Finance, work and health
Money
Leeds has a lower cost of living than many other British cities, but the amount of money you will need depends on what kind of accommodation you will require and whether you wish to bring family with you when you study.
Paying your academic fees
We strongly encourage all international students to pay their tuition fees before coming to the UK. You can use either the the on-line credit card payment facility, or pay by bank transfer.
Insurance
If you organise private accommodation for your period of study at Leeds and bring a laptop or other valuable possessions with you, we advise you to organise possessions insurance for these items. If you stay in University accommodation, insurance is included in the rent but read the terms and conditions to see exactly what this insurance covers.
You can buy insurance from banks and specialist insurance companies such as Endsleigh and Cover4students.
Banking
If you can show that you will be in the UK as a student for one year, you should be able to open a student bank account. If you will be in the UK for less than one year, you might not be able to open a student bank account, but you may be able to open an ordinary cash account at certain banks.
What you require to open an account will depend on which bank and which bank account you choose. As a general guide, you may require your passport or EU National Identity card, proof of your status as a student, such as your offer letter from the University and some proof of your UK address and possibly your home residential address. Some banks also require a minimum deposit to open certain accounts, and may require you to maintain a minimum balance.
There are three banks on the University campus, and another six in Leeds city centre.
For information about bringing money to the UK and transferring money into a UK bank account, please consult the following leaflet.
Working part-time
Your permission to work will depend on your immigration status. Please check your status, or your potential status, before you consider part-time work in the UK of any sort.
The University requests that students on one-year MA courses consult their departments before getting a job. Sponsors and University regulations restrict Research Degrees students to 250 hours of paid work each 12-month session. Working is permitted during the 5 weeks per year holiday entitlement, in addition to this.
For further information about this, please consult the following pages.
- Working while you study [PDF: 39KB]
Health for international students
The following NHS treatment is free for everyone.
- Some emergency treatment (but not follow-up treatment)
- Family planning services
- Treatment of certain communicable diseases
- Compulsory psychiatric treatment.
To qualify for any other NHS treatment, you must meet certain conditions.
If your course of study is for six months or more, you will qualify for NHS treatment from the beginning of your stay on the same basis as anyone who is ordinarily resident in the UK.
Your spouse or children with you in the UK will also be entitled to NHS treatment.
To receive free hospital treatment in England and Wales, your family members must be in the UK as your dependants and not, for example, as visitors. 'Family' in his situation means your husband or wife, and your children aged up to the age of 16 or up to the age of 19 if they are in full-time education.
Culture shock
Leaving home and travelling to study in a new country can be a stressful experience. Even though you may have planned and prepared for the move, sometimes the effects of the change can be surprising
We advise you to learn about the phenomenon of culture shock, so that you can recognise the symptoms if they occur. Culture shock is the experience of moving from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one, where changes in environment, food, climate, language and dress can make you feel confused, emotional and, sometimes, angry.
To learn more about culture shock, please read the following online booklet.
Working in Leeds
The University of Leeds Career Service runs an employment advertising service called 'JobLink' for students. To learn more, visit Working in Leeds.
Leeds. The most cost effective place to study in Britain.
RBS Student Living Index 2007