Arrivals and orientation for new EU and International students

Arriving in a new country can be exciting, but also a bit overwhelming. We understand that you may find it difficult to plan your arrival from another country, so we have taken the necessary steps to provide you with all the information you'll need to ensure you feel both welcomed and supported as soon as you arrive in the UK.

Before you arrive

Students joining us in September 2023

Changes to international travel to the UK

UPDATE ABOUT ARRIVALS FROM MAINLAND CHINA: From 4 April 2023, you will no longer need to show notification of a negative Covid-19 test to your airline before you travel.

For the latest information, please visit the UK Government website.

If you are travelling from any other country or territory, you no longer need to take any Covid-19 tests either before or after arrival in England. You no longer need to complete a UK passenger locator form before you travel or show proof of Covid-19 vaccination on arrival.

Latest dates of arrival for international students: September 2023 intake

All students are expected to arrive in time for Welcome Week and Induction, which starts on Monday 18 September 2023. It is important that you attend Welcome Week and Induction. Please ensure your apply for your visa in time.

If you are unable to arrive in time for Welcome Week and Induction, please read our helpful guide for late starters.

Airport taxi pick-up service

We are heavily subsidising the cost of the taxi, meaning you will only pay a discounted rate of £20* per person for any journey from Heathrow and Gatwick airport, or £30** per person from St. Pancras International, to the Kingston area.

* Standard taxi rate from Heathrow/Gatwick airport to the Kingston area is approximately £50+ depending on the time of travel.
** Standard taxi rate from St Pancras International to the Kingston area is approximately £70+ depending on the time of travel.

Details:

  • When: From 13 to 25 September 2023
  • Where: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport or St Pancras International
  • Booking deadline: Two days before your arrival

How to book:

Please email booking@zedcarz.co.uk, quoting the code 'KingstonUni' in the subject heading of the email.

Please provide:

  • your name
  • KU ID number
  • flight number
  • date and drop-off address

You must quote ‘KingstonUni' to get a discount flat rate of £20 for any journey from Heathrow or Gatwick airports to the Kingston University area or £30 from St. Pancras International train station. You can pay the driver either by credit card or cash.

If you are coming from Heathrow or Gatwick airport, upon arrival at the airport your driver should be in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name on it. If you are arriving from St. Pancras International, your taxi will arrange a pick-up spot.

 

Deferral requests

Undergraduate applicants

If you are unable to arrive in time for your course, you can request to defer your start date to the next available intake, which is September 2024. Please contact the admissions office with your application number/KU student ID to request for your place to be deferred.

Postgraduate applicants

If you are unable to arrive in time for your course, you can request to defer your start date to the next available intake, which is either January or September 2024. You need to submit this request via OSIS. Please note that we don't process deferral requests by email for postgraduate applicants.

After you arrive

Registering with a GP

You should register with a GP (a doctor who is a general practitioner) online as soon as you arrive in the UK. You can search for the nearest GP surgery to your term time address on the NHS website and register as a new patient on the GP's website. If you will be living in Kingston, students are welcome to join our on-site GP practice and can register by contacting the Fairhill Medical Practice (the Health Centre) on the University's Penrhyn Road campus.

Support and well-being services at Kingston

Useful links

Biometric Residence Permits

A Biometric Residence Permit or BRP is a document issued by the Home Office to students as evidence of immigration permission. This is also known as leave to enter or remain. If you are applying for a Student Visa from outside the UK for a course which lasts more than six months, you will be issued with a BRP.

You will collect your BRP on arrival in the UK. You will be given an entry clearance vignette (a sticker) in your passport which will start no more than 90 days before your course start date as specified on your CAS statement.

You will be able to collect your BRP card from the post office designated on your visa decision letter. It is essential that you bring the following documentation with you:

  • Your passport and
  • Your visa decision letter

Police registration suspended from 1 August 2022

The requirement to register with the police, or update your details if you have already registered, has been abolished.

  • Students are no longer required to register with the police even if they have the requirement on their Decision Letter, on their Entry Visa Vignette stamp in their passport if they applied for their visa from overseas
  • Students in the UK who have a Police Registration Certificate who extended their student visa in the UK to study at Kingston, where the requirement to register was in their Decision Email, do not have to register or update their details.

If you have a visa or biometric residence permit (BRP) and need to tell the Home Office about a change in circumstances, you can do that here.

If you have any concerns or queries, please email the Student Immigration Advisory Service at immigrationadvice@kingston.ac.uk.

Opening a bank account

It is important to open a UK bank account when you first arrive and you should do some research to find the best bank account for your individual needs. You will need a letter to confirm that you are a student at Kingston which you will receive after completing enrolment. You can get advice from the following sources:

Student travel discount

Oyster card

  • If you are a full-time student, and live in a London borough, you can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard that enables you to get discounted travel on the Transport for London network. Please note: you must enrol before you can apply for the discount card.

National Railcard

  • If you are travelling from outside of London, studying full-time and aged 16-25, you can get a 16-25 railcard that offers one-third off rail travel.

International orientation

We have put together lots of great tips and information to help you with settling in at Kingston. Make sure you have access to Canvas, our virtual learning platform, and the Kingston University app so you can view all the online orientation sessions. You can find out more about these platforms on our Welcome page.

Welcome Week starts on 18 September 2023. These events include a range of informative sessions to help you get settled and exciting social events to make new friends. 

Visit our welcome page to find out more about settling in at Kingston

International enrolment

Enrolment is when you officially register on your course. This is when you get your student ID card and officially become a Kingston University student. This year we are allowing international students to enrol online before joining us on campus. This is to make sure you can access all of the Welcome and Arrivals information while finalising your travel arrangements.

When online enrolment opens, you will receive an email with full instructions on how to enrol through OSIS (Online Student Information System) once your place has been confirmed (e.g. your status changes to unconditional firm). Please complete this as soon as you can. The second part of enrolment takes place when you arrive on campus and is in-person. You will receive an email to book an appointment to enrol in person at one of our Information Centres.