New regulations by
the FSA (Financial
Services Authority)
means that you cannot
open a Bank Account in
the UK until you have
stayed here for 6
months. You are able to
open a very basic
account at your local
Post Office.
£200
in British currency or travellers' cheques will
probably be enough to cover your expenses during the
first few days.
You can also use all
major credit cards although American Express and
Diners Card are not as widely accepted as Visa and
MasterCard.
As a general rule, try not to carry too much cash on
you because of the risk of loss or theft.
Before you decide to
bring your family to the UK, think very carefully
about the financial and emotional implications of
such a move. It can be very difficult to look after
a family member while trying to manage your studies,
particularly if he/she does not speak English.
Family accommodation can
be difficult to find. You should consider the
following points:
• A flat for a family is
more expensive than for a single person
• There are not many flats available for families
• You wish to share a flat with some other student
If you decide to bring
your spouse/family with
you while you study, you
may find it easier to
travel to the UK alone
first to organise your
accommodation and to get
settled in.
You can then arrange for
your family to join you
when everything is
organised.
Immigration authorities
require evidence that
you can support your
dependants as well as
yourself once you are in
the UK.
Financial evidence will
be required to
demonstrate that you
have sufficient funds to
support you and your
family.
Your spouse will be
allowed to work if the
stamp in his/her
passport does not say
that he/she must not
work or enter employment
(see the information on
'Your visa and
employment' in
essentials).
Please note however,
that the immigration
authorities will not
consider a spouse's
earnings as evidence of
financial security. You
must prove that you can
survive without relying
on these earnings.
If you are bringing your
children to the UK, you
must be aware of the
fact that education is
compulsory for all
children between the
ages of 5 and 16.
Children between these 5
and 16 years of age who
are in the UK as
dependants of
international students
can attend a state
school free of charge.
Applications for school
places can be made once
you have a home in the
area.
