What do you need to know if you're moving to the UK as an international student?

Are you an international student who will study in the UK? As first-year students, we can appreciate how frightening it could seem. Studies show that the majority of overseas students are undergraduates, so there's a good chance that's you!

There are several aspects of university life in the UK that international students should be aware of, such as visas, tuition, health insurance, and bank accounts. As a result, we have described everything in this guide in depth.

1. Student VISA

If you are from a country outside the EU/EEA, you have always needed a visa to study in the UK (except for Switzerland).

If your stay in the UK to complete your education will be less than six months, you must obtain a Standard Visitor visa. You cannot work in the UK if you have this visa unless it is an elective role (an optional placement as part of a medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine course).

Short-term study visas are also available in the following situations:

• Your programme will last between six and eleven months (but not more than that)
• It takes 16 years of age to apply for a VISA.
• You'll be enrolling in an English course.
• This describes a course that will instruct you on the English language rather than teaching you only in English.

2. Prepare yourself for life in Britain

The UK is a multicultural nation that enjoys hosting tourists from all over the world. All colleges have a large number of international students, and most of them offer organisations that can help you connect with people who have similar interests and backgrounds to you.

We also suggest searching through Facebook groups related to your university. There are typically organisations for international students in the UK where you can get any issues answered and perhaps meet individuals before you travel.

As you may already be aware, the UK is known for its chilly, rainy weather. Don't count on the summer to be overly hot, and pack enough warm clothes and a waterproof coat for the winter.

3. Keep an eye out for a Good Accommodation

You should make lodging arrangements before travelling to the UK. Your first destination should be your university. In most cases, they guarantee housing to all applicants who submit their applications by a certain date.

Living in a residence hall is the best choice for your first year of school because it saves you the time and effort of looking for a suitable place elsewhere. Some universities build residence halls specifically for international students to help them meet people.

4. Open a Bank Account

If you want to remain in the UK for longer than a few months, we advise opening a bank account. This makes managing your money and covering your expenses easier. It also saves you from paying currency conversion costs when making purchases in the UK with a non-UK bank account.

Opening a bank account may take some time because banks require a lot of information to confirm your identity and credit rating. To save time, think about beginning the process in your country of origin. Find out if your current bank has any connections to UK banks as well, as this should make the process easier.