Moving from one country to another requires pre-planning and meticulous organisation. Once you have boarded the plane and started your journey, you cannot turn back. It is essential that you make a pre-arrival checklist that will ensure you have everything you may need once you have reached your destination.
Even after your arrival in the UK, you will have to complete several important tasks and formalities. And often in the midst of all the preparation for studying at your dream university, you may have not considered creating an ideal checklist to make the process easier.
So, if you have received an unconditional offer from a UK university and wondering where you should start, here is your checklist to ease your upcoming experience in the UK.
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Pre-Departure and Pre-Arrival Checklist for International Students in UK
To avoid a last-minute rush, it is always advisable to begin preparations beforehand. This will ensure that your journey is devoid of troubles and once you reach the foreign land you feel settled. Here is a list before going to study in UK:
Check for Passport Validity
Check if your passport is valid for the next 12 months. If it is due to expire then it is necessary that you renew your passport before you travel.
Apply for Visa
It is recommended that you apply for a visa as soon as possible after you get the offer letter. Applying for visa six months before will be a good idea as visa approvals generally take time during the peak seasons. If your course is for less than six months then you will require a short-term visa and if it is more than six months you will require a student visa for UK.
Book Your Accommodation
There are numerous options for student accommodation in UK. You can choose to stay on campus or in privately-rented apartments. Given that the rent will take up a substantial part of your budget, finding cheap accommodation will help you save money. You should hence consider starting your accommodation hunting as soon as you get your offer letter from the university. Universities generally have guaranteed accommodation for first-year students and you can stay with your friends in residence halls. You will be provided basic utilities like kitchen, laundry, wifi, etc., at both on-campus and off-campus accommodations.
Set Up Your Bank Account
Students need to have sufficient funds to afford their education in the UK and that should be reflected in their bank accounts. With your student visa, you can set up a basic bank account. Or, you can open an overseas bank account in advance to save time. A bank account will be necessary to pay utility bills. Also if you work, your salary will be sent to your bank account. An overseas bank account in UK will help you to get your debit and credit card before you leave for the UK and you can also transfer and manage funds.
Plan Your Budget
A student in the UK needs approximately GBP 12,500 per year as estimated by the British Council apart from the tuition fees. If you apply for a scholarship, then a certain amount of the expenses will get covered. The living expenses will vary from city to city, however having a budget and note of the expenditures will help you to manage the finances well.
Complete Health Checkup
The students going to study in the UK must conduct a health check-up and meet the vaccination requirements. Apart from the Covid-19 vaccines, students must test for Tuberculosis. During visa application to UK, you will have to pay a healthcare surcharge that enables you to benefit from the National Health Service (NHS).
Consider Travel Insurance
You can consider purchasing one-way comprehensive travel insurance for your belongings, delay in travel, airline failure or missed departures.
Read the guidelines of the UK Government
Travelling abroad on your own entails involves risk factors. In order to stay safe and secure, read the guidelines provided by the UK government and your university. This will ensure safe travel and living in the UK.
Double-Check Your Documents
Before moving to the UK, get your documents ready, scanned and saved. Carry the hard copiesof all the documents with you. Check for your mark sheets and certificates, visa, passport, study permit and other important documents related to your admission to the university. Here, we will provide you with the list of documents that you need to study and travel to the UK.
Pack and Carry Luggage Carefully
It is important to carry all essential clothes, kitchen items, toiletries and electronic devices along with you while also remembering the luggage weight restrictions set by airlines. Make sure that you keep your passport, UKVI decision letter, European Health Insurance Card, evidence of funding, gadgets, around GBP 400 currency notes, tuberculosis certificate and travel insurance policy number in your handbag so that you can hand them over easily to officials when and wherever needed.
The weight of checked luggage is around 22-23 kg and there are strict restrictions on size and weight. It is necessary to update yourself with your airline regarding the weight before flying.
Documents Checklist for International Students to Travel to UK
The international students in the UK must pack all the necessary documents with them before starting their journey. It is better to have digital copies, photocopies and hard copies of the documents. Here is a comprehensive list of documents that you will require to carry for your journey to the UK.
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Passport
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Photos
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Exam certificates
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University admission documents and enrollment confirmation
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Bank account details
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Proofs of finances and funding
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Room insurance
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Accommodation contract
Note: Double-check if you have carried all the documents with you.
Packing List for Studying in UK
You will have to pack your luggage judiciously and learn to include only the essentials and eliminate all the extras as the airlines have weight restrictions on the luggage. Here is the Indian student packing list for UK:
Clothes
The weather in the UK varies on a day-to-day basis.In winters, the temperatures drop below freezing points. It is advisable to carry light clothes that can be worn inside in layers and some warm outer clothes. It is mandatory to carry waterproof jacketsand umbrellas. Thick socks, hats, gloves and scarves are essential to beat the cold weather.
Kitchen Items
The items in the kitchen item will depend on your student accommodation in UK. If you are in off-campus accommodation,you will need utensils to carry to UK from India like a saucepan, a pressure cooker, cups, plates and spoons. You can even purchase them from local grocery stores.
Electronic Items
The technological world has made us dependent on electronic devices and gadgets. While you travel to the UK, you may carry your mobile phone along with a charger, laptop, camera, headphones and etc.
Stationery and Miscellaneous items
You can carry basic stationery like textbooks, pens, notepads and calculators along with you. Apart from these, you may need a sewing kit, safety pins, bedsheets, pillow covers, toiletries and etc for your daily living.
On Arrival Check List for International Students in UK
Once you have safely landed in the UK, you must undergo certain formalities to ease your stay and studies in the country.
Contact Home
As soon as you reach UK, you must contact your home and inform them that you have landed safely in the UK. After this, you move on to complete other formalities related to arrival in the country.
Collect your Biometric Residence Permit
Biometric Residence Permit is a secure identity card that provides proof of the right to study in the UK. If you have digital immigration status you will not get BRP.
Check into Your Accommodation
As soon as all the formalities are completed at the airport, you must head towards your accommodation. You may contact your university beforehand for the arrangement of transport or book a taxi and uber and reach your on-campus or off-campus accommodation. Make sure you contact your accommodation provider in advance and let them know the date when you will arrive.
Complete Right to Study Check
New students must complete their study check before completing online enrollment. They will receive the personalised link in their email IDs. You will have to upload some of your documents as stated by the university.
Register with a Doctor
Students should enlist in the medical service of the university to get health support.
Explore University Campus and Make New Friends
Upon arrival, students must explore the university campus, find the social clubs where they can join and look for shopping centres. They should interact with other students in their class and accommodation and start enjoying their university days.
Look for Work
Students are allowed to work part-time while they study at a UK university. They can work for 20 hours during sessions and full time during the holidays.
Learn About University Support Services
As an international student, you may encounter some unexpected challenges along the way. Therefore universities have a range of support services to help students. There are student hubs to assist you if you encounter any problems. The career services support you in your career through workshops, events, mentoring, one-to-one appointments, job resources, etc. There are other services related to academic skills, settling into university life, promoting equality and inclusion, and reporting any crime or abuse.
Get Your National Insurance Number
If you want to work part-time in the UK, you will need a National Insurance Number which must be printed on your Biometric Residence Permit. If it is not there, you will have to apply for one. It can take around eight to nine weeks to get your NI number.
Chalk Out Your Budget
Your exact cost of living in the UK can only be determined once you reach the country. Therefore, once you get a bit accustomed to the prices of the country, make your budget. Also, you must take safety measures to protect your money. Do not bring a large amount of cash. Around GBP 350 will be sufficient for the first week of the term till you open a bank account.
It is important to be stress-free when before and after you arrive in the UK. This will help you to sort the formalities with the least pressure. Maintaining a checklist and ticking off as you complete helps to keep everything in order. You must take enough time to settle yourself into the new environment and ask for help whenever required.
If you have any other queries related to visa or other pre-departure and post-departure formalities, write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.
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