Entry Clearance and Immigration
Booking your Flight
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Obtain a financial statement from your bank or a letter from your scholarship board proving that you are able to finance your studies and living expenses FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST YEAR while in London.
If your money is deposited in different banks, then obtain statements from each bank if possible. Long-term and fixed deposits can be used as evidence of your financial ability, even though for some reason, savings accounts are preferred.
This will be essential for applying a entry clearance (otherwise known as visa) for residency in the UK. It may also be required by the customs officer on arrival in any London airport, even though this is not likely.
The School does not require you to provide any evidence of your financial ability. All you need to do is to return a financial undertaking form pledging your financial ability. This will be done in June at the earliest.
SCHOOL FEES
Prepare an international bank draft for the payment of your school fees. You can start paying your school fees once you have accepted your place at the LSE. This can be done by sending the School your bank draft by post. Otherwise, you can bring your bank draft personally to London - there is no hurry.
Also, prepare a bank draft for the payment of your accommodation fees. If you wish to transfer money from your Singapore bank accounts to your British bank account, buying another bank draft will help.
Since international bank drafts usually have a validity period of six months, you have a lot of time to take advantage of the fluctuating exchange rates to buy a bank draft at the best rates.
BANKING
You can open an HSBC International Student bank account before you leave for London. This can be done at the HSBC branch between Lido and Pacific Plaza - where China Black is located. Appointments must be made by calling HSBC.
To ensure that your bank account is up and running when you get to London, do this as soon as possible and give at least a month for HSBC to get every settled.
Otherwise, if you should prefer, you can open your HSBC, NatWest or Barclays bank account in London. However, this will prove to be quite inconvenient as the start of the term is when you need money the most - and in large sums. It does not help when UK banks can take up to five whole weeks to process your applications. The former option of opening an HSBC International Student account in Singapore is recommended.
EXPENSES IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS UPON ARRIVAL
Ensure that you have enough pound sterlings in cash to last you at least two weeks in case there is a delay in opening your UK bank account. You will be well-advised to set aside 30 pounds a day, including lodging.