Welcome to Solent University!
Studying abroad is an exciting adventure. It is important you prepare yourself for your arrival, first days, and weeks in the UK. The British Council website has lots of information about moving to the UK to study. Information about visas for studying in the UK can be found on our website, as well as on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website. The UKCISA pages are also a source of valuable information about the life in the UK.
Here, we'll guide you through the most important things you need to consider before you arrive and after you arrive, as well as other useful information to help you settle in quickly and get the most out of your time as a student at Solent University.
Before you arrive
Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) deposit
If you require a CAS for your Student Visa application, you must pay 50% deposit towards your tuition fee before a CAS is issued. Here you will find information about the online services available to make payment.
Paying tuition fees and enrolling on the course
You are obliged to pay 50% of your fees before enrolment on your course. The remaining 50% then needs to be paid within 15 weeks of starting your course.
See the payment plans offered by Solent
Solent University does not accept cash, cheques or bankers drafts in payment of tuition fees. If you plan to bring money into the UK and you are arriving from a country outside the UK, you must declare to customs officers any cash equivalent of €10,000 or more.
We recommend you settle payment before coming to the UK, as it may take a couple of weeks to open a UK bank account. The UKCISA website offers a guide on opening a bank account.
Arranging finances
It is important to plan your finances ahead of your travel. This includes planning your accommodation, tuition fees, and living costs.
Opening a UK bank account and transferring money to the UK may take a while - we advise you to come with a credit card enabled for use abroad. In the UK, card payments is now a preferred method of payment.
Solent University does not promote, recommend or endorse any particular bank or establishment, and the text below is for information purposes only.
You may be able to arrange a digital banking solution from abroad. Examples are listed below, but there are many options available. Please be aware that some of these may not be available if you live outside the EU or EEA.
Please remember to check the terms and conditions carefully, to make sure that these banking solutions can meet your needs, and they they are regulated by a recognised financial regulatory body (eg, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK.
Some global banks offer an international bank account. Examples of banks which offer such services include HSBC and Bank of China. Alternatively, try speaking to your bank in your home country to see if they offer an account which could meet your needs.
Accommodation
It is very important that you secure accommodation for your study, ideally before you travel to the UK. We created a comprehensive guide on accommodation options available to International students. Additionally, our accommodation team provide detailed guidance on how to search and book accommodation via approved schemes in the video below.
Organising insurance (travel, medical, possessions)
You are strongly advised to insure your personal belongings against theft, loss and damage before coming to the UK. Many companies specialise in low-cost insurance for students. We are unable to recommend any particular company, therefore it is advisable to shop around for the most competitive quote.
If you are studying for less than six months we recommend that you arrange medical insurance, as access to the National Health Service (NHS) will be limited. If you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge and are studying for over six months, you will be entitled to free treatment on the NHS. However, you may wish to consider additional health insurance to cover medical related costs not covered on the NHS or to reduce waiting times – please see insurance information on the UKCISA pages.
Make a list of everything in your suitcase in case it gets lost. Also make sure you check what you are allowed to take with you to the UK.
Travelling to the UK
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, please do not travel until you have confirmation that your visa has been granted.
We advise you to keep the following documents in your hand luggage when you travel:
- 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 30/90 days from the expected date of travel to enable you to travel to the UK and to collect your BID.
Note: the UK is transitioning to a electronic visa system, therefore, if you have an eVisa, you may not have a BID. - Your plane ticket (or ticket for your ferry or train).
- Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number and letter of acceptance from the University.
- 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.
When you arrive
Arrival and enrolment
It is important you arrive in the UK before any physical classroom-based teaching delivered on your course begins. This will allow you time to settle in, meet your course team and complete all relevant parts of your course induction. Active engagement with the complete programme of welcome, induction and orientation are a key component of setting you up to succeed during your studies at Solent.
International Welcome with early enrolment is available from Thursday 12 September 2024, giving you plenty of time to get over the jet lag and settle into living in the UK before the start of teaching. Our senior international student adviser will guide you through the first steps as an international student in Southampton, so make sure you attend their presentation during induction.
In addition to your timetabled induction activities organised by your course leader, we have planned a number of special activities for you as an international student to attend as your schedule allows. We will provide you with ample talks, presentations, and opportunities to socialise and form new friendship groups on the first days of your course.
If you are arriving in the UK on a Student Visa, attend the 'Student visa compliance talk', which explains your rights and obligation towards study and work. In addition, our ‘Life as an international student in Southampton’ talk will provide you with information about our city, Solent University, study support available to you, UK banking, the national healthcare system (NHS) in the UK, working rights, and much more.
The full plan for the International Welcome will be emailed to you by our admissions team.
Collect your BRP card if you are on a visa
If your Student visa is longer than six months, your visa will either be an eVisa or a BRP card. The UK is currently transitioning to a fully electronic immigration system for 2025 but it is likely some students will still be issued with a physical biometric residence card, known as a BRP, for courses starting in September 2024. Your visa decision letter will detail if you need to collect a BRP card or if you can access your eVisa via an online portal.
You will be able to collect your BRP card from the address stated on your visa decision letter, either a Post Office or Solent University. If the address is not stated on your visa decision letter you will need to look at your visa application to see which address you selected during the visa application process. If you selected a Post Office that is far from Southampton, you can request in any Post Office branch that your BRP card is re-delivered to any Post Office closest to your address (you will need to pay the postage fee).
If you are collecting your BRP from Solent, your card will be available during your enrolment in the Spark Building.
Please check your BRP card for errors carefully. Errors should be reported as soon as possible. The UK government is phasing out the use of BRPs from 2025 - if your visa's end date is 31 December 2024, don't panic. Do check the end date of your visa as stated on the visa decision letter.
Understanding UK etiquette
- The British love to queue! So join the back of the queue and be patient! Have a look at this fun video telling you all about British customs.
- Punctuality - make sure you are on time for classes and appointments. 9am means 9am not 9.15am! If you are going to be late, let the person know by email or text message.
- Get used to saying 'please', 'thank you' and 'sorry'. You'll notice that the British do this all the time. You should also try making 'small talk' - if you can't think of anything to say, try talking about the weather!
- Smoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, as well as restaurants, pubs and public transport. There are usually dedicated smoking areas outside, so look out for these and stick to them!
- You must be over 18 to buy alcohol and anyone who looks under 25 will be asked to show ID - so make sure you have something with you. Shops are able to set their own age limit - if you are too young in their opinion, you may not be served!
Arrival checklist
- Reassure your family. Contact your family to let them know you have arrived safely.
- Open a bank account. Please check the international support page for advice on how to open a bank account.
- Register with a doctor. When you have enrolled at the University, you will need to register with a doctor. Most students, if living in halls, choose to register with St Mary's Surgery. If you are in private accommodation, we recommend you register with the doctor's surgery closest to your home address, use a postcode search for a surgery.
- National Insurance Number. To work in the UK you will need to apply for a National Insurance number. You will have to have your visa and address in the UK to start the process.
- Student discounts. We all love a bargain and, as a student, you're able to take advantage of all sorts of discounts and offers - here are just a few ideas to get you started: UNiDAYS, TOTUM student discount cards, Student Beans, 16-25 railcard.
- Get to know your local area, community, religion and more:
- Locate a place of worship if you practice religion.
- If you are bringing your family, visit your local nursery/school.
- Learn about local travel. There are a few bus companies in Southampton. Each sell their own tickets. You can purchase: one way, return, daily, weekly, monthly tickets: Bluestar Bus, Unilink, Xelabus.
- Friends International is an organisation very active in Southampton that supports international students from local universities. They offer social meetings, trips and regular fun activities. During the welcome period, Friends International will organise a couple of events for you to attend in the evening at the weekend, but make sure you stay in touch via their app for more events during your study.
Additional information and considerations
Bringing your family to the UK
It can be supportive to have your family around you while you are studying in the UK, however there are things you need to consider carefully before moving your family to the UK. Note, the majority of international students are unable to bring dependants with them permanently.
We recommend only bringing dependants to the UK once you have secured permanent accommodation. You can find helpful information on the UKCISA website.
English language support
Want to improve your English, or need help with academic writing in English? Enrol onto free English classes at the University. We offer workshops throughout the academic year for English language learners to build your skills and confidence in this important area. You will be able to register for individual sessions once you are enrolled on your course - more information is on the Portal.
International support, guidance and contact information
In addition to the information on this page, there is lots of useful information on the international support pages of our student portal, including working in the UK, and travelling to Europe (Schengen Visa).
Once you enrol on your course, you will have access to the international support service which offers advice and guidance for our international community.
If you have any further queries, our specialist teams are here to support you. Contact us at internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk.
