Getting ready checklist

See our Immigration advice for more information about the Student Visa.

See the latest travel guidance from the UK Government on what you need to do when travelling to England.

Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19)

You will need to check with your local border control or tax organisation.

Read the UK passport control student arrival guide for a smoother journey through border control.

Having the correct documents to hand will help make your transition through the UK border as quick and easy as possible. See our list of what to bring.

Find out more about getting to York on our travelling to York page, including:

• if there is a free Manchester Airport collection service
• more information about travelling to York from UK airports

Manchester Airport has the easiest onward connection to York. A train runs directly from Manchester Airport to York city centre.

It is advisable for visitors to the UK to take out travel insurance.

For help with payments, see paying the University.

For tuition fee payment dates, see our tuition fees page. 

For full information about finances, see our Essential Financial Information booklet - you can download it on the new undergraduates or new postgraduates welcome pages.

Catering outlets on campus only take card or contactless payments so make sure that your bank card will work in the UK when you arrive. It may take one to two weeks to open a UK bank account once you're here.

Make sure you have enough cash or travellers cheques with you to last the one to two weeks it may take for your UK bank account to open once you're here. See information about opening a UK bank account in our support for international students pages.

Remember that if you're travelling from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and bring more than €10,000 in cash or travellers cheques, you will need to declare the amount at UK customs control.

All students, in particular overseas students, are targets for criminal gangs who want students to bring illegal money into the UK, legitimise it by laundering it through student bank accounts or enticing students to exchange their own funds for illegal cash.

Be aware that operating a bank account or dealing with cash in this manner is potentially illegal and there are serious consequences for engaging with this type of criminal activity. 

Never give any money to a third party offering to pay your tuition fees or secure a fee discount for you. Fraudsters may present themselves as legitimate agencies, associates or friends.

Always pay your tuition fees directly to the University using the authorised payment methods.

Read our advice for all students Scammers - they’re after your money to find out what to be aware of.

You may need additional vaccinations and screenings before arriving in the UK as part of your Student Visa application. For more information, see the Gov.uk website.

Check any Covid-19 tests you need to take and the self-isolation rules for travel to England - see Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (Gov.uk) for full details.

If you require medical treatment in the UK, a full up-to-date vaccination record (in English, if possible) will help to get you the best care possible.

If you are an EU citizen, studying in the UK for six months or less, you must obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in your country of residence before travelling to the UK. This card enables you to qualify for free NHS care for the duration of your stay (up to six months). 

An EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and it is advised that you should have both during your stay.

See healthcare for international students in our support for international students pages for more information.

You will need to arrange private medical insurance if you haven't paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application.

See healthcare for international students in our support for international students pages for more information.

It is important to keep your medication close to you. You may face problems without confirmation of medicinal intent. 

We recommend bringing one month's supply of your regular medication to allow time to for you to register with and see a doctor. See our information on healthcare in York.

Accommodation must be arranged prior to travelling to the UK. For help, see our accommodation information for international students.

If you want to live off campus, see our advice on finding somewhere to live in the private sector.

If you prefer to find somewhere to live after you arrive in York, make sure you pre-book guest house accommodation so you have somewhere to stay while you look.

All international students are expected to attend the orientation to university life and study at the start of the academic year. See information about our welcome for international students.

If you will be living on campus, personal possessions insurance is included in the price of your University accommodation.

If you will be living off campus, it is highly advisable to insure your personal belongings. You could arrange travel insurance before you come to the UK or buy contents insurance or student insurance after you arrive. Try cost comparison sites such as MoneySuperMarket and GoCompare to compare prices.

If you're a new international full time undergraduate, our international student buddying scheme will help you settle in to York from the start. Your buddy will be a second, third or fourth year student so they know what it’s like to be a student in York. They can share their own experiences and be on hand with friendly advice.

Sign up for a buddy

If your child is under 16 and going to be with you in York for more than six months then they should enrol in a local school. See information on schools and childcare in our support for international students pages.

Volunteering is a great way to get to know York, and we offer schemes like York Students in Schools. 

If you would like to volunteer with children in the UK and have been resident for less than five years, you'll need a translated police check/certificate of good conduct from your home country. 

It can be difficult to obtain this while you are at York so it's a good idea to arrange this beforehand. For more advice, see the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure guide on How to obtain an overseas criminal record check.