Pre-departure advice

You'll need a valid passport to apply for your visa and travel to the UK.

If your passport is going to expire before you're able to travel to the UK then you'll need to get a new one as soon as possible.

Remember, if you change your passport after we've issued your CAS then you must let us know so that we can update your CAS before you apply for your visa!

Many of international students studying at our Egham campus choose to live on our beautiful campus in Egham. 

If you would like to apply for accommodation on our Egham campus then please do so before 1 July 2024 to guarantee a room.

If you take part in our free New to the UK/Airport pick-up programme then you can move into your room on our Egham campus early for no extra cost! (see below on how to book onto New to the UK/Airport pick-up)

If you are studying on our London campus then we do have a small number of rooms in Intercollegiate Halls available. 

We generally recommend that where possible, international students look to live in campus accommodation. Not only can it often prove to be a cheaper option than off-campus accommodation which will also incur costs of commuting but it allows you to access all of the many support services we have on campus. Research also shows that living close to or on campus has a direct impact on your final mark. The closer you live to campus, the better grades you may be able to achieve. 

If you are planning to live in private accommodation away from one of our campuses then we've created a guide specifically for international students on finding accommodation in the UK. 

If you're studying a full-time course of over 6 months with Royal Holloway, it's likely you'll need to apply for a Student visa. 

You'll need to have received your CAS and have collected any supporting documents before you apply.

Remember to apply in plenty of time so that you can arrive by the course start date listed on your CAS. 

For more information on how to apply for your Student visa check here

Before you arrive, our Student Services Team will remind you to

• complete online sign-up and set-up your Royal Holloway IT account
• Pay any tuition fees that are due
• Submit a photo for your college card

Find full details here

Once you've arrived in the UK you'll also be asked to complete an in-person identity check where you'll be asked to us your passport and/or visa. 

We'll contact you to let you know when and where you need to do this. 

Our team of helpers will be at Heathrow airport to meet you and transport you to campus for free.

Just complete our booking form here so we know when your flight arrives! 

Our airport pick-up will be running on the following dates this January

12 January, Sunday

If you have any medical needs, it's a good idea to visit your home doctor before travelling to the UK.

Ensure that you have sufficient medication to last you for the first few weeks after you arrive in the UK to give you time to register with a doctor here and seek support.

It might also be worth bringing any medical notes or a letter from your doctor at home to help with receiving support from a doctor in the UK.

We'll help you to register with a doctor and access healthcare while you're studying with us. 

Travel insurance can help offset the risk of delays or cancellations in your flights or compensate you for any lost luggage.

Remember, if you're travelling on a Student visa then you'll have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge and will be able access health care in the UK for free. Therefore, you don't need to take out private medical insurance if you don't want to. 

You need to bring a small amount of cash with you and/or a debit card to cover your immediate living expenses for the first couple of weeks after you arrive and before you've had the chance to open a UK bank account. 

In the UK, British Pounds (GBP) is the only currency used to buy goods and services.

Remember, that our campus in Egham is 'cashless'. That means you will not be able to use cash and instead you'll either have to use a debit/credit card or you can add funds to your Student ID card which can also be used to make payments in the shops and restaurants on campus. You'll be able to collect your Student ID when you arrive in the UK. 

There are several options for international students to make payments when they first arrive in the UK. 

Use your existing debit or credit card

Your current debit or credit card should be accepted in the UK providing that transactions are made via the Visa or Mastercard networks. 

However, you may need to contact your bank before you travel to activate international transactions. Failure to do so may lead to your transactions being blocked for security reasons. 

You should also check with your bank what the charges will be for using your card overseas.

Use prepaid and foreign currency cards 

Ask your bank in your home country if they provide prepaid or foreign currency cards for international travel.  

For example, 

The State Bank of India Foreign Currency Card

The First Bank of Nigeria Visa Debit Multi-Currency Card

These are often cheaper and safer than using your debit card from home. 

Use online or virtual banks

Services like Revolut and Wise have become increasingly popular in recent years both for students who want to open an account from outside the UK or immediately after they arrive in the UK. 

In order to get a debit card from one of these providers, you'll need to check that you live in a qualifying country. 

Revolut residency requirements

Wise residency requirements

Open a UK bank account

You need to be resident in the UK and be able to prove that before opening a UK bank account. 

If you need help setting up a UK bank account then we can assist with that too (see our New to the UK section). 

We've partnered with UniKitOut who can provide you with bedding packs that include a pillow and duvet set as well as many other useful household items. Remember to use the code RHUL10 to get a 10% discount on any order!

Please note our campus rooms don't include a pillow or duvet. You must source these yourself. If you order via UnikitOut, your items will be waiting for you when you arrive in the room providing that you order at least a week before you arrive.

Take a digital and physical copy of your passport, visa, CAS, offer letter and accommodation details.

Consider emailing these to yourself and your family just in case you need to access them in an emergency.

We'll do everything we can to answer any questions and provide support to make your move to the UK as smooth as possible but before you get here, there are also lots of resources that you can access to give you an idea about campus life and UK culture.

The British Council

Prepare for Success

Study UK

We can provide you with a free UK SIM card when you arrive or you can find your own but make sure your phone is unlocked so that it can accept a UK SIM.

It's tempting to bring everything 'just in case' but remember that you'll have to carry it to the UK and probably back home at the end of your studies. It can also be very expensive to pay for additional luggage if you exceed the weight limits that your airline imposes.

Here's what we suggest you prioritise. 

Hand Luggage

Always make sure you have the following in your hand luggage:

• Your passport.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decision letter.
• European Health Insurance Card (for EEA and Swiss students only).
• Your mobile phone, tablet or laptop with access to your accommodation allocation, Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) email (if relevant), confirmation of meet and greet, and Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (if required).
• If you are under 18, you will need to bring the supporting letter from your parents that you used in your visa application.
• A small amount of UK currency, no more than £400.
• Your tuberculosis certificate if you needed this for your student visa, and any other health certificates including vaccinations and x-ray reports (if appropriate).
• Your travel insurance policy number and emergency contact details.
• A list of key contacts in the UK:

- International Advice, Royal Holloway

Mon-Fri (9am - 5pm)

Tel: +44 (0)1784 27 6222 

Email: internationaladvice@rhul.ac.uk

- Royal Holloway Campus Security

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Tel +44 (0)1784 443063

Clothes

The UK experiences 4 distinct seasons every year but sometimes because the weather is very changeable it can feel like you get all 4 seasons in a day!

It is a good idea to bring a selection of light clothes that you can wear in layers as well as some warm outer clothing and a waterproof coat.

If you have traditional clothing or an outfit to wear on special occasions then remember to bring them. Our campus and the UK in general is very multicultural, almost every major festival from around the world is celebrated here too!  

Electrical Items

In the UK, 13-amp sockets with a 230V supply and 50Hz are commonly used. These sockets require three-pronged plugs. If your electrical items don’t use a three-pronged plug or they have different amp, V or Hz requirements then you will need an adaptor to make them compatible with UK sockets.

What not to bring!

• Candles, joss sticks, ‘hookah’ pipes or anything that uses naked flames
• Heaters, refrigerators or large electrical items
• Weapons or replica weapons, including guns, air guns, swords, knives, etc.

Buy it when you get here

You'll have plenty of opportunities to shop for things like kitchenware, stationary and other household items when you get here.

The University has also partnered with UniKitOut allowing you to order essential items before you travel to the UK so that they'll be delivered and waiting for you when you get here. Remember to use the code RHUL10 with your order to get a 10% discount!

Lots of our outgoing students will look to sell clothes, houseware and books second hand and you can find deals via our Students' Union here