The best bank card to use abroad is one that charges nothing, or close to nothing, to spend in the local currency, so compare non-sterling transaction fees and ATM terms on each provider's own fee page before you fly. For a 3 to 6 month internship, most UK students do best with two cards: a digital bank or multi-currency card for everyday spending, and a high street debit card kept in a separate bag as a backup. Fees and limits change often, so this guide shows you what to compare and where to check, rather than quoting figures from memory.
Why does my high street debit card get expensive abroad?
Three costs catch students out. The first is a fee on each purchase made in a currency other than sterling. The second is a fee, and sometimes a daily limit, on cash withdrawals abroad. The third is dynamic currency conversion: when a till or ATM offers to charge you in pounds instead of the local currency, the machine's operator sets the rate, not your bank, and it is rarely in your favour.
None of these looks dramatic on one purchase. Over a placement where you buy groceries, transport, a phone plan and a weekend trip every week, they become a real line in your budget. Our real cost of an internship abroad guide shows where card charges sit next to rent and travel.
What a fee costs you over a placement
This is illustrative arithmetic, not any provider's price. It shows how a percentage fee on card spending scales with what you spend abroad.
| Spent on card abroad | Cost at a 1% fee | Cost at a 3% fee |
|---|---|---|
| £500 | £5 | £15 |
| £1,000 | £10 | £30 |
| £2,000 | £20 | £60 |
| £3,000 | £30 | £90 |
Read your own bank's fee page, find the percentage it charges for foreign spending, and multiply it by what you expect to spend. That number is the honest cost of leaving your card as it is.
Which card type is best for a UK student abroad?
There are four common options. Fees, allowances and eligibility change, so each row points you to what to check rather than to a figure.
| Card type | Good for | Watch out for | Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| High street debit card | A backup you already have; easy to top up | Non-sterling purchase fees and cash withdrawal fees | Your own bank's fee page |
| Digital bank card (for example Monzo, Starling, Revolut) | Everyday spending, app controls, instant freeze | Monthly free ATM allowances and plan limits | The fees page linked from each provider's site |
| Multi-currency account (for example Wise) | Holding local currency, paying in it, receiving a stipend | Withdrawal allowances and ATM operator fees | The provider's own pricing page |
| Fee-free travel credit card | Larger one-off costs, if you are eligible | Interest on unpaid balances; cash withdrawals are usually treated differently | The card's terms and your repayment plan |
Fee pages are updated often, and a blog post from last spring can be out of date. Open the provider's own page on the day you decide, and check both the fee for spending and the fee for cash.
How do I choose a card for my destination?
- Eurozone (Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland): card payments are widely accepted and one euro-friendly card covers all of them. Our guides to Barcelona, Lisbon and Amsterdam cover the wider costs.
- Switzerland: it uses the Swiss franc, not the euro, so a card that is fine for the eurozone is not automatically the right one here.
- Thailand and Bali: cash matters more, so ATM terms decide the winner. Some local ATM operators add their own fee, shown on screen before you confirm. Withdraw larger amounts less often. See Bali for UK interns for the local picture.
- Australia and New Zealand: card and contactless payment is the norm, so the spending fee matters more than cash. If you go on a working holiday route, see our Australia guide.
- USA: cards are accepted almost everywhere, so pay by card and keep cash withdrawals small. Check that your card works with the local contactless and wallet options.
What should I set up before I fly?
- Order the card early. Delivery, activation and PIN setup can take longer than you expect, and you want it working before departure.
- Update your bank. Check whether your provider wants travel notice, and make sure your phone number and app notifications work abroad.
- Add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay. Contactless is the default in many cities and means your physical card can stay put.
- Carry a backup card in a separate bag, ideally from a different provider, so one lost wallet does not leave you stuck.
- Learn the freeze and lost-card procedure. Know how to freeze from the app, and save your bank's lost-card number in your phone.
- Sort your insurance. Card cover is not a substitute for travel insurance. Read our insurance guide and the full pre-departure checklist.
How do I get paid by an overseas host?
If your host pays a stipend or salary, ask three things early: what currency, into which kind of account, and when. Many hosts can pay into a UK account or a multi-currency account, which saves you opening anything locally. A local bank account starts to be worth it on longer stays, or when the host can only pay locally and conversion would otherwise cost you on every payment. Some destinations also ask for paperwork before you can open one, so check the requirements first. Whether you will be paid at all depends on the role: see paid vs unpaid internships abroad.
What are the common card traps abroad?
- Saying yes to pounds at the till. Always choose the local currency.
- Airport exchange desks. Skip them; use an ATM or your card once you arrive.
- Assuming everyone takes cards. In cash-heavy destinations, markets, small cafes and local transport may not. Carry a small amount of local cash.
- Relying on one card. A blocked or lost card is the most common way a card problem becomes a real one.
- Forgetting the budget. Compare cities in our cheapest countries for an internship abroad guide, then plan your money around the one you choose.
Once you have a placement, it helps to know how a finished profile reads to hosts. Look at an example finance profile and the free internship toolkit for what to prepare before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bank card to use abroad as a UK student?
There is no single best card. The best one for you charges nothing, or very little, to spend in the local currency and lets you take out the cash you need without a fee. For most students that means one digital bank or multi-currency card for everyday spending plus a high street debit card as a backup. Check the current fee page of each provider before you choose, because fees and limits change.
Can I use my normal UK debit card abroad for a 3 to 6 month internship?
Yes, it will work in most places, but many high street current accounts charge a fee on every non-sterling purchase and on cash withdrawals abroad. Over several months those charges add up. Look at your own bank's foreign usage fees before you go, and keep the card as a backup rather than your main one if a cheaper option exists.
Should I pay in pounds or the local currency when the card machine asks?
Pay in the local currency. When a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in pounds, that is dynamic currency conversion, and the exchange rate is set by the machine's operator, not your bank. Decline it and let your own card provider convert the payment.
Do I need to tell my bank I am going abroad?
Check your bank's app or website. Some providers ask you to register travel plans and others do not, but you should always update your address and phone number, make sure your app can receive security notifications abroad, and know how to freeze the card from your phone.
How do I avoid ATM fees abroad?
Withdraw larger amounts less often, rather than small amounts several times, check your provider's monthly free withdrawal allowance, and read the ATM screen carefully. Some local ATM operators add their own fee, which is shown before you confirm. Cancel the transaction if you do not want to pay it and try another machine.
Do I need a local bank account for my internship?
Not usually for a stay of a few months. A UK-issued card or multi-currency account is normally enough. A local account starts to make sense for longer stays, or if your host pays a stipend or salary into a local account and you would otherwise pay to receive and convert it. Ask your host how they pay and whether they can pay into a UK account or a multi-currency account.
Related Guides
- Internship in Japan for UK students: working holiday visa and costs
- Internship in Dublin for UK students: no visa, costs and sectors
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