Studying abroad can bring concerns and doubts, especially in managing finances. Here are tips and support available to make this process seem less terrifying.
Studying abroad can bring lots of concerns and doubts, and one of the biggest is how to manage finances. Being an international student in a new country already seems like a nerve-wracking experience, which makes handling all of your finances on your own seem like a big task. Luckily, there are plenty of tips and support available to make this process seem less terrifying.
Being an international student opens up plenty of scholarship options. I found my scholarship on the official University of Birmingham website. The scholarships here have been divided by different countries, and you can read in detail about the criteria for each scholarship. One tip that I can give for applying is to always research your options early on and apply as soon as you can, since competition for these scholarships can be high. The criteria for these scholarships also provide details about whether they apply to Undergraduates or Postgraduate students, which makes your search for them simpler.
Another major part of handling your finances is how to open your UK bank account. It sounds scary but the process is fairly simple. The most common banks that international students go for are usually Lloyds or HSBC, both of which offer easy-to-open student bank accounts, but you can always look out for more options!
Once you arrive in the UK, you should aim to head for Birmingham New Street Station (city centre) and head to any bank branch (like a shop/office where you can talk to staff). Here you can choose to open a student bank account in person. Your other option is to open it online but sometimes it’s helpful to talk to someone in person and have them guide you through the process. Make sure to check the bank's website to see what documents (such as ID cards) you will have to bring with you.
Part-time jobs can also lessen the financial stress that many students might be facing. The University itself offers plenty of part-time work options, which is what I do currently. From working at the Guild on campus to being part of the content creator team, there are plenty of options that offer decent pay. You can find more information on Worklink, which is the University's official website, or the Guild of Students website.
Tip for this is to always be on the lookout, and if you can, follow the Guild and the University on Instagram for frequent updates about job roles. The sooner you find out, the sooner you can apply, since competition for this is really high. It’s also helpful to know the restrictions of your visas. For example, you might only be allowed to work 20 hours a week which means you have to be careful what hours you choose to pick up.
If you don’t get a job with the University, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and grocery stores that you can always try working at, all of these places are in and around Selly Oak which makes travelling to the jobs a bit easier. But sometimes these roles aren’t always as flexible around things such as your studies or exam seasons.
Getting a SIM card is also simple; this is something you can do in Birmingham city centre as well. Simply research the different companies (EE, Lebara) and see what mobile plans they offer that would suit you the best. Then you can go into one of the shops and a member of staff will help you to get everything set up and working.
Personally, in my first year, I did not need to use public transport that often since I lived right next to campus in Selly Oak, but for those who are living a bit further away (The Vale or Pritchatts), there are plenty of options to get around!
There are lots of buses that pick you up from The Vale and drop you near campus. The University also has a train station that is located near the Medical School on campus. This station is helpful, especially if you want to go to New Street.
Prices for public transport are usually cheap, but if you love to travel and plan on doing lots of it during your time here, I suggest you look into getting a railcard, which offers some incredible discounts on your train tickets.
If you did get accommodation in Selly Oak, like me, you don’t need to spend much on public transport since most of the travelling you do would be by walking - groceries, the campus and restaurants are all within walking distance.
Speaking of groceries, buying your groceries in one go every week helps you stay consistent with your cooking and also costs less money. Stores like Sainsbury's and Aldi offer cheaper prices for a lot more quantity, while stores like Tesco have some good offers and deals. I personally never meal prepped. I would have two to three dishes every week that I would make until I ran out of the ingredients for it, which is when I would switch up what I cook. Meal prepping is a good option to save more money if you are someone who can do it (but I am not!).
There’s lots of things to think about when coming to study in another country and the finance part can be scary but hopefully this has helped you! A lot of coming to study in the UK is a learning curve which will help you grow more confident and independent as a person so trust yourself. Thanks so much for reading my blog and if you have any questions, you can message me on UniBuddy too.
My name's Samhitha, I study BSc Psychology and come from India, Bangalore. I love all things film, dance and music!
