Postal Services for UK Students: How to Send Mail, Save on Postage, and Avoid Scams

When you’re living away from home as a student in the UK, postal services, the system used to send letters, packages, and official documents across the country. Also known as mail delivery, it’s one of the most reliable ways to get things like transcripts, visa documents, or birthday cards to your family or back home. Whether you’re sending a parcel to your parents during holidays or receiving a package from Amazon, knowing how postal services work in the UK can save you time, money, and stress.

Most students rely on Royal Mail, the UK’s primary postal provider, handling everything from first-class letters to tracked parcels. But you don’t have to pay full price. Students can get discounts on postage through university mailrooms, bulk shipping deals, or by using services like Parcelforce for heavier packages. Some student unions even offer free or discounted postage for sending official documents. And if you’re sending things internationally, International Standard Post, a cost-effective option for sending letters and small parcels overseas. is often cheaper than courier services—but slower, so plan ahead.

Scams are common in student housing. Fake letters claiming you owe money to a "postal authority" or packages that require you to pay a fee to collect them? Those are red flags. Legitimate postal services won’t ask you to pay upfront just to receive something you ordered. Always check the sender, verify tracking numbers on the Royal Mail website, and never give out your bank details over the phone for a "delivery fee." If something feels off, take it to your university’s student advice center.

Managing your mail matters. If you’re moving between flats or going home for the summer, forward your mail through Royal Mail’s redirection service—it costs around £32 for three months but beats missing important letters from your uni or student loan office. Many students also use private mailboxes like Poste Restante or virtual mail services that scan and forward your mail digitally, which is handy if you’re traveling or studying abroad.

And don’t forget the little stuff: using the right envelope size saves money. A standard letter under 100g costs less than a large envelope, even if it’s just a few pages. If you’re sending multiple items, batch them up and drop them off at a post office during off-peak hours—you’ll avoid queues and sometimes get small discounts. Some students even split the cost of a shared parcel service with housemates for bigger deliveries like textbooks or holiday gifts.

When your student loan letter arrives, your accommodation contract comes in the post, or your visa documents need to be mailed back to the Home Office—you need to know how postal services actually work in practice. This collection of posts gives you real, tested advice from students who’ve been there: how to ship a sofa home for £15, how to track a lost parcel without calling customer service, and why your university’s mailroom is your secret weapon for saving money. You’ll find guides on choosing the cheapest shipping options, avoiding postal scams, and even how to get your mail forwarded while you’re abroad. No fluff. Just what you need to make sure your mail gets where it’s supposed to go—without costing you a fortune.