International Student Accommodation - Go Live It

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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
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Getting around

Transport across the UK is generally very reliable. In most cities you will find a good train and bus network that will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go. Some cities, for example Sheffield, even have tram routes similar to those in Paris. Ticket prices are dependant on the city itself and you will be able to buy daily or weekly fares that are usually well discounted. As a student in the UK, you will be able to get discounts on many local and national routes. Be careful not to get caught without a ticket, as the fines can be costly!

It is very easy to travel round the UK and it is well worth doing. From the highlands in Scotland, to the beach towns in Cornwall, the UK has plenty to offer. The trains will get you pretty much anywhere.....National Rail.

Life in general

Life in the UK is usually a little faster paced than in other European destinations. With such diversity in cultures, each and every city will offer something for everyone.

A working business day is usually 9-5. There are no siestas in the UK which means you won’t be waiting around for the shops to open. Shops operate shorter hours on Sundays, so make sure you get all you need for the traditional Sunday roast before they close.

Food, Drink and Going Out

To tie in with the diversity in culture, the UK offers a huge variety in eateries; from traditional English pubs to Italian, Indian, Chinese and many many more. The cost of eating out hugely depends on where you go. Look out for the set menus which generally offer 3 course meals at reasonable prices. For the beer drinkers in you, escape away from the cities to search for the local town pubs which serve a variety of draft bitters from the area.

Each city will vary in its levels of nightlife with some cities across the UK well known for their vibrant night lives. Although some can be quieter than others, if you are heading over to study at one of the Universities, the surrounding city will have plenty of options for going out. Things generally happen a lot earlier in the UK compared to countries such as France and Spain where no-one is seen out any earlier than 10pm. Pubs in the UK shut at 11pm, and normally 10pm on Sundays. However, bars and clubs operate late licenses and stay open till around 1am-3am. With the 24hr alcohol laws now in place you may even find clubs open all night. Not the best idea before a 9 o’clock lecture!!  Bars and clubs also have strict dress codes so make sure you check before heading out that you adhere to their rules. It is normally that you have to wear smart shoes rather than trainers but some can catch you out for not wearing a collar or for wearing jeans.

Remember that after a night out on the tiles, you will need to make your way home. Unless you are within walking distance, be careful because public transport only normally operates until about 1am and you might find yourself having to pay for an expensive taxi home. There are sometimes alternatives depending on the city you are in, for example in London late night buses run certain routes to take home all those who have stayed out dancing the night away.

Telephone and Internet

The international dialling code for the UK is +44. Remember to tell your family and friends back home to leave the first 0 off of the number as well!!

Mobile; As seems to be the international standard, there are two options for getting yourself a mobile phone. If you are staying for a full year or more, you could get yourself a pay monthly phone which will tie you into a 12 or even 18 month contract. Calls and texts are generally cheaper but you can’t simply opt out of the contract at any time. The second and probably better option for a student is a 'pay as you go' mobile. With no contracts and no minimum terms, it is a good option for an international student. If you have your own handset, you will just need to buy a sim card which is usually very cheap and sometimes even free. There are many different operators to choose from, the biggest being Orange, O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile. We cannot specifically recommend any of these services as the pros and cons will change depending on the needs of the individual, however we do suggest that you shop around and look at all available options.

Landline; If you are staying in halls of residence and you have a telephone line in your room, you will simply need to speak to the halls manager in order to get yourself up and running. If you are in an private accommodation and are interested in getting a fixed telephone line which can work out much cheaper than a mobile, you will need to firstly speak to the landlord to get the number to the accommodation. Once you have the phone number, there are a number of providers you can try whom often combine telephone connection, internet and television packages. BT, Telewest, Virgin are just a few of the possibilities available.

Public; If you do not feel the need for internet or a phone line in your apartment then there are always other options. In most towns and cities you will be able to find an internet cafe or a wireless zone nearby. Many of these internet cafes will also offer international phone service which is usually quite cheap, or alternatively you can use a payphone.

Banks

Standard banking hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00-16:30, although some banks will close for lunch hours. It depends on the particular bank and its branch. A fair number of banks are closed for the entire weekend, so be careful not to get caught out if you need to handle any issues by a certain date.

Opening an Account; Opening an account is relatively straight forward in the UK compared to for instance in France. To set up a bank account you will need the following things:

  • Your passport or another official identity card with photograph
  • Proof of UK address, for example a utility bill. If you are in university halls, a letter from the university should be fine.
  • Proof of your home address, again a utility bill with your name and address on.
  • If you are applying for a student account, you will need proof of your student status.

Check with your bank in your home country if there is an associated bank in the UK, which may simplify some operations. Some universities will hold open days near the beginning of the year and invite local banks along so that students can sign up for an account there and then. The major banks in the UK are:

Most banks have special offers for students and young people (usually under 26) to attract new young customers. As you can get lower account costs for credit cards etc, it's worth your time to find out about these offers. One such offer includes a ‘Young Persons Railcard’, which will give you 30% off on most train travel across the UK.

Again we suggest that you shop around and find an account that suits you.

Standard Services; Check the conditions on your account to avoid bad surprises. Even a few days of overdraft can be expensive with the scandalous admin charges that banks can issue. Unauthorized overdrafts mean a bank can block your credit card or withdraw your cheque-book. Depending on the bank and your income, there are different overdraft schemes; if necessary, you should negotiate this when opening your account. We highly recommend that you do not take an overdraft option, getting stuck into your overdraft can be very expensive and banks are less lenient towards foreign students.

Bank statements are usually sent monthly, although sometimes you can opt for more frequent statements. You will be able to get printouts from within the branch itself or the online banking facilities provided by pretty much every bank are very easy to use so you can keep an eye on your finances.

A chequebook and paying in book is usually provided free as standard on a current account and will be sent in 1-2 weeks.

Health

The national health service (NHS) is the main organisation that provides health service in the UK.

EU/EAA citizens: If you are citizen of one of EU/EEA countries (which includes all 27 EU members) and moving temporarily to the UK or looking for cover at the start of longer stay, you are automatically entitled to free basic health care due to reciprocal agreements among EU countries. Since the 1st June 2004, European citizens who are travelling within the European Economic Area are given a European Health Insurance Card, which simplifies the procedure when receiving medical assistance during their stay in a Member State. The European Health Insurance Card replaces forms E111 and E111B, E110, E128 and E119. Apply for the European Health Insurance Card.

In order to qualify for free health care you will need to register with a doctor in the UK. There will be one local to your chosen university or even inside the university campus itself. For dental and optical checkups, you can get a referral from the doctor to an NHS associated dentist or optician. Treatment may not be free but it will be considerably cheaper than private practices. You may also need to pay for prescriptions. To find your local doctor, use the following links for countries in the UK:

Non EU/EAA citizens: If moving temporarily from a non-EU/EEA country to the UK, check with your relevant local agency whether there is a bilateral agreement that will cover you. These normally cover only limited urgency healthcare and you are advised to get comprehensive private insurance. If you get private insurance, make sure that they provide cover in the UK, have a local office or partner and read the small print so you know what's covered (and what's not!).

Payment and Reimbursement; Whether you are insured or not you will still be required to pay for your treatment and medication up front. Make sure that you keep a record of all treatments and any receipts or prescriptions relating to the treatments which will be required by your insurance company in order to reimburse the money.

Emergency; In an emergency don't worry about insurance, head straight to the nearest hospital. The doctors are legally obliged to treat you whether you are insured or not. It is however left to the doctor's discretion to decide whether it is an emergency or not.

Should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation call 999 (free from any phone). This number covers the police, ambulance or fire brigade.