The first fortnight is busy. Doing these in roughly this order makes everything else easier.
Before you fly
- Make sure you can sign in to your UKVI account and see your eVisa. Your passport must be linked to it.
- Carry your CAS, offer letter, accommodation details and proof of funds in your hand luggage.
- Book airport transfers or check how to reach your city; some universities run free pick-ups in September.
- Bring enough money for your first few weeks, partly in pounds, until your UK bank account works.
In the first week
- 1Enrol at your university. They will check your passport and visa status.
- 2Register with a local doctor (a GP surgery). It is free, and you have already paid the health surcharge.
- 3Open a UK bank account. Many banks and app-based banks let international students open one with a passport and university letter.
- 4Get a UK SIM card. Pay-as-you-go or monthly SIM-only plans are usually cheapest.
- 5Find your way around: the library, your department, the students’ union and the student support office.
If you want to work
- Check the hours your visa allows during term and in vacations. Breaking the limit can end your visa.
- Apply for a National Insurance number online. You can start work before it arrives.
- Your university’s careers service often lists on-campus jobs, which fit study timetables best.
Look after yourself
Homesickness usually peaks a few weeks in. Join a society, find your country’s student association, and use your university’s wellbeing service — it is free and confidential. If you opted in to Students like you, you may already know a few people going to the same university.
