Banking & Money

Opening a UK Bank Account

When you arrive in Oxford, you'll need to open up a UK bank account for reimbursement and other money transfer purposes. UK students use direct bank transfers similarly to the way American students might use Venmo. Bank transfers in the UK are free and instant, so it's very convenient. There is a Natwest, HSBC, Lloyds, Barclays, Santander, Nationwide, and TSB in the city centre, so we recommend any of those options if you want access to in-person banking.

Many students have found that opening an account with an online bank like Monzo is easier than opening one with a high street bank. You're able to open the account quicker within the app, and don't need extra documentation that you may need a high street banks. You may be able to open this account as soon as you have a local phone number.

If you do open an account at a high street bank, you'll be asked to bring identification and supporting documents, including your passport, BRP (biometric residence permit), and Student Enrolment Certificate. Note: for Barclays Bank, visiting students will need additional proof of address, like a letter from your GP. It will take about an hour to set up your account and they will send you a debit card, account number, and pin code. This will be a contactless card which will make life quicker and easier, which you can also add to your phone for ApplePay or GooglePay. Banks offer online banking and recommend that you download their bank's app to have quicker access to your bank account. This is the easiest way to make bank transfer payments should the need arise.

It's tricky to transfer funds from your US to UK account. You can either take money from an ATM with a US debit card and then deposit it at the bank, or you can wire money from the US. Using a service like Wise (formerly TransferWise) is usually cheaper than doing a wire transfer through your bank. Cashing a US check into your UK bank account will be difficult, so it's best to avoid this.

Obtaining a Student Enrolment Certificate

The enrolment certificate will be accepted as proof of your student status at most banks. Follow these steps to get your certificate:

1. Exeter's IT Services will email you your 'Single Sign-On' login details. SSO is the system used at Oxford to access a wide range of IT services at the University by using only one log-in and password.

2. In early September, Student Information will email you asking you to complete your university student registration online. Complete this process as soon as you can. This is done in an online portal called 'Student Self Service'.

3. When you arrive in Oxford, you will visit Exeter College as part of orientation to complete your registration process. They will ask you to bring documents such as your passport and BRP for scanning, if you have a visa, and to complete other paperwork.

4. Exeter College will then confirm on the Oxford student database that you have arrived and registered with them which completes the registration process.

5. You can now print your student enrolment certificate from the Student Self Service portal. Take the printed certificate to your college and ask them to stamp it with the official college stamp and sign it. You must have your full student address and postcode on the certificate. At busy periods, you may have to wait a few hours for the IT system to update that your college has complete your registration before you can print the certificate.

For more information about student registration and the Student Self Service portal, see: https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/selfservice.