Queen Mary University of London

Visiting your child at Queen Mary University of London means flying into London Heathrow (LHR); central London is a direct Tube ride away. Plan the UK visitor visa well ahead.

Getting from LHR to campus

Visitor visa for parents

Indian parents need a UK Standard Visitor visa - one visa covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (there is no separate 'London visa'). It is applied for online and biometrics are given at a VFS Global centre in India. Most are 6-month visit visas; frequent visitors can choose 2-, 5- or 10-year multiple-entry visas. India has a high (around 82%) grant rate.

• One UK visa covers all four nations - no separate visa for London, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Apply about 3 months ahead, especially for graduation - slots book out and graduations are fixed dates.
• A complete file with strong home ties, clear funds and a clear purpose drives the high approval rate.
• Frequent visitors should consider the 2/5/10-year multiple-entry visa to avoid re-applying each trip.

Just admitted to Queen Mary University of London? Here's your arrival checklist.

Arrival checklist

• Book your flight into London Heathrow (LHR) early for the best September fares.
• Piccadilly line from Heathrow into the centre, then Tube/bus to campus - get a student Oyster.
• Sort first-week housing before you land; London's market is competitive.
• Carry your CAS, passport, proof of funds and confirmation of your visa (eVisa share code) in your cabin bag.

London is by far the UK's most expensive student city - about GBP 1,400-2,000 a month all-in sharing and cooking, and UK Visas and Immigration sets a maintenance figure near GBP 1,483/month for London. The trade-offs are unmatched job opportunities and the largest Indian community in Europe; a student Oyster card cuts Tube and bus fares by around 30%.

Monthly cost of living in London (a student estimate)

That's roughly £16,000-23,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.

Finding accommodation

London rents are high, so nearly all students share; zones further out (3-5) and university halls are the affordable routes in.

• Get a student Oyster/16-25 Railcard pairing for ~30% off Tube and bus fares.
• Zones 3-5 and areas like East Ham, Wembley and Hounslow cut rent sharply.
• Halls are the simplest first year - no UK guarantor needed.

Working part-time

On a Student visa you can work up to 20 hours/week during term time (degree level) and full-time during official university vacations. The 20-hour cap is per week, not an average, counts all jobs combined, and you must be a payroll employee - no self-employment, freelancing or gig/delivery work. After graduating you can apply for the Graduate Route: unsponsored post-study work with no job-type or hour limits, currently 2 years (3 for PhD). Note: from 1 January 2027 the Graduate Route drops to 18 months for non-doctoral graduates, so 2026 graduates should apply by 31 December 2026 to get the full two years.

Safety & student support

London's universities's areas are generally safe by UK standards; use normal city awareness at night.

• London's universities has campus security and student-safety services - save the campus number.
• Main student areas are busy and well-populated.
• Use normal big-city awareness on the night Tube and quieter stations late at night.

Indian community & food

London has the largest Indian community in Europe, so desi groceries, temples and restaurants are everywhere.

Indian grocery stores

• Southall (the Broadway) - London's biggest desi shopping district: Quality Foods, Dokal & Sons, Sira Cash & Carry.
• Wembley's Ealing Road 'Little India' (VB & Sons, the Sunday Wembley Market) and Tooting/East Ham for a big shop.
• Mainstream Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's carry large world-food aisles, with store-brand spices 20-40% cheaper.

Student community

• London universities have large, active Indian and South Asian societies with major Diwali and Holi events.
• London has many Hindu temples (including the Neasden Mandir), gurdwaras and a year-round desi cultural calendar.

• Endless Indian dining - Southall, Wembley, Tooting, Brick Lane and beyond.

Cost & living figures for London last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.