Starting a new life as an international student in a new country can be an exciting and daunting experience. Back in 2023, the moment I stepped off the plane and cleared customs, I saw a ‘welcome’ sign at Manchester Airport. A feeling suddenly hit me – I had truly arrived in the UK – a country where my familiar sense of life slowly fell apart, and a new one began to grow. Everything – from grocery shopping to adapting to a new research environment – took me a while to get used to. So, if you are a new international student and are unsure how to settle in, here are some tips that might be helpful!

Visa Application and Accommodation

All stages of settling in begin with your visa application for the UK. Let’s rewind to the moment when you accepted the NWCDTP offer. The first thing I recommend is to request a CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from your institution, which is essential for your student visa application. And then, go to the official UK government website. When you find the Student Visa category, click ‘Apply Online’ (https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply-online), and you will be directed to a page where it lists all the required documents. Complete the online application form as required, pay the visa and NHS fees, and make an appointment to submit your supporting documents at a visa application center. You’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks!

When you are waiting for the decision, I highly recommend finding a place to stay in the UK as soon as possible. Normally, there are three options to choose from: student accommodation run by the university, those managed by university-approved agencies, or social housing. The first two are exclusive to students – you can find them on the websites of the university and local student housing agencies. Student housing can be very popular and competitive, so make sure you apply as early as possible. While student accommodation is relatively hassle-free, social housing is cheaper and more flexible. To choose this, you can find information on Rightmove and Zoopla, etc, and contact agents or landlords for more details. In both cases, you will be asked to provide your letter of admission and registration to prove your student status, and your ‘right to rent’ share code. Either way, make sure to sign your contract and pay your rent and deposit through official platforms, and follow the terms stated in the contract. Please try to avoid private deals to prevent scams! Click here and find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

Note that you have to pay these fees in advance, since your first installment of stipend will arrive toward the end of September. Meanwhile, if you do not have a UK bank account, you won’t get your stipend until you open one. Back in the summer of 2023, the exchange rate in the UK was high, so I needed to use more of my own currency to exchange for pounds. Therefore, it is also very important to keep an eye on the exchange rate!

Contracts and Cards

You have booked the flight ticket and boarded the plane. The minute you get your luggage and step out of the airport, your journey of settling in immediately resumes. Just like a main character in a video game, you’ll soon be swamped with a pile of tasks and have to unlock new levels, from signing contracts and registering for services to getting various cards ready.

Contracts

First, make sure you get a UK SIM card before or after your arrival. If you have just arrived in the UK, you can start with Pay As You Go or a SIM card you bought at the airport, and then you can switch to a contract plan with mobile providers like EE, O2, and Vodafone. 

Meanwhile, do not forget to choose and register with a GP for NHS services. You can use the NHS website or go to local GP practices to fill in registration forms – make sure you choose the closest practice you can find! When you submit the form, you will receive an NHS letter after a few business days. Then you will get your NHS number. You can also download the NHS app to contact your GP about your health problem and track your records. More to look at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/common-questions/how-do-i-choose-and-register-with-a-gp/

Cards

Now that we’ve got the address and a telephone number, we can open the UK bank account. Normally, you will need a passport, an eVisa, proof of address, and probably a student status letter, etc., to do so. In the UK, there are traditional banks, including Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, Santander, and digital banks such as Monzo, Starling, and Revolut. The former are more reliable, while the latter are quicker and simpler to start with. Personally, I use both types: digital ones for everyday spending with smaller top-ups, and traditional ones to receive my stipend. And of course, you can download bank apps to find out more!

When it comes to daily purchases, it is always great to have membership cards. You will soon find out that one big part of living in the UK is grocery shopping, especially you cook by yourselves. There are many supermarket chains in the UK, ranging from high-end to budget ones. They can be roughly categorised as follows: Waitrose and Marks & Spencer (high-end); Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and ASDA (mid-range); Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, and Poundland (budget). Basically, every supermarket chain has its own membership policies. If you sign up for a membership, you can earn points through your purchases and enjoy discounts. Depending on your location and budget, you can join different supermarket memberships: MyWaitrose for Waitrose, Sparks for Marks & Spencer, Clubcard for Tesco, Nectar for Sainsbury’s, My Morrisons for Morrisons, Lidl Plus for Lidl, Bonus Card for Iceland, and Asda Rewards for Asda. Apart from supermarkets, you can also get a Boots Advantage Card for cosmetics and medicines, a Waterstones Plus (Student) Card for books, and a Holland & Barrett loyalty card for health supplements.

Another card you’ll need is for public transport. Traveling within the UK usually involves taking the train. So, make sure you have a Railcard with you – it gives you up to a third off most train fares! You can download apps such as Trainpal, Trainline, or Trip.com to get a railcard and book train tickets.

You can download the ‘UNiDAYS’ app for more student discounts, and don’t forget to ask in shops and restaurants if they offer any!

Find Your People

Now that you’ve got your contracts and cards sorted, it’s time to head to campus and get a taste of your new research environment! Your supervisors are definitely the first people to turn to. Also, familiarise yourself with your department and faculty – there are people doing research in your area or who are simply interested in your project. Finding a research group is also key to adapting to a new environment – if none exists, why not establish one yourself? Although a PhD is often called an isolated journey, you are never truly alone. Try to open up a little, and you may discover some real treasures along the way! When I started my PhD, not many people were in my research field. However, during a group activity, I met my research friends and we ended up establishing a research network, which is definitely one of the most exciting parts of my PhD. You never know what’s waiting behind the door!

Create Your Home

Okay. You just came back from grocery shopping, and your fridge is full. You have met your supervisors and just submitted the record. Everything seems to be on the ‘right’ track, but you start missing home in the quiet moments when you are alone – while flipping through letters, sorting out shopping receipts, or on your way to a new event. Homesickness is absolutely normal after the first few weeks of excitement for being in a new country. While cherishing beautiful memories back home, you can also establish a new sense of familiarity here! Arranging your new place like the home you once knew, sharing your feelings with friends and family, and figuring out your new routine are all possible ways to regain a sense of order in your life. Meanwhile, meeting new people and savouring new cultures and environments are all part of your wonderful journey to studying in the UK! And you can always go home during the holidays. Make sure you comply with the relevant visa policies and restrictions of your university and UKVI. If you need medical leave and welfare support, please find out more at https://www.nwcdtp.ac.uk/home/current-students/student-support/welfare-support/

Packing your life in suitcases and coming to a new country takes courage and has never been easy. Be proud of what you have done so far. Remember, you are never alone in this journey. Do not forget to join the International Student Support Network of the NWCDTP.

Thank you for reading this far, meanwhile, feel free to email me at nann.song@outlook.com if you’d like to share your stories or need any support.

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