See our Immigration advice for more information.

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:

• how to book your place on our 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.

Depending on the situation, you may need to contact the University, the border authority either in the UK or in your home country, or any other organisation along the way.

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.

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.

If you have any dependants, it is important that you ensure you have enough cash to support both them and yourself, as well as arranging for their circumstances when you arrive in the UK. See our information on dependants 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.

Unfortunately, there are people in the world who make a living by tricking others out of money. International students are often targeted but you can learn to recognise scams and protect yourself against them.

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

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 a European Economic Area national, you must obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in your country of residence before travelling to the UK. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) enables you to qualify for NHS (National Health Service) care on the same basis as a UK national.

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

All non-EU international students will need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application. This will mean that you (and any dependants applying with you) are entitled to receive free health services from the National Health Service (NHS) while you are in the UK. 

Further information can be found on applying for a visa outside of the UK.  

If you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you may need additional vaccinations and screenings before arriving in the UK as part of your Tier 4 visa application. For more information, see the Gov.uk website.

Students from outside of the EEA and those on courses less than six months long will need to arrange private medical insurance. See healthcare for international students in our support for international students pages for more information.

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

For help with accommodation, 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 term. See information about our welcome for international students.

If you will be living in University accommodation, you will be covered by our contents insurance policy.

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 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 a year, you'll need a translated police check/certificate of good conduct from your home country. 

It can be difficult to obtain this whilst 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.