Life in the UK

Accommodation

The University guarantees to make an offer of accommodation either on or off campus to all eligible students who apply before the deadline. Visit our student accommodation pages for details. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee accommodation for visiting students who are studying with us for just one semester. Accommodation for one semester is subject to availability. Please direct any questions to Halls@hw.ac.uk  

Please note, we do not have on-campus accommodations suitable for families or couples.

What to pack

Clothes/weather

The weather in Scotland can be very cold and wet so it is important that you bring waterproof clothing and shoes and also warm clothes such as a pullover, scarf, hat, coat, gloves etc. Always carry an umbrella in your bag! During winter time the days are short as it gets dark early (around 16.00). In the summer we enjoy long days as it usually gets dark around 22.00.

Electrical equipment

British electrical voltage is 240 volts/50 Hertz. All electrical items must be tested to ensure that they comply with UK safety regulations, any item that fails these tests will be removed and students will need to pay for repairs or purchase a replacement locally.

Luggage

Make sure you label all your items of luggage. It is also a good idea to include a note of your name, flight number and destination inside your luggage should labels be damaged in transit.

If travelling by air, please note UK airlines are strictly enforcing hand baggage policies so check in advance with your airline the weight and maximum dimensions allowed.

Money matters

Money

The currency in Scotland (UK) is the Pound Sterling (£).

In the UK, people usually pay large sums of money by debit/credit card. It is not recommended to carry a large amount of cash with you. We advise that you open a bank account shortly after you arrive in the UK.

New students should also refer to the Financial matters information on these pages.

Opening a bank account and cost of living

For information on opening a bank account and the cost of living please read our guidance on banking and budgeting