Glasgow welcomes a large and growing international student population across its universities. The city is genuinely welcoming and the infrastructure for international students is well developed. Here is the practical guide to the first two weeks.
Banking and Money
Open a UK bank account immediately. Bank of Scotland, RBS, HSBC, and Santander all offer student accounts with overdraft facilities. The process requires a university acceptance letter and proof of address. For faster account opening, Monzo and Revolut are available as app-based accounts without branch visits and work for most financial purposes. Once set up, most direct debits and salary payments can be processed through either. The University of Glasgow has a financial advice service for international students covering banking and money management.
Scottish Differences
Scotland has some differences from the rest of the UK that international students should be aware of. The legal system is different – Scottish law applies in Scotland. Tenancy law is different and more protective of tenants than in England. The NHS in Scotland has some different provisions including free prescriptions for all. The education system structure also differs. The university’s international student services team covers these differences in detail during welcome events.
NHS Registration
Register with a local GP as soon as you arrive. The Woodlands Medical Practice and the Hillhead Medical Practice both cover West End student populations. University health centres are the easiest first point of contact. Prescriptions are free in Scotland regardless of your nationality if you are resident and registered. Dental registration is separate.
International Food Shopping in Glasgow
Glasgow is well supplied for international food shopping. Byres Road and Great Western Road have Asian supermarkets covering Chinese, Korean, and Japanese ingredients. The Sauchiehall Street area has several international food shops. For South Asian groceries, the Pollokshields and Shawlands areas in the south side have extensive options. The Woodlands Road area near the university has a Pakistani-owned supermarket with good South Asian stock. Glasgow’s diversity makes it considerably better supplied than smaller UK cities.
International Student Networks
The University of Glasgow has an active international student society and country-specific societies covering China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and numerous other countries. The International Student Festival runs in spring. Connecting with these networks early – in Freshers Week if possible – is the most reliable way to build a support network that complements rather than replaces academic contacts.
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