As a student you are classified as a UK resident for driving licence purposes.
EU/EEA nationals: if you hold a valid licence from an EU/EEA country, you may drive in the UK until your licence expires. You may exchange your licence for a UK licence, if you wish to do so.
Non EU/EEA nationals: if you hold a valid licence, you are allowed to drive for up to twelve months on your country's licence or an International Driving Licence. After that period you must have a British Driving Licence. . You must obtain a provisional UK licence and pass a driving test before the twelve-month period elapses. You can apply for a provisional licence once you have been a resident in the UK for six months. For more information on obtaining a provisional licence and taking a driving test, see the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
If you hold a licence from any of the following countries, you may exchange your licence for a full British licence without taking a driving test first: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Faeroe Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland or Zimbabwe.
If you do not exchange your licence within twelve months of first arriving in the UK, you must not drive after the end of the twelve-month period. You can apply to exchange your licence at any time between six months and five years of coming to the UK.
Further information can be found at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website.