Choosing a university
It is very important that when choosing a university, the main criteria should be the course you are choosing. This is because you’re spending a lot of money and therefore you want to be able to enjoy what you’re learning. As well as this, some careers require the completion of a certain degree so make sure you look into this. Other criteria includes the student life and would be beneficial to speak with a current student at a university (many universities will be able to put you into contact with someone if you ask them.) As well as this, you need to consider the type of university you want. Globally all UK universities are highly regarded due to the way degrees are structured, however there are some universities within the UK which are considered better than others. Obvious choices are the University of Oxford or Cambridge; however, there is a list of universities known as the ‘Russel Group’ universities, which employers look favourably upon a degree from any of these. This is because these universities are research led universities as they are given a lot of money to conduct research in their respected fields. The reason these university are thought highly of is that the lecturers teaching your courses are some of the best in their field throughout the world. It can also be useful to look at the top university rankings in the UK as a set of data is released each year https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings

Prepare for British life!
Culturally, the UK is very diverse and welcoming of people from all around the world. There will be thousands of international students at your university all from different backgrounds and cultures. Universities set up societies and many revolve around a certain culture or religion so you can therefore meet other that share similar cultures and beliefs to your own, or learn more about another’s culture that is different to your own.
It can be recommend to search for Facebook groups related to your university (they often have groups specifically for international students) so you can discuss any questions you have and even make some friends before you arrive!
Make sure to pack warm clothes for British weather also as it rains the majority of the year and we have a short-lived summer!

Set up a student bank account
This will make it easier to pay bills, keep your money safe, and avoid foreign currency charges you would otherwise be paying if you used a non-UK bank account to pay for things in Britain
This may take a long time as banks will need lots of information to verify your identity and credit rating therefore check to see whether you can begin the process from your home country to save time, and look into whether your current bank has any links to UK banks, as this will likely make the process smoother.
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Figure out public transport
All cities will have a local bus service which is often the most convenient way of travelling around a city. Figure out how far away you're going to be living from campus, and whether it's worth investing in a student bus pass to save some cash.
Bigger cities might also have a subway system, like the Tube in London or the Metro in Newcastle, and you might be able to invest in a yearly pass to help keep costs down. If studying in London, look at the Oyster card – it is by far the cheapest option and can be used across various different modes of transport. If you're confident enough, travelling by bike is a great way to save money while being environmentally friendly too. Many cities have commune bikes found in the city centres that can be used if you don’t feel like purchasing one yourself.
If you're over in the UK for the first time, you'll probably want to visit a few different cities and sights while you're here. Your two main options here are coach or train.
Trains are often the quickest and most comfortable way to get around the UK. However, tickets should be booked as early as possible to save money – check out our guide to saving on train fares. You'll probably also want to invest in a 16–25 Railcard or a 26–30 Railcard, which will save you a third on all rail fares!
Coaches are a cheaper alternative to trains, but they can take twice as long to get from A to B. Our top pick for saving money is Megabus, with journeys starting at £1 between the major cities. However, if you cannot find a suitable arrival and departure point, then try National Express as they offer the largest coach network in the UK.
Travelling by plane is also an option for longer distances, for example if you're travelling from London to Edinburgh, although it can be expensive. Check out our list of tricks to help you save on flights! A good website when looking for plane fairs including across Europe is Skyscanner. This website scans sites to find the cheapest flights available to your destination. Not only this, it is easy to travel from London to Paris using the Eurostar, which may be something to look into when studying in the UK.