Money, banking and phones

What you will need when you first arrive content

What you will need when you first arrive

When you get to the UK, you will need some money for initial expenses, such as taxis, rail fares or emergency expenses. It is advisable to have about £200 in British currency in your hand luggage, for this purpose, in smaller denominations (£10 and £5 notes).

We strongly advise against bringing large amounts of cash with you. Travellers’ cheques are a safe alternative to cash. You can exchange currency and cash travellers’ cheques at ‘bureau de change’ offices, banks and post offices. When exchanging funds, you are advised to shop around for the best rates.

For an estimate of expenses, to help you plan your time studying with us, try this student budget calculator.

Currency content

Currency

The United Kingdom uses the pound sterling as its currency. One pound sterling (£1) is divided into one hundred pence (100p). Coins issued are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2, and notes to the value of £5, £10, £20 and £50.

Scottish banks issue their own notes/bills and these are accepted as legal tender in Scotland as well as English bank notes. Sometimes Scottish notes are not acceptable outside Scotland so if you are travelling ask your bank for Bank of England notes.

Budgets content

Budgets

When it comes to living and studying in another country, financial planning is essential. You will need to plan your budget for UK study. Not only will you have tuition fees to pay, you will need money for accommodation, utility bills, food, books and a social life.

It is important to do your own budget planning before you arrive so that you are aware of the essential things that you will spend your money on.

Remember that for your visa process it will be necessary to provide proof that you can afford your expenses while studying in the UK.

Train travel: the 16-25 railcard content

Train travel: the 16-25 railcard

If you are aged 16 to 25, you can get a third off rail fares when you travel by train using this railcard.

It costs £30, so normally after three or four trips, the card will have paid for itself. Full information can be found on the 16-25 Railcard website.

Insurance content

Insurance

If you have not already done so before leaving your own country, you are strongly advised to take out some form of insurance policy to cover the cost of your personal property should it be lost or stolen. Make the effort to do this as soon as possible after your arrival.

Banking content

Banking

You are strongly advised to open an account with a bank in the UK for the time of your stay. Having an account here will save you money because you will not be charged additional fees to withdraw your money from your account. In addition to this, you are required to open a UK bank account if you are planning to work in the UK.

To open a bank account in the UK you will need:

Proof of identity (e.g. passport) (original and copy)
Bank details from your home country account (if applicable) to provide country of origin address
Proof of UK address
Proof you are a University of the Highlands and Islands student

International banks

There are several large international banks in the UK - you may wish to visit the website of each bank before you come to the UK to see which one has the best option for international students. It is advisable that you do this as the university cannot endorse one particular bank.

British banks and their main web sites

Working in the UK content

Working in the UK

Online course: Preparing for Work While You're in the UK

Work placements

If you undertake a work placement that is an integral and assessed part of your course, we have a legal obligation to report your work placement and duration to UK Visas and Immigration. You must complete the work placement form before starting the placement. Take a look at our entry requirements and visa advice.

Paid employment

Many students choose to take on part-time work during their studies. As an international student you are permitted to undertake work, however you must ensure that the work you do does not violate the terms of your visa. Find working in the UK and visa advice on the UKCISA website.

Students who are in the UK on a Tier 4 general visa are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during term time and full-time outside term-time and on work placements. Your visa or biometric residence permit should show whether you are permitted to work or not and you can show this to any employer who asks for proof of your eligibility to work. Please note, migrants holding a student visitor visa are not permitted to work at all in the UK.

It is extremely important that you ensure that you do not exceed 20 hours per week while it is officially term-time, whether you have lectures or not. You should check the term dates available from your faculty before committing to work in excess of this.

If you violate the terms of your visa through work, you are putting your place on your course and your immigration status in the UK at risk, and the university is obliged to report any students that we are concerned may be breaching the terms of their visa

You will not be able to extend the amount of time your visa permits you to work.

Council tax content

Council tax

Council tax is set by local authorities in the UK and it pays for services they provide such as rubbish collection, schools, the police and the fire brigade. As a general rule, full-time students are exempt from paying council tax, however, you must provide the local authority with proof that you have enrolled on a full-time course.

If you have received a bill which you think is wrong, always contact the council on the number/email address written on the bill to correct the mistake. You may need to send them additional information to prove you are exempt. Do not ignore council tax bills as the local council may take you to the court if no action is taken.

Remember too that the exemption only applies when you are registered as a student and will end when you complete your studies. You will therefore also not be covered by the exemption if you arrive early and take up private accommodation.

Direct debit content

Direct debit

A direct debit is an instruction from you to your bank or building society. It authorises the organisation you want to pay to collect varying amounts from your account – but only if you have been given advance notice of the amounts and dates of collection.

The university will require you to set up direct debits with your bank to pay for university accommodation and tuition fees, if paying by instalment. You are also likely to pay your mobile phone contract, utility bills, council tax bill and many other payments by direct debit.

Once you have organised a direct debit, the money is deducted automatically. If the organisation you are paying wants to change an amount or date of collection, they have to tell you about it first.

Mobile phones content

Mobile phones

Most people in the UK now have mobile phones. However, although they may be cheap to buy, they can be quite expensive to use. Make sure you check the monthly payment and call charges before signing any contract.

Using your existing phone in the UK

If you already own a mobile phone, check that it is unlocked by your network provider before you travel. This will prevent your phone from being blocked on UK networks, and in addition to this you will be able to use a UK SIM in the phone.

If compatible with your phone model, you could keep your current SIM active and add a second physical SIM or an eSIM to connect to a UK network provider with your existing device.

Using a separate phone in the UK

As you will be new to the country, your credit score may be too new to purchase a phone contract covering a handset and calls/text/data plan. Another option is the “Pay-as-you-Talk” mobile phone. Once you have bought the phone outright, you are not tied into any contract and can simply purchase “talk-time” and use it as and when you need it. This makes budgeting easier and means you won’t be surprised by a large bill at the end of the month.

Tips and deals

If you intend to use a mobile phone to make calls overseas, do check that the service you are purchasing is capable of doing that, as many have restrictions or can be expensive. Consider calling overseas via free apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Check what each network provider offers as phone tariffs do vary. Before you buy anything, compare deals from a range of providers on www.mobiles.co.uk or www.uswitch.com/mobiles

Remember too, if you prefer to write letters, the UK has an excellent international postal and shipping service. For more information, visit the Royal Mail website at www.royalmail.com

Bus travel content

Bus travel

As a student you are entitled for Stagecoach's student bus passes and tickets. You'll need a current student ID card with a photo to buy Stagecoach student tickets/discounts. The name on your ID card will need to match the name on your ticket.

Value-added tax (VAT) refunds

If you are normally domiciled or live outside the European Union (EU), but have a visa to remain in the UK to complete a period of study, you may be able to claim a VAT refund on certain goods that you personally export from the EU. You must comply with certain conditions in order to qualify for a refund:

You will only be able to get a VAT refund on goods that you buy within three months of your departure to an immediate destination outside the EU
You will have to provide the goods, the receipts and the VAT refund document to customs at the point of departure from the EU
You must then remain outside of the UK for a period of at least twelve months

When you go to buy goods, you should take your passport to show the retailer that you are entitled to buy goods under the scheme. Not all retailers operate the scheme, so it is a good idea to check first. For details, see the government website.