Student life · 30 July 2026
A first-term checklist for international students
The practical things that make the first eight weeks easier, from phones and bank cards to knowing exactly who to call.
The first term is mostly small logistics. Get these right and the rest of the year is easier.
Before you fly
- Save your guardian’s emergency number in your phone, and write it somewhere on paper too.
- Check what your school expects you to bring, kit lists are specific.
- Tell us your flight details early so transfers can be arranged properly.
In the first fortnight
- Sort a UK SIM and a bank account.
- Learn the route between school, your homestay and the nearest station.
- Say yes to one club you would not normally choose.
Who to call, and when
School matters go to your housemaster or tutor. Anything about travel, homestay, holidays or feeling unsettled comes to us. If it is urgent and the office is closed, ring the emergency number, that is exactly what it is for.