Banking and insurance

• your passport or;
• if you are from the EEA your national identity card (please be aware that some ID cards are not acceptable).

• a valid visa/immigration document – vignette* in your passport or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

*Please note, if you were issued with entry clearance overseas and have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to collect when you arrive, you’ll need to do so before you can open a bank account. If you chose the University of Essex, Colchester Campus as your collection location our International Services team will email you to let you know when they have it and how you can collect it. Read our immigration pages for more information.

You may not be able to open a UK bank account if your visa is valid for less than 6 months, unless you are going onto further study in the UK.

Most banks will also require a letter of introduction from our University (certificate of registration), which must be in exactly the same name as your passport and visa (if applicable).

Once you are registered, your certificate of registration will be available electronically for you to access at any time and share with third parties. This document can be used to confirm that you are registered student, to register for council tax exemption or reduction, to open a bank account or to confirm your current status as a student.

In order to view your document, you will need to access your Gradintelligence account.

See information here on how to access your certificate of registration and accessing your Gradintelligence account.

If you are not able to open an account with your first choice of bank, we recommend you try elsewhere. Unfortunately, our University does not have any influence over a bank’s decision.

Read the Financial Conduct Authority website for information about your rights including how to make a complaint.

If you’ve been refused due to your immigration status read the government guidance and leaflet. If you believe that you have a valid visa/immigration status and you are a registered University of Essex student contact our International Service team for advice.

You should bring an easily accessible source of money for your day-to-day living expenses whilst your account is being opened. A sum of £400 should be enough for the first couple of weeks.

Please do not bring sizeable amounts of cash as you won’t have anywhere to safely secure it until you can open a bank account. Please note that some banks will not accept €500 notes. If you bring a large amount of cash into the UK you may need to declare it at the border, see the UK Government website for more information.

If you plan on using your current debit or credit card once you arrive in the UK it is important to to notify your bank before your travel that that you will be using your card to make payments abroad. This reduces the likelihood of your bank card being blocked which could delay your registration process.

If you are paying your own tuition fees, you should also ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay your first term's fees. Please note that you will not be able to pay your tuition or accommodation fees by cash. In addition, contactless payment methods are accepted across the whole campus and contactless is our preferred payment method.

All the major UK banks have branches located in the town centre of all our campuses.

There are two major types of credit cards widely accepted in the UK, Visa and Mastercard. You may wish to check with your home bank if your current credit card can be used in the UK.

We strongly recommend you arrange travel insurance before you leave your home country to cover you throughout your studies in the UK. Make sure your insurance covers repatriation of you and any dependants to your home country, should it become necessary, this will not be covered by the UK’s National Health Service in any circumstances and is expensive.

Lots of students choose to visit other countries during University vacations or as part of their studies, make sure your travel insurance covers you for worldwide travel and for the things you want to do whilst you are there.

It is important that you take out insurance against the loss or theft of personal belongings including any cash funds.

If you will be living in University accommodation standard contents cover has been arranged for you with Endsleigh Insurance that will cover your belongings whilst they are in your room. We recommend you check the policy details including what’s covered, you will be able to increase the cover if you would like to.