Settling in as an international student

Remember to make all the necessary financial arrangements to pay your tuition fees and have enough money for your living expenses, such as food and rent.

Fees and funding

Further information about fees and funding for international students can be found here.

Banks

This useful webpage will help you find out about banking in the UK before you arrive.

Long-term students need to open a bank account as soon as possible. Many banks offer special facilities and schemes for students and the banks' financial advisers can help you organise your account.

You will need to take your passport and the letter of acceptance with you, together with proof of your addresses at home and in the UK, and a reference and statements from your home bank when you go to open your account. Most banks in the UK are open from 09.30 to 16.30 Monday to Friday (some are also open on Saturday mornings). If you have a cash card for your account you can use a cash machine at any time of the day, on any day of the week.

Contact your bank in your home country and ask:

• How best to transfer your money to the UK
• About running a bank account in the UK
• Whether your bank has a special relationship with any UK banks
• Whether you can use cash cards from your home bank at cash machines in the UK

It is important not to overspend on your account, as you can incur charges if your account is overdrawn.

Budgeting

By budgeting for university life right from the start you can feel more confident about managing your money. Check out some of the estimated costs you may need to consider.

If you want to boost your money while you're studying, you need to know what are your options and rights to work in the UK. With most student visas, you'll be able to work up to 20 hours per week while studying. You can work full-time during the holidays, as well as before and after your course starts. Sign up to Unitemps to find out about job opportunities at the University and in the local area.

If you are worried about finances, having difficulty budgeting or just need some money advice our friendly Student Support Advisers are on hand to provide guidance.

Tipping

Tipping in the UK is not expected or essential. However, the general advice is to leave between 10–15 per cent of the bill, particularly when dining at a full-service restaurant.

To access health care in the UK, you need to register with a GP when you arrive.

Students who come to the UK for more than six months must apply for a visa and must pay the immigration health surcharge as part of the online application. They can then access national health services in the UK. If the visa is valid for between six and 12 months, the cost is £470. The cost increases with the length of the visa.

Use the immigration health surcharge calculator to find out how much you will pay

Even if you are entitled to free NHS treatment whilst in the UK, you should consider taking out insurance that covers other medical-related costs.

You can find further details here.

COVID Vaccination

It is advised that, if you are eligible, to get your COVID vaccinations in your home country.

Anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

In order to book a Covid-19 vaccine, international students should register with a local GP (General Practitioner) and get an NHS number. An NHS number can be found on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find your NHS number using this tool.

While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, you can request to book your Covid-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.

For more information click here

Depending on the conditions of your visa, you may be allowed to undertake work while studying in the UK.

International students studying full-time on a degree-level course at the University can usually work up to 20 hours per week during term time as per the UKVI’s rules. Outside of term time, students may work full-time hours. You may wish to register with Unitemps, our in-house recruitment agency, which has a range of job opportunities available in the University and local area.

If you are seeking employment in the UK, your prospective employer should conduct a right to work check. You’ll need to apply online to get your National Insurance Number which can take up to 8 weeks to receive. You’ll also need to provide a share code to your prospective employer.

Once you are registered, you can download your student status letter from MyRecord – this proves your status as a full-time student at the University, and it is what you should use, along with your BRP, when seeking work. (Please note: status letters are automatically generated, and the text cannot be amended by the i-zone or other support staff.)

The UK has a temperate climate, with few extremes. But the weather here is famously changeable, so be prepared. It can be quite wet and cold in the winter (roughly November to March). A warm coat, hat, scarf, gloves and an umbrella are a good idea. It also gets dark early. Summers can occasionally be showery and overcast, but are mostly pleasant and rarely extremely hot. The days are long and it stays light until late in the evening.

In the UK there are many people practising various faiths, and as the number of people from different cultures has grown, so have the facilities that allow them to lead a life according to their religious beliefs.

Whatever your faith – or even if you have no faith at all – CCCU is welcoming to all. No matter who you are, where you’re from or what you believe, our Chaplaincy is here for you.

Our team of practising Christians hold regular services in the Chapel at Canterbury and online. They also visit our other campuses to support all our students. They can advise students of all faiths on how to connect with local faith communities and find local places of worship.

We also have an Inter-Faith Council, Buddhist meditation rooms, quiet spaces and Muslim prayer rooms.

Starting university is an exciting time and as you settle in, exploring new places and meeting new friends, we have a range of initiatives to help keep you safe at the same time.

We recommend that you download the Safezone App. This safety app allows you to alert university security via your mobile phone if you ever need urgent assistance, first aid or if you have an emergency while on Canterbury or Medway campus.

Expect Respect

Canterbury Christ Church University and the Students’ Union believe all students, staff and visitors have the right to live, study and work in a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, bullying or harassment of any form.

That is why we have our Expect Respect campaign to raise awareness of what behaviour is expected on campus and how to get support if you need it. If you witness or experience bullying or harassment, including online, we’re here to support you. You can report something either anonymously or with contact details via our online Report+Support tool.

Food

When shopping for everyday food and drink (groceries) in the UK, most people shop at supermarkets. They offer a massive range of products to suit all tastes and budgets. Most of the major UK supermarkets now offer home delivery, which enables you to do your food and drink shopping online.

There are smaller shops, where you can buy specialised foods from overseas and street markets, which are particularly good for fresh fruit and vegetables, often sold at low prices.

Clothes

You may not want to pack all you may need for the British weather - it is a good idea to invest in a waterproof coat, sturdy shoes and an umbrella! You can find good-quality, reasonably priced clothes in high street stores, but you can find bargains in street markets, and in the second-hand shops run by charities.

Text Books

The Library has a wide collection of resources to which you will have free access once you are fully registered. The University Bookshop offers a price match in-store for all core recommended titles and textbooks included in module handbooks.

Discounts

Many shops offer a student discount when you show your student smartcard. You can also sign up for a range of different student discount schemes.

As a resident of Canterbury, you are eligible for a MyCanterbury Discount Card. The MyCanterbury Discount Card is a special card that provides the bearer with a range of offers and deals and is free to apply for. And why not ask your friends or family to buy you a Canterbury Gift Card? Whether it’s a delicious meal out, a haircut, some new clothes or a trip out for the whole family, the Canterbury Gift Card has you covered!