Tips to Study in London: Accommodation, Budgeting & Student Guide

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Understanding any country takes years of living and blending into the heritage. But, this doesn’t mean you can’t learn about it and lay the groundwork before you get there.

A city that’s so busy, and crowded with tourists, immigrants and students is a dream destination for many. Despite the expensive living expenses, it does not stop any dreamer from coming here and chasing after their dreams.

The way to enjoy this city is to live on a budget and take a shared student accommodation London.

But, there are more hidden secrets you can unlock below:

Become aware of the living expenses

Since time immemorial, London has always been a costly city to live in, but nevertheless, it is a dream destination for many. Before you make a move to study in this city, you should take this seriously, i.e. the living expenses in London. As a student, you have the option to apply for scholarships, stay in economical student rooms, and take part-time jobs, yet you still have to live on a budget. And, to do that, take the cost into consideration and then make a sensible decision.

Check out our blog on Cost of Living in London for Students

Keep track of the university application dates

If you have already applied to your desired university, then congrats and good luck to you! But, for those of you who are still procrastinating on it, you should apply right away. The two major intakes are September/October and January/February, while the other one is April/May offering a summer study abroad program in London. The number of applicants is huge for national and international students. Just for your information and update, in 2021/22, there were about 2.86 million students enrolled in higher education in the UK because of the best study abroad programs. You can check this blog on Best Universities in London for International Students.

Choose an accommodation that meets your budget

There are many types of London student accommodation which you can find in many neighbourhoods. These are off-campus student housing in London that caters only to the students. You can find a student room that you can take privately or share the accommodation. Then, you have the student apartment that you can again take a single occupancy or a shared one. These places are well furnished, equipped with facilities and will even include your utility bills in the rent.

Apply for scholarships

Are there any scholarships for studying abroad in London? Yes, the UK government offers various scholarship programmes to provide financial aid to international students who are seeking assistance to fund their studies in any part of the UK.

Imperial College of London: Covers 25% of tuition and COLFUTURO a Scholarship-Loan of up to USD 50,000.
University College London (UCL): Offers 10 awards of full tuition fees and maintenance allowance, and 23 awards of full tuition fee.
King’s College London: Offers $25,000 merit-based scholarships for international students seeking UG studies.
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE): The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) offers scholarships worth $10,000, along with the FEA General Scholarships.
Queen Mary University of London: Offers Queen Mary Global Talent Scholarships worth £3,000 for deserving students.

Check everything about the London weather

You know what London is like by now through the news, the city has 4 seasons in a day. But, most of the time it can be gloomy, cold and the snow can be bad. So when you get packing, try to stuff more of the warm clothes so you do not freeze here. And, plus being new to this weather, it will take time for your mind and body to adapt to this. So, the saying, “Prevention is better than cure” is best used here! Clothes can be expensive in London, but some charitable shops might come in handy. You will find many thrift shops close to your student room in London.

Make use of the freebies

Living in London is no fun without taking advantage of the freebies. So what are these freebies you must be wondering? Well, there are tons of them, let’s start with parks and gardens for picnics, recreational activities, etc. Then, you have the museums and galleries, the street markets, and free events that happen almost every day. Or even if you want to experience the rural life of London, you can explore the city farms for free, then the free city walking tours, free lunchtime concerts at Trafalgar Square, and many more which you will discover in the city of London once you get here! Now, that’s Lonodn for you with all its freebies!

Get a library card

The libraries in London are free to join by students and anyone who wants to enjoy reading books. You can check out some of the free libraries in London: The British Library, City Business Library. Bishopsgate Library, Google Campus, Carnegie Libraries, etc.

It compulsory to get a student travel card

Student oyster cards are for students above 18 and studying in university. It comes with a 30% discount. There are also travel student discount cards in London such as railcards, students-specific cards, etc.

A travel card is valid for all zones and comes as a day card, monthly card or annual card.

Monthly travel cards are way cheaper and save 11% cheaper compared to day travel cards.

Annual travel cards are 13% cheaper compared to monthly travel cards

You can use them in buses, trams, and rail services.

Learn how to use the London Underground

If you know your way around the London Underground, you can save a lot on travelling. It covers all the zones in London, you can get to your student housing in London with ease using the tube. Check out our blog on Detailed Guide to London Zones 1 to 6.