International Student Support

International Student Support

• Home
• Before you arrive
  • Pre-departure briefings
  • Money, travel & shopping
  • Health advice
  • Keeping in touch
  • Opening a UK bank account
  • Travelling to UCL
• Orientation programme
• During your studies
• Welfare & support
• Immigration & visa
• News & events

Opening a UK bank account

As a student in the UK you will need to open a UK bank account. Where possible, you are advised to open an account in your home country before arriving here. If you have been unable to do this, you can approach banks in the UK on arrival to commence your studies.

All major banks have branches close to UCL and their requirements for opening an account will vary. The types of accounts they may offer are also different from one bank to another. You will need to visit the banks directly or refer to their websites for details.

Types of accounts offered by UK banks

Some of the banks will charge a monthly subscription fee, and as a part of the contract, they may require you to keep the account with them for a certain period of time. Other banks may offer you a basic account free of charge. Most banks which charge a monthly subscription fee will offer you something in return, such as cheaper money transfers or insurance. Therefore, you are recommended to take the time to consider the different options before making a decision.

To open an account for you, most banks will require your passport and a proof of your address in the UK. You may use the Statement of Student Status, issued to you when you enrol in person on your programme of study, as a proof of adrress. Some banks may require an adapted version of the Statement of Student Status addressed to them. In order to obtain this document you need to ensure you update your addresses on Portico so that your contact address is the address where you will be staying in the UK and your home address is your overseas address. You may then request the adapted Statement of Student Status by visiting the UCL Student Centre in person. Most banks will not accept PO Box addresses.

Information for students coming to UCL in January 2013

Many UK banks will only offer accounts to students whose programme of study is for one academic year or more. If you are coming to UCL for a period of six months or less, you may find that fewer banks will be able to offer you an account.

The following banks have confirmed that they will offer accounts for international students coming to UCL in January 2013 for a period of six months or less:

Tips / General Advice

• Processing times: It may take up to two weeks to open a bank account in the UK. You are advised to arrange alternative ways of accessing money for this period. (ie. Travelex Cash Passport /Travellers Cheques)
• Students with Visas: If you have a student visa and are likely to need to extend your stay in the UK, it is recommended that you do NOT opt for an online bank account or electronic bank statements. The UK Border Agency will only accept original paper statements. Please ensure that you keep your bank statements in a safe place for this purpose.
• Shariah compliant banking: Many banks offer Shariah compliant financial services. You will need to check individual bank websites for further information.