Moving to & studying in the UK and Milton Keynes

A big hello to Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) moving to Milton Keynes to start their research degree, especially International PGRs. These pages largely direct you to relevant information on external websites. If you have a question related to your visa, please contact the Research Degrees Team in the first instance. You may also want to see our page on Connecting with the research student community.

Housing and finding accommodation

Cranfield accommodation

Cranfield University, around 7 miles away from OU’s Walton Hall campus (location via Google Maps), does have a range of student accommodation and they recently told us that they have some availability for new tenants. OU PGRs can apply for a range of options and will have access to Cranfield’s catering and gym options at student rates. There is also a bus service that commutes between Cranfield campus and stops near the OU campus.

If you are interested:

Take a look at the options on this website: Accommodation at Cranfield.
Email Cranfield Accommodation Office at Oncampus@cranfield.ac.uk specifying ‘OU postgraduate research student enquiry’ in the Subject line. You may wish to signal if you have any special requirements or preferences. For example, the number of children or family members who will live with you or any requirements related to disability.
They will send you a form to apply formally – please ignore any references on the Cranfield website to a ‘student web portal EVE’ which is just for Cranfield students.
To secure the accommodation you will need to transfer a deposit within 7 days of being offered it.

Private rental accommodation

The University doesn't own student housing, but can offer some help on finding private accommodation off campus.

Do contact the PGR accommodation officer for help; they post opportunties on PGRS at the OU | Facebook Group and will be able to support you in the search (please note this service is only for PG research students).
You can use various platforms to ask around the community for housing possibilities: the Intranet (you will be able to access this when you have OU log-in details), PGR Community Team (you will be able to access this when you have OU log-in details) and PGRS at the OU | Facebook Group.
You can search using sites like Rightmove, Zoopla, Spareroom and Onthemarket.
If applicable, we can give you a letter to prove that your stipend is tax-exempt. Full-time PGRs don’t have to pay council tax, and so this letter helps the Council to work out how to bill each property correctly. It would most likely be needed if you were to rent a whole property and were receiving letters regarding council tax (possibly addressed to “The occupier”) or if you are sharing a property and your landlord requires proof for the Council that you are a student. You can send a copy of the exemption letter (which you can request by emailing graduate-school@open.ac.uk) along with a completed discount form which you can access from the Milton Keynes Council website.

General guidance for students renting properties

How to rent: the checklist for renting in England. This helps tenants understand their rights and responsibilities. It provides a checklist and more detailed information on each stage of the process, including:

What to look out for before renting
Living in a rented home
What happens at the end of a tenancy
What to do if things go wrong

Guide for tenants

Milton Keynes Central Citizens Advice Contact

Leighton Linslade Citizens Advice Contact

Housing advice from Shelter - Shelter England

Moving to the UK

Please find below some information you might find useful for moving to the UK; we have also compiled ongoing advice for International Students that covers academic engagement and attendance, and rules on paid work.

Visa and Immigration

UK Visas and Immigration

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)

Citizens Advice: Immigration

Coronavirus (Covid-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

For Ukrainian students: UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals

Settled status for EU citizens and their families

UK banking

Your stipend can only be paid into a UK bank account once you have been fully registered. We are happy to provide you with proof of income/studentship letter to give to your chosen bank to help you open an account (most banks will request this). Please email research-degrees-office@open.ac.uk to request this. Once you have visited a bank and opened a new account, you will need to complete an OU payment form and send it back to us so we can arrange
your payments.

Local banks listed in order of closest to campus:

Metro Bank
Address: Unit E, 3 Babbage Gate, Milton Keynes MK10 9SU
Telephone: 020 3402 7760

Lloyds Bank
Address: Lloyds Court, 28 Secklow Gate W, Milton Keynes MK9 3EH
Telephone: 0345 602 1997

TSB Bank (located in The Centre:mk)
Address: 549 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3BD
Telephone: 01908 230089

NatWest (located in The Centre:mk)
Address: 164-166 Midsummer Blvd, Centre, Milton Keynes MK9 3BA
Telephone: 0345 788 8444

Halifax (located in The Centre:mk)
Address: 12 Midsummer Arcade, Milton Keynes MK9 3BB
Telephone: 0345 720 3040

Barclays Bank (located in The Centre:mk)
Address: 9 Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes MK9 3GB
Telephone: 0345 734 5345

Please note there are other banks that you can find by shopping around.
Many banks can offer students extra perks with their student accounts (who doesn’t love a freebie?!) but it’s worth researching your bank account carefully and all the options they offer. Some banks may also charge for accounts, so make sure to shop around to avoid additional fees.

Other money advice:

Preparation and Arrival

Border Force UK: 10 Top Tips for student arrivals in the UK

EURAXESS UK is a British Council hub, which aids researchers in their career development, supporting mobility and acting as a support mechanism for researchers moving abroad or moving to the UK: Guide for international researchers moving to the UK

Living in the UK as an international student

UK Council for International Student Affairs (CISA): is the UK’s national advisory body serving the interests of international students and those who work with them: Information and Advice

Facing Culture shock

Doing doctorate in the UK

Vitae - Doing a doctorate

Vitae - What is it like doing doctoral research in the UK

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) – A guide to doctorate in the UK

UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE): is the national representative body for postgraduate education and research: Resources