Preparing for your arrival to the UK can seem particularly overwhelming. You may have lots of questions; what do I need to bring? How do I arrange my travel? What paperwork do I need to have? Read our advice below. Your institution or students’ union will also be able to help.
Important: contact details
Your university or college should have sent you information about arrival, including a phone number for support. Keep this number with you when you travel. Check to make sure you have this – if you can’t find it please contact your institution.
This will seem obvious but make sure you know the address of where you need to get to. Print or write this down – don’t rely on your phone/tablet for essential information like this!
For a thorough guide about coming to study in the UK please download First Steps; a guide written by the British Council.
- A valid passport, with a visa or UK entry clearance (if applicable)
- Your Biometric Identity Document (BID) decision letter which sets out the leave granted and explains the BID collection process in the UK; and your short-term visa vignette in your passport. This visa will have a validity of only 30 days from the expected date of travel to enable you to travel to the UK and to collect your BID
- Your plane ticket (or ticket for your ferry or train)
- Vaccination certificates, if required
- An X-ray certificate, if required
- A letter of acceptance from your place of study (Tier 4). Keep information about the course you’re studying (Tier 4) in paper copy (not an electronic copy on tablet or phone). This includes your university Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number
- Documentary evidence that you have enough money to pay your tuition fees and accommodate yourself while you’re in the UK (recent bank statements, proof of scholarship or sponsor’s letter)
- Originals (or certified true copies) of any degree certificates or technical qualifications
Many institutions offer a ‘meet and greet’ airport or train station collection service for your arrival in the UK. If you want to use this service you will need to book it in advance so check directly with your institution. If you are travelling by air you will usually arrive at Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton or Stansted airports, all of which are convenient if you are studying in London or the south-east of England.
If, like many international students, you are studying elsewhere you can fly to one of the international regional airports located throughout the UK. This will make your journey onwards to your place of study much easier. Many intercontinental flights now serve UK airports such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester; direct and onward connections are available from these, as well as from the London airports, to destinations throughout the UK.
Studying in the UK may seem quite different from studying in your home country. Websites like
Prepare for Success can help you learn about different aspects of academic life in the UK. It includes short videos and quizzes to prepare you for studying here.
Order British currency and travellers’ cheques in advance.
Bring enough money to cover your immediate needs on your arrival in the UK, including customs charges, rail fares and any emergency expenses. About £250 should be enough, but if you have any family with you, you will need more.
Remember that you will probably have to pay a deposit for your accommodation before you move in. This is normally the equivalent of one month’s rent but it can be substantially more, depending on the type of accommodation you are renting. You need to ensure that you have sufficient funds immediately available to cover this.
