Funding

• Introduction
• The cost of studying and living in the UK
• General financial information

Introduction

Adequate funding is essential if you are coming to the UK to study. You will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover all of your expenses, and those of any dependants, in order to obtain permission to enter the UK. It is important that you plan your funding properly before you get here, and that you manage your finances well while you are here.

Sources of funding
You must make sure that you have a reliable source of funding for the whole period of your proposed course. Usually this funding will come from your family, sponsor or a funding body in your home country. Financial assistance is extremely unlikely once you are in the UK, and you should not rely on being able to obtain further funding once you are here.

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The cost of studying and living in the UK

Some of the costs that you will need to budget for are:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation for you and any dependants
  Accommodation in halls of residence in London can range from around £55 to £95 per week. This figure will vary according to whether or not some food is also provided. The information that you receive from the Residences Office will confirm the prices of the College's halls of residence.
  
  Privately rented accommodation for one person sharing a property is likely to be in the region of £65 to £90 per week. Renting a flat with one or two bedrooms is likely to be in the region of £130 to £180 per week.
  
  Living in east London is slightly cheaper than other areas of London. Remember that the cost of privately rented accommodation will not include household bills for heating, lighting, telephone, food or other daily living expenses. You will usually need to pay one month's rent in advance when you agree to take on a rented property, and pay one month's rent as a deposit against damage. If you need to stay in temporary accommodation when you first arrive in the UK, you should expect to pay at least £40 per night, per person, for a room.
• Visa fees
• Travel to and from the UK, and during your time in the UK
  Travel costs to and from your main campus will vary according to where you are living. On average, travel costs can be between £15 and £25 per week for one person. You will also need to consider the costs of any travel outside the UK that you may wish to make.
• Food and other daily living expenses for you and any dependants
  An average shopping bill for one person for food, and other household items, is likely to be around £50 per week. This will obviously be more if you are bringing your family with you. Food in the UK tends to be more expensive than in other countries around the world.
• Childcare
  Children between the ages of five years and 16 years may attend state primary and secondary schools free of charge, as long as they are here as your dependants.
  
  You will usually need to pay for childcare for children younger than this. Costs can vary considerably, but are usually in the region of £75 to £150 per week, per child.
• Books or equipment
  These costs will vary according to the type of course you are studying. You can minimise your costs in this area by making good use of library facilities, but it is likely that you will still need to budget for around £300 to £600 per year on books/equipment.
• Clothing
  You may find that you need to buy clothes or shoes that are suitable for the climate in the UK. If you need to buy these items you should probably expect to spend between £150 to £400. Prices for clothes and shoes can vary considerably, and it would be advisable for you to talk to other students when you arrive here to find out about cheap places to shop.
• Household bills
• One-off expenses such as birthday presents
• Social events and entertainment.
  It is very difficult to suggest to you exactly how much money you will need to support yourself, as each person's circumstances will be different. As a general guide, we suggest that an individual student will need at least £8,000 per year in addition to tuition fees. If you are bringing your spouse with you, we would suggest at least £12,000 per year in addition to your tuition fees. If you are bringing any children with you, you will need to make further financial provision for them.
  
  We hope that the information in this section gives you some guidance on the average cost of some of your major items of expenditure.

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General financial information

Banking
There are many banks in the UK that can provide bank accounts to international students. Most banks offer a student account, which offers a free overdraft facility and other free services. Not all banks offer student accounts to international students, so do some research into the major high-street banks when you arrive here and find out which suits you the best. Check with your bank at home to see if it has a special relationship with a bank in the UK, as this may be of advantage to you. It is usually best to open an account with a bank near to the College, or near where you will be living.

Should you not wish to pay your tuition fees for the year in full at the start of term, you will need a bank account in the UK in order to meet the requirements of the College's direct debit system. This system means that the College will take your fee payments, in instalments, directly from your bank account.

To open an account, most banks will need to see your passport, a letter from the College confirming that you are a student, a document confirming your address in the UK, and a document confirming your overseas address. Some banks may also require information about your bank account at home. It is therefore useful, but not always necessary, to bring a letter of introduction from your bank at home, as well as your three most recent bank statements.

Council tax
Council tax is a property tax on residential properties to pay for local public services. Most students do not have to pay this tax, although if you live in a privately rented house, you may be liable to pay if not all your housemates are students. More information about this will be given to you at the International Students' Orientation programme at the start of term, or you can obtain further advice from the Advice and Counselling Service.

Part-time work
Most international students who are given more than six months permission to stay in the UK to study will automatically be able to work part-time, according to certain conditions. However, you must remember that for immigration purposes you must have sufficient funds to support yourself without working. More detailed information and advice about this will be available at the International Students' Orientation Programme at the start of term.

Students on courses lasting six months or less (short-term students), are usually given a prohibition on taking employment. Short-term students who wish to have permission to work in the UK during their studies are therefore advised to request permission to work when applying for entry clearance, either at a British Mission overseas or when passing through Immigration control on arrival in the UK. You will need to be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself without working.

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