UKuni
Student Life

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

Comprehensive safety guide for international students in the UK. Learn about personal safety, cybersecurity, health precautions, and emergency procedures to stay safe during your studies.

3 min read

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

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.

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