Moving to a new country for the first time is a completely different experience in itself. It is common to feel mind-boggling if you’re an international student. You are expected to encounter a few roadblocks, but we’re here to help you overcome them. We have compiled a list of the things you’ll want to do to make your life easier in the UK.

1.Getting a UK SIM Card as a Student

Getting the right SIM will aid your task for the rest of your time in the United Kingdom. And the last thing you want to do is pay hefty bills for making phone calls. But don’t you worry! There are ample options available to choose from when selecting a UK SIM card for yourself.

Prepaid SIM Card in the UK
Prepaid SIM Cards are usually called ‘Pay as you go’ in the UK. With a prepaid SIM card, users don’t have a fixed subscription. Instead, they need to buy prepaid credit on their phone frequently to make calls, send messages, and use data.  Users can get subscriptions from any convenience store or supermarket in the UK. A prepaid SIM card gives users the ability to use it as per the usage and not bind to a rambling contract.

Contracts / Pass-as-you-go
If you’re planning to stay in the UK for a long duration, such as for students pursuing a master’s or a PhD., or prefer calls over messages, then mobile contracts can be a cheap option. A contract can be available for a longer duration (annual plans). If you exceed your contract limit, charges will be collected from your bank account depending on the usage.

Best mobile network providers in the UK
Presently, the UK boasts four primary mobile network providers with the best UK SIM card-
O2
Vodafone
EE
Three

2.Collect BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)

When your entry clearance student visa has been granted, you will be issued a 90-day entry vignette in your passport, which will enable you to travel to the UK. You must arrive in the UK on or after the start date of the entry vignette to enter on your student visa.

Your actual visa, in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), will need to be collected after arriving in the UK. Your BRP is the documentary evidence of your UK immigration permission. You will need to collect your BRP from either the University or the Post Office.

When collecting your BRP, you will need to show your passport with your entry permit enclosed. The decision letter you may receive with the outcome of your visa application will normally confirm the collection point; if not, please check your original application form for the location. You are advised to collect your BRP as soon as possible after arrival in the UK.

3.Collect Student ID Card

International students studying on campus must bring their original passport and visa documents to confirm their right to study so that a student ID card can be issued. If you are an international student (from outside the EU), you will need to bring your passport and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with you to collect your student ID card. If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the university, you will receive an email when it is ready and where to collect it.

Your student ID card offers proof of identity, library and e-learning access and the ability to gain entry to university buildings. Your student ID card is valid for the duration of your study, and you must carry it on university premises.

Collecting your student ID card is a mandatory step in the enrolment process. If you are attending campus, you will need to pick up your card in person within three weeks of the start date of your course. You must collect your student ID card once you join campus to complete enrolment.

4.Apply for NI number

If you’re a non-UK resident planning on working in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a National Insurance number (also known as an NI number) used to keep track of your tax and National Insurance contribution.
Gov.uk notes that you can start work without a National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

How to apply
To get a National Insurance number you need to apply online. You’ll need to prove your identity when you apply.

What documents you’ll need
If you have any of the following documents, get them ready before you start:
a passport from any country
a biometric residence permit (BRP)
a national identity card from an EU country or from Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
You might need to enter information from one or more of these documents.

You can still apply if you do not have any of these documents, but you may need to attend an appointment in person to prove your identity.

If you can, you’ll need to take and upload:
a photo of yourself holding your passport
photos of other identity documents

You can use a smartphone, tablet or a digital camera. You’ll be told how to take the photos and what they must look like during the application process. You can ask someone to take the photos for you. If you cannot upload photos. You can still apply online but your application will take longer. You may need to attend an appointment or post photocopies of your documents. You’ll get an email telling you what to do after you’ve submitted your application.

After you apply
After you apply you’ll get an email with your application reference number. The email will tell you if you need to provide further proof of your identity.
It can take up to 8 weeks to get your National Insurance number after you’ve proved your identity.

5.Open a UK bank account

Why open a bank account?
Safety and security: It is better to deposit money in a bank account so that your cash is not lost or stolen.
For visa purposes: If you need to extend your current visa or apply for a new visa you will need to show financial evidence to prove that you have enough money to live in the UK. Having a UK bank account helps you to do this quickly and easily. For a part-time job: Many businesses pay salaries directly into a bank account. There may be bank charges to pay your salary into an overseas account.

What documents are needed to open a UK bank account?
You will need to bring the following items with you to open an account:
Your passport/photo ID card

A ‘bank letter’ from the University confirming your registration, your home address in the UK and your overseas address – and the fact that the University has corresponded with you at your overseas address. You will be issued with a ‘bank letter’ after you have completed your visa checkpoint at the University. This letter will be issued by the Registry, not your academic department.

6.GP Registration

To access health care in the UK, you need to register with a GP when you arrive.  Your institution may provide information about how and where to do this locally. Arriving in a new country is a very busy time for international students and there are a lot of changes to go through. In this type of situation, with all its stresses, you can find yourself paying less attention than usual to your health. Existing health problems can also be made worse by the effects of adjusting to unfamiliar food, a different climate and the emotional strains of being away from home. It can be easy to concentrate on your studies and forget about taking care of yourself.

How to register with a local doctor (‘GP’, General Practitioner)
When you arrive at your place of study you should register with a local doctor (‘GP’, General Practitioner) as soon as possible. These doctors are trained and experienced in diagnosing a wide range of health problems. They are based in local offices (called ‘GP Surgeries’) or Health Centers. Do not wait until you are ill. If your institution has its own Health Centre, you may be able to register there. Otherwise, you should register with any doctor close to where you live.

To register, you will need to visit the doctor’s surgery or clinic during consulting hours, taking a letter from your institution as proof that you are a student, along with your passport and any loose immigration documents. You should ask to be added to the list of National Health Service (NHS) patients. This means you will not have to pay a fee to visit the doctor. Most doctors’ surgeries have female as well as male doctors, and if you prefer you can ask to be put on a woman doctor’s list. If you only want to be seen by a woman doctor, you may need to say so whenever you make an appointment. To avoid paying the full (private) cost of treatment make sure the doctor knows you want treatment from the NHS.

7.Purchase Rail Card

Rail Cards offer value for money if you travel by train, saving you at least 1/3 on most rail fares. You must carry your Rail Card with you at all times during the journey in order to qualify for the discount.

Student Rail Cards

As a student, you’re eligible for a 16-25 Rail Card from National Rail. The 16-25 Rail Card costs £30 per year, or £70 for three years, and gives you 1/3 off rail travel in England, Scotland and Wales.

Applying for a Rail Card online

You can apply online for a 16-25 Rail Card, https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

8.Purchase Oyster Card

What is an Oyster card?
Many people living in London use Oyster cards to pay for public transport. An Oyster card is a plastic smartcard which can hold pay-as-you-go credit (money), Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. You can load money on to your Oyster card (known as ‘topping up’) at any tube or London Overground station, as well as in any shop where you see the blue Oyster card sign. You can use an Oyster card to travel on bus, tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, River Bus services and most National Rail services in London.

Most people living in London will have an Oyster card, as Oyster fares are substantially cheaper than buying paper tickets for single journeys. You can find out the cost of single journeys using Travel for London’s Single Fare Finder tool.

Where can I get an Oyster card?
You can get an Oyster card from any Tube, London Overground and TfL Rail stations, as well as some DLR and National Rail stations.

How much does it cost?
Oyster cards are free, but require you to pay a £5 deposit when you first get one. If you decide you no longer need your Oyster card, you can send it back and Transport for London (TfL) will give you the deposit back.

If you have any questions or queries a member of staff will always be happy to help. Feel free to fill out our Contact US Form and we will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.