Arriving in the UK
Arriving in a new country is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. To make your arrival into the UK as smooth as possible, we have put together some useful arrival information.
Arrival checklist for international students
So your studies at Kingston University are due to start soon? In this section, we provide information on travel logistics, such as what to do at passport control, the travel documents you need to keep for your visa and how to get from the airport to your new accommodation.
We also answer some popular questions from international students about money and finances. Knowing when your tuition fees need to be paid and how much to budget for your first year, will help make your time at Kingston University even more enjoyable.
Plus, we provide a checklist of important things to do once you have arrived in the UK. From collecting your BRP card to confirming your digital visa status, it's important you're aware of the tasks you need to do before your studies begin.
Arriving at the airport in the UK
When you land in the UK, you will have to go through passport control (immigration) and customs. The arrival procedures will differ slightly depending on your home country and what visa you hold. You also need to make sure you retain certain documents for your enrollment if you enter the UK through an e-Gate.
There will be different queues for EEA (European Economic Area) and non-EEA nationals at passport control. You will need to have the following documents available to show the immigration officer:
- Your passport
- UK Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP (only if you have one)
The decision letter you received when you applied for your visa overseas - Bank statements or official sponsorship letters showing you can pay your fees and living costs
- A TB medical certificate, if required
- Details of your accommodation arrangements
If you have a Student Route visa, you will also need your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
If you are on a visitor visa, you will need your unconditional offer letter and/or your short-term study visa support letter.
You may be asked questions about why you are coming to the UK, your studies and how much you are paying for your course.
You can no longer enter the UK using your national ID card. You should travel using a valid passport.
Full details can be found at Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen.
Most major UK airports have e-Gates allowing entry to nationals from the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- United Sates of America
If you have a biometric passport and can enter the UK through an eGate, your passport won’t get an entry stamp. Without an entry stamp, you will need to provide other evidence of the date you enter the UK.
The following documents count as proof of the date you entered the UK:
- Flight ticket
- Boarding pass
Don’t forget to bring either of these documents along to your enrolment.
The above applies if you are on a Student Route visa.
If you are studying in the UK for up to six months and you haven’t obtained a visitor visa from your home country, you will also need to retain these documents as proof.
There are three channels at customs:
- Green: for persons with 'Nothing to Declare'
- Red: for persons with 'Goods to Declare'
- Blue: for persons travelling from an EEA (European Economic Area) country where all their luggage has already been cleared by customs
Even if you come through a 'Nothing to Declare' channel, the customs personnel still have the right to ask you to open your luggage. Never agree to carry anyone else's luggage through customs.
One you have gone through passport control and customs, it’s time to travel to Kingston. We offer an airport pick-up service for new international, European and visiting students living in the local area.
You can find out how to book a pick-up on our pre-arrival information page.
If you are arriving at another time, miss the booking deadline, or want to arrange your own transport at your own expense, the following information will help you find your way to Kingston:
Travelling from Heathrow
We recommend travelling by bus from Heathrow:
- The number 285 or 111 bus offers a service to Kingston leaving every 10 minutes. This bus makes numerous stops and so isn't the fastest route
- Alternatively you could get the X26 bus which is quicker and travels directly to Kingston – there are two buses an hour
- It will take approximately one hour to get to Kingston
You can also travel by train/tube:
- Take the Piccadilly Line underground service to Earls Court
- Change here to the underground service (District Line) to Wimbledon
- Then catch a main train line from Wimbledon to either Surbiton or Kingston
Travelling from Gatwick
We recommend travelling by train from Gatwick:
- Take a train to Clapham Junction (do not use the Gatwick Express as this does not stop at Clapham Junction).
- At Clapham Junction change to a South West Train going to Surbiton station (it is easier to get a taxi from Surbiton station than Kingston station)
- From Surbiton you can then take a taxi to your halls of residence, flat or lodgings
Travelling from Stansted
We recommend travelling by train from Stansted:
- Take the Stansted Express from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street station in central London (trains depart every 15 minutes with an average journey time of 45 minutes)
- Take a train from Liverpool Street station to London Waterloo
- From London Waterloo, take another train to Surbiton (it is easier to get a taxi from Surbiton station than Kingston station)
- From Surbiton you can then take a taxi to your halls of residence, flat or lodgings
FAQs about money and finances
We round up the answers to some of the most popular questions asked by international students about money and finances. Knowing how much to budget for, how to set up a UK bank account and when tuition fees are due can help you settle quicker into life as a Kingston University student.
You need to organise how you are going to pay your tuition fees before your enrolment can be completed. We provide international students with three different payment options:
- Payment of your full fee in advance of enrolment
- Sponsorship by your employer or Government
- Payment by instalment
If you are paying by instalment, you need to pay at least 50% of your fee before you can enrol. You will also need to set up a recurring card payment (RCP) to pay your remaining balance by instalment before you enrol.
Making a payment and setting up an RCP are quick and simple processes. Both can be done before you enrol. We recommend doing them as soon as possible to avoid any unnecessary delay to your enrolment.
More information and helpful videos on how to pay, set up an RCP or notify us of sponsorship, visit how to pay your fees.
You can bring money into the UK in:
- Sterling notes
- Travellers' cheques
- Bankers' draft
- Letters of credit
You must declare cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency) if you take it between the UK and any non-EU country. Cash includes:
- Notes and coins
- Bankers' drafts
- Travellers' cheques
- Cheques that are signed but not made out to a person or organisation
You could face a penalty of up to £5,000 if you:
- Fail to declare cash you are carrying
- Provide incorrect or incomplete information
If HMRC (customs) officials have reason to doubt the legitimacy of properly declared cash, they have the power to seize it.
You should also check if there are limits imposed on foreign currency transactions by your home country.
You will need some sterling cash for expenses during the first week. Approximately £250 should be enough. We do not recommend bringing or carrying larger amounts of cash.
If possible, arrange to transfer money to a UK bank account. It is also a good idea to have a further £350 available in travellers cheques and a credit card for emergencies.
You will also need money for items such as:
- Food
- Local travel
- Books
- Equipment
- Clothes and other necessities
If you will be living in private accommodation, then you may need more than this to cover any deposit or rent in advance.
You will need money to cover your tuition fees plus living costs for your first year. Tuition fees for each course can be found on the course page. If you want to find out what your course fees cover, check with your faculty.
All students classified as Overseas for fee purposes must pay 50% of the tuition fee for the upcoming academic year at, or prior to, their enrolment. Failure to make the 50% payment may cause disruption to your studies.
Living costs cover payments for accommodation, groceries, travel and other expenses. You can find a full breakdown of living cost estimates here.
Most international students will be able to open a basic bank account. This type of bank account allows you to pay money into the account and withdraw money with a cash card.
A basic bank account does not allow credit or for you to become overdrawn.
Each bank has different requirements for setting up account. For example, you may need to provide your passport, proof of study and proof of address. Once you're an enrolled student, the Library and Student Office can provide a letter with proof of your UK student address.
It may be possible to set up a UK bank account in advance of arriving in the UK. You will need to check with your bank first if this is possible.
You might be able to open an account with a multi-national bank before you arrive in the UK. Opening an account with a multi-national bank will enable you to use ATMs in the UK. You will need to check if this is possible with your bank first.
Things to do after you arrive
Tick off the tasks below to ensure you're meeting the requirements of your visa, as well as policies set by the University.
Kingston University is an Alternative Collection Location (ACL) and therefore offers an on-campus BRP collection service.
When completing your student visa application form, please use our ACL code: 3HE437.
Your BRP will then be sent directly to us so that you can collect it on campus once you have arrived in the UK.
Please note:
- Do not enter the University postcode as this will delay the delivery of your BRP
- If you wish to collect your BRP at a post office near where you will be staying when you first arrive in the UK, you can enter the postcode of your chosen post office instead of the ACL code
- Your visa 'decision letter' will state which location your BRP has been sent to. You will receive the decision letter before you leave for the UK
- You will need your passport and decision letter to collect your BRP
- Our online portal for booking your BRP collection will open in due course, further details will be updated on this page
Any errors on the BRP card must be reported to the Home Office immediately, via the Home Office's BRP report a problem page.
Please note, physical BRP cards will soon be replaced with an online immigration status. Due to this, the expiry dates on the BRP may not reflect your correct end date.
Please make sure to check in the Visa Decision letter from UKVI that the correct end dates of your visa are stated.
The UKVI website states:
- You do not need to tell UKVI if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but your immigration status (for example, your visa) allows you to stay longer
- You will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You’ll be able to prove your immigration status online without a BRP
- UKVI will update their information on how to prove your immigration status in early 2024. You do not need to do anything, and your immigration status will not be affected
For more information, visit the UKCISA website.
EU/ EEA nationals and British Nationals Overseas using the Immigration ID check app will not receive a BRP. You will instead need to show evidence of your digital visa status by following the below steps:
- Upload your confirmation email from UKVI to OSIS regarding your visa application outcome
- Upload your boarding pass to confirm the date of your arrival in the UK
Prove your immigration status by using the gov.uk's get a share code service and sending a screenshot to KU-UKVI@Kingston.ac.uk.
You will need to upload the following documents to OSIS:
- A scan of the front and back of your BRP card
- Stamped visa vignette which displays the date of your arrival in the UK
- Your boarding pass, if you entered through an eGate, to confirm the date of your arrival
Ensure that your UK address, UK mobile number and email address is added to OSIS under the personal details section.
The University Attendance Policy clearly states that students are expected to attend all scheduled teaching events. Attendance is recorded using SEAtS and you must scan your ID card onto card readers located on campus. Any absence from teaching activities must be recorded using the SEAtS app.
The compliance team is required to monitor your engagement with your studies. If your level of attendance raises concerns, the compliance team will investigate your situation. Lengthy periods of absence could result in the withdrawal of your student visa.
To ensure you fully understand the requirements, read policy our Attendance Policy (AP15).
You will need to update your contact details in OSIS if any changes occur. You will be sent a reminder email every three months.
If you are required to travel outside the UK during your official term time, you must obtain an Authorised Absence letter by contacting your student office and the CAS team at KU-UKVI@Kingston.ac.uk.
Letters will only be issued in exceptional circumstances.
For travel during the official holiday period, you should print a term date letter from OSIS. You will need this letter in the event you are questioned at the border.
Your BRP card or Digital Immigration Status will display the number of hours you are permitted to work during term time. You must not exceed the stated limit.
You can work full-time hours if you are on your official holiday period or after you have completed your course (extant leave).
A course completion letter can be requested from the faculty student office if an employer requires confirmation that you have completed your studies.
Got a question?
Our international team is always happy to help. Send us a message and the appropriate department will email or call you back.
