Life in the UK | NCUK Study Centre

useful information

Life in UK

Cost of living

Student visa rules state that you must have enough money to support your living expenses in the UK. Living expenses include your rent, bills, food, travel and other personal expenses. It is important that you do not divert this money for other purposes.

The financial requirement for your visa is an estimate of how much it will cost you to live in the UK. Your actual costs will vary depending on where you choose to live and your lifestyle choices. It is important that you make a budget plan before arriving in the UK. Look into the average cost of living in London before you arrive, so you know what to expect. The following exercise can be useful in working out whether you have enough funds in place to cover your costs:

Note down the amount you have to cover your living expenses
Subtract your essential costs (e.g. rent, food, travel)
Calculate your disposable income (e.g. hobbies, eating out)

Build a small emergency fund into your budget, in case you face any unexpected costs.

Opening a UK Bank account

We recommend you open a UK bank account once you arrive in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of who you are and where you live to open a UK bank account. You will need:

Proof of full-time student status (NCUK will provide a Confirmation of Studies letter)
Passport and visa
Proof of address

We cannot provide you with any recommendations regarding a specific bank you should choose. Money Saving Expert and Money Helper have useful guides and information for you to compare accounts.

Registering with a Doctor (GP)

Some of you may have paid for the Immigration Heath Surcharge (IHS) as part of your visa application. This allows you to use most services on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for free. Registering with a doctor (also known as a General Practitioner, ‘GP’) provides you access of support for your mental and physical health. It is important to register with a doctor in the UK upon your arrival.

Find a local GP on the NHS website, take ID and proof of address, and complete a registration form. You’ll receive an NHS number (usually within five working days), then you can book appointments, request prescriptions, and access NHS services.

We recommend you register with a GP in the first month of being in the UK.

Prescriptions

If your doctor provides you with medication, they may write a prescription for you. You will need to take your prescription to a pharmacy and pay a standard charge. The pharmacy also provide healthcare services such as advice on a range of common health problems and medicines that can help.

Dentists

Dentists are not free and can be expensive, so hopefully you will have had a checkup before you left home. If you do need to see a dentist, when making your initial dental appointment please check the dentist will accept you as NHS patient. Please visit the NHS website for details on how to find a dentist near to where you plan to live in the UK.

Driving in the UK

In London most students use public transport (train, tube and buses) to travel.

Before driving any vehicle in the UK, you should check all legal requirements that apply to the vehicle and the driver.

For more information, please see Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence. UKCISA also has very useful information about driving in the UK.

Drink driving is illegal in the UK, you should always wear a seatbelt where one provided and observe speed.

Frauds tricks and scams

If you receive an unexpected email, telephone call or letter from someone who aims to be from the Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), DVLA or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), it may be a scam.

The Home Office will never contact you to ask for money or your personal details.

Please see the guidance: fraud, tricks and scams and how to protect yourself on the UK Government website.

If you are suspicious:

do not give out any personal information, or confirm that any personal information they have is correct
do not pay them any money.
do not pay them using electronic vouchers

Please contact the University or the local Police should you be concerned that you have been targeted.

You can report fraud and cyber crime online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or by telephone on 0300 123 2040. You can forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, and suspicious texts to 7726.

The Metropolitan Police have created a series of Little Guides to explain some of the most common scams and give advice on how to avoid falling victim to them.

Top tips and facts about the UK

There are three nations in Britain

The most important thing to know is that Britain is home to not one, but three nations: England, Scotland, and Wales.

Monarchy

The UK is a monarchy, and the head of state is the King. The King is also the head of the Church of England.

Stand on the right

Stand on the right when you step on an escalator. If you want to walk up or down, stay on the left. Especially in London!

Say “Excuse me”

Always say “Excuse me” before you ask for information.

Keep your belongings safe

When walking around the city, please keep your phone and wallet in an inside pocket in your bag, or somewhere that can’t be accessed easily. Pickpockets operate in busier areas in the city centre, so be vigilant when out on excursions and trips.

Don’t rely on cash – bring a card instead

There’s no need to carry large amounts of cash when you arrive in the UK - £200 is plenty for small expenses or emergencies. Bring a credit card or travel debit card (such as Wise, Revolut, or Monzo) to manage your spending until you set up a UK bank account. Contactless card payments are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport.

Leave valuables at home

Avoid bringing expensive jewellery or other valuable items when moving to the UK. It’s safer to travel light and reduce the risk of loss or theft, especially during your first few days while you’re still settling in.

Travelling around the city

London has a comprehensive transport network, consisting of buses, under ground ‘tubes’ and overground trains. These are operated by Transport for London. Outside of London, the train network is operated by the National Rail which run a variety of services to different major rail stations in London city centre.

Other transport options for getting round the city include taxis, but these will be noticeably more expensive. If you are not familiar with the city, it may be better to use an app such as Uber on your phone for additional peace of mind.

Travelling wider

If you want to get outside of London to visit other cities around the UK, it is likely that you will need to make use of trains or, for a more budget-friendly option, coaches from companies such as the National Express or Megabus. You may even be able to find an affordable domestic flight between some UK cities if the distance is great enough.

With the permission of the school, it is possible to travel outside of the UK during vacations allocated in the academic calendar. Some of the UK’s close neighbours in mainland Europe, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands, can be accessed using the Eurostar train from St Pancras. Other countries, including Ireland, may require a flight or a ferry.

Respecting cultural values

We are proud of our diverse student community. Here are a few values that will help you succeed both academically and socially:

Punctuality: Being on time for lectures, tutorials, and meetings shows respect for others and helps you stay on track with your studies.
Behavioural expectations: Respect goes beyond the classroom. Be mindful of your behaviour in public and shared spaces — keep noise to a minimum, especially at night, use bins and recycle where possible, be polite in queues and on public transport, and always show consideration for others’ values, customs, and personal space.
Classroom etiquette: Listen actively, participate respectfully in discussions, and allow others to speak without interruption.
Independent learning: In the UK, students are expected to study by themselves as well as attend classes. This means reading, doing homework, and managing your time without being told what to do every day.
Open-mindedness: Be open to new ideas, feedback, and perspectives. This is essential for personal growth and academic development.
Asking for help: Don’t hesitate to reach out to lecturers, advisors, or support services if you need help with your studies, wellbeing, or adjusting to life in the UK.