Student Guide to Staying Safe in the UK: Essential Safety Tips for International Students

1. Personal safety essentials

• Know your area: Save the local police non-emergency number (101) and your university security line. Use well-lit routes at night and avoid walking with noise-cancelling headphones.
• Transport: Pre-book licensed minicabs or use regulated apps; only black cabs can be hailed on the street. Night buses and campus shuttles are safer than unregistered taxis.
• Belongings: Keep phones out of sight near busy junctions to avoid moped theft; register devices on immobilise.com.
• Accommodation security: Lock doors and windows, and never let strangers tailgate into halls. If using shared houses, test smoke alarms monthly.

2. Digital safety and fraud prevention

• Wi-Fi hygiene: Use university VPNs on public Wi-Fi for banking or sensitive logins.
• Phishing awareness: Universities never ask for passwords by email—report suspicious messages to IT.
• Scam calls: Home Office, HMRC, or police will not demand gift cards or immediate payments; end the call and verify via official channels.
• Online marketplaces: Meet in public places and use secure payment methods; avoid transferring deposits for unseen rental properties.

3. Health and wellbeing

• Register with a GP: Do this within the first month; NHS 111 provides non-emergency advice.
• Vaccinations: Confirm MMR and MenACWY status; many universities run catch-up clinics.
• Mental health: Know how to access counselling, nightline services, and wellbeing advisors. Share a trusted friend's contact in case you need support.
• Prescriptions: England uses fixed-price prescriptions; Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are free—budget accordingly.

4. Nightlife and alcohol safety

• Go with friends and check-in: Plan your route home before going out and share locations via your phone.
• Drink spiking precautions: Watch drinks being poured, avoid leaving them unattended, and seek help from venue staff or call 999 if you feel unwell.
• Set spending limits: Use contactless with daily limits to reduce loss risk; keep emergency cash separate.
• Stay hydrated and eat: Prevent accidents and ensure you can get home safely.

5. Documents and visas

• Protect ID: Store passport/BRP in a locked drawer; carry photocopies or digital scans instead of originals unless required.
• Report loss promptly: Contact the police for a crime reference number, then your embassy or the Home Office for replacements.
• Keep copies of tenancy and insurance: They are needed if you make claims or need proof of address.

6. Emergency procedures

• 999 for emergencies; 112 works across Europe. State the service you need: police, ambulance, or fire.
• University incident reporting: Many campuses have apps or hotlines—add them to your contacts.
• First aid basics: Learn CPR and recovery position; join a campus first-aid society if available.
• Know evacuation routes: Read fire notices in halls and note your assembly point.

7. Travel and housing scams to avoid

• Fake landlords: Insist on viewing properties (virtually if necessary) and paying deposits via registered schemes (e.g., DPS, MyDeposits).
• Ticket scams: Buy rail and event tickets from official providers; avoid QR codes shared on social media.
• Part-time job fraud: Never pay for training up-front; be wary of "too good to be true" remote jobs requesting bank details.

8. Useful UK contacts

• Emergency: 999
• Non-emergency police: 101
• NHS advice: 111
• Victim support: 0808 1689 111
• Samaritans (24/7 listening): 116 123
• Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040

Staying safe in the UK is about preparation and awareness. Save these numbers, talk to your student services team, and build a network of friends who can support one another throughout your studies.