Travel in Europe

Last modified: 13 November 2024

If you want to take the opportunity to travel around Europe from the UK during breaks from your studies, you’ll need to check if you need a visa to travel or not.  

For students outside of the EU and EEA, the first thing that you need to check is whether or not you need a visa to travel..  A number of European countries are part of an agreement called 'Schengen'. This means that you can obtain a single visa to travel in those countries.  Countries outside the Schengen agreement may have their own visa requirements.   

The visa rules will also determine when and how you can apply.  

When can I travel?

Last modified: 13 November 2024

It's a good idea to plan as far as possible in advance.  You will need to plan travel around your studies, you may need to obtain a travel visa and if you book travel in advance by rail or by air, prices tend to be cheaper.   

We strongly advise you not to take time out of your studies to travel.  Your institution may not permit this as they will expect you to attend your studies in line with their attendance policies and UK Border Force Officers may also question you on your return if you are travelling during term time (and not at the weekend).  

If you need a visa to travel, embassies may require you to have three to six months left on your UK immigration permission so although you may have time at the end of your studies, it may be more difficult to travel outside the UK at that time.  

Find out any steps you will need to take on arrival back into the UK by reading our immigration on arrival page. 

Travel insurance

Last modified: 13 November 2024

If you require a visa to travel in Europe, you will need to obtain travel insurance. Even if you don't need a visa, it is strongly advisable to obtain travel insurance   before you travel to cover any lost luggage or medical issues.

Schengen visas

Last modified: 13 November 2024

If you are not a European Economic Area national and want to travel to Europe, you may be required to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel. 

The Schengen Visa Scheme is a scheme that allows those wishing to visit certain countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) (and Switzerland) to travel between these countries using only one visa. Together the following countries all make up the Schengen space: 

These countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland 

You can read about what you need to apply for a Schengen visa, and the duration of the visa, by visiting the European Commission website.  

If you are travelling to countries outside of the Schengen space, you should contact that country’s embassy in the UK for information about immigration procedures there.  Visit gov.uk for a list of foreign embassies in the UK.  

Lost passport or BRP while outside UK

Last modified: 13 November 2024

Before you travel, take a copy of your passport, and keep it separate to your travel documents.  If your hostel or hotel has a safe, it is a good idea to leave your passport and spare money there. 

If you have any problems with your travel document or immigration permission, see our information about what to do. 

© 2024 UK Council for International Student Affairs

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