The University of Sheffield
Welcome to Sheffield

Money for Living Expenses

a. Sterling bank draft (payable to yourself)

  1. The simplest way to bring large sums for living expenses.
  2. The charge for a bank draft will be paid at the bank in home country. In general, there should be no payment for receipt or deposit of a draft in the UK.

b. Sterling travellers cheques.

c. Bank account in home country. Ask your bank at home if you can access your account online or via an ATM/debit/cash card in the UK. This will be very useful if you have trouble opening a bank account immediately.

d. Cash or ATM card that gives you access to your home bank account.

e. Credit Card - A credit card from your home country can be very useful, especially if you have trouble opening a bank account immediately.

f. International bank draft

  1. This can be deposited in a Sheffield bank.
  2. NO money can be drawn against it for at least three working days. It is important, therefore, to bring separately money needed within the first few days in Sheffield (for fees and other immediate expenses). See 'Money for the First Few days'

g. Transfer or wiring of money to your own Sheffield bank.

  1. You must contact the Sheffield bank before transferring money.
  2. Each of the major banks has several branches in the city. The address of the Sheffield branch of the bank to which any money has been sent must be clearly recorded.
  3. Bring receipts or any other relevant documentation; long delays can occur when transfers cannot be traced.
  4. Transfer charges are paid in the home country. Transaction charge (plus possibly an exchange fee) will have to be paid to the UK bank as well.

h. Western Union

  1. Money can be sent to Sheffield’s two Western Union offices – Thomsons, 20 Pinstone Street, Sheffield 1; N2C System, 218 West Street, Sheffield 1 4EU or Oscars News and Convenience Store, 211 Crookes Valley Road, Sheffield S10 1BA.
    Further offices can also be found on the following webpages:

www.westernunion.co.uk

  1. Not suitable for large sums since payment is made in cash.

i. Please do not send money for living expenses to the University.
Financial regulations mean that we may have to send this back to your home country. You may not get the money in UK.