Before you arrive at your OnCampus centre, you will be contacted with more information about what you need to bring with you and what will happen during Induction.
Below, we have laid out the pre-arrival requirements, what you need to bring with you, how to pay, and what to expect on arrival to the UK.
For students arriving into our centres in Europe, please visit the relevant centre page:
If you have any further queries, please contact the team at your OnCampus Centre via email or phone. Contact details can be found on the Student Support page.
Pre-arrival requirements
- OnCampus offer letter and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.
- Passport with valid visa.
- Proof of payment or sponsorship letter.
- Original supporting academic documents (high school certificate, IELTS, academic transcripts, first degree certificates and other qualifications).
- UK address, telephone number and email address.
- Details of someone to contact in case of emergency (next of kin).
Plan ahead and arrange transport to your OnCampus centre accommodation from the airport before you travel. Visit the taxi transfers page or the relevant centre page for more information.
Tuition and accommodation fees (if applicable) for each term of study at the Centre are due 30 (thirty) days before the start of each term. We want to make paying your fees as easy as possible. They can be paid using our online payments platform, Convera GlobalPay for Students. See below for further details.
You will need to arrive for enrolment at your OnCampus centre. Details will be sent to you via email nearer the time.
Visa information
As an international student planning to take a full-time course in your chosen centre, it is likely you will need to apply for a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 student visa). You can read our full Visa information here.
Visa and immigration rules change frequently, so please make sure you contact your nearest British diplomatic post to get up-to-date information on the visa application process, requirements, fees and supporting documents. We can provide support and guidance if you have any questions. Please contact the centre or our Immigration Compliance and Advice Team at [email protected].
To apply for a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 student visa), you will need a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number. We will send you this number on a CAS statement once you fulfil the conditions on the offer of a place to study and pay your deposit/full fees. Please note that the earliest we can send you a CAS number is three months before your course start date. We will also send you information for your visa application at the same time.
Once you receive your visa, please inform the Admissions Team by email at [email protected] or by phone on +44 (0)1223 345 698. This information will help us to prepare for your arrival.
When your visa application is successful and your course is longer than 6 months, you will receive a 90-day entry clearance vignette in your passport. This allows you to travel to the UK. You will need to collect the actual Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) once you arrive in the UK. If your course is under 6 months, the Entry Clearance vignette should cover the duration of your course in the UK.
Your Decision Letter (sent to you with your passport upon a successful visa application) will include details of the place you need to go to collect your BRP card. At the visa application stage, you can select whether you wish to collect your BRP card from the OnCampus centre or the local Post Office branch. It is recommended you opt to have your BRP card delivered to the centre, so please enter the ACL code (written on your CAS statement) on your visa application.
You will need to enrol at your OnCampus centre on the day your course starts. This date is in your CAS statement. If you are delayed and have to travel later, you must let the Admissions Team know. This is very important because we need to inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you cannot arrive on time.
If you change your mind about joining our course or there are any circumstances that prevent you from studying with us, please inform the Admissions Team as soon as possible.
If your student visa application is refused, please email our Admissions Team [email protected] and Immigration Compliance and Advice Team [email protected].
Please include the full copy of the refusal notice so we can advise you on what to do next.
What to bring with you
You will need to show your OnCampus enrolment documents to the Immigration Officer on arrival so please make sure they are placed safely in your carry-on hand luggage.
Check if your country imposes any restrictions on taking money out of the country. As it may take a few days to open a bank account, we recommend you bring approximately £200 to £500 in cash. We also advise you to limit the amount of cash you bring into the UK (for security reasons).
Make sure you have made any necessary advance payments and stay aware of potential financial scams.
You should have enough warm clothing for your flight and subsequent journey. Several layers of lightweight clothes are better than a single shirt or dress. The UK rarely has extremely hot or extremely cold weather, but it can be very changeable, so you should be prepared for different types of weather. You can find out more about the UK climate here.
You will usually have a baggage allowance, which will be shown on your air ticket; this is usually from 20kg with a restricted weight of 32kg per single item of luggage. Only essential personal possessions may be brought in addition to research materials. You may be charged for excess baggage if you exceed the baggage allowance, so check with the airline before you leave if you are not sure of your allowance. You should make a list of everything you bring.
We advise against bringing large items or lots of unnecessary personal belongings. There may be restrictions on the amount of luggage you can bring when travelling to Europe, the UK or US. Do not bring kitchen appliances such as kettles, toasters or rice cookers. If you're living in OnCampus accommodation, you are not permitted to use these in your bedroom. If you're renting private accommodation, check what your landlord provides. We encourage you to buy electrical appliances in the UK to ensure they're compatible with our electric sockets and check what is permitted by your accommodation provider.
Restricted items include food and plant produce; candles, burners, and fairy lights; anything that could be classified as an offensive weapon, even if it is ornamental. Advice on importing personal effects and goods into the UK can be found here.
How to pay
We want to make paying your fees as easy as possible. They can be paid using our online payments platform: Convera® GlobalPay for Students.
This fast and reliable service allows you to pay in your local currency via bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, or by using a wide range of local online payment options, including WeChat Pay, UnionPay, India NetBanking and more, without incurring any transaction charges.
Klarna and bank transfer are also available for UK domestic payments through the platform.
Benefits:
- Pay fees in your local currency.
- Avoid fees and international foreign exchange charges from your bank.
- Easy to use on smartphones and other mobile devices.
- Pay online or by bank transfer.
- Rest assured knowing your payments are received in full by OnCampus.
- Track your payment status by text and email.
- Get price and payment options upfront with a price comparison, too.
Pay now with Convera® GlobalPay for Students.
Important: A payment reference must be provided so that the university can identify funds on safe arrival into our account. This must be the student reference number as stated on your offer document. This reference means that we can then allocate the funds against your invoice accordingly. Failure to include a reference may mean we have to contact you again to establish your proof of payment.
If you need any further payment assistance, please call our Finance team on +44 (0)1223 942 300. You can also watch this video on how to pay through Convera GlobalPay for Students.
What to expect on arrival to the UK
Once you arrive, you will need to pass through immigration, so follow the signs to Passport Control. The Immigration Officer will ask you about the purpose of your visit to the UK. It is important that you answer these questions in detail, politely and keep calm. Make sure you have all the required supporting documents in your carry-on luggage.
Students from some countries may be asked to have a chest x-ray before collecting their luggage — you can check if you will need to do this with your local British Council.
If you experience any problems at Passport control, please contact the team at your OnCampus Centre.
- Passport.
- Bank statements.
- Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.
- Original academic documents and their official translations (for any documents that are not in English) IELTS Certificate.
- Proof of accommodation - Confirmation of Accommodation letter.
- Proof of financial support & any fee payments made.
- TB Certificate (if applicable). Visit the UK Government website to find out if you need this.
If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or USA, and wish to use the eGate when entering the UK, please read the message below before arriving in the UK:
- If you are entering the UK under the Short-term Study route (up to 6 months), you must obtain the correct visa stamp at the border to enrol onto your programme. Therefore, please do NOT use the eGates but instead follow the sign for 'See an officer' at the border to obtain the correct visa endorsement in your passport from the Immigration Authority.
- If you are entering the UK under a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 visa) route or Short-term Study route (11 months), you may be eligible to use the eGates. However, if you do use the eGates, you may be required to show relevant evidence of your first entry into the UK such as a boarding pass or travel booking confirmation to complete your Right to Study or Right to Rent checks. Therefore you are advised NOT to use the eGates in order to obtain an entry stamp in your passport upon your first entry into the UK under your new visa. Should you have any questions regarding the use of eGates, please contact our Immigration Compliance Team at [email protected].
Visit the relevant OnCampus UK centre page for information on airport transfer services, accommodation, and enrolment and induction.
Preparing to study with OnCampus
Starting a new programme of study in a new country is exciting! We also know it can be a little daunting, with lots to arrange and learn about. OnCampus will support you every step of the way.