You are encouraged to order British Pounds currency before travelling and should bring enough to cover your immediate needs upon arrival in the UK.
For your safety, we advise you not to bring large sums of cash to avoid the risk of theft. We recommend travelling with no more than £500–£600 in cash and placing the rest of your funds on a secure card or digital account. Many students now choose to use online multi-currency platforms which allow you to hold funds in different currencies and make transactions before you are able to open a UK bank account. Please note that if you travel with more than £10,000 in cash, you must declare it at UK customs.
Once you arrive in the UK, you should aim to set up a UK bank account as soon as possible. The International Student Support Team and Student Advisors in the Student Centre can provide you with a letter to introduce you to your preferred bank after you have been fully enrolled into your course.
