Living in the UK

Average daytime temperatures in the North West of England are 5 ºC in winter and 19 ºC in summer. Hours of daylight can vary – from 8am until 4pm in the winter, and 4am until 10.30pm in the summer.

We have quite a lot of rainfall all year round, and you will need to dress warmly in the winter – a warm, waterproof coat, good shoes and a sturdy umbrella are essential. It is worth adding extra blankets or a thick duvet to your bed in winter and wearing warm clothing so you can keep your heating down and reduce costs.

For up-to-date weather forecasts, visit BBC weather.

The currency used in the UK is the pound (£), often referred to as GBP. This is divided into 100 pence, which are often referred to as ‘p’ (pronounced ‘pea’). 

• Coins in use are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2
• Notes in circulation are £5, £10, £20 and £50

To give you an idea of how much your home country currency is worth in GBP, try this quick currency converter.

The cost of living rises by about three per cent each year in the UK, and of course, if you bring your family, you will need to bring additional funds. It is very important that you make sure you have enough money before you arrive in the UK, as there is little, if any, financial help available once you are here.

Remember, when you arrive in the UK:

• Don’t carry large amounts of cash or have your money/cards on display.
• Try to save up for the things you need. Some banks and shops will charge you a lot to borrow money.
• Don’t give your bank account or personal code (PIN) number to anyone you don’t know, or even to friends.
• Banks will NEVER email you to ask for your bank details or passwords. These emails are fraudulent, so don’t, under any circumstances, reply to them.

The UK operates a state provided National Health Service (NHS), which offers a wide range of healthcare services and treatments. This includes doctor appointments, hospital visits and dental care.

If you are coming to the UK with a Student Visa, your application fee includes an immigration health surcharge that gives you access to these services. This fee also applies to any dependents you bring with you.

Private medical insurance is also available, but can’t be purchased in place of your health immigration surcharge. If you already have medical insurance in your home country, you might want to check with your provider to see if your cover can be extended to the UK.

EEA and Swiss nationals

If you are coming from within the European Economic Area, or are a Swiss national, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Short-term visa students

You will need to arrange your own health care insurance, although some countries have a reciprocal agreement with the UK that may entitle you to access to the NHS. You should check this on your own government’s website before arriving in the UK.

We offer an excellent choice of accommodation, from en-suite rooms in shared flats to traditional bedrooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms, all of which are close to our campus. Our student accommodation has local facilities, including shops, restaurants and cafes, and excellent transport links to help you explore the area.

Learn more about our accommodation options and take a virtual tour

Welcoming international students is important to us, and we have dedicated staff available to help you. You can find help through our trained counsellors and mental health and wellbeing advisers.

Advisers can provide guidance through one-to-one sessions or group workshops on relaxation, stress management and confidence building. Find out more about our wellbeing service. 

Our Careers Service is here to help you with your future career. We have dedicated teams of advisers in each faculty who can provide expert advice tailored to your goals. Learn more about how we support student careers. 

If you need help to improve your English before you start your course, our Language Centre offers British Council accredited courses. These are a chance for you to develop your English language ability in an academic environment and be introduced to the skills that you will need for effective learning throughout your studies.

Find out more about our English language courses.

Every student at Manchester Met is automatically a member of the Students’ Union. The Union exists to make sure you have the best experience you can while you’re at university. It’s not just about focusing on academic results, but helping you with everything in life while you’re studying.

Discover more about the Students’ Union

From Manchester, it is very easy to explore the rest of the UK. Exciting cities like London, Liverpool and Birmingham are all less than two hours away.

Travelling by coach is convenient, relaxing and relatively cheap. National Express is one of the biggest operators and has direct routes to many destinations around the UK. Students can get discounts of up to 30% on coach fares with a Young Persons Coachcard, which costs £12.50 a year. To plan and book your journey, visit the National Express website.

Central Manchester has three main train stations – Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria. Students can get discounts of up to 30% on rail fares with a 16-25 Railcard, which costs £30 for one year. To apply, visit the 16-25 Railcard website. Visit National Rail to get up to date timetable information and to book your train tickets.