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Studying and Life Abroad Guide

Most of what unsettles a new international student is not academic. It is the ordinary business of living somewhere unfamiliar — the timetable, the weather, the money, the food, knowing whom to ask. This guide gathers the things we find ourselves explaining most often.

Written for students arriving in the UK and for the parents supporting them from home. If anything here raises a question about your own child, please just ask us.

Before You Leave

  • Check that your passport is valid for the whole stay, and that your visa conditions match the course you are taking.
  • Carry your visa, CAS or school acceptance letter, guardianship letter and insurance details in your hand luggage, not in your suitcase.
  • Bring any prescribed medication in its original packaging, with the prescription or a doctor’s letter in English.
  • Pack for damp and cold rather than dramatic cold: a waterproof coat, layers, and sturdy shoes matter more than a heavy coat.
  • Leave a copy of every important document with your parents, and a scan in your own email.

Arriving in the UK

  • At the border you may be asked where you will study and where you will live — know both, and have the letters to hand.
  • Your driver will meet you after baggage reclaim; if you cannot find them, call us before leaving the terminal.
  • Message home as soon as you land. Jet lag is worst on days two and three, so go to bed at the local time from the first night.
  • In your first week, register with a local GP, agree house rules with your host family, and walk the route to school before you have to do it in a hurry.

School Life

  • Attendance is taken seriously in British schools. Absence must be explained in advance, and your guardian can do this for you.
  • Classroom participation counts. Asking a question is expected, not rude — silence is more often read as confusion than as respect.
  • Deadlines are firm, and work handed in late is usually marked down. Ask for an extension before the deadline, never after it.
  • Plagiarism, including unacknowledged use of AI tools, is treated as a serious offence. When in doubt, cite it.
  • Join something — a sport, a choir, a society. It is the fastest way to make friends and the easiest way to practise English.

Everyday Practicalities

  • Bank account: most schools will help you open a student account; you will need your passport and a letter confirming your address.
  • Phone: a UK pay-monthly or SIM-only plan is far cheaper than roaming, and you will need a UK number for school and medical contacts.
  • Healthcare: with a visa of more than six months you pay the immigration health surcharge and can use the NHS. Register with a GP; call 111 for urgent but non-emergency advice, 999 for an emergency.
  • Travel: a 16–25 Railcard pays for itself quickly. Book long-distance trains in advance rather than on the day.
  • Money: agree a weekly budget with your parents before you arrive, and keep some cash for places that still prefer it.

Exeats, Half-Term and Holidays

  • Boarding schools close for exeat weekends and half-term. These dates are published at the start of term — plan them early, as accommodation fills up.
  • Your guardian must approve and arrange where you stay during any closure, and the school will ask for this in writing.
  • If you plan to travel within the UK or abroad, tell your guardian and your parents the full itinerary before you book.
  • Do not leave holiday arrangements until the last fortnight. It is the single most common cause of avoidable stress.

Staying Safe

  • Carry your guardian’s number, the school’s number and your host family’s address somewhere other than your phone.
  • Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back, every time.
  • Be careful with online contacts, gift-card requests and anyone claiming to be from an embassy, the police or an immigration office asking for payment — these scams target international students specifically.
  • Never share your passport, BRP or bank details over the phone or by message, whoever appears to be asking.
  • If something feels wrong, call us. You will never be in trouble for asking.

Health and Wellbeing

  • Homesickness is normal, and usually worst between the third and sixth week. It passes more quickly if you keep a routine and stay involved.
  • British winters are dark by mid-afternoon. Daylight, exercise and regular meals make a real difference.
  • Talk to someone early rather than late — your housemaster or housemistress, the school nurse, your guardian, or us.
  • Parents: a child who calls home in tears is often perfectly fine an hour later. Tell us, and we will check discreetly rather than escalate.

Who to Call

  • Emergency (ambulance, police, fire): 999
  • Urgent medical advice, not an emergency: NHS 111
  • Dreamline 24-hour guardian line: +44 7361 278 594
  • Dreamline enquiries: [email protected]
  • Your school: the housemaster, housemistress or head of boarding, in the first instance

Every Journey Begins with a Conversation

Every child’s path is their own, and the right companionship can make the journey through British education a far more assured one.

Do get in touch and tell us about your child and what you hope for them, so that together we can find the support and companionship that suits them best.

It begins with one honest conversation — and a little more reassurance and support for your child’s time in Britain.

Enquire Now