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🇬🇧 Real Cost of Living💼 Visa Sponsor Jobs🏠 Safe Housing✅ Arrival Checklist💬 Student Stories👥 Community💸 Send Money Home🎓 University Enrolment📊 Budget Calculator🛡️ Scam Protection🚇 Student Oyster📋 eVisa & NI Number🇬🇧 Real Cost of Living💼 Visa Sponsor Jobs🏠 Safe Housing✅ Arrival Checklist💬 Student Stories👥 Community💸 Send Money Home🎓 University Enrolment📊 Budget Calculator🛡️ Scam Protection🚇 Student Oyster📋 eVisa & NI Number

Built for international students

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No brochure lies.

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Everything you need

Survive and thrive in the UK

Cost of Living

The real numbers agencies don't show you.

Monthly budgets for 6 UK cities — rent, groceries, transport, social. Built from real student data, not university brochures.

Explore Cost of Living
💰

£1,250

avg. monthly spend in London

Jobs & Sponsorship

Only 8% of UK employers can legally sponsor visas.

We filtered 110,000+ licensed sponsors from the Home Office register down to the ones that will actually hire you. Part-time rights, pay rates, and work-hour limits explained.

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💼

8%

of employers sponsor visas

Housing

Never get scammed by a fake listing again.

Every property vetted for safety, proximity to campus, and price accuracy. Red flags detected before you pay a deposit.

Explore Housing
🏠

£525

avg. verified room price / mo

Arrival Checklist

45 tasks. Zero stress. First week sorted.

From eVisa activation to Student Oyster to NI number — every bureaucratic step, in the right order, with zero guesswork.

Explore Arrival Checklist

45+

steps, fully guided

1,200+
students helped by RealityCheck UK
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12 modules

Your complete UK toolkit

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Cost of Living

Real budgets for 6 UK cities

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Jobs & Work Rights

Sponsor filter + pay rates

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Housing

Scam-checked listings

Arrival Checklist

45 steps, zero stress

📖

Student Stories

Peer-sourced real experiences

👥

Community

Connect by country

🎉

Events

Student meetups near you

🤖

AI Companion

Mental health & advice, 24/7

💸

Send Money Home

Best exchange rates

🎓

University Enrolment

Apply direct, no agency

📱

Essentials

SIM, VPN & UK banking guide

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Support

Real help, real humans

What we give you

Everything agencies charge £2,000–£5,000 for.
Free in the app.

Real cost data. Visa-sponsor jobs. Scam-checked housing. University enrolment. We built what international students actually need — not what agencies want to sell you.

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46 UK universities

No agency fee

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52,000+ sponsors

Home Office verified

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Scam-checked listings

Housing vetted

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Live Wise rates

Best transfers

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What international students wish they knew before arriving in the UK

Real students. Real feedback.

What students say

I arrived in September with no idea how to open a bank account or get a SIM card. RealityCheck UK had every answer. It felt like a friend who'd done it before me.

Amara K.

MSc Computer Science · UCL · Nigeria 🇳🇬

The housing section saved me from a £600 deposit scam. The red flags list was exactly what I needed before signing anything.

Priya S.

BSc Business · University of Leeds · India 🇮🇳

I used the Wise link from the transfers page and saved £28 on my first transfer home compared to my bank. This app actually saves you money.

Kwame A.

LLM Law · University of Edinburgh · Ghana 🇬🇭

Found my first part-time job in the UK through the jobs board in week two. My friends from other unis are still looking months later.

Mei L.

MEng Engineering · University of Manchester · China 🇨🇳

The arrival checklist is the most practical thing I've seen for new international students. Step by step, nothing missed.

Fatou D.

MA Education · King's College London · Senegal 🇸🇳

The AI companion helped me during a tough week of culture shock. It doesn't replace therapy but it's available at 3am when nothing else is.

Rafael M.

MBA · Durham University Business School · Brazil 🇧🇷

Student guides

Practical answers to real questions

All guides →
Visa7 min read

BRP Card vs eVisa — What You Need to Know in 2026

BRP cards expired 31 December 2024. Your status is now digital. How to access your eVisa, generate share codes, and prove your right to work or rent.

Read guide →
Visa8 min read

How to Extend Your Student Visa in the UK (2026)

Step-by-step guide: when to apply, documents needed, costs (£558 + £776 IHS = £1,334), and the most common mistakes that cause refusals — no agency needed.

Read guide →
Work Rights6 min read

Minimum Wage in the UK for International Students (2026)

Current rates (£12.21/hr for 21+), how many hours you can work on a Student visa, and how much you can earn per week during term time and holidays.

Read guide →
Transport7 min read

How to Get a Student Railcard in the UK (2026)

1/3 off every train journey across Great Britain. International students qualify even if you are over 25 — get yours in under 10 minutes.

Read guide →
Visa8 min read

UK eVisa Guide for International Students (2026)

Your visa is now digital. How to view your eVisa, generate a share code for landlords and employers, and what to do if you lose access.

Read guide →
Health7 min read

How to Register with a GP and Use the NHS as an International Student (2026)

Free healthcare from day one — how to find and register with a GP, use NHS 111, and what your IHS surcharge covers.

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Work Rights9 min read

How to Find a Part-Time Job as an International Student in the UK (2026)

Best job boards, highest-paying student roles, CV tips and the 20-hour rule — everything you need to earn while you study.

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Money Saving6 min read

Best Student Discounts in the UK: TOTUM, UNiDAYS & More (2026)

Save hundreds per year — the complete guide to TOTUM, UNiDAYS, Student Beans and every discount card available to international students.

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Money Saving8 min read

How to Claim a UK Tax Refund as an International Student (2026)

Most international students overpay income tax through PAYE. Claim £200–£600 back from HMRC using form P85 — free and takes 30 minutes.

Read guide →
Budgeting10 min read

Cost of Living in UK Cities for International Students (2026)

London vs Manchester vs Leeds vs Edinburgh — full monthly breakdown for 8 cities. Know your budget before you commit.

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Money Saving5 min read

Council Tax Exemption for Students: Claim It and Pay Nothing (2026)

Save up to £3,100/year — you are legally exempt but must claim it yourself. 15-minute step-by-step guide.

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Visa8 min read

Graduate Route Visa UK: Everything International Students Need to Know (2026)

Stay and work in the UK after your degree — no sponsor needed. Cost, work rights and the 2027 changes explained.

Read guide →
Transport6 min read

Student Oyster Card London: How to Get the 18+ Discount (2026)

Get 30% off all TfL travel — Tube, bus, Overground, DLR and Elizabeth line. Step-by-step guide for international students.

Read guide →
Work Rights8 min read

How to Work as an International Student in the UK (2026 Guide)

20-hour rule, minimum wage, NI number, student jobs and tax basics — everything you need to work legally on a Student visa.

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Work Rights7 min read

How to Get a National Insurance Number (NI Number) in the UK (2026)

Apply online in 20 minutes — what you need, how long it takes, and whether you can start work before it arrives.

Read guide →
Banking8 min read

How to Open a UK Bank Account as an International Student (2026)

Monzo, Wise, Revolut and Starling compared. Open in 10 minutes with just your passport — no UK address needed.

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Housing9 min read

How to Find Student Accommodation in the UK (2026)

Amber Student, university halls, Unite Students, SpareRoom compared — with city prices and a scam checklist.

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Arrival Guide8 min read

UK Arrival Checklist for International Students (2026)

eVisa, bank account, NHS, Council Tax exemption — everything you need to do in your first month, week by week.

Read guide →
Money Transfers7 min read

How to Send Money Home from the UK Without Losing a Fortune

Wise, Remitly, WorldRemit, Sendwave compared — fees, exchange rates, and speed for every corridor.

Read guide →
Essentials6 min read

Best SIM Card for International Students in the UK (2026)

Compare giffgaff, Lebara and Saily. Find out which SIM suits your needs and how to get one before you land.

Read guide →

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Essential

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Everything you need to start your UK journey — always free.

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  • Cost of living calculator
  • Housing search (10 listings/day)
  • Arrival checklist
  • Community (read-only)
  • Student jobs board
  • Send money comparison
  • University enrolment tool
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Pathfinder

£4.99/month

For students who want real advantages — jobs, housing & wellbeing support.

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  • Everything in Essential
  • Housing search (25 listings/day)
  • Visa-sponsored jobs board
  • Community posting & replies
  • AI Wellbeing Companion
  • Job alert emails (instant)
  • Student stories access
  • Priority support

Pioneer

£9.99/month

Full access — for students who want every tool to thrive in the UK.

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  • Everything in Pathfinder
  • Unlimited housing listings
  • Unlimited AI companion sessions
  • Exclusive Pioneer community
  • Early access to new features
  • University application support
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