Transportation

Everything in Durham is within walking distance. Some people choose to cycle as it is quicker, but take note that there are many hills in the city.

Flying Chalks’ tips: You can check out the Durham University’s Buy and Sell Facebook page if you are bent on cycling. There are always cheap secondhand bikes being sold by students on the page. There is also a bicycle shop near the station, and it sells bikes for about £100.

Buses

Buses are widely available. A handy resource is the Durham bus map which lists the routes and timetables for the area. You can find it here. Students enjoy concession tickets, so most journeys are under £5. The main student bus, X12, runs through town and is free for students.

Trains

Trains link Durham to all other major cities in mainland UK. It is a 15 minutes’ ride to Newcastle and about 2 hours to Edinburgh. Purchasing a 16-25 rail card gives you a 30% discount on rail travel. These cards cost £30/year. If you decide not to get a rail card, each return ticket to Newcastle would cost £7.30. You can easily plan your train journeys here. Click here for the map showing all main stations in the UK. 

Taxis

Some students use taxis to get from the station to their homes when they have a lot of luggage with them. Each taxi ride will cost under £5 if you share it with fellow students. 

Banking Services:

The closest cash-points and banks are located in the center of town, less than 10 minutes walk from main campus. The international office or freshers reps will help you open an account in your first week at Durham. You will need your passport, letter from the university, proof of your home address and UK address. 

Once you open a bank account (savings or current account), the bank would usually issue a debit card, a PIN and a dongle for phone or online banking. 

To set up a bank account, you will be required to provide the bank with:

• Passport or national photo ID card (EU citizens)
• Proof of student status – with updated UK address and contact number

Once you open a bank account (savings or current account), the bank would usually issue a debit card, a PIN and a dongle for phone or online banking.

Each bank has different requirements on opening a bank account, with differing minimum balances and service charges. Do visit the British Bankers’ Association (International Students) (BBA) for more information or download the BBA International Students guide to help you choose the bank that is most suitable for you!

Flying Chalks' tips:

1. It is recommended that you make an appointment to open an account with the bank, especially with popular banks like HSBC as they get very busy during the September-October period.
2. Even if you make an appointment, be prepared for a 1-2 weeks’ wait as all international students will be setting up their accounts at the same time
3. Make sure you bring sufficient cash to tide you through the first 2-3 weeks in London. Setting up a UK bank account and transferring money can take more time than expected.
4. Bank branches are very specific about the format of the documentation they will accept, so check with them the exact requirements so you will not make a wasted trip 

For Singaporeans:

Alternatively, you can choose to set up your UK account in Singapore via HSBC at least 1.5 months before departure. Do note that a processing fee will be involved and this process takes at least 4 weeks hence do check with your preferred bank for more details!

Major Banks in the UK:

1. Barclays Bank (Recommended by City University)

Procedures:

1. Students would usually receive an introductory letter from Barclays during the orientation.
2. Book an appointment with Barclays and obtain a formal document with the address of your UK residence, proof of enrolment and personal identification. You will be able to set up a Barclays Student Bank account at no cost after providing these documents to the bank!

Homepage:  Barclays International Students Account
Locations: Locate a Branch
Customer Service: Contact Barclays Bank

2. Lloyds Banking Group

Locations: Locate a Branch
International Students Guide
Customer Service: Contact Lloyds Bank

3. HSBC

Homepage: HSBC Student Banking and Basic Bank Account
Locations: Locate a Branch
Customer Service: Contact HSBC

4. NatWest

Homepage: Banking for International students
Locations: Locate a Branch
Customer Service: Contact NatWest

5. The Royal Bank of Scotland

Homepage: Banking for International students
Locations: Locate a Branch
Customer Service: Contact RBS

Flying Chalks' tip:

• All major banks in the UK share the same ATM machines (also known here as cash points) and will not charge you additional fees should you use your card to draw money from another bank’s ATM. Do note, however, that some ATMs (especially those in news agents) will charge a small fee for withdrawing cash.
• The biggest denominations dispensed by ATM machines are £20 notes. Should you need to withdraw a significant amount of cash for travelling, you can get your £20 notes changed to £50s at the bank.
• We would recommend that you create a bank account in Lloyds, HSBC or NatWest as the services are very good. The banks are usually opened from from 9AM- 5PM on weekdays. Each bank has different opening hours during the weekend. 

Post Office Services

You can post your letters and parcels at the post office. There is a branch at central Durham. Click here for the online guide on how much international postage costs.

Medical Services

All students can register with “The University and Claypath Medical Group”. Appointments are readily available and the procedure will be sent to all students. The clinic is very near to where all the freshers live. The medical service is free for all students.

Over-the-counter medicine can be purchased from Boots pharmacy, Superdrug or Well Pharmacy. Boots and Superdrug are all located in the city center while Well Pharmacy is located near Hild-Bede college.

If you require other services, there is a central hospital that can be easily reached by bus. You should visit the general doctors at the college first to have them refer you to a specialist at the central hospital if your condition calls for it. In the case of an emergency, ring 999 for an ambulance to take you to the hospital.

Telecommunications:

There are 16 mobile network providers in the UK. Most students in the UK subscribe to the pay-as-you-use monthly service. This is a cheap option that provides much flexibility, as students can suspend their line anytime. It is best to check which network offers the best coverage in your area when deciding which network to subscribe to. This website shows you the coverage of each network.

Some telecommunications companies may require a credit check before providing you with a mobile contract. They would expect you to have a credit history (eg. live in the UK for at least 6-months) and would require documents such as a UK bank account and proof of residence in the UK. This option is not recommended for students who have just arrived, or are only staying for a short while.

Here are some of the biggest telecommunications companies in the UK:

1. Vodafone

Vodafone UK offers “Vodafone Free SIM” with “Big Value Bundles” that allows you to top-up, earn reward points, and cancel at any time! It functions like a “pre-paid” SIM card.

Another option is the “SIM-only Bundle” that requires you to pay monthly. You can only choose from a 30 days or a 12 months contract.

**Do note that not all available contracts are shown in the tables above. Do check their website for more information. 

2. O2

O2 UK also offers “Pay as you go SIMs” with “Big Bundles”

O2 UK offers “Pay Monthly SIMs”. You can only choose from a 30 days or a 12 months contract.

3. EE

EE UK offers plans ranging from “Pay as you go Data Plans”, “Pay as you go Plans”, “Monthly/Pay as you go SIM only” and “Pay as you go packs”

There are 3 types of Pay as you go packs: “Everything Packs (30 days talk text and data)”, “Talk and Text Packs (7/30 days talk and text)” and “Data packs (7/30 days Data, talk and texts)”!

4.Three Mobile 

There are 44 SIM only plans available at Three Mobile. These plans provide users with unlimited texts, 4G at no extra cost, hotspot allowances and usage abroad at no extra charges! 

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Unless you use your phone a lot, purchase the Pay as You Go plan (PAYG) from Three mobile as it is cheaper, easier and more flexible! PAYG comes in £10 for 1GB of data and £20 for 12GB of data. Do keep an eye out for promotions for their 12-month contract plans. You might end up saving more. 

Other than the service providers mentioned above, you can also consider GiffGaff. It is an online-only provider, which means they do not have a physical store for you to make purchases. Ordering a SIM card from GiffGaff online is simple and fast. They also offer excellent deals. Its plans offer greater flexibility as you are not tied to a 2-year contract. 

User Opinions

Flying Chalks’ basic summary of the service providers:

• Vodafone: very popular and offers free streaming services and try-before-you-buy data schemes.
• O2: Has long-running customer reward schemes and discount offers.
• EE: Has the best coverage in the UK, with 4G speeds up to five times faster than 3G.
• Three: Cheap calls, generous data allowances and free overseas roaming in 18 countries with ‘Feel At Home’ plan; ideal if you are planning on visiting other countries during your time in the UK.

Flying Chalks’ tip: When you do not have signal on your phone, you will still be able to make emergency calls using other available networks. It is also advisable phones on the roadside if you meet an emergency on the highway.

Here is a list of embassies should you require urgent assistance.

Weather:

The weather in the UK is unpredictable and differs daily. Seasons usually overlap and don’t follow regular patterns. Temperatures and climates vary in the different parts of the UK. You should expect colder and windy weather higher up North and wetter weather in the West. 

Spring
Enjoy the blossoming of spring and thaw out the remnants of winter’s cold between March to May. This is also the period where days are stretched longer with unpredictable showers so it is wise to keep an umbrella close to you. Temperatures fluctuate between 9.3^oC – 15.4^oC and daylight lasts between 11-15 hours.

Summer
This is the warmest season in the UK and it takes place between June and August. It is also coupled with the occasional thunderstorm. This is when you lose your coats, bring out your sunglasses, hit the beach and bathe in the sun. Temperatures range between 18.1^oC – 20.6^oC, sometimes reaching 30^oC. Daylight normally lasts around 16 hours. Do protect your skin from the harsh UV even though it might not feel humid!

Autumn

This season is usually experienced from September to November. You will observe falling leaves and experience dipping temperatures. Early autumn can sometimes feel warm like summer while it can get very cold in November. Temperatures range from 18^oC – 9.5^oC and daylight lasts between 10-14 hours.  

Winter
Temperatures fall in Winter and morning frosts are common. The holiday season begins in December and lasts through February. Winter in the UK is typically wet and windy. This is also the season with shortest daylight hours, lasting between 8-9 hours. Temperatures range from 6^oC to 7.5^oC, sometimes even plunging close to freezing point (0^oC). While snow is not very common, it did snow in some years. Click here or here to find out more. Find out where are the 10 best places to visit during winter.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: It is important to always bring an umbrella with you wherever you go, because it rains very often in the UK. Do consider bringing along a sturdy umbrella that can withstand strong winds. Check the weather forecast on a regular basis.