Travel advice for entering the UK

Arriving at the airport

UKVI have published a helpful international student arrival guide which tells you what to expect at the border when you enter the UK. They also have a guide to faster travel through the UK border.

When you arrive at an airport in the UK, you will need to pass through immigration control.

There will usually be two queues: one for nationals from the UK/EU/EEA, and one for everyone else. If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA, you can also use the queue for UK/EU/EEA nationals to proceed to the eGates. All other nationals will need to have a border official look at your passport and check your UK visa.

Using the eGates

An eGate is an electronic passport control that will read biometric information from your passport chip and use facial recognition technology to identify you. This means you do not need to see a border official.

You can use the eGates to enter the UK if:

• You have a modern passport with a chip in it
• You’re a citizen of the UK, the EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, or the USA
• You’re not travelling with a child under the age of 10
• You’re not entering the UK to join an EEA family member.

If you use the eGates to enter the UK, your passport will not be stamped. This means that you will not have an official record of the date that you entered the UK. It is advisable to keep evidence of your date of entry to the UK (e.g. your airline flight ticket or boarding pass) as you will need to show this to complete your enrolment at the University.

If you are a non-visa national, you may arrive to the UK with no visa and enter the UK via the eGates as a visitor. This can only be used for short periods of study, for programmes which are less than 6 months in duration. Please see our guidance on coming to the UK for a short period of study.

Documentation you will need

Please ensure that you have copies of the following documents available, as you may be required to present them to border officials. It’s important to carry these in your carry on or hand luggage, as you will not collect your hold luggage until having passed through immigration control.

• Your unconditional offer letter from the University
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Current bank statements or evidence of funds
• Details of your UK accommodation (e.g. a rental/tenancy agreement or confirmation of a place in University accommodation)
• If you are under 18 years old, a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) giving you permission to study in the UK.

It is usual for the border official to ask you some questions about your stay in the UK, after which they will stamp your passport.

Collecting your luggage

After you have had your passport checked and completed immigration control, you can collect your luggage. Airport screens will usually identify the correct baggage carousel for your flight. If your baggage does not arrive, please speak to a member of airport staff who may guide you to complete a lost luggage form. In most cases, if your bag is missing but subsequently identified, it will be delivered to you in a few days.

Passing through customs control

When you have your luggage, you must pass through customs.

Most UK ports and airports have two exits or ‘channels’ – the red and green channels:

Use the green channel if you are travelling with goods that:

• do not go over your allowances
• are not banned or restricted
• have been declared using the Online Service for Passengers
• have been declared using the Merchandise in Baggage Online Declaration Service
• cash that has been declared using the online form.

You must use the red channel (or the red point phone at certain ports) if you have goods to declare:

• If you are travelling from a country from outside the EU and you have £10,000 or more in cash. See the government’s guidance on bringing cash into the UK.
• If you are carrying more than the permitted duty/tax-free allowances.
• If you are carrying prohibited goods (e.g. drugs or offensive weapons).
• If you are carrying certain food, plants, or medicines made from endangered species. There are very strict controls on what food products you can bring into the UK.

Arriving at University of Gloucestershire

When to travel

As a new international student, you want to make sure that you arrive with enough time to settle in before term starts. This can include moving into your accommodation, sorting out your UK bank account, registering with a doctor, becoming more familiar with the University’s campuses, as well as taking the opportunity to meet new people.

Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) will indicate a ‘Course start date’ in the ‘Offer details’ section. This date reflects the recommended arrival date, for students to arrive in time for the University’s induction week. Induction week provides a series of University and course specific activities to help you settle into life as a University of Gloucestershire student. For further information please check our academic calendar.

How to get to the University

Once you have planned when to travel to the UK, please check our international travel page for details of how to get to the University of Gloucestershire from the main international airports. University of Gloucestershire has five campuses, please check which campus your subject is located at before planning onward travel.