There are many internet providers to choose from in the UK all with different packages available at different price ranges, we would recommend that you do some research on this to pick the best provider and price for you and the people you are living with. However, not all providers will provide internet in your area once you have chosen one that you want to go with you will have to input your address and the provider will tell you whether or not they can provide internet for you.

Some tips for setting up internet:

-Different plans will have different speeds of internet that they provide, we would recommend researching how much you would need to suit your houses needs e.g: if 3 people were living at the house and all of them consume internet at a high rate with some gaming or even working from home we would recommend searching "What is the best internet speed for 3 people that use a lot of internet " and then you can decide what to go for based on that information and also your price range

-To save money it it best to go with an annual plan or a 24 month plan these are usually the cheapest per month, you can also take your router with you to a new house if you move as long as the provider still provides internet there this is especially useful if you have a 24 month plan and your house contract is only 12 months. This is an easy process and all you have to do is put in a change address request with your provider which will be on their website.

-Once you know who you want to go with set it up as soon as possible to avoid not having internet for long periods, you can usually choose what day you receive your router so make sure that this is a day after you have moved in and one where you are available to collect the package.

-Most houses will already have internet ports set up in the house so an engineer will not have to come round in these cases, you just set up your internet with the instructions provided and as soon as you activate it with the provider it will work.

The water bill is one of the easiest bills to set up. In the UK each region has one water provider that everyone will use, for the North West which is where Manchester is located, this is United Utilities. To open an account with United Utilities you just need to go on their site and set it up. You will either pay a fixed amount if you don't have a water meter or you will pay a value that changes monthly if you have a meter. Your landlord or agent will tell you if you have a meter and if you do they should tell you how you can access the readings.

If for any reason you have an emergency with you water you should check out this page on the United Utility website. You should also know where your main water tap is in case there is an emergency and you need to shut off the water immediately, if you cant locate it by yourself contact your landlord or agency as they should know where this is.

Setting up your electricity is also easy, unlike your water bill your electricity bill has many providers that you can chose from. This allows you to see which one is providing the lowest price for you and which one provides the benefits that you want. To set up your electricity account you will need to contact the provider and give them a meter reading, your landlord or agent should tell you how to get this reading. After this everything is set up, if you have a smart meter you will not have to give a reading every month - your provider will be able to tell you if you have a smart meter or not. If you don't have a smart meter you give them a reading every month and then your bill will be calculated.

Although as a student you do not need to pay council tax if you are private renting you are not automatically exempt from it and need to submit your excemption with your local council. You can find where to do this below follow the intructions and once you are excempt you will not have to pay any council tax.

NOTE: Everyone in the house will have to be a student for the whole house to be exempt from paying council tax. However, if more than one person is not a student you will not be able to receive any reduction on council tax for the whole house unless you have any of the other conditions that qualify you (if there is only one person that is not a student they can still receive a single person discount on the council tax). In this case as a student you are still exempt from paying the council will not hold you accountable for the bill, but it is up to you and your housemates how you choose to divide the bill and whether you will be included in paying the bill.

The gas bill will not apply to everyone, most apartments in Manchester only have electricity. However, if you are in a place that has gas the easiest way to set this up is to see if your electricity provider also does gas. Most of them will do this so it is worth looking for it or make sure that whatever provider you chose has both. However, if you want them separate there are also providers that just do gas so it is worth researching for who does the lowest prices in your area. To set up gas you will once again have to provide a meter reading, if you don't know how to get this you can ask your agent or landlord. Safety with gas is very important so if you ever suspect a leak or an emergency you can contact the National Gas Emergency Service 24 hours a day on 0800 111 999>

Within your accommodation budget, you will need to consider your rent, this will vary depending on the location of your accommodation and type (shared, private, university halls).

As well as this, you will need to pay for your utilities: internet, electricity, water, and gas.

The main part of your food budget will be your groceries. There are many supermarket options in Manchester that offer loyalty schemes, as well as the option to shop at butchers, bakeries and fruit & vegetable shops.

You may also wish to budget for eating out in Manchester, this would be around £15-£20 per meal at a mid-range restaurant.

To travel around Manchester and the UK, you will need to budget for public transport, including the bus, tram or train, depending on where you are travelling to.

You may also consider a bicycle, Manchester was named the European Capital of Cycling 2024 by ACES. The city is actively investing in cycling infrastructure and promoting cycling as a viable transportation option. This would be a one-time cost of £100-£300+.

Whilst at University you will need to budget for books, stationary and study aids such as notebooks, calculator, pens etc.

There may also be a one time cost of a laptop and other electronic accessories.

Entertainment: Ensure that you budget for entertainment, such as student events, the theatre, cinema, going to a bar, gallery etc.

Mobile Phone: You'll need to purchase a SIM card/sign up for a contract with a UK mobile network provider, ensuring that you budget for your monthly contract or pay as you go amount.

Health insurance: As part of your application you will pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to gain access to the NHS. The usual fee is £624. However, there is a 25 per cent discount for student visa holders - so you should expect to pay £470 per year.

Alternatively, you can choose to purchase private health insurance for a wider range of services, potentially including quicker access to specialists, private hospitals, and a broader selection of treatments.

Clothing: As you are moving to Manchester, it may be that you don't already own clothing to suit the weather. Therefore you will need to budget for shopping for clothes, shoes, an umbrella etc.

Trains require you to buy a ticket before travel, either online or at the station. Ticket types vary depending on travel times and flexibility (see section) for details). Some stations have barriers you must pass through before boarding by scanning your ticket (paper or electronic QR code).

Check you’re on the right platform and train. The Trainline app is useful for buying tickets and checking live updates.

Buses accept contactless payments and offer various ticket options, including single, return, and day passes. You can also use the mobile app for purchasing tickets.

The tram system offers single, return, and day tickets. You can buy tickets at tram stops or use contactless cards or mobile payment options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

If you have a pre-paid ticket, you can board directly. Otherwise, use the “tap on, tap off” system at the station or buy a ticket from the machines. Remember to tap off at your destination with the same card you used to tap on. If a ticket inspector checks, show the card you paid with. The more zones you travel through, the more it costs, so a pre-paid ticket might be cheaper if you travel often.

A System One Travelcard gives unlimited travel on any bus, or combinations of bus, train and tram all over Greater Manchester. Available for 1, 7 and 28 days with an annual option also available.