Keeping your money safe

The safest way of managing your money once you've arrived in the UK is by opening a British bank account. We encourage you not to carry around large amounts of cash with you. There are many high street banks you can choose from, and you should look around to see which bank account suits you best.

Read more about the top UK bank accounts for international students.

In order to open a UK bank account you'll need:

• Your passport to prove your identification
• Proof of address in the UK, e.g. accommodation letter or tenancy agreement
• Attendance letter, which you can obtain from the Gateway Enquiries desk.

If you change address whilst living in the UK, you must let your bank know as soon as possible.

Opening a student bank account will help you manage your money efficiently during university, while also offering benefits like 0% overdrafts, student discounts, and even free cash.

Martin Lewis, the Money Saving Expert, can tell you all you need to know about student bank accounts and which banks can offer you the best deals.

The British currency is pounds sterling (£).

We recommend that you bring some British currency with you when you arrive, but you'll also be able to change currencies in Bureaux de Change offices in the airport and high street shops.

Please be aware that if you're carrying large amounts of cash, cheques or banker's drafts when you enter the UK you may need to declare it at customs in the airport.

For more information on what you can bring into the UK, please check the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Phishing is an attempt to steal your identity, money, or any personal information like passwords or credit card details on a website that claims to be legitimate. Scammers can pose as friends, acquaintances, or established companies – essentially anyone who may persuade you to hand over information.

You may be offered a fee for allowing someone to use your bank account to transfer money. This may be money laundering, and it's often used to fund serious criminal activity. Money laundering is a criminal offence in the UK, which could result in you being prosecuted and your bank account being frozen.

If you're thinking about using a non-regulated market to pay for your fees, this could also be seen as money laundering under UK law, which may lead to investigation by authorities.

A third-party payer scam is when a third-party offers to make the payment for you at a discounted rate and will use stolen cards to make the payment to the University. They may even show you the receipt as proof to make you believe they're genuine.

Once the cardholder realises their card has been targeted, the payment is then recovered from the University and the fees are outstanding – for which you'll be liable to pay for (again).