It is a good idea to open a bank account as soon as you arrive in the UK so that you can transfer money in and out, write cheques, pay bills by standing order and direct debit and use a debit or credit card to make purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs.

Even in the best circumstances it is likely to take at least two to three weeks to set up your bank account. Therefore, you should make sure you have the same funds available to you when you arrive in the UK to study, as you would if you were a tourist on a month's holiday. This could include cash (in your own currency or UK sterling), travellers' cheques, a credit card and a cash card. If you are on a short course the time it takes to set up a bank account may mean it is best to manage your finances this way for the duration of your time in the UK.

Before you leave your home country, check if your local bank has any reciprocal arrangements with banks in the UK. It may be possible for you to continue to use your account in your home country as your primary account and to manage withdrawals and payments from the UK just as you would if you were on holiday here. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards are all widely accepted in the UK and can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs. You may be able to pay your course fees by direct money transfer from your existing account.

If you do open a UK bank account, you will need to show the bank your passport or national photo ID card, your acceptance letter from your college or university to prove your status, or a letter of introduction completed by your college or university. It will also help if you can bring along bank statements from an account you have held in your own country. You may also need additional types of identification so it is a good idea to check with the bank in advance of opening your account.

When you arrive in the UK, try to talk to other international students on your course about which UK banks they have used and also speak to your institution's international student office. When opening a bank account, you will have to prove your identity and also your address. The British Bankers Association (BBA) has produced two leaflets to help you: International students: opening a UK bank account and Opening a bank account if you are new or returning to the UK. They can be downloaded from the BBA's leaflets section of the www.bba.org.uk website.

The British Council estimates that, not including course fees, the average student needs around £650 a month (£750 a month in London and the south east of England) to cover accommodation, food, clothes and basic needs. How much or how little you spend outside this is entirely up to you, but make sure you have a good understanding of the costs you are likely to incur and always try to live within your means. If you are allowed to work, a part-time job can be a good way to ensure you have extra spending money for leisure activities and socialising.

Council tax is a payment set by local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to pay for local services such as rubbish collection, police and the fire brigade. It is based on the value of the house or flat in which you live. University halls of residence and dwellings occupied only by students or by a student's dependent family are usually exempt, but if you live in any other accommodation, such as a shared house or flat in which not all of the residents are students, it is likely that, as a student, you will have to pay at least some council tax. Your institution may be asked to provide a council tax certificate in order to exempt you from any bills. You may not be exempt from the tax if your course lasts less that one academic year or involves less than 21 hours of study a week. Check out the guidance note on Council tax and international students at www.ukcosa.org.uk.