Starting Uni as an International Student

Hi everyone!

Moving to university can be daunting, but this experience can be even more so for international students in a new country where things may be unfamiliar. To help you settle in, I’ve made this comprehensive guide on everything Royal Holloway! 

Before Arriving 

Apply for Your Student Visa  

You need a valid passport as well as your CAS and any supporting documents to apply for your student visa. You can find more information here. 

Complete Enrolment 

Before you arrive, the University’s Student Services team will remind you to:

1. Complete the online sign-up and set up your Royal Holloway IT account 
2. Pay any tuition fees that are due 
3. Submit a photo for your Student ID card

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 show your passport and/or visa (you will be contacted to let you know when and where you need to do this). 

When you get here

Airport Pick-up and Moving in Early  

Heading to Heathrow? The International Student Support team will be providing a free airport pick-up service between London Heathrow and our campus in Egham on the following dates: Wednesday 13 September, Saturday 16 September, and Sunday 17 September 2023. Book a pick-up 

New to the UK Programme 

The New to the UK is a series of free events specially designed to help international students feel welcome and supported when they first join Royal Holloway. All international students are encouraged to attend the events. If you are living on our Egham campus, you will be able to move into your room early if you book onto the New to the UK. 

Healthcare  

In the unfortunate scenario you do fall ill whilst at Royal Holloway, it's important that you know how you can get help.  

• You should register with the University’s health centre on campus, or another General Practice as soon as you arrive in the UK.  

• If you are an EEA national, you will qualify for most treatments under the NHS but will be expected to pay in advance for non-urgent elective treatments. It's important that you get a European Health Insurance Card issued from your home country which will allow you access to the NHS.

• If you aren't an EEA student and are studying in the UK for more than six months, you will need to pay the immigration health surcharge, but this will be included in your visa cost. This will cover you for free necessary healthcare under the NHS, but you will have to pay in advance for non-urgent elective treatments. Find out more about healthcare in the UK if you aren't an EEA student. 

• If you run into an emergency, urgent treatment will always be provided, and payment will be dealt with later, but you should be aware of the rules in the UK so that no unexpected bills come your way! You should call 111 if you think you may need to go to Accidents & Emergency (A&E), but the situation isn’t life-threatening or limb-threatening. In a life-threatening medical emergency, you should call 999.

Opening a Bank Account 

As a student in the UK, you might want to open a UK Bank account to keep your money safe whilst you study here. Nationwide has a bank in Egham, while Lloyds, Barclays, and Santander can be found in Staines (15 mins from campus on the 441 bus).

As an international student, you should be eligible for a basic bank account as well as a card to pay in and withdraw money from. Our campus is entirely cashless, so looking into getting a credit or debit card is definitely important!  

Transport 

Egham’s local train station is located on Station Road and takes around 20 minutes to walk to from campus. You can buy tickets at the station or on Trainline. If you purchase a 16-25 railcard you can get discounted travel on train journeys, saving a third of the cost of the ticket.  

The 441 and 500 bus services have bus stops just outside campus and you can save 33% on your fare by showing your Student ID card. The 8 bus service will take you to and from Heathrow Airport.  

While you're studying

Who Supports Me?  

The University’s International Student Support team is available to give you advice on any concerns you might experience during your time studying at Royal Holloway. Their office hours are Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm at Founder's East, Room 132. You can also contact them via email.

The Student Services Centre is able to assist you with non-academic related inquiries such as enrolment and Student ID cards. Their open hours are Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm and you can find them on the ground floor of the library (Emily Wilding Davison building). They can also be contacted via email, or you can call them on +44 (0)178 27 6641.  

The Students’ Union’s Advice Centre is a free and confidential service that can guide you through a whole range of issues and direct you to get the help you need. To book an appointment, please email advice@su.rhul.ac.uk.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs offers lots of information and advice for international students. You can have a look through their website, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for they also have a Student Advice Line. You can contact them by calling +44 (0)2077889214.

Who Represents Me?  

Your International Students Community Officer, Hasnat Rashid is here to help voice your concerns whilst you study at Royal Holloway. Hasnat was elected by the student body and now represents the international student community. You can reach them at: international.community@royalholloway.su.

Your Students’ Union (SU) represents you as a student at Royal Holloway alongside four elected Sabbatical Officers who work closely with the University to ensure your needs and concerns are responded to effectively. Your Sabbatical Officers are Hannah Hockin (President), Sharanya Sivarajah (VP Education), Nisha Bundhun (VP Wellbeing & Diversity), and Alastair Copland (VP Societies & Sport).