Finding community and making friends in this city — what actually works

Making friends in a new city as a postgraduate student is different from the undergraduate experience — there is less structure and fewer automatic social occasions. What actually works based on student experience: join one club or society in the first two weeks before peo…Read more

Staying safe and well as an international student in this city

Most students have a completely safe and positive experience in UK cities. A few things worth knowing when you arrive. The emergency number in the UK is 999 for police, fire and ambulance. For non-emergency police matters use 101. For urgent medical advice that is not an emergency call…Read more

Money and budgeting in this city — realistic costs and how to spend less

Living costs vary significantly across UK cities. In most university cities outside London you can manage comfortably on 900 to 1200 pounds per month covering accommodation, food, transport and social life. The biggest saving is cooking at home — even basic home cooking sav…Read more

Practical guide to settling into a new UK city as an international student

Moving to a new city in a new country comes with a lot of admin. Here is what experienced students recommend prioritising in your first two weeks. Register with a GP surgery — find one at nhs.uk and register before you need it. Get a local SIM card — Lebara and Giffgaff are…Read more

Welcome to this city group — your local community for international students

This group is your local hub — connecting international students who are living and studying in this city. Whether you just arrived or have been here a while, this is the place to share recommendations, find flatmates, organise meetups and support each other with the pra…Read more