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The University of Southampton
Welcome Pre-sessional

Open a bank account

When you arrive at Southampton you will be able to open a UK bank account. This is important as you will need a UK bank account to set up a Direct Debit to pay the fees for your main degree accommodation.

Look online to find banks that offer student accounts and the services they provide. You will also find information on which documents you need when applying for an account.

What to bring

The application process may vary between banks, but it is likely that the bank will need to see:

You will also need a letter from the University in order to open a UK bank account. Your bank letter will be given to you on your induction day.

How to enter your address correctly learning guide

It is very important that you enter your address correctly when you enrol online because this is the information which is used on your enrolment letter. If you do not enter your address correctly, then your application may be rejected by the bank. Please take the time to look at the short learning guide below, which shows you how to enter your address correctly, and also how to correct mistakes if you have made any. This will help to make sure that you do not have any problems when you come to open a UK bank account.

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Banks on campus

Two banks have branches on the University's Highfield campus - Barclays and Santander.

It is also a good idea to think about how much money you will need for living costs during your time on the pre-sessional programme and your main degree.

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