Passport  

Acceptance letter 

Accommodation letter 

Proof of health/medical insurance 

A bit of cash and credit/debit cards/Apple or Google Pay 

Weather-appropriate clothing (depending on the season you come to Manchester) 

Adaptor for electrical appliances 

Prescription medication and medical records 

Emergency information 

Transfer service emergency number: + 44 749 400 2815 

Bottle of water: £1.50 

Coffee: £3 

Can of coke: £1 

Meal out for two: £50 

Takeaway pizza: £15 

Sandwich: £2 - £5 

Local bus ticket: £2 

Local tram ticket: £3 

Bike rental: £6 per hour 

Cinema ticket: £10 

Women in the UK are equal to men and should always be treated fairly. 

In Manchester, it is not uncommon for strangers to start conversations with you. This is a great way to meet new people and practice English, but caution should be taken. You should not give out your address and telephone number or accept inappropriate invitations.

“Please” and “thank you” are very important words! Always use them if you ask someone to do something for you or if they help you or give you information. 

The UK is a culturally diverse nation where people of all ethnic backgrounds are treated equally. 

Queueing is very important in the UK and if you are waiting at a shop or for a service, you should always join the back of the queue if there are other people waiting. 

Medical insurance: If you are studying in the UK for less than 6 months, you should take out private health insurance before coming to the UK. 

If you need to see a doctor, you may go to one of the walk-in centres. To find the walk-in centres nearby, you visit: clch.nhs.uk/services/walk-in-centres. 

If you get sick: If you get sick while in the UK, you should visit a doctor. To do this, you will need to register as a temporary patient, which we recommend you do at the start of your stay. You can ask the Student Services team or your host family where the nearest doctor is. If you have a minor illness, you can ask staff at a local pharmacist for advice. Remember to bring any relevant insurance or medical documentation with you. 

Protecting your belongings: We strongly recommend you take out insurance for your personal belongings, especially cameras, music players, mobile phones and laptops. Personal items cannot be covered by English Path homestay or residence insurance. 

Prescription medication: Remember to bring enough of your prescribed medication with you as UK pharmacists will not dispense a foreign prescription. International customs agents may ask you questions about your medication upon your departure or arrival, so be sure to pack it carefully. Bring any important medical records (blood type, prescriptions, x-rays) that might be useful for medical care abroad, as well as contact information for your health care providers at home. 

Staying safe at school: If you or another student has an accident or needs urgent medical attention, please come to reception, where the First Aider is located. 

Fire safety: If you discover a fire, press the fire alarm button on the nearest alarm. Leave the building immediately via the fire exit. Make sure you tell a member of EP staff exactly what happened so they can call 999. If you hear the fire alarm, leave the building immediately. Do not run, use the lift or stop to collect your belongings. EP staff will guide you to the fire exit. Go to the assembly point. Follow any instructions given by a member of EP staff and do not go back into the building until you are told to do so by EP staff.  

Personal safety and looking after valuables: Manchester is generally a safe place, but as with a lot of big cities, you should always be alert. Some tips are: Be alert when you are walking alone at night. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Do not leave your belongings unattended. Be aware of pickpockets in crowded city areas. Do not stop and talk to people trying to sell things on the street. 

No one under the age of 18 in the UK may buy or consume tobacco or alcohol, including beer and wine. If you are under 18, it’s against the law for someone to sell you alcohol, to buy or try to buy alcohol, and for an adult to try to buy alcohol for you.  

For drivers, you must drive on the left-hand side, observe all speed limits and signs, give way to emergency vehicles, obey all directions given by police, stop at red traffic lights, and must wear a seatbelt.  

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a very serious crime and police make regular random checks. 

You will need international ID to enter bars, clubs or pubs (e.g. Passport, ID card, driving license).  

Buying, selling and using drugs is illegal. 

You must attend all classes. If you do not attend your classes, your representative will be informed. If you do not then improve your attendance, you may not be able to continue your course. 85% attendance is needed to be able to receive a certificate of completion. 

Be on time for all your lessons. 

Always tell English Path if you are going to be absent from school for any reason and tell your host family if you are going away overnight. 

If you commit a criminal offence or have to be severely disciplined, you will be sent home. We will also inform the immigration authorities. 

Be respectful, polite and open to different cultures. 

The Main banks in the UK are HSBC, Barclays, Natwest, Nationwide and Santander. To open a bank account, the following documents may be needed:  

You can get the school letter from Student Services to take to the bank. For online banks, you may open your account online without a letter from us. 

Call 999 in case of fire, a medical emergency or if you need the police. 

Call 101 if you need the Police and it is not an emergency. 

Call 111 if you need medical and it isn’t an emergency. 

If you choose to book an airport transfer, your flight details should be sent to us 4 weeks in advance to ensure we will be able to provide you with an airport transfer. 

A driver will meet you after you come through the customs area and drive you to your accommodation.