Hello! Are you moving to London for college, for a semester abroad or to get your Master’s or PhD? Then you’re in the right place. This post is all about tips and advice you’ll need when moving to London as a student.
I got my MA in London, and there is so much that I wish I would have known about the process of moving to London as an international student. Below you will find my top tips for moving to London as a student; I’ll cover everything from housing, to packing, to bank accounts and more! Keep reading for all the tips!
1: Make sure you have your visa figured out
This is something I didn’t have fully figured out, and it resulted in a long hold up at customs. As a student studying in the U.K. for longer than six months, you’ll need a Tier 4 (general) student visa.
I spent the summer before moving to London traveling around Europe, and I missed the memo that I could apply for my visa up to three months before my move to the U.K. Apply early to make sure everything is in order before you arrive in the U.K.
When applying for your visa there’s a few documents you’ll need:
- Your passport (of course)
- Acceptance letter – with your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number
- I lost my offer letter, with the CAS number, and this turned into an issue at customs.
- Proof of finance – basically proof that you can pay for your studies and time living in the U.K.
The cost of a Tier 4 student visa is £348, and you must apply from your home country.
2: Understand the health insurance
With a Tier 4 student visa, if you’re coming from the USA, you’ll pay £300(ish) as part of your visa for access to U.K. health insurance. This is great – you’ll have full access to the National Health Service, which is super helpful.
3: Live in student housing
I mentioned this in another London post, and I think it’s super important. If you’re moving o the U.K. alone, and you’re young(ish), then this is a great way to meet people!
I found my housing through The Student Housing Company, and I lived in a shared flat in a building called Depot Point – in the King’s Cross area.
I felt super safe, and the building was modern and well cared for. The flat also came completely furnished, which is amazing since I was only staying for one year and didn’t want to buy furniture while in the U.K. The Student Housing Company has locations across London, and greater Europe, and the whole application and move-in process is easy.
Student accommodations can be a little more expensive than just subleasing a room in someone’s apartment. However, keep in mind that all utilities are included (+ wifi). For reference, at Depot Point, rooms in a shared flat are around $1,600 per month and studios are about $1,875.
Finally, your university will likely also offer housing. This is great for undergraduates, in order to meet more people at your specific university – but for graduate students I recommend unaffiliated student accommodations. You’ll meet more people from many universities and programs, and it’s normally a slightly older group in these types of housing (20-26ish).
4: Research the area you’re going to live in
I moved to King’s Cross without knowing much about the neighborhood. King’s Cross station is a major railway hub in London, so it’s a crowded area during the day. The plus side to this is that you’re also close to most major tube lines.
When picking a neighborhood, make sure you’re near a tube line that will take you to school/work – and research how long your commute will be. For students, it’s also a good idea to research potential study spots in the area, like coffee shops or libraries. Finally, make sure you have a grocery store close by!
I felt safe in King’s Cross. The neighborhood has a bit of a rough past, but currently it’s perfectly fine for a young college student. Personally, I did not like walking around alone at night in King’s Cross- but then again, no matter where I am I try to avoid walking around alone at night.
5: Try to pack light
I know this is hard when moving to another country, but if your move it temporary, try to only bring the necessities. You’ll undoubtably buy new clothes, shoes, home items, etc. while in London, so it’s best to only pack the essentials. This way, you’ll be able to bring everything you acquire back home with you after you finish your degree!
I was lucky that my student accommodation furnished my flat for me (this was huge!), so all I needed were my clothes and my bedding (which I purchased upon arrival in London).
6: Don’t bring many *cord* items
The outlets are different in London (than in the USA and most of the rest of Europe), and so is the *power* of the electricity. Don’t bring your straightener, hair dryer, iron, coffee pot, or anything like that. Even with power converters these items never really work right, and there’s a high chance your hair dryer will start smoking, and promptly stop working. It’s much easier to repurchase these items once in London. This is not very economical, or necessarily good for the environment, but it’s pretty necessary.
Off topic, but instead of buying a coffee pot (that you’ll have to leave behind in the U.K.) I recommend getting a french press. It’s easy to bring home, and much less expensive than a coffee pot.
7: Buy home items at Primark
I love Primark! I talk a lot about this store in my 10 tips for visiting London post.
You’ll be able to find tons of home items (towels, bedding, kitchen accessories, fairy lights, decorations), at a very good price point. I found the cutest throw pillows, and I still have them in my room, now in NYC!
Tip: The best Primark is on the corner of Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road. Take the tube to the Tottenham Court Road Station, or walk from the Oxford Circus (Oxford Street) station
8: Make your room homey – but don’t go overboard
This links back to “don’t overpack.” Buy a few room decorations at Primark or Flying Tiger Copenhagen, but I recommend going for the minimalist look – especially if you’re only staying in the U.K. for a year. You don’t want to have to leave too much stuff behind, so try to only buy room decorations that you’ll bring back home with you.
9: Open some sort of bank account
I didn’t do this, and it led to a few problems. Firstly, if you’re not from the U.K., you’ll still need a U.K. bank account to pay your rent. Otherwise, with student accommodations, you’ll likely have to pay for the whole year up front. Instead of having a bank account, I had a U.K. guarantor, but this isn’t an option for everyone.
Next, to avoid huge ATM fees, it’s so much easier to have a U.K. debit card – this way you also avoid foreign transaction fees. For your U.K. phone plan, you’ll also want a bank account. Overall, a bank account is just really helpful to have and will alleviate a lot of small problems.
You’ll need to bring certain documents with you in order to open a bank account – these documents vary depending on what bank you use. However, you’ll most likely need your passport, university offer letter, and credit score – at a minimum.
10: Monitor the exchange rate
On days when there was an especially good exchange rate with the U.S., I’d make my necessary purchases with my American credit card – that way, I was getting the best rate. On days when the exchange rate was not so good, I’d use cash to avoid paying a higher rate.
This can be a little confusing, and often the exchange rate stays almost the same for days/weeks at a time. You don’t need to be constantly monitoring, but check every now and again, especially if you have to make a big purchase, or, for example, pay tuition.
11: Get a separate U.K. phone – or bring an extra phone from the U.S.
I didn’t want to put a U.K. SIM card in my iPhone, because I still wanted my U.S. number to work properly when I had wifi – so I could iMessage, FaceTime, etc. Instead, I bought a second phone in the U.K. and got a cheap, monthly plan for it.
Instead of buying another phone in the U.K., which can be expensive, bring an old iPhone (if you’ve gotten an upgrade in the past 3 years or so), and use that for your U.K. number. I think it’s important to have a U.K. phone in addition to a phone from your home country, so that you’ll have access to data while you’re out and about, and have the ability to call U.K. numbers with no fees.
Phone plans are way cheaper in the U.K. than in the U.S. You can go “month to month” and definitely don’t need to buy into a two year contract.
12: Get a student Oyster Card
This will save you money! Student rates for the tube, trains and bus are cheaper than “regular” rates (30% off), so definitely order a Student Oyster Card. They also have “unlimited” options if you anticipate using public transportation a lot. Click here to learn more and to order yours!
Note: You can also pay for the tube with Apple Pay, and I recommend this until your student Oyster Card arrives.
I hope you found my tips for moving to London as a student to be helpful! If you have any questions, leave a comment below! You can also DM me on Instagram, @twosistersabroad, with any additional questions!
Lastly, share this post with someone you know who is moving to London, or thinking about moving to London!
For more tips and information about moving to London as a student, we also recommend checking out the University of the West of Scotland’s guide for moving to London as an international student.
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