Managing your finances
It is very important that you plan your finances before you travel. London is a big city with lots of exciting things to do but it can be quite expensive. There are things that you can enjoy at a reasonable cost if you plan well.

In London, money denominations are in Pounds Sterling. One Pound is equal to 100 pence and notes are available in £5, 10, 20, 50 versions.

You may need special permission to bring substantial sums of money out of the country with you, although the UK authorities do not restrict how much money you can bring in.

Once you have saved the money for your tuition fees, there are other expenses which you will need to plan for. In particular you will need money for such things as: Accommodation, food, travel, telephone, emergencies, stationery, books, socialising, shopping, souvenirs, bills , etc.

Telephone
While you are living in England , you will probably want to telephone family and friends at home. Overseas telephone calls can be expensive, so you need to find out the most economical way to call. It is possible to buy telephone cards and/or make your phone calls at off peak times when it is cheaper. Remember there may be a time difference if your home country is far away. You do have FREE Internet and e-mail access when at the College so remember to bring the e-mail and web site addresses that you will need with you.

Emergencies
It is a good idea to save some money for emergencies. As an example, you might want to keep just enough to cover a flight home in case you need to return. Or you may need money to cover taxi fares or special and unforeseen events.

Bills
In private rented accommodation you might have to pay for electricity, telephone or water as well as any rates or taxes imposed by the local council. It is important to pay your bills on time, if you do not, then it may cause problems and prove even more expensive.

Stationery/Books
You can bring pens and paper, calculators and similar things with you as long as your luggage is not too heavy. It is also possible to buy these things here.

Socialising
When you have settled into College, you will meet new friends and there will be opportunities to socialise with them. Many activities will cost very little, however sometimes you may decide to go to a restaurant or to the theatre or cinema. You will need to budget for these events so that you are not excluded when your new friends invite you along.

Souvenirs
This is something to think about before you travel home. You might like to take some items home that will remind you of your time in England or you may wish to buy gifts for your family. If you do save money for this ensure that it will fit into your return luggage.