Study at Cardiff | International

How do I open a bank account in the UK?

To open a bank account in the UK, you need a letter from the University and your passport confirming your contact and address details. You will also need to complete paper application forms at the bank. Completing these forms can take up to 1 hour, so make sure you have given yourself enough time to do this.

There are 5 stages to opening a bank account

1. Enrol online at Cardiff University.
2. Get your student ID card from the International Office (Campus map ref. 60)
3. Get your bank letter from the International Office
4. Choose the best bank for you – staff will give you information about each bank to help you choose
5. Go to the bank and complete the application form to open your account

How do I enrol online?

Using your Cardiff University username and password to go to: http://sims.cardiff.ac.uk from any networked computer at the University. If you have not received your username and password or you have not been able to enrol online, go and ask staff for help in the International Office.

For very useful information about how to enrol online see: www.cardiff.ac.uk/regis/enrolment/essential

How and where can I obtain my Cardiff University student ID card?

You will need to have enrolled online (see above) before you can get your student ID card. Your student ID card will be produced and issued to you in the International Office on Wednesday 23rd Jan 2013.

You need to bring your passport with you when you go to get your student ID card as staff will be checking your visa and that your personal details are correct on the University’s record system. Please make sure that you have a copy of your student ID number to hand when you come to the venue.

If your name, date of birth are not exactly the same as the name and the date of birth on your passport, please make sure these are changed because the banks will not open an account for you if this is not exactly the same. University staff can change these details for you on the University record system.

Erasmus and Research Postgraduate Students only:

You can obtain your student ID card and bank letters from to the International Office on Wednesday 23 January, 12.30 – 14.00.

Study Abroad Students only:

You can obtain your student ID card and bank letters from the International Office on Wednesday 23 January, 14.00 – 17.00.

How do I get my bank letter?

After you have enrolled online and got your student ID card, you can then get your bank letter from the International Office on Wednesday the 23rd of Jan 2013.

Staff will be on hand to give you more information about how to open a bank account and you will find more information in your arrival packs that you receive when you arrive at the University.

What is the process of opening the bank account at the bank?

You will need to book an appointment with a member of staff at the bank to fill in the application forms. It will take at least an hour to complete the forms, or perhaps longer if there are a lot of other students in the bank doing the same thing. Be prepared to wait!

If you are likely to need to apply for a visa extension, please do not choose a paperless bank account, because you will need to have paper copies of bank statements to send with your visa application. Don’t throw your bank statements away! It takes a week to get a duplicate bank statement – so make sure you keep them.

Make sure you go to the right branch of your chosen bank!

There are several branches of each bank in Cardiff, but if you go to the wrong place, the bank staff won’t be able to open an account for you.

What do I need to open a bank account?

Different banks require different documents from you.

Santander

You need;
1. Your Cardiff University student ID card and your passport
or
2. Your passport and offer letter addressed to your home address from Cardiff University or UCAS.
This letter is acceptable even if you have a PO Box in your home address.

HSBC

You need either:
1. Your passport and offer letter addressed to your home address from Cardiff University or UCAS. Your home address must not contain a PO Box number.
or
2. Your passport and HSBC bank letter

Barclays

Your passport and Barclays bank letter.

Difficulty in paying fees with your debit card?

If you have opened bank account you may have problems paying your tuition fees with your debit card in person. However, you do have to option of paying your tuition fees using your debit card by going through "SIMS ONLINE": https://sims.cf.ac.uk/signon/

You will need your username and password. Please ensure that your Full Name, Student (or applicant) Number are quoted when making the transfer. To do this you will need the following detail:

Name of Cardiff University’s tuition fee account:

Co-operative Bank plc, 16 – 17 High Street, Cardiff, CF10 1AX.

Account:
Cardiff University Tuition Fee Account

Account Number:
70867011

Sort Code:
08-09-03

Swift Number: CPBKGB22
IBAN Number GB57 CPBK 0890 0370 867011

Also see:

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