One of the first things you should do on arrival is open a UK bank account. This can take up to 4 weeks, so you need to bring enough money with you to pay your tuition fees and some living expenses. If you have a credit or debit card from your home country, it would be useful to bring this too – but remember that you will be charged by your bank for using the card abroad.
A basic bank account is the easiest for international students to open. It will give you the following services:
- You can have money paid directly into your account
- You can take money out at a Post Office
- You can take money out at cash machines (this is usually free but some machines make a charge)
- You can pay bills by standing order or direct debit
A basic account will not, however, give you the following services:
- An overdraft or credit
- A cheque book
Some of the banks in Leeds offering basic bank accounts:
- HSBC
- Natwest
- Halifax Building Society
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Lloyds TSB
To open an account, you will need to fill in a form and show your passport. You will also need a letter from us to say that you are a full time student, and confirm your UK address. You may also need proof that money will be paid into the bank account.
Student bank accounts are also available, but you will need to check each bank’s terms and conditions. Visit www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/bank_account.php for more information on opening a bank account in the UK.
Our staff can provide you with a letter from the college and advise you about banks in Leeds where you can open an account.
Lesley Powell, International Student Adviser.
t: +44 (0)113 216 2489
e: lesley.powell@leedscitycollege.ac.uk
