New students A-Z

Do you have a question about life as a postgraduate student at Loughborough University London? We've compiled all of our most popular questions and answers to help you below.

A

Accommodation

If you are still looking for accommodation for the duration of your studies, take a look at our accommodation information.

B

Banks

The main banks in the UK are HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander. Most banks are normally open daily between 09.30 – 17.30 hrs, Monday to Friday inclusive. Some banks open later on one day each week and/or on Saturday mornings. Some banks will be on campus during induction week to support students wishing to open a new bank account.

Banks - opening a UK bank account

Opening a UK bank account will enable you to pay your rent and manage other daily expenses without incurring any extra charges. If you’d like to open a UK bank account, you should aim to choose a bank before you arrive in the UK, or see if you can start applying for an account before you leave. It’s a good idea to bring travellers’ cheques or small amounts of cash with you to the UK in case of delays setting up your account when you get here.
 
Students can normally choose between two account types. One option is a ‘basic bank account’, which will allow you to pay money in and take money out, and will also give you an ATM card to withdraw money from cash machines. These account types don’t usually give you credit, so you won’t get an overdraft, cheque book or credit card. 
 
Another option is opening an international student bank account, which will be specifically aimed at people coming to the UK for their studies. With these, you’ll have more flexibility than a basic account, but there may be a monthly account fee or a minimum balance requirement. In return, you may be entitled to extras, like free international money transfers or foreign cheque deposits. It’s worth checking with each bank to see what kind of benefits are on offer.
 

Banks - verifying your identity

All banks will require you to verify your identity, however different banks may want to see different documents, so check their websites or give them a call to make sure you’ve got everything you need.
 
Most banks will require the following:
• Your passport or ID card 
• Your visa 
• Proof of your UK address, such as your tenancy agreement
• Proof you’re a student, such as your offer letter
 

Bus

There is a free shuttle bus service in operation from Stratford International Station (stop E) and Stratford City Station (stop X) to the campus. The bus runs to and from campus every 5 minutes on weekdays between 7am-11pm.

The following buses operate services to and from venues on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park:

  • The 388 bus runs between Blackfriars in central London and Stratford City, near Stratford station. The 388 bus stops directly outside the campus and also travels to the Copper Box Arena and the London Aquatics Centre.
  • The 308 bus runs between Clapton and Wanstead via Stratford. The bus also travels to the flats in East Village, which are less than 10 minutes’ away from the campus.
  • The 339 bus runs between Leytonstone and Shadwell, and stops at Stratford City, near to Stratford station. The bus also travels to the London Aquatics Centre, which is just minutes from the campus.
  • The D8 bus runs between Crossharbour and Stratford International bus station. The bus also travels to Pool Street, by the London Aquatics Centre, which is just minutes’ away from the campus.

C

Canalside

The perfect spot to relax by the Lee Canal. There are a variety of bars and restaurants to enjoy - just minutes away from campus!

Cash

Notes are in denominations of £50, £20, £10 and £5 while coins are available in £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p. Try to avoid £50 notes if possible. Do not carry large amounts of cash. 

Clothing

During the day for your classes you may dress informally. However, you would be expected to dress appropriately for formal occasions, such as graduation.

Depending on where you are travelling from, you may need to buy items of clothing suited to the British climate, such as a warm and waterproof coat, pyjamas, sweaters and socks.

Such items are available across London, though the closest shopping centre to the campus is Westfield Stratford City. Westfield Stratford City can be reached by catching the free shuttle bus on campus, or is just a 15-minute walk through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Conditional offer

If your offer is conditional, you will need to send us evidence that you have met the conditions (e.g. degree results, proof of your English Language qualification) before you place can be confirmed. Find more information about submitting your final results and confirming your place online.

Confirming your offer

To accept your place on a programme, you must confirm you offer. You can confirm or decline your offer online. 

Council tax

Council Tax is a type of property tax charged on residential dwellings, but most students are exempt from paying this charge. For further advice, please contact Student Support Team: +44 (0) 20 3818 0777 (from UK only). 

Cycling

Make sure that your bicycle is in good working order; you must have working lights on your bicycle – a white one at the front and a red one at the back. It is an offence to cycle at night without lights. Lights can be purchased from most cycling shops at very little cost.

Do not ride on the pavement – unless it is a designated cycle path, which is indicated by signs or painted on the road.

If you are cycling on the road, make sure that you follow the flow of the traffic cycling on the left hand side and always wear a cycle helmet. Make yourself as visible as possible when cycling by wearing reflective and fluorescent clothing. 

There are 11 Santander cycle stations on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and you can hire a bike for as little as £2! Visit the Transport for London website for further information.

D

Declining your offer

You can confirm or decline your offer online.

Documents (supporting)

Once you have submitted your application, you will need to provide certified copies of supporting documents including:

Transcript of your current degree studies Degree certificate (if completed) English language qualifications (if English is not your first language)

If any of these documents are not in English, you will need to get them officially translated, and the translation will need to be certified.

If you applied through the on-line application portal, you can upload your documents by returning to the Application Portal and clicking 'View/Upload Documents'. You can upload your supporting documents at any time. 

Driving

In the UK, vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road. Before driving any vehicle (car, motorbike, van, etc.) in the UK you should check that you meet all of the legal requirements which apply to the driver and the vehicle and that you are aware of the correct licensing and taxation procedures, which may be very different from your home country.

Students from countries outside the European Economic Area and students who hold a non-Community licence or an International Driving Permit may drive here for up to 12 months. It is advisable to take a few driving lessons in the UK as this will assist you with the driving rules and regulations in the UK. Detailed information can be found on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website. 

E

Electrical equipment

The standard electricity supply in Britain is 220/240 volts, 50 cycles AC, and the standard socket is designed to take a 13-amp square three-pin plug. If you intend to use a two-pin socket or plug, you will need to buy an international voltage or plug adapter. You can buy an adapter on arrival in the UK, or you can buy electrical equipment when you arrive in the UK. For example, a hairdryer costs around £20, and an electric razor will cost around £30. 

F

Finance

To discuss any questions related to financing your studies, please contact the Student Finance office. 

G

Grades

If you are unsure what grades you require in order to meet the conditions of your offer, please contact Taught Admissions  or Research Admissions. 

H

Healthcare

The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s state healthcare system providing a wide range of health care services including appointments with a doctor, hospital treatment and dental care.

Further information is provided on the NHS website.

Here East

Our campus is located in the Here East development; a hub for creative and innovative organisations. With exciting new business opportunities and a thriving culture for small start-up companies, Stratford is a truly unique location for postgraduate study. Visit the Here East website to find out more.

Housing

If you are still looking for accommodation for the duration of your studies, please visit our accommodation page. 

I

International

If you are joining Loughborough University London from overseas, you may benefit from looking at our international pages. 

The UK is one of the most popular global study destinations. Nearly one in every five students at UK universities are from outside the UK – that’s over 442,200 students (Source: Studying in the UK: FAQs 2017-18, October 2017). We are proud to be a truly global instituition, and we now have students from over 50 countries undertaking postgraduate programmes at Loughborough University London. 

K

Keeping active

The Olympic Park is home to sporting venues with world-class facilities; find out more about sporting and fitness opportunities on The Olympic Park on our website.

L

Laundry

If you do not have a washing machine or drying facility in your accommodation, you can take your washing to a launderette, where there are coin-operated washing machines and dryers. Claredale House offers washing and drying facilities. 

Location

We're conveniently located on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. There are excellent transport links across the city - it takes less than 30 minutes to reach central London! Find out more about travelling across the capital and beyond on our dedicated webpage.

Loughborough Students' Union London

The Students’ Union in London (LSU London) offers a dedicated advice and academic representation service to help ensure you receive the best student experience possible. LSU offers platforms and opportunities to enable students to have their voice heard, initiate change and support each other. They also offer independent, confidential and non-judgemental support to students who may be struggling to adjust to campus life. You can find out more by visiting the LSU London webpage.

M

Medical insurance

If you are not an EEA/Swiss national and are coming to the UK for less than six months you may not have access to full National Health Services and should take out medical insurance for the duration of your stay. 

O

Olympic Park

Visit our events section for information about events and activities taking place on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

P

Parklands and wetlands

The Olympic Park covers over 560 acres of parklands, with lots of picnic spots to enjoy in the meadows and gardens. To explore further, follow one of the trails across the Park.

Part-time work

After you have enrolled on your programme in the UK, you can register with the Careers Network to find local part-time and vacation work. Information about current vacancies can be found on the Careers Network pages of the website. 

Pre-sessional English language programmes

If you do not meet the English language requirements, you may be admitted to a pre-sessional English language programme offered by the University at our Loughborough campus.

There will be a number of opportunities during the pre-sessional course to travel to London and explore the campus and the city, and students will transfer to London for their degree programme following satisfactory progression from the pre-sessional course.

Find out more about the English Language requirements for your programme by logging into the online application portal.

Q

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Our campus is situated on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games! Take a look at our events page to find out about upcoming events on the Park.

Queuing

British people queue to ensure fairness. If you go to the beginning of a queue, you will cause offence to others. 

R

Registration

In order to complete the registration process to enrol onto your programme, you must follow these steps.

S

Schools

Children aged 5-16 are required by law to go to school or receive comparable education at home. All school-age children are expected to attend regularly and arrive punctually. Attendance at state schools is free of charge, but other education options are available, including boarding schools and private education establishments. 

Shopping

Items for sale are marked with a price and you will be expected to pay the specified amount- it is not possible to bargain over prices at British shops.

Our closest shopping centre is Westfield Stratford City, which houses over 250 shops, restaurants and department stores. Westfield Stratford City can be reached by catching the free shuttle bus on campus, or by walking through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Other famous London shopping districts include Oxford Street, Westfield Shepherd’s Bush and Knightsbridge.

Social media

Our social media channels are regularly updated to share our latest news and events with staff, students and the wider community. Follow us on:

Spelling

It’s important to decide on a way to spell your name using the English alphabet, and then always stick to that spelling. If there are differences in spelling across your documentation this can cause you difficulties in opening a bank account, travel tickets etc.

Student Ambassador scheme

We recruit and pay enthusiastic students to share their passion for Loughborough University London. Taking part in the ambassador scheme will give you the opportunity to work with people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds and it is an excellent way of demonstrating your communication and team building skills. To find out more, see our Student Ambassador webpages.

Student support team

Our dedicated team of support staff are located on the second floor of the campus and can answer any queries you have about your programme, the facilities and the resources available on campus. For more information, visit our Student Support and Services page.

Supporting documents

Once you have submitted an application, you will need to provide certified copies of supporting documents including a transcript of your current degree, a copy of your Degree certificate and evidence of your English language qualifications if English is not your first language

If any of these documents are not in English, you will need to get them officially translated, and the translation will need to be certified.

You can upload your documents by returning to the Application Portal and clicking 'View/Upload Documents'. You can upload supporting documents at any time. 

T

Telephone

If you have brought your mobile phone with you to the UK, we recommend purchasing a UK sim card. Sim cards for many major network providers are available to purchase at most airports, railway stations and stores. The cost will vary depending on the network provider but will start from £5 for minutes and text bundles. The network advisor will ensure that you are provided with the appropriate sim card and will be able to give you all of the information you need to set up your new UK number. 

Tuition fees

You do not need to pay your fees in advance and you will not be billed until shortly after you have started your postgraduate course. For more information on tuition fees and methods of payments please take a look at the Student Finance Office website.

TV License

In the UK it is illegal to own and use a television if you do not have a television licence. A TV license currently cost £154.50 per year for students, there are several ways you can pay. If you have any further questions visit the TV license website.

V

Visa applications

For guidance on applying for a visa to study in the UK, visit the international section.

W

Walking

Always use the pavement. If there isn’t a pavement, then it is safest to walk on the right-hand side of the road so that you can see any oncoming traffic. When crossing the road, always use a crossing when there is one and be extra careful looking both ways before stepping into the road. 

Weather

The weather in the UK is varied and changeable with warm summers and cool winters. London tends to be slightly warmer than other areas of the UK, with summer temperatures varying between 20 and 28°C, with daylight of around 16 hours a day.

In winter, the temperature generally varies between 0 and 10°C, though it can very occasionally drop to a little below 0°C at night, and the daylight hours shorten to around 8 hours.