There are a number of things which will be different as a student, whether you’re from the UK or from overseas. For those coming to RCS from overseas you might want to read about some of the main differences.
Mobile Phone
Please click here for more information regarding mobile phones in the UK
TV Licence
You may not be familiar with the TV licence if your parents/carers or other people who have lived with have paid it. If you have a TV in your room or flat, you must buy a TV licence. It currently costs £159 per year. You need a TV licence to:
- watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
- watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
- download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
You do not need to pay if you only watch TV in the communal area in student accommodation. For more information on TV licences for students please visit: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/
Laundry and Dry Cleaning
There is a laundry room located in Base Glasgow that students are able to use. If you do not live in Base Glasgow and there is no washing machine in your accommodation, search http://www.yell.com to find your nearest laundrette.
Posting Letters and Parcels
There are many Post Offices across Glasgow, ranging in sizes and services – you can buy envelopes, stamps and parcel packets, buy travel insurance and collect foreign currency, depending on the size of the branch. Normal opening hours are Monday-Friday, 9am–5.30pm and Saturday 9am–12:30pm. For further information on postal services visit the Royal Mail Website. The closest Post Office to RCS is located inside WHSmith (a newsagent and bookseller) at 177 Sauchiehall Street.
Electricity
Electric current in the UK is 240 volts at 50 cycles. If you come from a country which operates on a different voltage, you should make sure that you are equipped with the appropriate adaptor for any equipment/appliances which you bring with you.
Places of Worship
Information about places of worship of all denominations can be obtained online at Glasgow Places of Worship.
Further information
Further information on living in Glasgow will be issued to you in our induction portal for successful applicants in August 2023. You will be given access to this at the same time as you receive your matriculation and induction details via Email at the end of August. In the meantime please visit Study in Scotland for guidance.
Clothes/Climate
The weather in the UK is temperate and changeable. Therefore you will need suitable clothing, particularly good waterproof shoes and a warm winter coat. The Scottish are well known for talking about the weather, and it’s for good reason – Scottish weather is very unpredictable. In Glasgow, we joke that we can experience four seasons all in one day! On the whole, we do not experience extremes of weather: summers are warm, but are not hot with temperatures around 15 – 20 degrees and winters are cold and frosty with temperatures around 0 degrees. Spring and autumn are generally quite mild. Glasgow has a huge selection of shops, so suitable clothes can be found to meet any taste or budget.
