Pre-departure Tips for International Students Going to the UK

Many students feel excited after getting accepted into their institution of choice. However, after the excitement subsides, the nervousness and confusion often come in. Nervous because of the uncertainty they will soon face, and confused about what they should do next. 

To help students, check out these pre-departure tips for international students going to the UK. 

Accommodation 

The first thing you should arrange is your accommodation abroad. Most universities in the UK guarantee full-time first-year students or postgraduate international students a place in their on-campus residences or halls of residence. However, the conditions may vary between institutions. 

Moreover, halls of residence offer the most convenient and affordable place for students, making them popular and high in demand. Thus, it would be wise to communicate with your institution as soon as you get your acceptance letter, so you’d be able to reserve a place to stay. 

Obtaining Your Study Visa

After getting accepted at an institution and arranging your accommodation, the next thing to do is obtain your study visa. You can usually get a decision on your visa, three weeks after you applied for it. However, the earliest you can apply for one is six months before you begin your course. A student visa application may cost around £348. Moreover, the requirement for getting one include the following: 

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Passport 
• Proof of funds
• Tuberculosis test result 

Quick Guide to Packing

When packing for the UK, do not forget to bring the following documents: 

• Accomplished landing card
• Valid passport 
• Biometric Identity Document (BID)
• Flight ticket 
• X-ray and vaccination certificates (if required)
• Letter of acceptance 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof of funds
• Qualification certificates 
• Insurance documents

Aside from the needed documents, some of the stuff you need during your whole stay in the UK include the following: 

• Warm clothing 
• Prescribed medicines with a letter from your doctor 
• Formal clothes for formal events 
• Phone and charger
• International power adaptors 

Health Check-Up

Before your flight abroad, make sure to undergo all kinds of check-ups in your home country. This includes full-body check-ups, going to the dentist, getting an immunization, and so on. Healthcare is expensive in the UK, and doing all those check-ups before your flight abroad can help you save more money while there. 

Insurance 

Before you go abroad make sure you have the proper types of insurance to make your stay there smoother. The types of insurance you should have are travel and medical insurance. There are travel insurances that you can use to cover your flight delays, loss of belongings, and medical emergencies abroad for one year. However, for students who will be staying in the UK for more than a year, it would be useful to apply for medical insurance that they can use while in the UK. 

Money 

When traveling abroad, even if you have your own credit card, you should still bring money, and in British currency.

This will ensure that upon your arrival in the UK, you would have enough money to cover some immediate needs, such as custom fees and some emergency expenses. 

Learn more pre-departure tips for international students when traveling abroad. To prepare financially, check out MSM Unify’s article on How Much Does UK Education Cost?