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.

Opening a Bank Account

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

If you’re staying for a long time, it's important to open a bank account soon. Many banks have special services for students, and their advisers can help you set up your account.

What You'll Need:

• Passport
• Letter of acceptance from the university
• Proof of your home address and your UK address
• A reference and statements from your home bank

Bank Hours:

• Most banks are open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday (some are also open on Saturday mornings).
• If you have a cash card, you can use a cash machine anytime, any day.

Ask Your Home Bank:

• How to transfer money to the UK
• About managing a bank account in the UK
• If they have a partnership with any UK banks
• If you can use your home bank's cash card in the UK

Important Tip:

• Don’t spend more money than you have in your account to avoid extra charges.

Budgeting

• Plan your budget right from the start so you can manage your money .
• Check estimated costs you might need to consider

Tipping

• • Tipping is not required, but it’s nice to leave 10–15% of the bill in full-service restaurants.

Working While Studying

• Check your visa conditions. Most student visas allow you to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays.
• Sign up to Unitemps for job opportunities at the University and in the local area.

Need Help?

• If you’re worried about money or need advice, our friendly Student Support Advisers are here to help.

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.

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!