YSJ London
International student life in London
Discover practical tips to help you settle into your student life.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/1600-x-1000/London-Campus---Marketing-Photographs---March-2025-_-039-1600-x-1000.jpg)
Accommodation in London
It is essential that you arrange your accommodation yourself before you arrive in the UK.
It is likely that you will need to use a private accommodation provider. We recommend that you use a dedicated student accommodation provider, as these prices will include all bills and excellent services. You will also have an instant network of student friends.
If you are seeking cheaper accommodation, or family accommodation, always consider the cost of bills and commuting as this can push the price up significantly. Read your contracts carefully because when you have signed a contract it is legally binding.
Further information on accommodation can be found on our London Accommodation Guide (PDF, 2.0 MB).
You can also find more information on renting in England, in the Government's How to rent guide (PDF, 0.6 MB).
You can see some helpful accommodation websites on our Study in London page.
Travel in London
As a full time student in the UK you are entitled to a discount on your travel in London. This means that if you take a train or bus within London Zones 1 to 6 you can do so for less than the full rate.
To get this discount you need to apply for an Oyster card.
You can apply for the 18+ Oyster card if you are:
- 18 or over
- Live in a London borough during term time
- Enrolled at a school, college or university
Full details of eligibility are on the Transport for London website.
You can apply for an Oyster card on the Transport for London website.
Transport for London - Student Oyster Card
For help with your application, download our step by step guide: Oyster Card Application Process (PDF, 0.3 MB)
If you have any problems with your application or order process, contact Transport For London to ask for help.
Working in London
As a Student visa holder, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time during holiday periods.
For more information on working whilst studying in the UK, please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website:
You can also receive tailored careers support from our careers service while you study and after your graduation.
Healthcare
As an international student, you can access the UK's National Health Service.
You will need to register with the National Health Service (NHS) in case you are ill in the UK.
You can find a GP and information about how to register with a GP on the NHS website.
As part of your visa application, you will have paid for a healthcare surcharge, called the Immigration Health Surcharge or IHS. This means you are entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS) for free.
If you require medical attention at Accident and Emergency (A&E), or if you need to visit a General Practitioner (GP), there is no cost for this. In an emergency, hospital treatment is free. This means there is no cost for calling an ambulance in an emergency, for using Out of Hours Clinics, or for calling 111 for urgent medical advice.
If you have not already registered with a local GP, please make this a priority. You can find your local GP on the NHS webpage.
If you have already registered but struggle to get an appointment and require immediate medical attention, but it is not an emergency, please go to your nearest Out of Hours Clinic. You can find this by doing a simple Google search. For example, there is an Out of Hours Service in Poplar.
If you are given a prescription by a doctor, you will need to go to your local pharmacy to collect the prescription and also pay for it. It is important to note that there is usually a cost of £9.90 per prescription and this is paid at the pharmacy.
Opening a bank account
You might want to open a UK bank account during your studies. You can set up a bank account either online or in-person.
More information on opening a UK bank account can be found in the London Student Guidebook or on the Finances for London students web page.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/480x320/London-campus-Student-shoot--career---support---library---portrait.--classroom---lecture---2025-216-480-x-320.jpg)
Student Hub
Here at York St John, we offer a wide range of support services to help guide you on your academic and personal journey through our Student Hub.
The Student Hub brings together all our support services so that you have a single place to go to for help. The Student Hub is dedicated to resolving your queries and issues as quickly as possible.
The Student Hub can assist you:
- online – this is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
- in person – at the Student Hub desk on Level 3, 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
- by telephone – on 01904 876 500, 9.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
You can find further details about the Student Hub on our dedicated page on our website:
We also created some helpful videos on our YouTube channel to assist you. These include:
- a general overview of the Student Hub
- how to ask for help on the Student Hub online portal
- how to book and view appointments online with the Student Hub, and
- how to use our online Student Hub help pages.
Specialist support
Our student community is diverse and we have specific support and guidance to help all our students with their studies. We provide one-to-one support for a range of different circumstances. We can arrange regular meetings to discuss your individual situation and connect you to relevant services.
Our Disability Support team is available to help applicants and students with disabilities, long-term health conditions, mental health conditions or specific learning difficulties. We will work with you to decide on the support that will help you succeed, and will also help develop study strategies in line with your personal learning goals on your course.
How we communicate with you
We use a variety of student information channels to ensure you have all the information you need to be successful at York St John University. It's important that you are aware of these channels and check them regularly to ensure that you don't miss key information.
YSJ for You course
We have created an online Moodle course to help you prepare for joining us. Our ‘YSJ For You’ online course will help you:
- Develop the digital skills to make the most of university learning
- Learn how to use module reading lists to find out what you will be studying
- Gain study skills like time management and note-taking
- Understand how to evaluate and use information effectively for your course.
You can find out more about our online course and how to access it on our dedicated page.
Campus
We are an inclusive campus
At York St John, we truly value our inclusive community and will not tolerate racism. Everyone has the right to hold varying views and engage in open dialogue, but this must be in line with principles of freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Whether online or on campus, we all have a right to expect dignity and respect, and a responsibility to uphold it. Use our Report and Support service to raise any concerns that make you feel uncomfortable.
We are a no smoking campus
A friendly reminder that smoking and vaping are not permitted on any YSJ campus. We appreciate your help in maintaining a smoke-free and vape-free environment.
Getting here
Our full address is Export Building, 1 Clove Crescent, East India, London E13 2BA.
The campus is next to East India DLR (Docklands Light Railway) station in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
You can find the Campus on Google Maps.
Find out how to get to our London Campus.
