International Student Support

Proving that you have enough money to study in the UK

Once you receive your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS), you will have to prove that you have enough money to pay for the course and support yourself in the UK.

You normally need to show that you have enough money to pay for your course for one academic year. You also need to show that you have enough money to support yourself. For courses in London, this is £1,529 per month.

You do not need to prove your funds if:

• You've been living in the UK with a visa for at least twelve months prior to the date of your Student visa application,

Or

• You're from a country listed under the 'differential evidence requirement.'

Please check the official government website for more information.

Application fee

You can find information on the up-to-date fees for applying for a student visa (outside or inside the UK) on the government website.

Immigration health surcharge (IHS)

You may need to pay a fee towards the cost of healthcare in the UK as part of your immigration application. Once you have paid this, you will be able to use the National Health Service (NHS), which provides medical care in the UK.

Read the latest government information on the IHS fee you can expect to pay.

Other costs

You may also need to account for extra costs, such as:

• Certified document translation
• Priority services (if you require a priority visa service)
• Tuberculosis certificate (if applicable)
• Immigration lawyer fees (if using).

Under the student visa requirements, international students are required to prove that you have £1,529 per month to sustain yourself while studying a degree course in London.

The reality of the cost of living in London may be different according to your lifestyle choices, or where in London you are staying. For instance, if you're staying in shared accommodation further away from the city centre and go out sporadically, your cost of living will be starkly different from someone staying in private accommodation in Zone 1 or 2 who goes out regularly.

You should expect to spend from £1,150 up to £2,500 per month for living in London.

Monthly cost estimates

Find out more about the cost of the accommodation providers recommended by Escape Studios.

Private accommodation costs vary accordingly to the accommodation type (whether private room with shared bathroom, en-suite room, or private flat). Use the University of London Housing Services property search to research current rates.

While you search for accommodation, check for factors such as:

• Location - costs will be higher in central London, but you may wish to stay closer to campus if the commuting costs are high due to a longer distance.
• Whether utility bills are included - you will often be responsible for the utility bills if you rent a private flat, but these costs are usually included if you rent a room in a multi-occupancy property or student accommodation.
• Amenities - some accommodation providers may include amenities such as gym access or cleaning services.
• Deposit and upfront costs - a lot of properties require an upfront deposit for students with no history in the UK. A security deposit worth a few weeks of rent may be requested, and often the first month's rent is payable upfront. A holding fee to secure the property is often charged (deductible from the overall deposit cost).
• Contract length - ensure that your contract covers the duration of your course. While signing a contract, check whether you will need to pay in order to terminate the contract early. You may want to negotiate a break clause.

Council tax

Everyone is responsible for paying the council tax to their relevant local authority when residing in a private flat (this will usually not be applicable if residing in accommodation or multi-occupancy property).

Students may be eligible for a full council tax exemption, if all occupants of the property are full-time students. Your household may still qualify for a discount if there's someone in your household who's not a full-time student.

Please note that this exemption is not automatic. If you require a council tax exemption, please request an exemption letter from the Student Services team once you have enrolled for your course.

The Student Services team can also help you with filling required documentation (like council tax exemption form) once you have enrolled.

See our Accommodation and commuting page for more advice on securing accommodation for your studies at Escape Studios.

To avoid scams, we recommend that you use our recommended providers to secure your accommodation in London.

Escape Studios is located in North Greenwich, in South East London (Royal Borough of Greenwich).

The closest airports to Escape Studios are:

• London City Airport (LCY) - 2.8 miles (or 4.5 km). You can take the DLR from London City Airport to Canning Town, and transfer to the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich. The journey takes between 15-20 minutes.
• London Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 19.4 miles (or 31.2 km). You can take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow Terminals to Bond Street, and transfer to the Jubilee line to North Greenwich. The journey takes around 60 minutes.
• London Gatwick Airport (LGW) - 23.6 miles (or 38.0 km). You can take the Thameslink or Southern train service to London Bridge, and transfer to the Jubilee line to North Greenwich. The journey takes around 60 minutes.
• London Stansted Airport (STN) - 30.5 miles (or 49.1 km). You can take the Stansted Express train service to Stratford, and transfer to the Jubilee line to North Greenwich. The journey takes around 60-75 minutes.
• London Luton Airport (LTN) - 31.9 miles (or 51.3 km). You can take the Thameslink service from Luton Airport Parkway to West Hampstead Thameslink station, and transfer to the Jubilee line to North Greenwich. The journey takes around 75-90 minutes.

Please note that the majority of public transport in London does not operate on a 24/7 basis. If your flight arrives late, you may want to consider booking a night at an airport hotel and continuing your journey in the morning once services resume.

Black cabs, Uber and Bolt services operate in London, but fares from the airports tend to be extremely high.

Booking your flight

We recommend that you book your flight to the UK as soon as your student visa has been approved. Please ensure to arrive before your face-to-face enrolment date, which will be communicated to you by our Admissions team prior to the start date of your course.

Customs

Please ensure to familiarise yourself with the customs rules in the UK, to avoid charges upon arrival.

When you arrive in the UK, please ensure that you are ready for passing through border control.

For a smooth entry, make sure that you have:

• A valid passport - check that your travel document is valid and suitable for entry to the UK. Your student eVisa must be linked to the document you're using to cross the border.
• Your acceptance letter from Escape Studios or your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter - this can help with proving that you are entering the UK for study.
• Proof of adequate financial funds - while unlikely, this may be requested especially if you come from a country not covered by the differential requirement.
• Accommodation/housing proof - this will confirm that you have a place to stay while in the UK.
• Your boarding pass.
• Your tuberculosis certificate (if applicable).

The border officer may ask you questions about your reason for entering the UK. Be ready to answer questions about your course, your place of study, your accommodation, and your intentions in the UK.

Check the official government guidance for entering the UK.

You may want to get a local SIM card for your phone whilst residing in the UK.

As a new resident in the UK you will not have credit history, which may make it difficult to obtain a phone contract. However, there are plenty of options for SIM-only, pay-as-you-go plans that do not require a credit check to be conducted.

Some of the providers who offer free SIM cards are, amongst others:

• Lebara
• Giffgaff
• Voxi
• Three

These companies are provided as examples only, and are not endorsed by Escape Studios. The pay-as-you-go options allow you to choose data, and calls and messages plans on a monthly basis with no commitment.

It is recommended that you have a local bank account whilst residing in the UK.

Upon your arrival in the UK, you will usually need to search for a basic, current bank account designed specifically for international students or people new to the UK.

Most major providers offer one of the above options. It is worth using an online comparison tool to compare the offers, and see which bank account is suitable for you. You may use one of these websites to do your research:

• MoneySuperMarket
• Uswitch
• Compare the Market
• Money Saving Expert

You will usually need the following in order to set up a bank account:

• Proof of identification - passport
• Your eVisa - obtain a share code from the government website
• Proof of enrolment letter - you can request this from our Student Services team.

NHS

While you are in the UK on a student visa, you can use the NHS (the National Health Service) to see a doctor.

The Immigration health surcharge that you pay while applying for your student visa allows you to use the NHS without paying extra. If you require prescription medication, this will be available from a local pharmacy. The prescription charge is £9.90 (as of 2026).

The NHS takes care of all basic health concerns, including visits to the GP (General Practitioner), emergency care at the hospital, hospital treatment, or surgery.

Please note that visits to a dentist or opticians are not available on the NHS. You will need to book a private appointment and pay for it separately.

You can read more about the NHS on their website.

Private health insurance

While many students use the NHS to see a doctor, some students opt to purchase private health insurance.

Please note: if you are studying one of our short courses in the UK on a visitor visa or ETA, you will not be eligible to use the NHS. We recommend that you purchase health insurance for the duration of your studies.

Full-time students on a study visa may want to consider a health insurance if they require:

• Dental treatment
• Optical care
• Private specialist appointments (for instance, if you suffer with a chronic disease that requires regular visits to a doctor).

Private health providers normally offer more flexibility, private facilities, and shorter waiting times than the NHS.

Some of the online comparison tools allow you to search and compare private health insurance providers. You may choose to use one of the following, among other options:

• comparethemarket
• MoneySuperMarket
• Go Compare
• which.co.uk

You should register with a GP (General Practitioner) as soon as possible after arriving in the UK. Otherwise, you may not be able to obtain medical help in case of an emergency.

Use the NHS website to find your nearest GP. Once you have chosen your surgery, you will be prompted to complete an online registration form.

You may need to provide some documents while registering. Ensure to have the following documents ready:

• Proof of identity - passport or eVisa
• Proof of UK address - tenancy agreement, bank statement, enrolment letter
• Your IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) number - you should have received this once you have paid the charge during your visa application process
• Basic personal information - name, date of birth, address, contact number.

You may also need to provide a medical history summary.

London

London is easy to get around with its extensive public transportation system, managed by Transport for London. See the TfL website for the up-to-date map of services.

You do not need a special transport card to move around London. You can simply tap your debit/credit card or your smartphone on the yellow scanner at the barriers (or at the front door of a bus) to ride.

However, if you travel a lot within London, you may want to get an 18+ Student Oyster card. This helps you save 30% on weekly, monthly or annual travelcards for tube/bus/trams.

UK

If you regularly travel outside of London, or your commute within London involves a train service (other than tube, overground or DLR), you may want to invest in a 16-25 railcard to save 1/3 on off-peak rail and tube fares. Over-25s in full-time study are also eligible to get this railcard.

There are also plenty of coach services that help you move around the UK, such as Flixbus, or National Express.

Flights are also available to further major cities in the UK, for instance in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Emergency numbers

In the event of emergency, use the following emergency numbers:

• 999 - general number for urgent emergencies - police, fire brigade, ambulance, coastguard or mountain rescue.
• 112 - works the same as 999 - standard EU emergency number.
• 101 - Non-emergency police number - to report crimes that are not urgent, such as stolen property or damage.
• 111 - Non-emergency medical advice - for medical concerns that are not life-threatening.

Safety tips

Like in any other major city, it is important to remain vigilant in London, especially at night or in crowded areas. Petty crimes, such as pickpocketing and shoplifting, may be common in tourist-heavy areas. It is therefore important to follow basic safety precautions while out for a stroll in London:

• Learn where your nearest hospital, pharmacy and late-night transportation stops are.
• If out at night, stick to well-lit areas and avoid wearing headphones.
• Keep your bags, laptops and phones within sight in crowded areas, and do not leave them alone.
• Use only approved public transportation and ridesharing services. If out at night, check if night tube or night bus services operate. Use Uber, Bolt or taxi if it's the safest option.
• If nightclubbing, be aware of spiking and do not accept drinks from strangers.
• If you see something worrying on public transport, call or message 61016 for British Transport Police.

Community

Laws and social norms in the UK may be different to what you're accustomed to in your home country. It is worth familiarising yourself with some common rules:

1. Drinking and smoking - the legal drinking age in the UK is 18, and extensive ID checks are conducted in shops and restaurants. Smoking is not allowed in most public areas, especially inside of buildings. Smoking and vaping is fully prohibited inside our building.
2. Driving - the UK drives on the left, which may be different to where you come from. Ensure to check both directions before crossing the street.
3. Quiet hours - most accommodation providers, houses of multiple occupancy and blocks of flats enforce strict quiet hours. Noise after 11:00pm can lead to noise complaints and warnings.
4. Work - as of 2026, you are not permitted to work while on student visa with Escape Studios. A breach can lead to a cancellation of your student visa.
5. Consent - unwanted touching or harassment is considered a serious crime in the UK. Report any offences to the police immediately.
6. Renting rights - your landlord must protect your deposit in a property deposit scheme. They must not enter your property without earlier consent or violate your right to quiet enjoyment.