Know a club, society, or student volunteer who's made a difference? Nominate them ❤️ for an award.

Finding Accommodation

Looking for accommodation? Finding accommodation in the capital can be daunting but don't worry UCLU are here to help! Click here for information about different ways you can find accommodation in London.

Click here to see what accommodation is provided and suggested by UCL.

You can also find additional helpful information sheets on accommodation on UCLU Advice and Welfare Pages.

To see information of how you can contact the housing services click here.

You may also be interested in living in private halls such as the Internationals Students House ish.org.uk


Finances

To learn everything you need to know about paying your fees, or getting financial support such as bursaries or loans from UCL, click here.

For help with budgeting while you are studying, check out the student calculator.


London Life

 

London is a big city with plenty of things to see and do. In a city like London there is no excuse to be bored! To help you find your way around and learn about all the ways to keep entertained, UCL have created a Life in London page with a host of useful information and hand links about living in London, covering Keeping Safe, Travelling, Entertainment & Culture, and Sport.


Statement of Student Status (Registry)

As an international student, you may need to get a letter confirming your status as a registered student to open a bank account. You will also need one to get apply for council tax exemption. This letter is called a Statement of Student Status and is provided by UCL. Click here to find out how to obtain a Statement of Student Status.


Opening a bank account

It is recommended that international students open UK bank account. This is needed in many situations such as paying for accommodation or utilities or receiving pay should you decide to work in the UK. See this link for information on how to open a UK bank account.


Travel

Transport for London (TfL) website is a great tool for planning your journeys around the city and finding out about travel costs, including advice on how to get a student oyster card. There are several ways to use an oyster card, you can have a pay-as-you-go oyster, or a Travelcard that works on the Underground as well as buses, or a Bus & Tram pass. Remember that you can get all these with a student discount and that all journeys are considerably cheaper with an oyster card compared to baying individual tickets.

Also, don’t forget your Tube Map

As an alternative means of transportation, cycling is very popular in London. You can buy a bicycle from Bike Logic or get a second-hand one from ReCycling. Alternatively, you can rent a bike, and the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme is a useful service. For more information about cycling see the Camdem Council view on cycling.


UK phone number

Another issue international students face is getting a UK phone number. Giffgaff is a simple and sometimes cheaper option. You can simply order a SIM card online and pay-as-you-go.

 


Shopping

We have put together a list of brands popular among students, that may be new to international students

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