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Before you pack, find out
 
What you are not allowed to bring to the UK. There are certain items which you are prohibited by law from
 

 bringing into the UK.
What your airline luggage allowance is – if you exceed your allowance then you will have to pay a surcharge.
  Remember, heavy items such as winter clothes, books and kitchen equipment can all be purchased quite cheaply from the UK after you arrive.
Whether any electrical equipment you wish to bring with you is compatible with UK standards, that is:– 240
  volts, 50 cycles (50Hz), three pin (square) pin plugs. You may need to purchase an adapter or voltage converter.
 
Your hand luggage
 
See Checklist for a list of everything you need to keep with you when you travel to the UK.
Keep your hand luggage with you at ALL times – if you leave it unattended, it could be stolen or taken away
  to be destroyed.
 
Your main luggage
 
Make sure your luggage is strong, secure and labelled with your name and destination on it. It will be your
  responsibility to carry the luggage, and if necessary, to load your luggage onto any transport – therefore, make sure you are able to carry any bags you take with you.
Where possible, use a suitcase with wheels or a trolley.
Don’t pack too many heavy things – books, clothing, stationery, cooking utensils, towels, toiletries etc. All
  these items can be purchased very cheaply when you arrive from shops in the local area.
During the Overseas Students’ Orientation Programme, Student Guides will show new students the best
  places to buy all your essential items.
Don’t pack lots of food – UK supermarkets offer a wide variety of food from all over the world. Remember
  also that certain food items you may wish to bring with you are banned from import into the UK
If you are staying in furnished accommodation you do not need to bring bedding – you will be provided with
  a FREE bedding pack. This includes a single duvet, pillow, single sheet and duvet cover.
 
How much money should I bring with me?
You should ensure that you bring sufficient funds to cover the cost of all your fees – where possible, this should be paid in advance (to take advantage of the discounts, to ease immigration and for safety reasons). If you want to pay on arrival, you should do so in the form of a banker’s draft and NOT in cash. Remember, the banker’s draft should be in the name of the College, NOT your own name.

It can take 2-4 weeks from registration at the College before you can open an account. There are normally no restrictions on the amount of money you can bring into the UK, but your own government may impose restrictions on the amount of money that is transferred out of the country – check for local restrictions before you leave. You should avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you. If your money is lost or stolen, then the College will not be able to reimburse you. It is your responsibility to look after your own money.
Travellers’ Cheques (GB£ sterling) are a good alternative to carrying money, as they can be converted into cash as and when you need it. Unlike a personal cheque, you do not need to have a UK bank account in order to use them. If you lose them or they are stolen, you can apply to have them replaced. When travelling, make sure you keep details of your Travellers’ Cheques and your passport in a separate location from the cheques.
You should make sure you bring a small amount of British pounds (GB£ sterling) with you for your day-to-day expenses until you have registered at the College and opened a bank account. You should ensure that you keep the cash on your person when travelling. Use a body belt or something similar, but do not under any circumstances place money in your hand luggage, as this is very easy to steal. We would estimate that £400- £500 should be sufficient to cover expenses for the first 3-4 weeks in the UK, until the time comes for you to open a bank account. This amount does not include any accommodation costs.