Settling In: Essentials
Updated: 7 hours ago
Half my knowledge about moving to uni abroad came from movies – you get an offer letter, pack your bags, head off to move-in day and attend classes in grand lecture halls. If only there was a movie talking about an international student’s much more complicated version of the same process (BRB, pitching this idea to the uni’s filmmaking society); it would hands-down be much more helpful than the sweet little list of “6 essential tasks” the uni lists out on its website that cleverly leaves us in the dark – those tasks aren’t nearly as easy as they make it sound. Here’s a simplified explanation of some settling in essentials that will hopefully make life a tad bit easier.
A. Registering with a GP
When you pay the IHS charge, your bank seems like it’s taking a massive hit. You will soon come back and be grateful for it because of the boon that is the UK healthcare system. The insurance you pay for even before you board the flight to Edinburgh ensures you don’t pay for doctor’s appointments or pretty much any medical treatment. To actually make use of this, you need to sign up for a GP practice. Start by running a basic Google search of GP practices closest to your accommodation (it’s probably easiest to search by pincode). If they take online registrations, nothing better! Otherwise, you may need to visit the practice in person and fill out a few forms. Once you finish registration, the practice will start the process of assigning you an NHS number. This is a centralised process across the UK so it can inevitably take ages (weeks or even months). Since your NHS number is so important, you should try to get it as soon as you can and therefore should register with a GP as quickly as possible, too. Further, every practice has a limited number of patients they can take at any given point of time, so make sure you register before all the slots are taken. Once you register with a GP, you can book appointments with a doctor even before you get your NHS number, so you’re covered either way. Bear in mind, though, that this is Edinburgh and odds are your GP practice will only be open 9-5, weekdays only. The uni also provides a GP service (the university health service) and because it’s so convenient, it’s also very popular and is often first to fill up. If you live close to central campus (George Square), I’d suggest try registering with the uni GP first, ASAP after you land in Edinburgh.
B. BRP Collection and International Check-In –
If you’ve looked at the visa on your passport, seen that it expires in 3 months and lowkey freaked out, join the club. Don’t worry – the UK won’t kick you out in end-November. You’ll just get a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) that will act as your visa, your ID proof, your get-out-of-immigration-early card. This is the single most important formality you must complete right after you get to Edinburgh. Ideally, you should collect it within 10 days of arriving in the UK, but if you’re planning to stay somewhere else for a bit before coming to Edinburgh, you’re allowed to collect the BRP any time before the visa on your passport expires. BRP collection is closely tied to the uni’s international check-in and the process differs based on where you’ve chosen to collect the BRP from.
a. The uni
If you’ve asked for the BRP to be delivered to the uni, it will be given to you during your international check-in. You need to book an appointment for the check-in and take your passport along with you when you go. This is the simple, one-step process and you’ll be all done!
b. The post office
If you’ve chosen to collect your BRP from the post office instead, you’ve likely been sent an address via email (the post office at Waverley Mall). You don’t need to book an appointment here, just go to the post office during opening hours (9-5.30, Monday to Saturday), with your passport. They’ll check your passport and give you your BRP. Once you have your BRP, you need to book an appointment for international check-in with uni, where they’ll verify your documents and make sure they’re all in order.
The international check-in usually takes place in either McEwan Hall or Old College, both in central campus. In case you’re told your BRP hasn’t arrived yet, don’t worry – this can happen sometimes. Stay patient and try again in a few days. Once you do get your BRP, you can carry it around as your ID proof (I always had mine in my wallet) and just basically treat it with the same sanctimonious respect as your passport (do not, I repeat, do not lose either of these things). Plus, you get to flex as you show your BRP to the immigration officer at airports and they let you through with no questions asked. Haha, perks.
C. Setting up a Bank Account
Some banks like to make this process easy and straightforward. I made a Bank of Scotland account and it couldn’t have been easier. They had no wait time and just asked me to come up to their branch on St James Quarter with my passport, BRP and bank letter. If you’re in uni accommodation, your bank letter would probably have been (physically) mailed to you, so do check your mailbox. If you don’t find it there, you can access it through EUCLID (Documents > Bank Introduction Letter) and print it out from any of the university printers (you get 80 pages worth of print credit on your student card every semester). The Bank of Scotland appointment took me about 30 minutes; they understood my needs and preferences, set up my account and walked me through the nuances of my checking and savings account. It doesn’t cost any money to set up the account, you get a debit card physically mailed to you and mobile banking gets activated in a couple days. You need to make at least one payment by inserting your card in order to activate contactless payment. Bank of Scotland’s app allows you to access your card details in case you don’t have your card on you or if you forget your PIN, check your balance at any time and so on. If you set up Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can make payments through a click of a button on your phone – the money will be deducted straight from your bank account and you don’t even need your card. Banks like HSBC and Barclays tend to be more popular so during peak time (i.e September) they may not let you set up an account with them right away – be prepared for a long while of waiting and early morning runs to get to the bank at opening time, but it may help to set up an alternate account for the interim period (even an online one like Monzo or Revolut would be okay).
D. Collecting your Student Card
My student card is hands down my favourite card in my wallet (no particular reason). It gives you access to the library, to uni buildings and is your ID for all student discounts. You need to submit a photograph (thankfully they don’t ask for the standard passport-sized photo) when they send out an email asking for it and collect it from the Main Library (George Square). You go to the entrance in the library, inform the desk on the right (before the ID scanners) that you’re here to collect your ID and they’ll let you in. There should be signposts guiding you to the desk where you can collect your ID, just make sure you get there during collection times (not the same as library opening times).
This may seem like a lot, but once you’re through with these, I promise life will be a lot simpler. If this was too much of an infodump, I apologise – although I do hope I’ve helped make the long list of processes easier for you. Good luck!
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