Tips for international students to prepare for their move to the UK
Your guide to preparing for student life in the UK, from visas and housing to banking, budgeting and first-week essentials. Plan with confidence and make your arrival smooth and stress-free.
Your UK journey starts long before your flight does. The smoother your first weeks feel, the sooner you can focus on classes, friends and the future you came for. Use this practical checklist to prepare with confidence, from your UK student visa guide items to banking, housing and the small habits that make life easier on day one.
1) Map your timeline from offer to onboarding
Start early and work backwards from your programme start date. Break prep into four phases so nothing slips.
Offer in hand: Confirm key dates with your university, including registration, orientation, and housing windows.
Visa stage: Gather documents, book your biometrics appointment, and plan for processing time.
Pre-flight: Organise accommodation, temporary stay options, and first-week essentials.
Landing week: Complete BRP collection, university check-in, and banking.
Tip: Build weekly tasks with simple deadlines. Short, clear steps keep momentum and reduce stress.
2) Your UK student visa checklist, simplified
Every student’s situation is unique, so always follow your university and official guidance. Here is a simple flow to keep you organised:
CAS and passport: Keep scanned and printed copies together in a clear folder.
Financial evidence: Follow your programme’s requirements exactly. Include tuition plus living costs for the period specified by UK rules.
TB test (if applicable): Book early, clinics can be busy near intake season.
Documents to pack: Printed CAS, visa decision email, accommodation letter, and any scholarship or funding letters.
On arrival: Collect your BRP within the timeframe and from the location listed in your decision letter.
This guide is for general guidance only. Always check the official UK government site for the most up-to-date information.
3) Budget like a pro before you go
A calm budget beats a perfect one. Use three ranges so you can adjust as you learn local prices:
Comfort: Your target monthly spend for rent, essentials, transport and a few small treats.
Caution: A trimmed version for exam months or higher utility bills.
Stretch: The upper limit you avoid unless there is a one-off cost, like a laptop.
Build your first 90-day plan:
Set up an emergency buffer if you can; even a small one helps.
List upfront costs, for example, housing deposit and first rent, SIM card, transport card, basic kitchen items, and academic supplies.
Track in one place, a simple note on your phone works.
If financing your studies, note when we send the funds to your school and how that aligns with fee deadlines, then plan your living-cost cash flow around it. Repayments begin after your grace period (regular).
4) Student accommodation UK: How to choose fast and well
You have three common routes, each with trade-offs.
University halls: Straightforward, close to campus, utilities often included, demand is high, and deadlines are fixed.
Private purpose-built student housing: Social, predictable bills, quicker to secure online, prices vary by location and room type.
Shared flats or houses: Can be cost-effective, more independent, require viewings and attention to contracts and council tax exemptions.
Practical checks before you sign:
Commute: Map door-to-door time to campus and grocery shops.
Bills: Confirm what is included, especially energy and internet.
Contract dates: Ensure the start date matches your arrival.
Deposits and inventory: Photograph rooms on move-in day.
Temporary stay: If you land before your contract, book a short stay near campus for two or three nights.
5) Mobile banking and money setup that saves you hours
Sort your essentials in the first week.
UK account or app-based account: Open as soon as your university letter and identity documents allow.
International transfer: Compare options and transfer a modest starter amount for move-in costs.
Contactless life: Load your transport card and keep a small amount of cash for rare situations.
Keep documents handy: Address proofs are the top blocker for many students, store digital copies in a secure cloud folder.
With Prodigy Finance, funds are paid directly to your university when we send the funds to your school, which helps you focus your cash on living costs and settling in.
6) Culture, confidence and community
Arriving is easier when you know what to expect.
Everyday interactions: British communication can be polite and understated. Ask follow-up questions if you are unsure.
Time and transport: Trains and buses are common, plan a buffer for connections.
Weather: Pack layers, a compact umbrella and comfortable shoes.
Food: Search local markets and student discounts once you settle, cook with flatmates to save money and make friends.
Support: Join your course group, cultural societies and city WhatsApp or Discord groups. You will find housing tips, second-hand items and weekend plans faster through these communities.
7) Study setup: make week one count
Lay the groundwork before lectures begin.
Tech: Update your laptop, install campus apps and set up two-factor authentication.
Admin: Get your student card, register with a local GP if advised, and confirm your term dates.
Academic rhythm: Skim module outlines and key deadlines, set light goals for reading and note-taking.
Part-time work: Check visa and university rules. Look for roles that fit your timetable and commute.
8) Emotional prep: plan for the highs and the wobbles
Moving to the UK as an international student is a big step. Feeling excited and unsettled at the same time is normal.
Build a simple routine: Morning walk, a fixed study block, a weekly call home.
Create a small “arrival day kit”: Snacks, a power bank, a printed address and directions to your temporary stay.
Expect a learning curve: New accents, new admin, new shopping habits, it all gets easier.
Celebrate small wins: Your first food shop, your bank account, your first lecture. Momentum matters.
9) Funding your move with support that understands international students
Prodigy Finance offers loans designed for international students, typically with no collateral and no co-signer required. Your rate and eligibility are personalised to your profile and chosen programme. Repayments begin after your grace period, which gives you room to settle into life and work after graduation. We pay your university directly when we send the funds to your school, so your tuition is covered while you focus on housing and everyday setup.
10) One-page moving to UK checklist you can copy
Use this to plan your first month, then tweak as you learn more.
Before you fly
Confirm CAS, visa decision, accommodation, and airport to housing route.
Back up documents: Passport, CAS, visa email, university offer, accommodation letter, funding proof.
Money plan: International transfer set up, emergency buffer, card enabled for international use.
Packing list: Smart clothes for events, layers for weather, basic medicine, universal adaptor.
Phone plan: Order a UK SIM to your accommodation if possible.
First 72 hours
Collect BRP, register with your university, and confirm your class timetable.
Banking: Open or finalise your account, set up your app and contactless payments.
Housing: Check inventory, photograph rooms, log maintenance issues in writing.
Transport: Buy a rail or bus card, map your routes to campus, shops and the GP.
Groceries and basics: Plan a simple first-week meal list.
First 2 weeks
Academic: Confirm modules, set up a weekly study schedule and assignment tracker.
Community: Join two or three student societies, say yes to low-cost socials.
Work: If allowed by your visa, attend job fairs on campus.
Health: Register with a GP if required by your area and schedule routine care.
Admin: Review your budget after week two and adjust your comfort and caution ranges.
Check your loan eligibility today to make your move smoother with Prodigy Finance.
FAQs
How far in advance should I start my UK move plan?
What’s the ideal timeline from receiving my offer to landing in the UK?
What should I do if my CAS details change after I apply?
Can I open a UK bank account without proof of address?
How do I register with a GP and what health steps should I take in week one?
Am I allowed to work part-time on a student visa, and how do I find roles that fit my timetable?
How does Prodigy Finance disburse funds and when do repayments begin?
