Money and living expenses in the UK

For your banking and payments options in the UK, you generally pay (and are paid) in pounds and pence. You can make purchases at stores using coins and notes, or a debit or credit card.

You might notice that the notes you get in Scotland and Northern Ireland look a bit different even though the currency is the same. This is because Scottish and Northern Irish banks print their own notes.

Scotland and Northern Ireland notes are usually accepted in the rest of the UK, but if you have any problems and need to change them to Bank of England notes, you can do so at any major bank in the UK.

Most UK banks will be happy to open an account for you while you are living in the UK.

To open an account, you will generally need:

• Your passport.
• A document confirming the school, college or university you are or will be attending.
• Proof of address at your home country and in the UK.
• Reference and statements from your bank in your home country.

To make the process easier, you might want to first check with your bank in your home country. They may have a relationship with a UK-based bank and can help you set up an account.

To access money from a UK bank account, you can:

• Use your bank's online or telephone banking service.
• Visit your local bank branch.
• Withdraw money from an ATM.
• Ask to get 'cash back' when making an in-store purchase on your debit card.

You will probably want to get your phone and Internet sorted pretty quickly after arriving in the UK.

When it comes to phones, you have three main options:

• Landline: Usually only relevant if you live off campus. You might be able to get a better deal by bundling your landline with internet, or you might choose not to have a landline at all and stick with your mobile.
• Mobile prepaid: Gives you control over how much you spend and you can stop using it whenever you want. Pre-paid SIM cards are widely available from UK shops and supermarkets, as well as from mobile phone providers.
• Mobile contract: Depending on how much you use your mobile and what calls you make, a contract with a UK-based mobile phone provider could be cheaper.

International calls can be a lot more expensive than calls within the UK. You might want to buy an international calling card or use online options like Skype or FaceTime instead. You can buy international calling cards from most convenience stores.

To call a UK number from overseas, you need to enter the country code (44) followed by the area code and then the telephone number.

To call another country from the UK, enter 00 followed by the relevant country code, followed by the area code (if required) and then the telephone number.

You will have lots of options for Internet access in the UK, but it pays to shop around to find the plan that offers the best price and download limits for your needs.

Most educational institutions provide free Wi-Fi which you can access with your student login and password.

If you can't access the internet through your own laptop or computer, you can usually find one to use in the student library, at an off-campus public library or internet café.

Some places offer free Wi-Fi, but some places such as Internet cafes will charge by the hour. Don't forget to check the security of the network you are connecting to.