Opening a bank account in the UK

One of the first things you'll need to do once you've decided to come to the UK to study, is to open a UK bank account.

The process is fairly easy, but you'll need to bring some documents with you for the application. In this article, we'll go through everything you need to start banking in the UK.

First of all, why should you open a UK bank account? 

• It's easier to send and receive money whilst you're here in the UK.
• It's better to deposit cash into an account so that it's not lost or stolen.
• If you get a part-time job, the company will usually want to pay wages into a UK account, especially as they don't want to pay fees to send your money to an overseas account.

How do you open an account? 

The process of opening a bank account can take a few weeks, so it's best to get sorted as soon as you can - and don't forget to have some accessible money to hand so that you don't go hungry whilst you wait! 

A lot of banks allow you to open an account online nowadays, but as you're an international student, you will probably have to go into branch to give them proof of address and so they can verify your ID. 

You can also go into branch to apply for a bank account, just remember to bring all the required documents, which you can see below:

• Your passport/photo ID card.
• A valid visa.
• Proof of UK address (utility bill or tenancy agreement).
• Proof you're a student (offer letter from university).

Choosing the right bank



When choosing which is the right bank for you, there are a few things to consider:

• Choose a bank which has a branch close to your home or university. You don't want to be travelling across the city just to get access to your cash or to send money, especially if it's an emergency.  
• Will you need an overdraft? Some bank accounts offer a small buffer to international students in case you overspend, so if that sounds like something you'd do this might be something to think of before choosing.
• Check out the international transfer fees. If you need to send money to your family back home, you don't want to be paying a lot on top! You can see a comparison for international transfer fees for high street banks here. 

For more information on opening a UK bank account as an international student, click here.