Joining us on campus

• Your passport and visa
• UKVI Decision Letter
• International Study Centre offer letter
• CAS statement
• Evidence of funding for your tuition fees and living costs
• Accommodation documents
• Four passport-sized photographs
• Insurance documents (unless you are covered by StudyCare)
• Medical certificates and vaccination records

You should bring any prescription medication with you, as well as your prescriptions translated into English. To help make your first few days as stress-free as possible you should also bring any essential toiletries for your flight and arrival with you too. You can purchase any other medications or toiletries once you arrive in Lancaster.

• It is always useful to carry a small amount of British money on your person. A good amount to bring with you for your arrival is £50.
• As an international student, it it could idea to bring a travel adapter with you. This will allow you to immediately use the electronics you brought from your home country.
• There will be the opportunity to use university computers on campus, but having your own computer will allow you to study whenever is convenient for you. You can always buy a computer in Lancaster after you arrive.
• If you are under 18 years old, you should also bring your Guardianship letter.

Our expert teachers will deliver a high-quality blended learning experience making use of both face-to-face teaching and our innovative digital teaching solutions. When you study face-to-face you can expect classes of no more than 25 students, whilst our digital platform allows you to enjoy interactive classes with plenty of discussion opportunities to improve your English. Both types of learning allow for self-study time to help you to learn to study independently. You will be assigned a Personal Tutor who is there to support you every step of the way to help you to stay on track to progress to the University.

You will have access to a Learning Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), the online hub for your programme. Here you will find recorded lessons, collaboration tools, helpful materials, and more.

To access course materials on a Learning Management System/Virtual Learning Environment or platform and undertake assessments, it is important that you come prepared with the appropriate technology. While it is possible to access and interact with most course content using tablets and smartphones, such as iPads, iPhones and Android devices, these devices will not work for assessments. Therefore, you must have a PC or Mac based computer available for use. Please note that Linux and Chromebooks are not supported.

Minimum recommended specifications:

PC 

• A Microsoft Windows-based PC with at least 4gb RAM and 200mb available free disk space (laptop or desktop, preferably running Windows 10 or 11)
• Web Browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (Chromium version) 

Mac 

• An Apple MacOS 10.12 and above based laptop or desktop with at least 4gb RAM and 200mb available free disk space
• Web Browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (Chromium version) 

To support you to success, you must arrive in the UK, on campus, by your programme start date, and be ready to attend your induction programme and all subsequent timetabled classes. Please note that poor attendance that conflicts with our Attendance Policy (in accordance with UKVI requirements) will result in the termination of your studies. Visa sponsorship will also be withdrawn.

Our induction programme will introduce you to your Centre, our staff, and welfare and support services. You will also receive full guidance on maintaining your health and safety whilst studying in the UK.

You will find out about your timetable, as well as important information about how we deliver your course through a mixture of classroom teaching and online learning. There will also be events to help you get to know your fellow students.

Student accommodation is available. If you indicated at application that you would like to book through us, our Central Student Services Co-ordinator will contact you.

If you are booking private accommodation, you must live within a 60-minute commute of the Centre.

If you are coming to the UK to study for 6 months or longer on a Student visa, you will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application fee.

The immigration health surcharge will entitle students in the UK under the Student visa route to access NHS care at no additional cost in the same way as a permanent UK resident. The National Health Service (NHS) provides a wide range of health care services including:

Registration with a GP practice (family doctor) for non-urgent appointments and health checks. You will receive information about how to register with a doctor when you arrive. Once you have registered with a GP you will be eligible for:

• The Covid-19 vaccination programme.
• Emergency care in local hospitals
• Referrals to specialists if and when required (waiting lists may apply depending on the urgency of the problem)
• On-going medical support and care for any long term medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma

Not all treatments are covered by the NHS. For example; non-emergency dentistry, orthodontics, routine eye tests and prescriptions for medicines need to be paid for.

If you are studying in the UK for less than 6 months on a short term study visa, you are not required to pay the health surcharge as part of your visa application and are therefore not eligible for full NHS support. In these circumstances, you are advised to take out medical insurance as you will be liable for NHS charges for the treatment you receive in the UK except for in a medical emergency. If you already have medical insurance in your home country, you may wish to check whether this can be extended to cover your stay in the UK.

Assuring the safety and wellbeing of our student and staff communities is at the heart of all of our planning and decision-making. We follow guidance provided by the government, public health authorities and the University, and our measures include:

• Risk assessments of all our International Study Centre buildings 
• Hand sanitisers in all our International Study Centre spaces 
• Face coverings are available to you
• Regular deep cleaning for all our buildings 

StudyCare Insurance Plus helps to protect you from unexpected accidents and circumstances that may impact your health, belongings, or travel plans.

We recommend that all students take out our own StudyCare Insurance Plus Policy or an adequate alternative.

More information about insurance is available here.