United Kingdom

English is the official language of the UK. Other languages spoken include Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Cornish.

Language learning prior to departure: As a University of Illinois student, you have access to library resources (such as Rosetta Stone and Libguides). You may also want to consider free sources, such as Duolingo to learn basic phrases, or to refresh your language skills prior to departure.

Students staying in the UK longer than 3 months may require a Tier 4 General Student Visa. Visit the UK Visa and Immigration page for more information about obtaining a student visa.

To read more on passport and visa terminology see the Passports & Visas page on the Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange website.

Cell Phones

• • It is recommended to purchase a local SIM card for longer stays in the UK.

  • Some major cell phone providers in the UK include EE, Vodafone, O2, Sky Mobile, and Talk Talk. Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased and renewed monthly, with costs varying depending on your chosen data limit.

  • Make sure you have the Duo Mobile app set up on your phone. If you get a new SIM card, use the passcode options instead of PUSH, or go to UI Verify website to enter your new phone information.

Internet Usage

• • Internet infrastructure in the UK is highly developed, especially in major cities and tourist areas.

  • Free WiFi is accessible at most hotels, restaurants, and airports, potentially minus local businesses in smaller towns and rural areas.

Electricity

• • The UK uses primarily Type G electric plugs and sockets. You will need to purchase a plug adapter in order to charge any electronic device or appliance purchased in the US.

  • While an adapter makes your device fit into the local outlet, a converter converts the voltage. The voltage will not be the same as in the U.S. For that reason, it is recommended that you do NOT bring appliances such as hair dryers or hair straighteners with you unless you also purchase a voltage converter.

The British Pound is the official currency in the UK.

Payment Methods

• • Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in the UK, especially in more populated areas. Consult your local bank about international transaction fees, exchange rates, and to let them know of your travels to the UK so that your cards do not get blocked.

  • It is always a good idea to have at least a small amount of local currency in cash readily available for smaller daily purchases, and in case of emergencies. You can exchange cash in the US before your travels to the UK, or once you arrive in-country.

Banking Tips

• • There are a few major banks that operate in the UK, including HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank Group, Barclays, and NatWest. All of these banks will have ATMs readily available in larger cities to extract local currency using a US-based debit card.

  • Read about banking, currency, and credit and debit card usage in the UK.

Student Voices on Money

• • If you're there for more than 6 months, apply for the student Oyster Card - you'll save a lot (London participant)

  • Contact the bank before traveling or going on any weekend trip, and let them know of any countries you'll be visiting to avoid holds on your card. Google ATMs your bank is affiliated with to avoid excess fees.

  • I did not budget well abroad but I did have a record of everything I spent money and most of these things were experiences and those will forever be priceless to me.

  • I used capital one credit card for everything- no international fees

  • I carried both cash and a visa card with me, and both were fine. There's plenty of places to withdraw cash securely and safely. A lot of people recommended bringing cash to avoid the international fees that come with using your credit/debit cards.

  • Keeping an expense journal is a good idea. I kept my expenses recorded on a Microsoft word document. I also recommend bringing a change purse to the UK. The UK does not have one pound bank notes and after a short period of time, you will have a large mound of one pound and two pounds coins in your pocket.

  • London is really, really expensive and I definitely left London with no money.

  • A note on the paper currency of Scotland: Scottish bank notes, Pound Sterling, are printed by three different banks in the country. Scottish notes look differently than English notes. If you plan on traveling to England, I suggest you bring some English notes along. Even though the English also use the Pound Sterling and Scottish notes are legal tender in England, some English people are just not used to seeing them and might not accept them.

  • Using credit cards as much as possible, because ATMs are more easily tampered with, as well as the additional costs of taking out money in a different country than that of your home bank. This also means keeping track of your spending and making sure payments are being made, but it was worth it for me.

  • Using a credit card was easy for me, carrying cash might be the easiest except the conversion rates can be very expensive. Also, taking out cash can cost up to $10 depending on your bank. Either way, you're going to have to spend a generous amount while there.

Climate

• • The UK has a temperate maritime climate with warm summers and mildly cool winters.

  • Temperatures range maximally from about 0 degrees Celsius in the winter to 32 degrees Celsius in the summer.

  • October to January tends to have the most rainfall in the UK, and the wettest parts of the country average 130 inches of rain per year.

Packing

• • It is recommended to pack warm clothes for the winter, including winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Layers are the easiest way to adjust to the changing weather in the UK.

  • Lighter clothes are OK for the warmer months, but a jacket is good no matter the season.

  • Rain gear such as as jacket, umbrella, or rain boots are also recommended at all times of year.

  • For more packing tips, visit the Pre-Departure Checklist page.

Student Voices on Packing

• • If you visit the Highlands, bring a lot of layers. But overall, the rainy weather is Scotland isn't as dramatic as the internet made it seem to be. Bring more thicker clothing and a rain coat (the wind can make an umbrella useless), but also bring one or two lighter pieces of clothing just in case. (Scotland student)

  • Definitely bring waterproof hiking boots and a raincoat. Bring plenty of layers so you can add on or take off when the weather changes. (Scotland student)

  • Don't bring shorts- they don't wear them. Don't wear sweatpants or leggings out of the house. (London student)

Traveling Locally

• • British cities have good public transportation systems, including buses, trains, and trams with regular departures and well-connected routes within and outside of cities.

  • Timetables on local buses are meant to serve schools and businesses, so there may not be as many bus options in the evenings and on the weekends. Daily bus passes are cheaper than buying separate tickets for each ride.

  • There are two types of taxis in the UK: metered cabs and minicabs that can only be hailed by phone. These tend to be cheaper, but you be careful of unlicensed minicabs operate in some larger cities.

  • Read about all public transport in London, including average fares, maps, and information about the London Pass.

Airports

• • Main airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, and more.

  • Common airlines: Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Emirates, EasyJet, Qantas, and more.

Student Voices on Transportation

• • Download a PDF of the tube lines and bus times. There's no service underground and you'll look like less of a tourist if you check it on your phone than check the maps on the train. (London)

  • City Mapper is a great app for navigating the city as long as you have service. (London)

  • If you plan on taking the train into larger cities often, bring one of those small passport photos and buy a train pass so that you can purchase tickets cheaper. Also be aware that pepper spray is illegal in the UK, which not many tourists known about. In general, the people I met were very friendly, and you shouldn't be afraid to ask strangers a question if you get lost. Just take advantage of being there.

  • The trains are fantastic and not at all difficult to navigate, so take advantage of them. A 16-25 railcard is also the bets decision I made, and I saved so much money over the six months I was there using it. The railcard works for all of the UK.

Each student faces different barriers and unique challenges based on their identity. Note that how you identify in the United States may not be how you choose to identify abroad because of the local social culture. We encourage all students to reflect on the different aspects of their identity and consider how they may play a role in their study abroad experience. To help with this thought process:

• • Visit the Department of State website.

  • Look into the Diversity Abroad Resources available on our study abroad website.

Student Voices on Identity & Inclusion

• • If you identify with any part of the LGBT+ community, join the LGBT Society on campus. It is the most welcoming experience I have ever had, and the people there will welcome you with open arms. I honestly did not expect to feel like a part of the family since I was only there for six months, but I was proven so wrong. The campus is generally open minded, though I was not involved in sports so I can not speak for that aspect. My semester was the first Pride Week, and we had so much support and raised so much more money than we anticipated, so I can only imagine the program going up from there. (Sterling student)

The Illinois Safety & Security page gives important wellness tips, along with using your insurance and the emergency phone number. Be sure to become familiar with it.

Also, check out the U.S. Embassy page. and the Department of State website.

If your host provider or university doesn't automatically enroll you, consider enrolling yourself in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) with the U.S. Department of State. Registration in STEP will allow you to get alerts on the latest safety and security information. In addition, the information you provide enables the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.

• The United Kingdom consists of 4 distinct regions, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• Stonehedge, a prehistoric monument located in the south of England, is older than the pyramids of Giza, originating around 3,000BC.

• London's British Library in King's Cross houses the largest library collection in the world, with about 170 million items in its catalogue.

• Queen Elizabeth II actually does not have a passport. This is because British passports are issued in the name of the Queen. She has visited over 100 countries in the world on official duty without one.