Arriving to start a course is exciting, but the first few weeks also come with a surprising amount of admin — most of it easier if you tackle it in roughly the right order, rather than all at once.
Before you fly
- Check your CAS, passport and visa/status documents are all in your hand luggage, not checked baggage
- Photograph or scan copies of your passport, visa, CAS and offer letter, stored somewhere accessible offline
- Confirm your arrival plan with your accommodation provider, especially if you're arriving outside normal office hours
- Arrange at least a few days of accessible funds (a UK-friendly card or some cash) for your first days before a UK bank account is open
Your first week
Register with your university
Formal enrolment usually needs to happen in person, in a specific window before term starts — this is also typically when your Biometric Residence Permit or digital status confirmation gets checked, so keep your documents to hand.
Register with a GP
Registering with a local GP (doctor's surgery) as soon as you have a UK address means you're not trying to find one for the first time when you're actually unwell. Many universities have an on-campus practice, or your students' union can point you to a nearby one.
Open a UK bank account
Most banks will want proof of address, your passport/visa, and often a letter from your university confirming your student status — universities usually issue these on request once you've enrolled, so registering first speeds this up.
Your first month
- Get a local SIM or phone plan — useful for two-factor authentication on UK bank and university accounts, which often don't accept international numbers reliably.
- Understand your immigration conditions — most student visas restrict working hours during term time; know your specific limit before accepting any part-time work.
- Find your student support services — most universities have dedicated international student advisers who can help with anything from visa questions to homesickness; know where they are before you need them, not after.
- Budget realistically for the first month — deposits, initial shopping for a new home and one-off setup costs make the first few weeks more expensive than a normal month, so plan for that rather than being caught out.
Common early mistakes worth avoiding
- Not knowing your visa's permitted working hours before starting a part-time job
- Leaving GP registration until you're already unwell
- Not keeping a digital copy of key documents in case originals are lost
- Missing university enrolment deadlines because they seem like a formality
Where Pathveragroup Education fits in
Settlement support doesn't stop once your visa is approved. Pathveragroup Education's student support stage covers pre-departure briefing, accommodation referrals and arrival guidance specific to your course and city — and Pathveragroup Careers is there once you're ready to think about part-time work or your first role.