First 30 days of a student in the UK — day-by-day checklist

The right order — why it matters

Many tasks depend on each other. If you do them in the wrong order, you get stuck. For example:

• The bank needs proof of address — but you will not have one until the university gives you an enrolment letter (after registration)
• NI number needs a UK address — you need it after you move into halls
• Council Tax exemption needs a student status letter — you get it after enrolment
• GP registration often needs proof of address — but some GP surgeries in student areas accept a halls letter

The logical order: 1) Arrival → BRP → halls → 2) Enrolment at university → student letter → 3) GP, bank, Council Tax → 4) NI number, transport

Day 0–1 — Arrival

1. Border Control. Show the officer: passport, decision letter (printed), CAS, accommodation booking, return ticket if you have one. Student visa = e-Gate is available for most nationalities with a biometric passport
2. Buy a SIM at the airport OR order one to your home in advance. Heathrow: Three / EE / Vodafone are available in the terminals. Cheaper — pay-as-you-go SIM from Smarty / Lebara / Giffgaff. More about SIM →
3. Get to your halls / accommodation. From Heathrow: Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road / Paddington = £12.80. From Gatwick: Thameslink = £10. From Stansted: Stansted Express = £20. DO NOT take a taxi — £80-120 for the same distance
4. Check in to halls. Reception is open until 22:00 (most places). After that — emergency phone on the door. Get your keys, halls handbook, WiFi details
5. Do not try to do everything on the first day. Sleep. Recover from jet lag. Plan BRP collection for tomorrow

Week 1 — BRP, enrolment, halls setup

1. BRP collection (if you were given a BRP). The decision letter tells you which post office or Premium Service Centre to use. You have 10 days from the day you enter the country or until the date on the letter (whichever is earlier). From 2025, most new students get an eVisa instead of a physical BRP — check your UKVI account
2. eVisa activation. Go to gov.uk/evisa, log in to the UKVI account you created when you applied, check that your visa is shown. If it is not, you can give a 'share code' to employers, landlords, and banks through the website
3. Enrolment at university. The exact date is in your CAS / welcome email from the university. Bring: passport, decision letter, original school documents that were required in your offer. After enrolment you get a student ID card + enrolment letter (PDF)
4. Order several copies of your enrolment letter — you need it for the bank, Council Tax, and GP. You can usually get it through the university portal
5. Set up WiFi in halls. Most universities use eduroam. Your login = student ID. Set it up on both your phone and laptop
6. Buy essentials. Sainsbury's / Tesco / Lidl: bedding (if halls did not provide it), mug, plate, knife, washing-up liquid. Budget for the first shop: £40-60

Week 2 — GP, bank, permanent SIM

1. Register with a GP. Find a GP surgery in your postcode — gov.uk/find-a-gp. Fill in the GMS1 form, bring your passport + proof of your halls address. Free, NHS access is automatic (you already paid the IHS with your visa). Full guide →
2. Open a bank account. Best for students without a UK credit history: Monzo / Starling / Revolut (fully online, open in 1-3 days) or HSBC International Student Account / Santander 1|2|3 Student (traditional banks with an overdraft). Documents: passport, BRP/eVisa share code, enrolment letter, halls address. Details →
3. Postal vote registration — skip this, you do not have the right to vote as an international student
4. Buy a permanent SIM. If you bought a prepaid SIM at the airport, switch to a monthly plan £7-12 (Smarty 30GB, Voxi 20GB, Lebara 20GB). 5G and unlimited UK calls are standard
5. Install your UK banking app on your phone. Set up Apple Pay / Google Pay — most purchases in the UK do not need a physical card

Week 3 — Council Tax exemption, NI number

1. Council Tax exemption — this is the most important thing that people often forget. Full-time students are exempt from Council Tax. But this is not automatic!
2. If you live in halls — usually you do not pay Council Tax at all, halls are exempt. Confirm with the housing office
3. If you live in private rented accommodation — you need to: get a Council Tax exemption letter from the university (university portal → certificates), send it to the local council through their website. Do this in the first week after you move in — otherwise the council will send you a bill and you will have to prove your exemption later. Full guide →
4. NI number — you only need this if you plan to work. Apply at gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number, it takes 2-4 weeks. You can start working without an NI number — but your employer must know that you have applied. Guide →
5. HMRC personal tax account — after you get your NI number, register for this to see your taxes online

Week 4 — Transport, railcard, daily routine

1. 16-25 Railcard — £30/year, saves 1/3 on all train journeys in the UK. It pays for itself after 1-2 trips. Buy it at 16-25railcard.co.uk — you need a student ID or passport
2. If you are 25+ — Network Railcard (£30) or 26-30 Railcard (£30, also 1/3 discount)
3. London: 18+ Student Oyster photocard — 30% discount on travel passes. Apply at tfl.gov.uk/student-photocards. It costs £20 and you need a photo and your enrolment letter. It pays for itself in 2 months
4. Outside London: Stagecoach / Arriva / First Bus — each has a student bus pass, usually £200-300 per term
5. TV Licence — you only need this if you watch BBC live or iPlayer. £174.50/year. If you live in halls and do not watch it, skip it. If several students live in a private house, one licence covers the whole house
6. Energy and internet in private rented accommodation — that is still ahead. Guide to energy →

How much money you need for the first month (excluding rent)

This is on top of rent. In London halls are usually £180-280/week, in other regions £120-180/week. So with rent, the first month = £1,000-1,800.

Top 10 mistakes new students make

1. Did not collect BRP within the 10-day window — you lose your legal status, fine £1,000
2. Ignored Council Tax letters in private rented accommodation — then a £1,000+ bill
3. Opened a Russian card wallet (Wise) and think you do not need a UK bank account — you need one for your salary and for proof of address
4. Did not register with a GP — then at night you have a temperature of 39, A&E is full, they do not help because it is not an emergency
5. Bought an unlimited tube pass instead of pay-as-you-go Oyster — you lose £30-50/month
6. Paid full price for Apple Music / Spotify / Netflix — there are student discounts through UNiDAYS, Student Beans, Totum
7. Did not apply for an NI number and now cannot start work — it takes 2-4 weeks, do not leave it for later
8. Bought new textbooks instead of used ones — Amazon used / Wob.com / library = 80% cheaper
9. Did not open Halifax / Monzo before arriving — lost the first week waiting for a UK bank account
10. Did not tell the council about your accommodation even though you live in private rented accommodation — then you have to fight for a refund

Frequently asked questions