Set up a bank account

We recommend setting up a student bank account as they can be more beneficial than a standard current account.

UK student bank accounts

It’s worth setting up a student bank account for when you start university – they offer a wider range of services than current accounts, so it’s important to consider your options and shop around to see what the different banks offer.

Try not to be tempted by instant cash or gift incentives – £100 of vouchers is much less than what you will save over time with a better interest rate.

A main benefit of student bank accounts is that they usually offer quite substantial, interest-free overdrafts, which can be very handy during your studies. Make sure you don’t go over the agreed interest-free overdraft limit though – you'll be charged for this, so remember to check your balance if you think you’re getting close to your limit.

International students

I don’t have a UK bank account – what should I do?

Having a UK bank account is more convenient and you can make sure you avoid any transactional charges or currency conversion charges that you may incur using your foreign bank card in the UK.

In order to complete your registration, you must make arrangements to pay your tuition fees. If you wish to pay in instalments, you must pay one-third of your fees online by card or bank transfer, with the remaining tuition fees being payable in two instalments by set dates during the academic year. You can, if you wish, pay the remaining instalments by card or bank transfer, but payments must be made by the due dates. Alternatively, you can set up a Direct Debit for the remaining instalments of your fees – for this you’ll need to set up a UK bank account.

There are a number of online banks, including Wise and Revolut, that offer the facility to open a UK bank account from overseas, without proof of residency.  Setting up this type of account is simple, and in some cases you can do so with a selfie and a photograph of your ID. Take a moment to read this Monito article to help you consider your options.  

What do I need?

The documentation you need will vary depending on which bank you choose to open an account with. However, most UK high street banks will require the following from you in order to open an account: 

• your passport and;
• proof of valid visa status if you are an overseas student (you will usually need a share code from the Home Office website to prove your status);
• your passport or National ID card if you are from the European Union; 
• Bank Letter from the University showing home and Manchester addresses.

Bank Letters will be issued in pdf format to all international students from early to mid-September and once steps one to nine of registration have been completed.

Obtaining your Bank Letter and getting an appointment with a UK high street bank can take time. To avoid this, consider setting up an online bank account ahead of your arrival in the UK.

Previously, students needed to use a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to prove their immigration status in the UK. However, the Home Office no longer issues these and instead you will hold an eVisa. As part of the new process, you should be asked to provide a ‘share code’ from the Home Office website to prove your student status. This system is relatively new, and not all banks are fully familiar with the changes. We therefore strongly recommend checking with your chosen bank in advance to confirm if they accept share codes and, if not, confirming what documentation you need to provide. You can sign in to your UKVI account to view your eVisa and generate a share code via the Home Office webpage.