Before You Arrive: A UK Pre-Departure Guide for International Students

Moving to the UK to study is exciting and slightly terrifying in roughly equal measure. Most of the stress comes from not knowing what happens when — so this guide walks through the weeks before you fly, the day you land, and your first fortnight, in the order things actually happen. It is written for international students, and where visa or immigration rules come into it, always treat GOV.UK as the final word: rules change, and this guide is not immigration advice.

Documents: what to sort before you fly

Weeks before departure, gather these and keep both paper copies and scans in cloud storage you can reach from your phone:

• Passport and visa decision. Since the UK moved to digital immigration status, most students now receive an eVisa — an online record of your permission to study — rather than a physical card. Older Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been phased out. Check exactly what you have been issued and how to prove your status at GOV.UK, and make sure you can log in to your UKVI account before you travel.
• CAS statement — the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from your university. Border staff rarely ask for it, but carry it anyway.
• Offer letter and accommodation confirmation, plus proof of funds (bank statements or sponsor letters) in case you are asked at the border.
• Original academic certificates and transcripts. Universities often want to see originals at enrolment.
• Prescriptions and a doctor's letter if you take regular medication, with the generic drug name — brand names differ between countries.

Accommodation: decide before you arrive

First-year international students usually choose university halls of residence, and for good reason: bills are included, contracts match the academic year, you do not need a UK guarantor, and it is the easiest place to meet people. Private purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) is the commercial equivalent — often newer, often pricier. Private house-shares are usually cheaper but harder to arrange from overseas and riskier sight-unseen.

Costs vary enormously by city: as a rough guide, halls range from around £120 a week in smaller northern cities to £250 or more in London. Two firm rules: never pay a large sum to a private landlord you found on social media without verification — scams targeting incoming international students are common every September — and if you cannot view a property, book university-managed accommodation instead. Your university's international student support team can point you to vetted options, and UKCISA publishes reliable general advice.

What to pack — and what to leave at home

Bring: a warm waterproof coat (British rain is frequent and sideways), layers rather than one heavy jacket, a UK plug adapter or two, any medication you need with its paperwork, comfort foods that are genuinely hard to find, and one smart outfit. Bring far less than you think. Supermarkets sell cheap bedding, kitchen kit and stationery; Argos, IKEA, Wilko-style discount shops and charity shops will furnish a room for under £100 in the first week.

Leave at home: rice cookers and appliances wired for other voltages (UK mains is 230V with G-type plugs), large quantities of food (some items are restricted at the border — check GOV.UK's bringing-food rules), and heavy textbooks, because your university library and reading lists cover almost everything.

Landing: the airport and getting to your city

At the border, have your passport and CAS details to hand. Many nationalities can use the automatic eGates; others see an officer — either way, be ready to say what and where you are studying. After that, resist the urge to pre-book an expensive taxi. From London airports, trains and coaches are far cheaper; National Express and Megabus coaches serve most university cities, and many universities run an official airport pick-up service in September — check your welcome emails, and book it if offered. If you arrive late at night, one pre-booked night in a hotel near the airport is money well spent.

Your first-week checklist

1. UK SIM or eSIM. Sort this first — everything else needs a UK number. Giffgaff, Lebara, VOXI and similar pay-as-you-go brands need no credit history and cost roughly £10 a month.
2. Bank account. App-based banks such as Monzo, Revolut or Starling can usually be opened within days using your passport and student status; traditional banks may want proof of address and an in-branch appointment. You will need a UK account for rent and part-time work.
3. Register with a GP. If your visa is longer than six months you paid the immigration health surcharge, so NHS care is covered — but only if you register with a local GP practice before you are ill. Registration is free; see the NHS website for how it works. Most universities have a practice on or near campus.
4. Confirm your immigration status. If GOV.UK told you to complete any step on arrival — such as confirming your eVisa or collecting any document — do it within the stated deadline. Follow the instructions in your visa decision letter exactly.
5. Collect your student card — it is your building access, library card and proof of student discounts rolled into one.

Enrolment and the start of teaching

Enrolment (some universities say "registration") is the formal process that makes you a student: identity and visa checks, signing up to your modules, and paying or confirming tuition fees. It is usually online plus one in-person ID check during freshers' week. Miss the deadline and your university must report it — so treat enrolment as non-negotiable, jet lag or not. Soon after, your timetable appears, you will meet your personal tutor, and the student union fair will try to sign you up to thirty societies. Join two or three; it is the fastest route to friends.

Homesickness: normal, and temporary

Almost everyone hits a wall somewhere between week two and week six, when the novelty fades, the weather closes in and everyone at home feels very far away. It usually passes. Things that genuinely help: a routine (cooking, gym, society meetings), video calls home that are scheduled rather than constant, saying yes to invitations even when tired, and daylight — British winters are dark, so get outside in the mornings. If low mood lasts more than a few weeks, talk to your GP or your university's counselling and student services teams; using them is routine here, not a failure. The British Council and UKCISA both publish good guidance on settling in.

Quick answers to common worries

• Can I arrive before my course starts? Your visa start date controls this — check your decision letter, and do not book flights before that date.
• Do I need cash? Very little. The UK is heavily card-based; £50–100 in notes for the first days is plenty.
• Can I work part-time? Most student visas allow up to 20 hours a week in term time, but check the exact condition on your visa on GOV.UK before accepting any job.
• What if my flight lands after accommodation check-in closes? Email the accommodation office in advance — late arrivals in September are completely routine and every office has a procedure.