International Office

Preparing to travel

Preparing to travel

We suggest you visit the following websites for up to date information and advice about studying in the UK:

  • British Council: overview about studying in the UK through student blogs, videos and interviews
  • UKCISA: advice about studying and working in the UK 

You can also access the following online tools designed to prepare you for your studies in the UK:

Documents

It is important that you carry all the following documents in your hand luggage otherwise you may be delayed by the Immigration Service for up to four hours while Customs locate your luggage.

  • Your passport or ID card (needed for Registration)
  • Your travel tickets
  • Your Orientation Programme
  • Your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) or offer letter (needed for Registration)
  • All your original certificates and diplomas stated in your application form and offer letter (needed for Registration)
  • Accommodation contract or letter if you have booked a place in halls of residence or evidence that you have arranged a private address in Portsmouth
  • Tuberculosis (TB) screening & chest x-ray - this is required if you are coming into the UK from certain countries. Please check the UKBA website for more information and to check whether your country is on the list
  • European Health Insurance Card- EHIC (for EU students only)
  • Emergency contact telephone numbers

Luggage

  • Please do not bring more luggage that you can carry yourself
  • Students with more than 2 suitcases may be refused on the airport pickup service
  • Students arriving outside the airport pick-up date will find it extremely difficult to carry more than two suitcases on the train or coach

Free bedding packs will be provided on arrival to all new international (non-EU) fee paying students allocated a place in our halls of residence ONLY.  These packs contain one sheet, one pillow and pillowcase, one single duvet and duvet cover.

For advice on purchasing other essentials for your room, and for students not eligible for a bedding pack, please visit our essential shopping page for more information.

Alternatively, you can visit Click2Campus to pre-order a pack of all the essential items that you will need. They will deliver the pack to your room in time for your arrival. This pack includes bedding, clothes hangers, kitchen utensils and towels.

Please DO NOT bring any food or plants with you to the UK. There are strict controls on bringing food, plants and plant products into EU countries because they can carry animal and plant pests and diseases. Please contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for guidelines and advice.

Money

How to make payments
Bursaries for international students
Opening a Bank Account in the UK

Please DO NOT bring a lot of cash with you. We strongly recommend that you bring:

  • A Bank Draft made payable to the University of Portsmouth for your tuition fees
  • A Bank Draft made payable to yourself for your accommodation fees and living expenses
  • £350 cash for the Orientation period
  • £350 in travellers cheques to cover you until you can set up a bank account

A bank account can take 7 to 14 working days to set up, and bank drafts can take a further 7 working days to clear (before you can take money out of the account).

Please Note: Cash worth more than 10,000 Euros (including money in other currencies) being brought into the UK from outside the European Union MUST BE DECLARED. Cash means currency notes and coins, cheques, travellers cheques and banker's drafts. Those carrying this amount of money must complete a form on arrival, which will be available at ports and airports. If this form is not completed fully or at all, travellers may be fined or money may be taken away from them.