Before You Arrive
Visa and BRP
If you’re coming on a Student visa, you’ll need your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from your university, proof of funds, and your passport. Apply through the UKVI website. When you arrive in the UK, your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) will be sent to a collection point – usually a Post Office near your university. Collect it within 10 days of arrival. Your university international office will send you collection instructions before you fly.
What to bring
Manchester is colder and wetter than most international students expect. Bring or buy immediately: a proper waterproof jacket (not a fashion parka, an actual waterproof), warm layers, and shoes that handle rain. You can buy most things here cheaply – Primark in the Arndale Centre sells basics for very little money. Don’t overpack. UK plug adapters if you’re bringing electronics from home. Your university paperwork, passport, and CAS letter in your hand luggage.
Airport arrival
Manchester Airport has a direct Metrolink tram connection to the city centre (about 45 minutes, around £4–5 single fare). Some universities arrange airport pickup services during freshers week – check your university’s international student arrival pages. Taxis from the airport to the city centre or Fallowfield are £20–30. Uber and Bolt operate at Manchester Airport.
First Week – The Admin
Bank account
UK bank accounts are essential for receiving any bursaries, paying rent, and general life. Opening one as an international student is straightforward but requires specific documents: passport, BRP, proof of address (your university can provide a letter), and your CAS or student ID. Barclays, HSBC, and Santander are the easiest for international students. Some banks let you start the application before arriving in the UK. Alternatively, Monzo and Starling (app-based banks) are easier to open with just a passport and don’t require proof of address. Many international students use these alongside a traditional bank account.
SIM card and phone
Buy a UK SIM card immediately. Giffgaff (£10/month for unlimited data, calls, and texts) or Three (similar pricing) are the most popular with students. You can order a Giffgaff SIM online before you arrive and it’ll be waiting at your accommodation. WhatsApp works on any SIM – you don’t need to change your number for messaging home.
GP registration
Register with a GP (doctor) in the first week. The NHS is free for students on a Student visa – you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application. GP surgeries near campus and Fallowfield fill up quickly in October. Walk in, ask for a registration form, fill it in. Do not wait until you’re ill.
Police registration
Some nationalities are required to register with the police within seven days of arrival. Your visa will say if this applies to you. If it does, register at the Greater Manchester Police Overseas Visitors Registration Office. Your university international office can help with the process.
Housing
Most international students live in university halls for the first year – this is usually the right call. You get a guaranteed room, it’s close to campus, bills are included, and it’s the fastest way to meet people. City-centre purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is the second most common option – studios from £700/month, more expensive but convenient.
For second year and beyond, shared houses in Fallowfield, Rusholme, or Hulme are significantly cheaper. Read our area comparison guide – the same advice applies but be aware that some letting agents are more experienced with international students than others. Ask your university accommodation office for recommended agents.
Food From Home
Manchester is one of the best cities in the UK for international food. Whatever you’re missing from home, it’s probably available somewhere:
- South Asian: The Curry Mile (Rusholme) is one of the largest concentrations of South Asian restaurants in Europe. Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian groceries are available at dozens of shops on Wilmslow Road.
- East Asian: Chinatown on Faulkner Street has Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese restaurants and supermarkets. Wing Yip supermarket in Ancoats is the largest Chinese supermarket in the northwest – worth the trip for a big shop.
- Middle Eastern: Rusholme and Longsight have excellent Middle Eastern grocery stores. Halal meat is available across south Manchester.
- African: Moss Side and Longsight have West African and East African food shops and restaurants. Tropical Taste on Moss Lane East is popular.
- European: Polish, Romanian, and other Eastern European food shops are scattered around the city centre and inner suburbs.
- Latin American: Growing scene – Cafe Americano and others in the NQ. Mexican ingredients available at some larger supermarkets.
Culture Shock – What to Expect
Some things that surprise international students about Manchester specifically:
- The weather: Manchester averages 140 rainy days a year. It’s not dramatic rainfall – it’s persistent drizzle. After two weeks you stop noticing. Locals don’t use umbrellas.
- The accent: Manchester English is different from what you learned in English classes. It takes a few weeks to adjust. Don’t be embarrassed to ask people to repeat themselves.
- The drinking culture: Student drinking culture in the UK is intense by most international standards. You do not have to drink. Many students don’t. But understanding that it’s the dominant social lubricant in British student life helps you navigate the first few weeks.
- The friendliness: Manchester people are genuinely friendly by UK standards. Strangers will talk to you at bus stops, in queues, in pubs. This is normal here and it’s not intrusive – it’s just Manchester.
- Tipping: Not expected in most situations. 10–12% in sit-down restaurants if service was good. Nothing for bar staff, takeaways, or taxis (though rounding up is fine).
Making Friends
The biggest challenge most international students report is social isolation after the first few weeks. The university international societies are the most direct route to meeting people in a similar situation – every university has them. Beyond that:
- Join a society or sports club in freshers week. The faster you embed in a regular group, the less isolated you’ll feel.
- The university language exchange programmes match international and home students for conversation practice – these are social as much as academic.
- The international student welcome events in freshers week are designed for exactly this. Go to all of them.
Money
Manchester is significantly cheaper than London – rent, food, transport, and going out are all 30–50% less. A realistic budget for an international student is £250–350/week including rent (more if you’re in city-centre accommodation, less if you’re in a shared house in Fallowfield). See our full cost of living breakdown.
Western Union, Wise (formerly TransferWise), and Revolut are all widely used for transferring money from home. Wise typically offers the best exchange rates. Set up the account before you need it.
Working
Student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations. Manchester has plenty of part-time work available – see our part-time jobs guide. You’ll need a National Insurance number to work legally – apply through the gov.uk website or by calling the NI number application line. Your employer will ask for it but you can start working before it arrives.