Your Port of Entry will probably be London Heathrow
Getting Used to Life:
Banking
At the high street, there are a range of banks and it is up to you which one you decide to bank with; there are very few differences between them. The main banks in the UK are HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, Halifax and Abbey National. Student services will be happy to give you advice on the various services the banks have to offer. All banks offer free services to students in the UK. You should ask your bank at home about the arrangements for transferring money to the UK. It is not possible to open a bank account before you come to the UK.
Documents Required
To open a bank account, most banks will require the following documentation
Your valid passport.
Your letter of acceptance or Certificate of Registration from the College.
Proof of an overseas address.
Proof of a UK addresses (e.g. an accommodation agreement).
Healthcare
If your course of study is full-time and lasts for six months or moreyou will qualify for free medical treatment under the National Health Service (NHS) , which includes doctors, dentists and hospitals. Generally this means that you will have to pay relatively little for health care. You will have to pay for medical prescriptions and a proportion of dental treatment, but this is much less than for private medicine. However, you need to register with a doctor (GP) before you can make an appointment.
To register with a GP, you can visit your local GP surgery and request to register with them. They may ask you for your medical card details. If you do not have a medical card, you may be able to get one by completing form GMS1, which should be available at the surgery. However, surgeries in some areas of the UK no longer issue medical cards. Once you have been accepted as a patient, your medical records will be transferred to the new surgery. There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to register with your chosen GP. For example, the practice may be full, or you may live too far away. If this is the case, simply choose another GP in your local area.
If you will be living further away, you can find a doctor in your postcode area on the NHS website (as well as your nearest dentist, chemist and optician). To register at a doctor's Surgery or health centre, you will need:
Your passport
Evidence that you are a student (e.g. your enrolment letter or student card)
Proof of your UK addresses (e.g. accommodation contract or tenancy agreement).
