe place to be, but as with anywhere

– especially if you’re new to it – it pays to take a few common

sense precautions.

For example, always carry your money in an inside pocket, not

in your back pocket or the outer pockets of coats or jackets.

If you want to leave your coat or jacket anywhere, then take

your money with you. And if you carry a handbag, keep it by

you and don’t leave it unattended, even for short periods.

Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you – just enough

to meet your day-to-day needs. Order travellers’ cheques

in small denominations – £5, £10 and £20 – and remember

to keep a note of their serial numbers in case you lose them.

Avoid leaving luggage, bags or briefcases in waiting rooms,

on railway platforms or on luggage racks where you can’t

see them. It’s much safer to carry valuables like cameras,

radios and computers with you, and again, make a note

of their serial numbers.

CHECKLIST FOR YOUR

PLACE OF STUDY

Once your preparations for arrival are complete, you should

ask yourself the following questions:

 Have you checked if you are able to book an airport

collection, and have you booked it?

 Have you received information on how to get to your place

of study from the airport, and how much it will cost?

 Do you know exactly when and where you are supposed

to arrive at your place of study?

 Have you told your place of study when you are likely

to arrive?

 Do you have a 24-hour telephone number for someone

you can contact at your place of study, in case you have

problems on your journey?

 Do you have a contact when you arrive at your place of

study or other meeting point, e.g. the railway station?

 Have you planned your journey from your point of entry

into the UK to your final destination?

Take care of your mobile phone and try to avoid using it in

crowded places or when you’re walking along busy streets.

If your phone is stolen, report it (and give your number)

to the network operator and the police – to minimise the

chance of thieves using it.

Finally, take special care of your passport, tickets and

other personal documents. For further tips read the

Creating Confidence booklet (a personal safety guide

for international students) or the Safety First booklet

(a personal safety guide for dependents, workers and

visitors) to make sure that your time in the UK

is safe and enjoyable: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/

planning/advice-support

Preparations for your course

Some courses require you to write a dissertation or seminar

papers. If you are on such a course you should bring with

you important documents relating to your own country,

which may not be available in the UK.

If you want to bring items of high value such as a computer

or audio equipment, you should also bring receipts showing

when and where they were purchased. British customs

officials may ask you to certify that the equipment is for

your own use and that you are not importing it permanently.

CHECKLIST FOR YOUR JOURNEY

Once your preparations for arrival are complete,

you should ask yourself the following questions:

 Have you bought travel tickets (including

connecting flight to regional airports, if required)

and travel insurance?

 Have you made all the necessary arrangements

for family members that are coming with you?

 Have you obtained a letter from your doctor for any

prescribed drugs you may need to bring with you?

 Have you ordered British currency and travellers’

cheques for your immediate arrival expenses?

 Have you checked whether you need permission to

transfer money to the UK?

 Have you checked whether your own government has

restrictions on the amount of money you can take out

of your country?

 Have you read the Creating confidence or Safety

first booklets?

 Have you taken out personal possessions and

medical insurance?

 Have you checked with your local British embassy what

you must declare at customs and what you are not

allowed to bring into the UK?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/personal-food-plant-

and-animal-product-imports

 Have you weighed your baggage to ensure that

it is within your baggage allowance and is easily

transportable for your onward journey?

ARRIVAL IN THE UK

If you are travelling by sea you will probably arrive at one of

the UK ports – Dover, Folkestone, Harwich, Hull, Portsmouth

or Southampton – from where you can travel to your final

destination in the UK. These major ports have many onward

coach and rail connections.

You can also arrive in London on the Eurostar train using the

Channel Tunnel. Rail services throughout Europe connect in

Paris and Brussels with the Eurostar service and, on arrival

in London, connections can be made by rail throughout the

UK from one of the main London stations. You may need to

travel into central London in order to catch a train or coach

to your final destination.

However, most international students travel by air and

your first sight of the UK is likely to be an airport. If you

are travelling by air you will usually arrive at Gatwick,

Heathrow, London City, Luton or Stansted airports, all of

which are convenient if you are studying in London or the

south-east of England.

If, like many international students, you are studying

elsewhere, there are many international regional airports

located throughout the UK, and your journey is likely to be

much easier if you fly to the regional airport closest to your

place of study. Many intercontinental flights now serve

UK airports such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and

Manchester; direct and onward connections are available

from these, as well as from the London airports, to

destinations throughout the UK.

There are also excellent connections to UK regional

airports through European airports such as Amsterdam,

Paris or Frankfurt.

Through Europe you can reach several UK regional airports,

such as Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Norwich and

Southampton, that are not connected to the major

London airports.

If you pass through another European airport check

beforehand whether you require a ‘transit visa’, which

will normally give you a fixed number of hours or days after

arrival in which to complete your onward journey. Certain

nationalities require a ‘direct airside transit visa’ even to

transit to another flight within the airport, which means

that you cannot leave the airport under any circumstances.

Certain other nationalities can ‘transit without visa’ provided

that the transfer is within the same airport, and you remain

within the airport to take an onward flight.

If your air journey involves a connection, whether in Europe or

in the UK, ask the airline staff to check you and your baggage

through to your final destination, as this will make your

transit through the connection airport much easier.

At first sight an airport can appear a difficult and confusing

place, but if you follow the steps below, getting through it is

actually quite easy.

These are the steps you must take:

 Follow the sign for ‘Arrivals’ unless you are transferring

to another plane at the same airport. If you are

transferring to another plane, follow the ‘Flight

connections’ sign and any further instructions.

 ‘Arrivals’ will take you to passport control.

 As you approach passport control you will see electronic

screens; these will show you which zone you will need

to go through. Make sure you join the right queue or

you could waste a lot of time.

 All passengers must go through the immigration zone

dealing with their flight. Note that there is one zone for

passengers who have UK, European Economic Area (EEA)*

or Swiss national passports and one or more zones for all

other passport holders.

 The immigration officer will want to see: that your

passport is up to date, that your documents are in

order, your landing card from the plane, and, if required,

a valid visa.

 If you are studying in the UK the immigration officer must

also be satisfied that you speak English at the required

level, without needing an interpreter:

https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/knowledge-

of-english

 If you do not require prior entry clearance or a visa, you

will also need to show a letter of acceptance as a student

from a UK institution and proof that you are able to pay

for your course and living expenses without working in

the UK, for example, bank statements for the last three

months and/or a sponsor’s letter: https://www.gov.uk/

tier-4-general-visa/eligibility

 If you are bringing family to live with you in the UK,

and they are not EEA nationals, they must have obtained

entry clearance from a British embassy before travelling

to the UK: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/

family-members

 The immigration officer needs to be satisfied that you

meet the immigration rules for students and that you

intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies.

 If you are coming to the UK as a Tier 5 applicant you

will need to ensure you bring with you all the documents

you must show the immigration officer – details can be

found here: https://www.gov.uk/tier-5-government-

authorised-exchange/documents-you-must-provide

* The countries of the

EEA are Austria, Belgium,

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,

Czech Republic, Denmark,

Estonia, Finland, France,

Germany, Greece, Hungary,

Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,

Liechtenstein, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Malta,

Netherlands, Norway,

Poland, Portugal, Romania,

Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,

Sweden and the UK.

 Another part of the immigration process is health control:

you might be asked to undergo a brief, routine health

check by the airport doctor, which may include an X-ray

as part of a short medical examination. The health check

will take place in a separate room. Afterwards you will

have to return to immigration control.

 As long as your documents are in order, you should pass

through immigration smoothly. But if you find you need

any help for any reason, you can ask the immigration

officer to telephone your college or university (keep the

telephone number with you).

 If you have travelled by Eurostar train through the

Channel Tunnel your passport and documents will be

checked, and you may be asked further questions when

you arrive in London. If you are driving you will pass

through UK immigration at the terminal in France

before taking your car on to the shuttle train.

UK visas and registering with the police

Some people need to register with the police after arriving

in the UK with a visa, or after getting permission to stay

for longer in the UK.

If you need to register, you must go to the police within

seven days of:

 arriving in the UK if you applied for a visa from outside

the UK

 getting your biometric residence permit if you applied

to stay for longer from inside the UK.

Check if you need to register

https://www.gov.uk/register-with-the-police/who-needs-

to-register

If you applied outside the UK

Check your visa ‘vignette’ (sticker in your passport). You

must register if it has ‘Police registration’ or ‘Register with

police in seven days of entry’ on it.

If you applied inside the UK

Check the letter you get from the Home Office when your

application’s approved. It will tell you if you must register.

If you don’t register, your permission to stay might be

shortened and you’ll have to leave the UK. You can also

be stopped from getting or extending a UK visa in future.

Police registration

If you live in the area of London covered by the

Metropolitan Police (https://www.met.police.uk/advice/

advice-and-information/ov/registering-overseas-visitor/

af2/who-need-to-register/), you must register at the

Overseas Visitors Records Office.

Overseas Visitors Records Office (OVRO)

323 Borough High Street

London

SE1 1JL

+44 (0)20 7230 1208

https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/

ov/registering-overseas-visitor/af2/how-to-register/

Contact your local police station if you are elsewhere

in the UK to find out where to go: www.police.uk

When registering you will be charged a registration fee

(currently £34 so please try to take the correct currency if

you are paying by cash), and must take your passport and

two photographs of yourself. Your student adviser at your

place of study will explain, if necessary, how to register.

Each time you change your address or status, or extend

your permission to be in the UK you must renew your police

registration. There is no charge unless you have lost your

original registration document.

EEA nationals and Commonwealth citizens do not have

to register.

Customs control

Once you are clear of passport control you can proceed

to the baggage reclaim area, where you can collect your

luggage. Above each baggage carousel is an electronic

display unit. Find the one that shows your flight number,

as this will be the carousel that has your luggage on it.

If any item of your luggage does not appear, find a

representative of the airline on which you travelled

and in a lost-luggage form.

At UK airports there are normally three exits through

customs – a green channel if you are travelling from outside

the European Union and have nothing to declare; a red

channel if you are travelling from outside the European

Union and have goods to declare; and a blue channel if you

are travelling from an airport within the EEA, where your

luggage has already been cleared through customs control.

The notices in the customs areas will tell you if you need

to declare anything you have brought into the country.

If in doubt, check with one of the customs officers before

passing through customs control.

Even if you pass through the green channel, the customs

officers may ask you to open your luggage for checking.

To check what goods are banned or restricted go to:

https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods

When you have come through customs, you will have

completed all the formalities and will have officially

arrived in the UK.

ONWARD TRAVEL: HOW TO GET FROM

THE AIRPORT TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION

Onward travel

There are increasing numbers of direct flights to the larger

non-London airports such as Birmingham, Edinburgh,

Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle. You can check out the

institution’s website for onward travel details and Visit Britain

should be able to provide travel information if they are

contacted well ahead of time: www.visitbritain.com

If you have not already arranged onward travel from the

airport, the general information desk at the airport will

advise you on the best way to travel to your destination.

There are also commercial information desks where you

can find information about onward travel.

Some places of study send a staff member to meet new

international students at the airport or local railway station.

If they offer this service they should have sent details of

it in your information pack: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

Information--Advice/Preparation-and-Arrival/Preparing-

for-your-arrival-to-the-UK

You may need to use a telephone to contact your

place of study.

Telephone

Public telephones or ‘payphones’ are available in the UK.

They operate either with cash or a phonecard (which you

can buy from post offices and some shops), or with a credit

card. If necessary, you can contact the operator by dialling

100 (155 for the international operator).

To access the directory enquiries service for information

about telephone numbers, dial 118 500 for UK numbers,

or 118 505 for international numbers.

You can sign up for a mobile phone service in the UK and

you can usually use an existing handset. When you first arrive,

you can use your existing mobile phone service from home

to make calls within the UK, but you are likely to be charged

for an overseas call. Check with your home provider what

rates they will charge for calls and text messages when you

are outside your home country. You can also send emails

from internet cafes and public access computers in public

libraries in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services

Travelling on the

Underground is

generally the quickest

way to get around

London and is one of

the best ways to get

to London’s mainline

stations for trains to

take you to your place

of study.

CHECKLIST FOR

ONWARD TRAVEL

Once your preparations for arrival are complete, you should

ask yourself the following questions:

 Have you got instructions on how to get to your place

of study?

 Have you checked out your place of study on the internet?

 Have you seen a map of the UK and the location of your

first place of study?

 Do you know the length of time of any onward journey

from the airport?

 Do you know about the information desks at the airport?

 Do you know how to use public transport, e.g. the

Underground, buses and trains?

 Have you arranged accommodation if you need to

stay overnight in London?

 Have you made sure you obtained a receipt for your

deposit that includes the date, the amount paid and

the words ‘deposit for accommodation’?

SETTLING IN

Accommodation

It’s always best to arrange accommodation in the UK before

you leave home, but if for any reason you haven’t been able

to do this, here is some practical advice.

Think carefully about your needs. For example, how close

is the accommodation to your place of study? Is there good

public transport? How much will it cost? Are you near shops

and facilities? How big is your room? How secure is it? Will you

have enough quiet and privacy for study? And so on.

Then start by going to the accommodation office at your

place of study, where they will be able to advise you on all

of this and more.

To have the best chance of securing accommodation at

your place of study you must:

 Apply as soon as you can.

 Fully complete any accommodation forms and return

them before the deadline date.

 Confirm your accommodation arrangements with the

accommodation office at your place of study before

you arrive in the UK.

 Be prepared to have to pay for accommodation

in advance, if necessary.

 Not bring any family with you unless you have booked

accommodation for them in advance.

Where it is not possible to book accommodation in advance,

you will be asked to meet the accommodation officer at

your place of study, who should be able to help you find

permanent accommodation.

University/college accommodation

Most universities and colleges have their own accommodation

office and this should be the first place you go to ask about

accommodation. Most institutions provide accommodation

for single and unaccompanied married international

students in a hall of residence (either full-board or self-

catering) or a self-catering shared house or flat. Space is

usually limited, so applications for such accommodation

should be made as soon as you have been accepted on

your course and certainly before the required deadline.

Private accommodation

The accommodation office at your institution may be able

to help with this too. The office may keep lists of private

accommodation available in the area, and some offices

may even help you arrange a booking.

The most usual type of private accommodation is a room

in a house, sharing facilities. Renting a furnished house or

a flat is likely to be expensive, especially in city centres, and

quite difficult to find. A good way of making this affordable

is to share with other students. If you do this, make sure you

agree beforehand on how you will share costs.

1919

You will have to do your own cooking and cleaning, and in

some cases, will need to provide your own bed linen and

cooking equipment. Ask the landlord about these things.

You may decide to stay in lodgings, as part of a family.

This will give you the opportunity to speak English on

a regular basis. But be sure to discuss any ‘house rules’

with your hosts first.

Whatever type of private accommodation you decide on,

you will need to meet the owner of the property so that

you can see it for yourself, and discuss the rent.

Do not sign any accommodation contract you do not

understand, as contracts are legally binding. If you are unsure,

take a copy of the agreement to your college accommodation

officer or student welfare officer for their advice.

If you decide to move in, ask for a tenancy agreement

that both you and the owner will sign. This will set out

the agreement between you.

You will probably be asked to pay a deposit before you can

move in (usually equivalent to one month’s rent). This will

be given back to you when you leave, provided all the bills

have been paid and there is no damage to the property or

its contents. Make sure you get a receipt for this.

If you rent a property from a private landlord or property

management agent and you pay a deposit, they must

protect your deposit in a government-authorised scheme.

You can get further guidance at the websites below:

https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection

https://www.gov.uk/private-renting

https://www.gov.uk/private-renting-tenancy-agreements

You may be asked to sign an inventory for all the items listed

in the property. Get a copy of this and a receipt for all the

rent payments that you make. Always ask for a rent book

in which your payments can be recorded.

You may have to use a card for the electricity and gas that

you use. In some situations it will make more sense to share

bills for lighting and heating with other tenants, but make

sure you agree beforehand on how the costs are to be shared.

You should not bring your family to the UK until you

have found suitable accommodation for them. University

accommodation is very limited and it can be extremely

distressing and very expensive for a family if they have to

stay in a hotel for a long time. The best thing is to travel

to the UK first to arrange family accommodation. This also

gives you time to consider the amount of space you need,

heating costs, safety, local amenities, and so on.

Disabled students

UK institutions are legally required not to discriminate against

disabled students, and not to treat them less favourably

than students without a disability. Institutions are also

required to make adjustments to services for disabled

students so that they are not disadvantaged in comparison

with non-disabled students. These laws apply to international

students as well as to students who are UK citizens.

Council Tax

In the UK most people over the age of 18 have to pay a charge

for local community services, such as the police, fire brigade,

rubbish collection and leisure services, and this is called

Council Tax.

If you live in an educational institution’s halls of residence,

a hostel owned by a charity, or share a home with other full-

time students or with your family, then you should not have

to pay this tax. If you live anywhere else you may have to

pay it. The exact amount will depend upon where you are

living: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/

Fees-and-Money/Council-Tax

Your students’ union or Citizens Advice Bureau can usually

help with Council Tax problems: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Checklist

 View the property.

 Tenancy agreement.

 Deposit.

 Inventory.

 Rent book.

 Payment of bills.

 Council Tax.

Banks and money

Long-term students need to open a bank account as soon as

possible, ideally with one of the banks on campus, or nearby.

Many banks offer special facilities and schemes for students

and the bank’s financial advisers can help you organise your

account. You will need to take your passport and the letter

of acceptance from your place of study with you, together

with proof of your addresses at home and in the UK, and

a reference and statements from your home bank when

you go to open your account.

Most banks in the UK are open from 09.30 to 16.30 Monday

to Friday (some are also open on Saturday mornings). But

if you have a cash card for your account you can use a cash

machine at any time of the day, on any day of the week.

Banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own

notes. While they can be accepted as currency in England

and Wales they are not ‘legal tender’, so can be refused. If

you have a large number of Scottish or Northern Irish bank

notes and are travelling to England, it is advisable to have

them changed to English notes at a bank before your visit.

Try to find out as much as you can about banking in the UK

before you get here and visit https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Opening-

a-bank-account and ask your college or university what your

options are for paying fees, so you’ll know what facilities

you’ll need. Then contact your bank in your home country

and ask:

 How best to transfer your money to the UK.

 About running a bank account in the UK.

 Whether your bank has a special relationship with

any UK banks.

 Whether you can use cash cards from your home bank

in cash machines in the UK.

It is important not to overspend on your account, as you can

incur charges if your account is overdrawn. If you need to

spend more money than you have in your account, then you

need to talk to the bank’s student adviser about arranging

an overdraft: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en

Medical reports

You should have a health check at least four weeks before

you leave for the UK. Don’t leave this to the last minute, as

you won’t have enough time to readjust to any medication

before starting out on your journey and course of study.

You should also obtain a copy of your chest X-ray certificate

(if required) and carry it with your offer letter, as you may

have to produce this at passport control. This may avoid

having to have another X-ray.

Medical costs in the UK

 If you are using the six-month ‘student visitor’ route

or the six-month ‘short-term student’ route you should

make sure you have private health insurance from the

beginning of your stay.

 Those who have paid the health surcharge are entitled

to free healthcare under the UK’s National Health

Service (NHS): https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-

immigration-application This includes access to

a family doctor (called a general practitioner or GP)

and most hospital treatment, although there are

charges for some services such as prescriptions.

 Many students who will be here for less than six months

can also access free NHS healthcare, for example, EU

students and nationals of countries with which the UK

has a reciprocal health agreement. Full details of your

healthcare entitlement, as well as advice on staying

healthy, can be found at: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/

Health-and-healthcare

 If you are entitled to NHS care, you should register with

a GP near your accommodation within the first few days

of arriving in the UK. Find your local GP on the NHS

website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/

how-can-we-help/how-do-i-choose-and-register-with-

a-gp/; https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-

directory

 We advise you to register separately with a dentist.

You should ask for NHS treatment when you register

but be aware that there is a charge for dental treatment.

You can find local dentists using the NHS website:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/how-can-we-

help/how-do-i-find-an-nhs-dentist/; https://www.

nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory If you are

registered with the NHS you are entitled to the services

of an NHS dentist, although dental treatment is not free.

 You can register with any local optician of your choice.

There is a fee for eye tests and all eye treatment.

 NHS inform is a new national health information service

for Scotland. It provides a co-ordinated approach and

a single source of quality-assured health information

for the public in Scotland: https://www.scot.nhs.uk/

 Reciprocal healthcare agreements are limited to hospital

treatment of some illnesses that arise during your visit

to the UK (i.e. which did not exist before your arrival).

 If you are ill and unable to attend your training

course you must inform your academic tutor of

the cause of your illness.

Climate and clothing

The UK has a temperate climate, with few extremes. But the

weather here is famously changeable, so be prepared. It can

be quite wet and cold in the winter (roughly November to

March). A warm topcoat, hat, scarf, gloves and an umbrella

are a good idea. It also gets dark early. Summers can

occasionally be showery and overcast, but are mostly

pleasant and rarely extremely hot. The days are long

and it stays light until late in the evening.

Keeping healthy

The best way to stay healthy while you’re in the UK is the same

way to stay healthy when you’re at home: eat healthy foods,

exercise fairly regularly, and make sure you get enough sleep.

Eating a balanced diet (a selection of foods) can be a

challenge when you first arrive – the food in the UK may

be very different from what you’re used to.

Try to eat, every day:

 Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

 Some bread, potatoes, rice, noodles or pasta.

 Some protein, such as beans, lentils, eggs, fish or meat.

 Some milk, cheese, yogurt or soy products

(e.g. soy milk, tofu).

232323

Try to get some exercise several times a week. Most colleges

and universities in the UK offer lots of opportunities to

practise your favourite sport or learn a new one. If you

don’t like sport, try an exercise class, or go for a long walk.

Travelling to a new country with a different climate and

different foods can cause small health upsets. You may

develop minor illnesses such as coughs and colds. If you

haven’t had these symptoms before, they may seem worrying

at first, but don’t be alarmed – these problems are usually

easy to treat and advice can be given by a pharmacist at

your local chemist. You may need to make an appointment

to see your doctor, and remember to explain any changes

in your lifestyle that might be affecting your health.

Meningitis and septicaemia

When you have registered with a local doctor you should make

an appointment to be immunised against meningitis and

septicaemia. This immunisation is free of charge and provides

protection against the disease for three to five years.

Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours. Meningitis

is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and

spinal cord. Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the

disease. The two forms of the disease have different

symptoms – see https://www.meningitis.org/symptoms

Early symptoms of meningitis are similar to flu, such as

feeling feverish or suffering from an aching back or joints,

headaches and vomiting. If any of the symptoms develop

then you must get medical help urgently.

Further information is available from your college or

university nurse or from the Meningitis Research Foundation:

call the free helpline on +44 (0)80 8800 3344 or visit

https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/check-symptoms/

teens-young-adults

Studying

Study methods in the UK may be very different to your own.

Students in the UK use a variety of textbooks and often have

to write extensively, use computers, and draw their own

conclusions and analyses. In lectures and seminars note-

taking is encouraged, and in small group tutorials you should

be prepared to participate actively. You may have to carry

out original research or participate in practical experiments

and projects.

Personal and academic support during your stay

You may find that you need to speak to someone regarding

problems you are experiencing that are adversely affecting

your studies. In the first instance, you should discuss any

problems affecting your studies with your personal tutor

or welfare or personal supervisor.

Interview with a university counsellor

Anne Bentley is a Counsellor and Manager of the Student

Wellbeing Services at the University of Plymouth.

We asked her a few questions about the work of counsellors

in UK universities. To see the full interview and other

interviews go to: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/

planning/advice-support

WELLBEING

Whatever the problem, you’re never alone: https://study-

uk.britishcouncil.org/planning/health-safety Ask for

help at your place of study. There may be an international

student advisory service, welfare tutors, main tutors,

security staff or police on campus who are trained to

offer advice and support to those who are experiencing

personal problems.

You can always contact www.samaritans.org or call

116 123 free anytime, from any phone, 24 hours a day,

365 days a year.

You can also contact the Papyrus HOPELineUK. It also

gives confidential suicide prevention advice and support

to young people and others worried about them.

Call +44 (0)800 068 4141, text +44 (0)7786 209697

or email [email protected]

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 10.00 to 22.00

Weekends: 14.00 to 22.00

Bank holidays: 14.00 to 22.00

Whether you are looking for support for your own mental

health at university, support for a friend or loved one, or

services that might be available to you as a student, help

is available at Student Minds: https://www.studentminds.

org.uk/findsupport.html

CHECKLIST FOR STUDYING

 Keep in regular contact with your personal academic

tutor/supervisor at your place of study and let them

know about any problems you may have that affect

your studies.

 The student counsellor at your place of study, as well as

the academic staff in your department, and your fellow

students, can offer support and advice if you are having

difficulties of any kind.

 Punctuality and attendance are particularly important.

Absence without a valid reason, e.g. illness, will be

looked upon very seriously and may be reported to

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

 You should let your place of study know of any doubts

you have about the relevance or level of your course

of study before you depart for the UK. It is extremely

difficult to make changes to your course, course level

or extensions to the agreed period of study after your

arrival, and these are sometimes simply not permitted

by UKVI.

CHECKLIST FOR SETTLING IN

 Have you arranged suitable accommodation?

 Do you know about Council Tax?

 Have you arranged your finances?

 Have you had a health check?

 Have you arranged medical insurance if you are not

covered under the NHS?

 Do you know what to do if you become ill?

 Are you prepared for the differences in study methods

used in the UK, and do you know where to seek advice

if you have any difficulties?

OUT AND ABOUT

Shopping

If you are living in self-catering accommodation, shopping

for food is likely to be a priority. Eating the right food, and

enough of it, is vital for keeping healthy (see the previous

section, ‘Settling in’).

You may find it easier to shop in self-service shops or

supermarkets, where you can use a basket or trolley

provided for you to carry the goods you intend to buy.

There are smaller shops, where you can buy specialised

foods from overseas, and street markets, which are

particularly good for fresh fruit and vegetables, often

sold at low prices.

Because of the unpredictability of the British weather it is

a good idea to wear several layers of clothes, a waterproof

coat and sturdy shoes. An umbrella is essential. You can find

good-quality, reasonably priced clothes in high street stores,

but you can find bargains in street markets, and in the

second-hand shops run by charities. These shops often

have clothes that are almost new, at very low prices.

Leisure activities

On campus, the students’ union usually organises all

kinds of social functions and supports the many clubs and

societies that you can join. Joining clubs is a good way of

making friends.

Various activities are organised by local authorities, and you

can join evening classes, including English language classes,

which you can find out about at a local library or college.

HOST – a unique opportunity for international students

HOST is a voluntary organisation supported by the

British Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

and many universities and colleges: www.hostuk.org

Volunteer hosts offer a friendly welcome and an insight

into their customs and way of life. They enjoy meeting

people from other countries, and can help you practise

your English conversation.

There are hosts in most regions of the UK. Wherever your

visit, you will be a guest rather than a tourist. Eating home-

cooked meals and discovering regional practices are

important parts of a HOST visit.

If you are interested, contact your international student

adviser or HOST on info@hostuk.org. Alternatively, complete

an application form on the HOST website:

www.hostuk.org/index.php/application/

Religion

Exploring life in the UK does not mean having to give up

your own culture or religion. In the UK there are many

people practising various faiths, and as the number of

people from different cultures has grown, so have the

facilities that allow them to lead a life according to their

religious beliefs. Places of worship in most major cities and

towns almost invariably include Hindu and Buddhist

temples, mosques and synagogues, particularly if there

is a large ethnic minority population. Today there are few

places, other than remote areas, where the religious needs

of people from other countries are not met.

The UK is a multicultural society: people from ethnic

minorities now live in most areas and are a well-accepted

and well-integrated part of the population. However, if you

do experience any racial prejudice, speak to your student

welfare officer.

Travelling around

Once you have established your study routine, you may

want to take a break from your studies and travel beyond

the town or city where you are living. Your time in the UK

would be incomplete without spending some of that time

enjoying what the country has to offer.

The cheapest way to travel is by coach – trains are more

comfortable, and a lot quicker, but more expensive.

You can travel around quite cheaply with a student railcard

or coach card. Full-time students attending courses of at

least 20 weeks at a UK educational institution can buy

a young person’s railcard. You can get more information

about student travel discounts from information centres

at coach or railway stations, or ask at your place of study.

Your time in the UK can be a truly happy and

rewarding experience – all you need to do is plan properly

and keep in mind the information you are given at your

pre-departure briefing.

Take the opportunity to read this booklet and you can be

assured that there will always be people you can turn to

for help and advice, wherever you choose to study in the UK.

USEFUL ORGANISATIONS

British Accreditation Council for Independent

Further and Higher Education (BAC)

14 Devonshire Square

London EC2M 4YT, UK

T +44 (0)300 330 1400

info@the-bac.org

www.the-bac.org

British Council

Customer Service

Bridgewater House

58 Whitworth Street

Manchester M1 6BB, UK

T +44 (0)161 957 7755

www.britishcouncil.org

https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/

English UK

47 Brunswick Court

Tanner Street

London SE1 3LH, UK

T +44 (0)20 7608 7960

F +44 (0)20 7608 7961

[email protected]

www.englishuk.com

https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/

www.britishcouncil.org/education/accreditation

National Union of Students

Macadam House

275 Gray’s Inn Road

London WC1X 8QB, UK

T +44 (0)300 303 6602

www.nus.org.uk

(offers practical advice and information on student issues)

Tourism Northern Ireland

Floors 10–12, Linum Chambers

Bedford Square, Bedford Street

Belfast BT2 7ES, UK

T +44 (0)28 9023 1221

info@tourismni.com

Dublin

Block F2, EastPoint Business Park,

Clontarf, Dublin 3, Ireland

T +353 (0)1 865 1880

[email protected]

www.tourismni.com

Visit Scotland

Ocean Point One

94 Ocean Drive

Edinburgh EH6 6JH, UK

T +44 (0)845 859 1006

info@visitscotland.com

www.visitscotland.com

Scottish Youth Hostels Association

7 Glebe Crescent

Stirling FK8 2JA, UK

T +44 (0)1786 891 1400

info@syha.org.uk

www.syha.org.uk

UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs

1st Floor, Noble House

3–5 Islington High Street

London N1 9LQ, UK

T +44 (0)20 7288 4330

www.ukcisa.org.uk

Visit Britain

Thames Tower

Black’s Road

London W6 9EL, UK

T +44 (0)20 8846 9000

www.visitbritain.com

Visit Wales

T +44 (0)333 006 3001

info@visitwales.com

www.visitwales.com

Youth Hostels Association (YHA) – National Office

Trevelyan House

Dimple Road

Matlock DE4 3HY, UK

T +44 (0)1629 592 700

T +44 (0)800 0191 700 (Freephone)

www.yha.org.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

Student advice line

The information in the Student Advice Zone at

www.ukcisa.org.uk will answer most of your questions.

But if you cannot find the information you need, you

may want to speak to someone for further advice:

 If you are currently a student in the UK, contact an

international student adviser in your college, university or

students’ union. They may be located in the international

office, student services or an advice centre.

 If you are not yet in the UK, you could contact your local

British Council office or the international office at the

college or university where you plan to study.

 Alternatively, you can telephone the UKCISA advice line.

The advice line is open from Monday to Friday, 13.00–16.00

hours (UK time). UKCISA answer about 8,000 calls annually,

so the telephone advice line is very busy. This is why they ask

you to try to find the information on their website first, or

contact an adviser in your college or university. If you do

have difficulty getting through to the advice line, please

keep trying, and you should get through eventually.

+44 (0)20 7788 9214

Standard national/international call charges apply.

Please note that UKCISA only give advice by telephone.

They do not offer personal appointments or advice by email.

Textphone users

If you have difficulties with speech and/or hearing and

you use a textphone, you can call the advice line using

BT TextDirect.

+44 (0)151 494 1260

In both cases, you will be connected to an RNID Typetalk

operator who will translate your typed words to voice and

their spoken words to text.

Alternatively, you can write to them at:

UKCISA

1st Floor, Noble House

3–5 Islington High Street

London N1 9LQ, UK

https://act.campaign.gov.uk/

Why Act?

The police and the security and intelligence agencies

depend on information from the public. By looking out

for suspicious activity and reporting it to the police, in

confidence, the public can help keep themselves, their

family and their local community safe. They may see

or hear something that could be that vital piece of

information needed to stop a terrorist attack.

Although terrorism is rare in the UK, recent events clearly

demonstrate that an attack could happen at any time or

place without warning. The current threat to the UK stands

at severe, which means an attack is highly likely.

By working together with the police, staying alert and

thinking about your safety and security at home or when

you are out and about, you can make it harder for terrorists

to plan or carry out an attack.

You should report suspicious activity or behaviour –

anything that seems out of place, unusual or just doesn’t

seem to fit in with everyday life.

These are just some examples of suspicious activity and

behaviour which could potentially be terrorist related:

 Anyone hiring or acquiring large vehicles or similar

for no obvious reason.

 Anyone buying or storing a large amount of chemicals,

fertilisers or gas cylinders for no obvious reasons.

 Anyone taking notes or photos of security arrangements,

or inspecting CCTV in an unusual way.

 Anyone visiting the dark web, ordering unusual items

online or carrying out unusual bank transactions.

 Anyone who has illegal firearms or other weapons

or has shown an interest in obtaining them.

 Anyone holding passports or other documents

in different names, for no obvious reasons.

 Anyone who goes away travelling for long periods

of time but is vague about where they’re going.

Report potentially crucial information about suspicious

activity confidentially to the police free on +44 (0)800 789 321.

If you would prefer to report information online rather than

over the phone, you can do so via https://www.gov.uk/act

Always remember, if something is occurring now, call 999.

study-uk.britishcouncil.org

#StudyUK

S U P P O R T E D

https://www.police.uk

https://www.gov.uk/register-with-the-police

British Council

Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street

Manchester M1 6BB