🏦~ 1–2 weeks

Banking & Money

Let's figure out how to manage your money and banking as an international student.

Section 1

Before you fly

Pre-flight checklist

Enable international transactions on your Indian debit/credit cards
Carry at least two working debit/credit cards
Carry a small amount of emergency cash
Download your banking apps before departure
Inform your bank about international travel (if required)

Quick tip — research UK banks before you arrive

Most UK banks let you open an account online. Compare digital and traditional banks now so you know exactly which one to open on day one — you don't need to wait until you land.

Paying your Warwick tuition fees

Paid from Flywire via the official student portal.
Never use unofficial third-party payment sites.

Visit Warwick Student Finance

Section 2

Open a UK bank account

Two flavours — tap a card to explore. Most students open one digital bank on day one, plus a traditional one later.

⚡

Fastest to open

Digital banks — minutes

🏛️

Best for branches

Traditional banks

🇮🇳

Best India ↔ UK

Wise / Revolut

Section 3

The UK is mostly cashless

You rarely need to carry large amounts of cash. Debit and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, and contactless ("Tap to Pay") is the standard payment method.

Apple Pay & Google Pay in most shops

Contactless on buses & trains

Cafés, supermarkets, restaurants — all cashless

Carry only a small emergency cash buffer

Deeper dive