Before you arrive

Checklist for new students

Browse information for international students

All students

Before you arrive

  • Arrange your accommodation.
  • Arrange to pay your fees. This is really important because if you don’t pay your fees we will not be able to allow you to continue studying with us and you could be suspended and then withdrawn. If this happens and you are an international student, your visa to stay in the UK will also be revoked. If you struggle for any reason to pay your fees please speak to us (internationalstudents@leicester.ac.uk) as soon as possible, and we will do all we can to help you.
  • Complete online registration before the start date of your course.
  • Check what you need to bring with you (including documents for your ID check/Visa Checkpoint)
  • Get vaccinated: make sure you are up to date with all routine immunisations as recommended by the Department of Health (MMR and meningitis; international students also need to be vaccinated against tuberculosis). Be aware that, though the Covid crisis is over, it may return so ensure your Covid jabs are up to date.
  • Let us know if you have a specific learning difficulty, a diagnosed mental health or long-term condition, or condition on the autistic spectrum, so we can support you from when you arrive.
  • Plan how to get here.

You may also want to

International students

If you are an international student, you should also:

  • Check and renew your passport if necessary so it is valid for travel to the UK. Since the UK left the EU there are different rules about travelling on EU ID cards. You can only travel to and from the UK on an EU ID card if you hold Pre-Settled or Settled status. 
  • Apply for your visa – If you will spend more than 6 months in the UK, you will normally need to apply for a Student visa unless you are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or a Swiss student who has obtained Pre-Settled or Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. It can take a long time to get a Student visa and delays are expected in Visa Application Centres overseas. You can apply outside the UK for your visa up to 6 months before the start date of your course on your CAS and apply within the UK up to 3 months before the course start date on your CAS. If you require an ATAS Certificate or a TB Certificate you should obtain these before you submit your visa application. Your offer letter will tell you if you need to apply for an ATAS certificate. 
  • Get some British currency for use during the first few days or weeks. Everything on campus is cashless and most shops, bars etc. accept card payments, but sometimes you may need cash (for example: market stalls, taxis).
  • Plan how to get here and arrange your travel.
  • Buy plane tickets and travel insurance.
  • Research banking in the UK and see if your bank can help you to arrange a UK bank account.
  • Read our International Welcome guide from Leicester Students’ Union.

You may also want to

  • Get a letter from a doctor for any prescribed medication you need to bring with you.
  • Bring 12 weeks’ worth of medication with you, if you are taking it on a long-term basis.
  • Get an GHIC card, if you’re coming from an EU country, which provides sickness insurance. Please note this only applies if you intend to spend less than 6 months in the UK. If you have applied for a Student visa you will have paid an IHS which will entitled you to use the UK’s NHS which is free at the point of use for most treatments.

Returning students

If you are returning for another year of study, you will need to:

  • Arrange to pay your fees.
  • Register as a student for this academic year - you will get an email about this.
  • Once your payment has been processed you can complete online registration on MyStudentRecord.

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