Coming to the UK
Coming to study in the UK from another country can be very difficult. There are many things you will need to arrange and might want to know about living and studying in the UK before you arrive.
Planning your travel
Immigration and visas
If you're joining us from a country outside of the UK, you will likely need visa or immigration permission allowing you to live and study in the UK. Before you travel, check what requirements there are and that you have applied for the right type of study visa for your needs.
You can check which type you may need using the UK Government’s visa checking tool.
Travel
We recommend you pay extra attention if you’re booking tickets to travel, particularly when travelling by plane:
- Make sure to understand your rights to amend or cancel any bookings if needed. Each airline differs in the amount of free baggage you can travel with so make sure you check your baggage allowance before booking.
- Check with your airline before you travel if you’re not sure about what you can take as hand luggage. This also applies to things like laptops, phones and vapes.
- Check that the airport codes match the airport you want to land in, so you can be sure to land in the right place — London has 5 major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton and London Stansted.
- Make sure you know where to go next when you arrive at the airport. Visit the airport's website for information on a choice of buses, trains and taxis available to you. We also recommend downloading Citymapper so you can easily check your journey options and how much it will cost.
Airport collection discount
You will likely arrive at one of London's 5 airports and will need to arrange travel from there. We have partnered with Addison Lee, a British private hire taxi service, to offer an exclusive £50 discount towards airport collections for international students coming to the UK for the first time.
You can arrange for a taxi and driver to meet you at your arrival airport and take you to either your hall of residence or private accommodation.
Getting set up
Opening a bank account
It's important to have a UK bank account while you are studying here to be able to pay for your bills and everyday things, get paid by employers, and keep your money safe. If you continue to use the debit or credit card from your home bank you may have to pay overseas bank charges. Find some good advice on the best student bank accounts.
To open a bank account, you will likely need:
- Proof of your address (in your home country if you’re from overseas)
- Proof of your UK address, e.g., your UAL accommodation contract
- A ‘bank letter’ from UAL. You can request this from your College, but only after you enrol
- To provide us with the name and address of your chosen bank
- Your passport and UK immigration permission if relevant
It will likely take a few weeks after arriving in the UK to open your new bank account. Make sure you have another source of money for your first few weeks in London, such as cash or a debit/credit card from your home country with low international fees.
If you are planning to use your debit or credit cards while in the UK, you can tell your bank so they do not block your card for suspicious activity. You could also check if your banks can set up a UK account for you, or a duel currency account to use pound stirling (GBP).
If you have any questions about opening a bank account in the UK, contact our Student Advice Service.
Working while studying
Whether you can work in the UK, or how many hours you can work in a week, will depend on your visa status. The documentation related to your visa application will outline if you are allowed to work and any working restrictions that you must follow.
It is your responsibility to adhere to these restrictions. You can check your right to work online. If you are on a Student Visa you must work for an employer, you cannot be self-employed or set up a business.
UAL Arts Temps is our in-house recruitment agency, which provides jobs to many students within UAL or with external organisations.
National Insurance
Everyone who works in the UK needs to have a National Insurance number. National Insurance (NI) is a charge that is automatically deducted from an employee's wages. You will have to pay this charge if you earn over a certain amount in a week, even if you’re here for a short time. You can apply for an NI number once you have a fixed home address.
You can apply for a National Insurance number online.
Income tax
If you do work while in the UK, you may be charged UK income tax on earnings — however, you need to be earning more than a certain amount before you need to pay any tax.
Register with a doctor
You should register with a doctor near your new home so you can get to them easily if you need medical attention. Visits to the doctor and emergency treatment are free for those registered with the NHS, however, you may be required to pay a fee for any medication or treatment for any pre-existing conditions.
Remember that in most cases, medical treatment in the UK is free. Free NHS treatment is accessible to all UK students, and those EU and International students on a full-time course lasting more than 6 months. You may need to pay for prescriptions and dental treatment however.
For emergencies, either call 999 and ask for an ambulance or go to the nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department in one of the hospitals. For non-emergencies, call 111; they will give you professional advice and make you an appointment with your doctor or nearest walk-in centre.
If you have a recurring health problem that requires treatments, you should bring a supply of medication and a note from your doctor at home so your doctor in London can help you as effectively as possible. If you’re from outside the UK, you should also consider additional medical insurance, as there are restrictions on what treatments can be provided for existing health problems. Please be aware that UK treatments may not be the same as the treatments in other countries.
British culture
Culturally, the UK is welcoming of all people and London is especially diverse and inclusive. Although you may find the pace of life fast in London, people are mostly friendly and willing to help if you ask. A few British customs:
- British people like to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and appreciate when others do too.
- People in the UK ‘queue’ (or line up) when waiting for a service — it’s considered rude to ‘push in’ ahead of people who were there before you.
- It’s considered bad manners and, in some areas, a punishable offence to spit or to throw rubbish (litter) in the streets.
- It’s expected that people will arrive on time for meetings, appointments and classes. If you’re going to be late, it’s polite to tell the person/ people you are meeting beforehand if possible, and to apologise for being late when you arrive.
- Smoking in all public enclosed places, public buildings or on public transport is illegal in the UK. This also applies to e-cigarettes and vapes, so always look for a designated smoking area.
British climate
British people famously love the weather, especially talking about it, maybe it is because we have so much of it! Although London’s climate is moderate, it’s often changeable and difficult to predict. We advise bringing clothing for a variety of conditions, including rain. The coldest months tend to be November to February and warm clothing is needed for these months of the year.
Daylight Saving Time
To make the most of daylight, the clocks change twice a year in the UK.
They are moved forward by 1 hour in March, for what is known as British Summer Time (BST), and are turned back by 1 hour in October.
Religion and belief
London’s cultural diversity brings many different faiths and beliefs together as well as many different places of worship. Many of our College sites also offer Quiet Spaces for all prayer.
Our Chaplaincy Service offers pastoral and spiritual care to students and staff. It also organises events and activities in relation to faith, spirituality and the arts.
You can meet our 2 chaplains at each of the College sites, or contact them by telephone or email. They welcome being contacted by people of all faiths, spiritual and religious beliefs, including those who are atheist or agnostic or do not align themselves with any philosophy.
Food and drink
The diversity of cultures and their cuisines provides something for everyone in London, whether you are looking to match dietary needs such as kosher, halal, vegan and vegetarian or just want to try something new.
Traditional British food
There are so many tasty British dishes that are enjoyed and eaten quite regularly across the UK. Here are some examples:
- Sunday roast, traditionally eaten and served in pubs all over the country at Sunday lunchtime. It involves roast meat, roast potatoes, at least 2 different kinds of vegetables, gravy and Yorkshire puddings.
- Fish and chips, battered cod and chips with salt and vinegar. It’s the classic English takeaway food. The best fish and chips are found near the coast, so maybe take a trip to Brighton which is only a short train ride away.
- Full English breakfast, a very English meal involving any combination of toast, sausages, fried mushrooms, eggs, baked beans and bacon. Most people don’t have it every day but might indulge at the weekend; you can try it yourself in almost any café.
- Curry, one of the United Kingdom’s most popular dishes.
Learn about roast dinners, English breakfasts and more
Eating and drinking out
Eating and drinking out might seem like a simple thing, but if you are unfamiliar with UK customs, you may be in for a few surprises! Here are some common things to know:
- If you order water, you may be served bottled water that you’ll have to pay for. Ask for tap water, which is free and safe to drink in the UK.
- VAT is always included in the listed price of food. Many restaurants add a service charge to the final bill (look out for ‘service included’ on your receipt), so there is no need to tip extra unless you want to.
- In most pubs you must go to the bar to order your food and drinks.
- About 10 minutes before closing time, the bar staff will ring a bell and tell people to order their last drinks. The pub isn’t allowed to serve drinks after closing time, which will vary in different pubs.
Eating in
Although all manner of food is available within a variety of price ranges in restaurants and our canteens, we recommend that you shop for and prepare your own meals. This is a healthier option and will better suit a student budget.
The most affordable way to prepare food is setting a budget first and creating meal plans before buying the ingredients. You’ll be surprised how many different meals you can create with the same ingredients and there are lots of websites to help you plan meals on a budget.
Pubs and alcohol
In England, visiting pubs is a common way to relax, celebrate or simply meet up with friends. All pubs will have a bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Many serve food as well as put on events, such as the traditional pub quiz. It’s fine to go along if you don’t drink alcohol.
‘Off licences’ are small shops which have a licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises.
You might see signs in shops reading “Under 25?”. You don’t need to be 25 to buy alcohol in the UK (the legal drinking age is 18) - all it means is that if you look under 25 you will be asked for ID. ID stands for ‘identification’, and in this case refers to an official document with a photo of you and your date of birth on it, such as passport or driving licence.
Most pubs, bars and clubs ask for ID from everyone wishing to enter, regardless of age. If you don’t have ID, you may be turned away.
