First 30 Days in the UK: What Every International Student Should Do After Arriving

Reviewed against official UK university and UKVI sources. See oureditorial policy.

Quick answer: In your first 30 days in the UK you should, in this order: complete university enrolment, collect your BRP or confirm your eVisa, register with a GP, open a UK bank account, get a UK SIM, apply for your council tax exemption certificate, get a student railcard and TOTUM card, and apply for a National Insurance number if you plan to work. Enrolment and your police registration (only if your visa vignette says so) are the two that carry real immigration consequences, so do them first. Use our arrival checklist to track every step.

Week 1: The Things With Deadlines

1. Enrol at your university

Enrolment is not optional admin. Your university reports enrolment to UKVI as your visa sponsor. If you do not enrol by the date on your offer letter, your CAS can be withdrawn and your visa curtailed. Bring your passport, visa vignette or eVisa share code, CAS number, and original qualification certificates.

2. Confirm your eVisa or collect your BRP

Most 2026 arrivals now hold a digital eVisa rather than a plastic BRP. Log in to your UKVI account, check that your passport number matches the one you travelled on, and generate a share code at gov.uk. Landlords, banks and employers will ask for it. If you were issued a physical BRP, collect it from the post office or your university within 10 days of arrival.

3. Check whether you must register with the police

Police registration was withdrawn for most nationalities, but always read the wording printed on your entry vignette. If it says you must register, do it within 7 days.

Week 1 to 2: Health, Money and Connectivity

4. Register with a GP

You paid the Immigration Health Surcharge with your visa, so NHS care is already covered, but you cannot use it properly until you register with a local GP surgery. Do it before you are ill, not after. You will need proof of address, your passport and your university enrolment letter. Registration is free and normally takes a few days.

5. Open a UK bank account

You need a UK account to receive wages, pay rent and avoid overseas card fees. Most students use a digital bank because a traditional branch appointment can take weeks. Bring your passport, share code, and a bank letter from your university confirming your term time and home address.

6. Get a UK SIM

Roaming on your home number will cost more in a week than a UK SIM costs in a year. Pick a plan with enough data for maps and video calls home, and check international calling rates before committing. Our full breakdown is in the best SIM options for international students guide.

Week 2 to 4: Money Savers Most Students Miss

7. Claim your council tax exemption

Full time students are exempt from council tax. Request a council tax exemption certificate from your student records office and send it to your local council. If you live in a shared house with a non-student, the household may still get a 25% discount, so submit it anyway.

8. Get a 16-25 Railcard and a TOTUM card

A 16-25 Railcard takes a third off most rail fares and pays for itself in about two return trips. TOTUM unlocks discounts on food, tech and clothing. Many shops also run unadvertised student discounts if you ask at the till.

9. Apply for a National Insurance number if you will work

Your Student visa normally allows 20 hours of work per week during term time and full time in vacations. Check the exact condition printed on your visa. You can start work before your NI number arrives, but apply early through gov.uk so your tax code is correct and you are not overtaxed.

10. Set your budget for real UK prices

Rent, transport and food vary hugely between cities. Model your actual numbers rather than a generic estimate with the student budget calculator and compare cities in the cost of living comparison.

Your First 30 Days at a Glance

Task	When	Why it matters

University enrolmentDay 1 to 5Visa sponsorship depends on iteVisa share code or BRP collectionFirst 10 daysProof of status for rent, banking, workGP registrationWeek 1 to 2NHS access you already paid forUK bank accountWeek 1 to 2Wages, rent, no foreign card feesUK SIMWeek 1Stops expensive roamingCouncil tax exemptionWeek 2 to 4Saves GBP 1,000+ a yearRailcard and TOTUMWeek 2 to 4Cuts travel and daily costsNational Insurance numberBefore your first jobCorrect tax code

Settling In Beyond the Admin

The paperwork is the easy part. The students who settle fastest join a society in the first fortnight, walk their campus and local high street before teaching starts, and cook their first few meals at home instead of eating out. Homesickness usually peaks around weeks three to six, and every UK university has a free student wellbeing service. Using it early is normal, not a failure.

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*Sources: GOV.UK Student visa guidance and eVisa guidance 2026, NHS guidance on registering with a GP, GOV.UK council tax student exemption rules, GOV.UK National Insurance number applications.*