International student safety

This page brings together safety advice for International students to help you feel confident and stay safe in London.

Support is here for you

If you are on campus and need urgent support, please find a safe space and call Security on 0207 040 3333. For emergencies call 999. For non-emergency crimes, call 101.

For many of you, it's your first time living away from home in a new country and we want to help you feel confident and stay safe. London is an amazing city and we look forward to welcoming you.

This page brings together safety advice for International students. Like any large city, it's so important to look after your personal safety. For detailed advice on key safety topics, we recommend: City St George's guide to staying safe in London.

On this page:

• Keeping your belongings safe
• Travelling in London
• Accommodation safety
• Be scam aware
• UK Laws to know
• Respect and conduct
• How to report a crime 
• External support services

Keeping your belongings safe

Like any large city, It's important to be mindful of theft and understand the steps you can take to ensure you and your belongings are safe.

Always keep your valuables like your phone, purse, or wallet close to you and out of sight when not in use. When you're out and about, it's important to avoid distractions so you can stay aware of what's happening around you.

Pickpocketing is one of the most common forms of theft in London, and thieves sometimes use bikes or mopeds to snatch phones from people in public, so be cautious of bikes or mopeds on the pavement.

Make sure you know best practices for phone security, bike security, and using ATMs safely. Find out how to stay protected against theft.

Insurance

Make sure you have insurance for different scenarios - your belongings, mobile phone and medical insurance. If you plan to drive in the UK, car insurance is legally required.

Staying safe when travelling in London

Whether you are arriving in London for the first time or travelling around the city, taking a few simple precautions can help you stay safe.

Passports and visas

Make sure you keep your travel documents safe and have photocopies of all the pages in your passport. Losing a passport can be stressful but there are steps to handle it. See our Advice for Lost Passports and Visas page for more information.

Taxis

• Only London's famous black cabs can be hailed in the street
• Only take minicabs that have been booked in advance with a legitimate minicab company
• Never accept a ride from someone approaching you.

Cash

• The Police do not advise carrying large amounts of cash so make sure you look at alternatives and store it in a safe place
• Keep cash, bank cards and valuables secure and out of sight.

Travelling home at night 

Travelling around London at night is usually safe due to the high number of commuters, even so it's important to take extra care at night.

• Stick to well-lit, busy streets and do not take shortcuts through dark alleys
• Avoid empty train or tube carriages where possible
• Avoid waiting at isolated bus stops.
• Avoid using ATMs at night
• On the night bus - sit close to the driver on the lower deck if you can. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you can tell the driver.

Strut Safe

If you're walking alone, you can call Strut Safe on 0333 335 0026. Strut safe is a UK-wide phone line where you can chat to a friendly volunteer to help you feel safe until you get home. It's open Fridays and Saturday, 7pm-3am and Sundays 7pm-1am.

On a night out

Stay with people you trust, know your limits, never leave your drink unattended and never accept one from someone you don't know. Find out more tips for staying safe on a night out.

Accommodation safety

Know what to do in a fire emergency: Familiarise yourself with the fire exits and assembly points in the buildings you use, including your accommodation. Check the University's fire emergency procedures for more information.

Check visitors: Only let in people you know or are expecting. Avoid holding the door open for people you don’t know. They could be trying to sneak into your building, this is known as tailgating.

Secure your belongings: Check that door and window locks are working properly when you arrive. Keep your keys safe and avoid sharing them with others. Store valuables such as laptops, phones and tablets out of sight rather than on display, particularly near windows.

For more tips, visit our Safety at home page.

Living in private accommodation

As a City St George's student you have access to University of London Housing service. The service offers free advice on issues such as deposits, tenancy agreements, scams and landlord disputes. They can also check contracts before you sign.

Be scam aware

Action Fraud offers advice on how to keep your details secure and what to do if you think you've been a victim of identity fraud.

There have been cases of scammers targeting international students, claiming to be a 'trustworthy’ organisation. They will make demands for money by claiming there’s an immigration issue. These scammers may trick or frighten you into paying by seeming like it’s very urgent. Signs to look out for:

• Urgent and dramatic tone, talking about deportation or visa cancellation to scare you
• Requests for immediate payment or bank details
• Limited but accurate personal information about you

If you find yourself in a suspicious situation:

1. Don’t confirm or disclose any personal details
2. Don’t pay - The home office nor the UKCISA would ever ask for money over the phone
3. End the call or do not reply

If you suspect a scam

You can reach out to the International Student Advice team via the Support@City platform or Campus Security 020 7040 8047 during regular hours. You can also report it online to Action Fraud. Stay updated by checking resources like UKCISA.

An example of a scam targeting Chinese international students:

Students received phone calls and messages on Telegram and WeChat with what looked like an official arrest warrant from China. The caller states you need to pay money to cancel the arrest warrant. People have lost as much as £40,000 or £80,000 due to this scam.

If you get a message like this, don't pay. Official authorities won't ask for money in this way. Report it immediately to both the local police and the university.

For more information about scams, please see our Online Safety page.

UK laws to know

You should make yourself aware of British Law, which may be different from the law in your own country, so you don’t inadvertently commit a crime. You can find an essential guide to the law in the UK at www.gov.uk/browse/justice.

Respect and conduct

Everyone in the City St George's community should uphold these values, on campus and online:

• Inclusive - This means ensuring everyone feels welcome and is valued.
• Respectful - This means being mindful of how language, behaviour and assumptions impact others.
• Supportive - This means challenging inappropriate behaviour, offering help when needed, and contributing to a culture of kindness.
• Always learning - This means being open to feedback and reflecting on and understanding experiences unlike your own.

As set out in the Student Charter, City St George's students should treat fellow students with respect, as equal and valued members of our community. Discrimination, harassment and bullying and hate incidents are never tolerated.

If you have witnessed or experienced unacceptable behaviour, you can report it via Report + Support and get the support you need. You can also reach out to Dignity and Respect Advisers. Please see the list of support services here for you.

How to report a crime

UK Police have a duty to keep everyone safe in the community, prevent crime and ensure the law is followed.

If you become a victim of crime, you can:

• Contact the Police to report it, for emergency services call 999, to report a crime that doesn’t require emergency attention call 101 or report it online.
• Don’t worry about language difficulties as the Police can find someone that speaks your language, free of charge
• You can also report a crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or via an anonymous form.

If you’re not comfortable speaking with the Police, you can speak to a trusted person on campus

• Speak to our 24/7 Campus Security team on their emergencies line on 020 7040 3333 or their non-emergency line during office hours on 020 7040 8047
• You can also reach out to your Support services at City St George's.

You can also reach out to Victim Support on 0808 1689 111

If you have been a victim of theft, you can report this to the Police and receive a crime reference number, which is important for insurance claims.

Key external contacts

For further support, you can always reach out to your Support services at City St George's.

For independent advice you can reach out to the Students' Union's Advice service.

Here is a handy list of specialised external support services:

• Citizens Advice: Get financial and legal support
• Crimestoppers: You can report a crime anonymously. Call: 0800 555 111
• Equality and Human Rights Commission: Support for racial or harassment issues. Call 0808 800 0082
• National Domestic Violence Helpline: For domestic abuse issues. Call 0808 2000 247
• NHS: 24/7 Health information. If you need medical help and it's not a medical emergency. Call 111
• Immobilise Crime: Register your valuables
• Samaritans: 24/7 Emotional support no matter what you’re going through. Call: 116 123
• Victim Support: 24/7 Support for victims of crime. Call: 0808 1689 111

For more safety tips you can visit Stay City Safe on the Student Hub.