You need a UK bank account to receive money from your family, get paid for part-time work, and set up direct debits for bills.
Fastest to open — fully online, no branch visit. You need: passport or BRP card, UK address, selfie. Takes about 10 minutes. No monthly fee.
Another fully online bank, no monthly fee. Can be opened before you have a permanent UK address using your university address.
Better for larger international transfers. You need: passport, BRP card, university acceptance letter, proof of address. Visit a branch.
Widely accepted. Similar requirements to HSBC. Book an appointment online first.
Open Monzo or Starling first — you can use it immediately while waiting for HSBC or Barclays to approve your application.