ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì

Pre-departure and Arrivals Guide

Your Journey to Lincoln

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our student community and for you to experience what makes Lincoln a special place to live and learn.

On this page, you can find out more information to help you prepare for your journey to the UK and to Lincoln, alongside advice and tips on settling in during your first few weeks as a student.

We encourage you to read the information on this page carefully before you travel and to let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you soon.

Step 1: Planning Your Arrival

Packing Advice
  • As part of your preparations for travelling to the UK, you will need to think carefully about what to pack in your suitcase and what to bring with you. It is also important to think about what is necessary, as the space in your suitcase will be limited and it may be easier to buy items such as toiletries and cooking equipment when you arrive in Lincoln.

As part of your hand luggage, it is important that you include essential documents which you may be asked to provide at the border when you arrive in the UK. These include:

  • Your offer letter from the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì
  • Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement from the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì
  • The letter you received when your visa was issued by UKVI
  • Your original academic and English language qualification certificates. Please ensure you also bring with you a certified translation if the original documents are not in English
  • Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate or other medical certificates (where applicable)
  • Proof of any advance fees you have paid to the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì, any sponsorship letters and financial proof of being able to support yourself
  • Your birth certificate and marriage certificate (where applicable)
  • Proof of address in your home country and your accommodation in Lincoln

There are certain goods that passengers are not allowed to bring into the UK. Detailed information regarding what you can and cannot bring to the UK can be found on the .

When to Arrive

January 2025 Intake

New students will need to arrive at the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì before the start of  Welcome Week on Monday 20 January.

 From our Students’ Union sports and societies fairs, to tours of our campus and city, and workshops on securing a part-time job, during Welcome Week there are a variety of optional talks, activities, and events to help you connect with fellow students and settle in at Lincoln.

There will also be a number of compulsory sessions that you will need to attend. This includes our International Student Welcome and your course induction, which will provide the opportunity to meet some of the colleagues that will support you throughout your journey here.

Students joining us in January will be able to access their timetables for Welcome Week later this year. 

September 2025 Intake

Further details regarding Welcome Week for students beginning their studies in September 2025 will be published soon. 

Arranging Accommodation

Before you travel to the UK you must ensure you have arranged suitable accommodation and that you are able to move into your room when you arrive. Arranging your accommodation prior to travelling to the UK is very important, as finding accommodation on the day you arrive could be very expensive, and there may not be any availability nearby campus.

We recommend contacting your accommodation provider before you begin your journey to let them know your expected arrival time, and to discuss how to collect your keys. You should also ask your accommodation provider to confirm what items are in your room. This will help you to plan ahead and to create a list of essential items you may need to buy when you arrive, such as a duvet or cutlery etc.

Living Away from Campus
If you are planning to live outside of campus, you will need to research how you will travel to the University on a regular basis and how much this will cost. This is important as your timetable may include classes that you must attend on campus up to five days each week.

If you hold a Student Visa, having a high level of attendance and engagement is very important and you will be expected to take part in all timetabled classes. Failure to maintain a high level of attendance will place your visa at risk and could also affect your eligibility to apply for the Graduate Route at the end of your course.

Further information regarding privately rented accommodation and living away from campus can be found in the Accommodation Information for International Applicants page.

Booking Travel to the UK

When you arrange your flight ticket, you will need to consider which airport to fly to here in the UK, and how you will you travel from the airport to Lincoln when you arrive.

There are more than 20 international airports in the UK, and one of the most popular options for international students is London Heathrow. Heathrow is the UK’s largest airport and is located close by to London. The journey time from Heathrow Airport to Lincoln is around 2 hours and 50 minutes by car.

Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport are also popular options for students. The journey time from Birmingham Airport to Lincoln is around 1 hour and 34 minutes by car, and from Manchester Airport to Lincoln is around 2 hours and 14 minutes away by car.

Please be aware that if you are travelling by public transport the journey time from the airport to Lincoln could be longer.

Step 2: Arriving in the UK – Next Steps 

Arriving in the UK

When you arrive in the UK, you will need to show your identity document (such as a passport) and any additional documentation that is requested at border control. To find out more information regarding the documents that you may need to present and what to expect when you arrive in the UK, please visit the UK Government website.

Three students walking through Lincoln

Travelling to Lincoln

Once you’ve arrived in the UK you will need to travel to Lincoln to start your studies with us. To help you plan your journey from the airport to Lincoln we recommend visiting our travelling to Lincoln page. The page includes lots of helpful information regarding travel by road and train. The page also contains important maps of the city of Lincoln and our campus.

Find out more

Step 3: Arriving in Lincoln - Your First Few Weeks

During your first few weeks in Lincoln there are a few important things we recommend doing to help you settle into your new home from home. To help you prepare, Diana shares her experience of settling into life in Lincoln and what to expect in the video below.

Download the UniLincoln App

Ahead of starting your course, download the UniLincoln app, your essential companion to university life. You can use it to check your timetable, record your attendance, and explore all that the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì has to offer. To find out more information on downloading the UniLincoln App, please visit the Digital Technologies 'How to' webpage.

student smiling in a lecture room
Enrolment and Accessing Your Timetable

All students should aim to arrive and enrol during Welcome Week. This is to ensure the best student experience by taking part in the Welcome Week activities. 

Please note that enrolment can only be completed once in the UK, therefore, you must allow time for this before the start date of your course. Detailed information regarding the enrolment process, and a step by step guide, can be found on our website. 

 

Taking Part in Welcome Week

Our Welcome Week site is designed to provide all of the essential information you need to know, to help you plan your first few weeks at University. This includes an overview of the exciting events taking place, your Welcome Week timetable, and a range of helpful information about enrolment. Students joining us in January will be able to access the Welcome Week website later this year.  

Accessing Healthcare and Registering with a Doctor

After arriving in the UK, you should register with a local doctor (known as a 'GP' or General Practitioner) as soon as possible. Students have a choice of several different GP surgeries within Lincoln city centre, however many students choose to register with our on-campus .

When registering with a GP surgery, you will need to take the following documents with you:

  • Personal Identification (passport)
  • Immigration documents
  • Proof of address with your name and term-time address on it (a household bill or tenancy agreement)
  • Medical card (if you have one)
  • List of current medications

GP surgeries with online registration may ask you to produce these documents before they can complete your registration.

After registering, you may be asked to see a doctor or nurse practitioner straight away. This is an initial health check and a chance for you to meet your GP or Nurse Practitioner. This is a good time to discuss any medical conditions you have or any current medication you are taking. 

Further information regarding accessing health care services as an international student can be found by visiting the  (UKCISA) website.

The Immigration Health Surcharge

Individuals who hold a visa may be required to pay the  in order to be eligible to access healthcare in the UK. This is done as part of the visa application form. If you are unsure if you are eligible for healthcare in the UK, we recommend you contact the University’s .

Dental Care (Teeth)

Once you have registered with a GP you can also register with an NHS dentist. Further information regarding accessing dental care as an international student can be found by visiting the  (UKCISA) website.

Optical Care (Eyes) 

In the UK, eye care is provided by opticians. To purchase spectacles or contact lenses you will need a British prescription, which you get from the optician following a sight test. Sight tests can be arranged by contacting the optician directly. The cost of frames, lenses and contact lenses varies. Visit the UKCISA website for information about  provided in the UK. 

Health Care Mobile App

You may find it helpful to download the ‘’ health app to your mobile. This app has developed by medical doctors, together with students. You can find answers to questions about:

  • Emergencies – learning the truth about life-threatening illnesses and how to give basic first aid
  • General ill health – how to deal with sleep problems, feeling stressed, and constant fatigue
  • Mental health – finding out what to do when feeling low or anxious, self-harming or worried about drinking too much alcohol
  • Common ailments – headaches, finding out how to treat spots, and managing common aches and pains
  • Navigating health services – what to do next and when to see a pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
Opening a Bank Account

We have provided some general guidance below to help you with opening a bank account in the UK. It is advisable to check in your home country whether your current bank card can be used in the UK, or whether you can apply for a card that can be used while you are waiting to open a new UK bank account. 


How to Apply for a UK Bank Account

The documents you need to open a bank account may vary depending on which bank you decide to open an account with, however usually you will be expected to provide:

  • your passport
  • your visa (if relevant)
  • proof of address in the UK and in your home country
  • bank letter from the ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì confirming you are a student


How to get a Bank Letter

Please submit a request for a Bank Letter Certificate of Study online through your OneUni account. You will find the Student Support Letter Request option on the ‘support’ tab. Please ensure your Permanent Home and Term Time addresses are correct on your OneUni account as these are the addresses which will show on your letter(s).

 

Banks in Lincoln         

There are a variety of banks in the UK to choose from, each offering a range of services. Before you apply for a bank account use the internet to check:

  • which UK banks have branches in Lincoln
  • which bank account will be most suitable for you
  • which banks can produce statements in the format required by the Home Office – not all banks do this and you will need these if you plan to extend your visa. If you need advice regarding bank statements that are required when extending your visa contact the International Advice Teamin the Student Support Centre


Banking Terminology

Here are a few banking terms and their definitions to help you:

  • ID – Identity
  • Cash Card – allows you to access your money 24 hours a day using a cashpoint
  • Debit Card – allows you to withdraw cash from your account as well as use your card to pay in shops, restaurants and online
  • Standing Order – an instruction by a bank’s customer to the bank, to pay an amount of money regularly to another account (for example, you may be asked to set up a standing order to pay your rent)
  • Direct Debit – a payment arranged by the organisation which leaves the account with the express agreement of the account holder
  • Automated Credit Transfer – a direct payment into your bank account, instead of by cash or cheque
  • Overdraft – an agreed extension of credit when your account reaches zero
Accessing Online Resources

During the first few weeks of University, you may be required to use new online systems for the first time.

Our helpful  can provide support with everything from understanding multi-factor authentication and accessing your University email address, to setting up a UK phone number and learning how to use Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and OneDrive.

International Student Hub

Studying in the UK may be a little different to what it is like in your home country. That's why we've brought together a range of information and links to help you get settled on our International Student Hub webpage.

Contact the International Enquiries Team

ÇéÉ«ÁùÔÂÌì
Brayford Pool Campus
Lincoln
LN6 7TS

+44 (0)1522 308108

Enquiry Form