New international students

Welcome to Southampton Solent University!

There will be a lot of things to see and do in your first few weeks here – the whole experience will be new and exciting but may also leave you feeling confused.

To try to help make the start of your new life as smooth as possible and introduce you to the way things are done in the UK, the international advice service are here to provide some practical information on life in the UK.

We can also help with general information and directing you to other sources of help and support in the University. Even if we do not know the answer to your question, we will do our very best to point you in the right direction.

If you have any further questions, please email us at: internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk

If you are an international student with a student visa, please make sure you take the time to read through the terms and conditions attached to your visa. Below, you will find a recording of our visa advice and compliance presentation that you must listen to.

International welcome events and talks

We have a timetable of in-person and online events and presentations during the international welcome, delivered a few days before teaching commences. The tailored timetable will be emailed to you a few weeks before the start of your journey, but plan to arrive in the UK by the date indicated on your CAS includes the International Welcome. You will receive much information about life in the UK, the visa regulations, the services available to you, and the culture, customs, and expectations. This time is ideal for overcoming jet lag, settling and bonding with new friends, and getting to know the campus and city before the teaching starts.

Looking for accommodation in Southampton?

Check out our comprehensive housing guide on finding accommodation in the city if you are an international student.

Arriving late?

We are here to support you. First step is to communicate with our international admissions team and your course leader any reasons for later arrival and an estimated arrival date. You must arrive in UK before the latest enrolment date (as stated in your CAS). Please ensure you attend the mop-up induction talks, where you will be familiarised with your visa conditions and regulations. This is a compulsory part of your visa conditions.

Register with a GP

To access the National Health Service (NHS), which you have paid for as part of your visa, you will need to register with your local doctor/surgery. Once you find a surgery, visit their website to discover how you need to register with them. This will usually be a simple and quick form. You can get a list of doctors from the Student Hub.

Opening a bank account

To find out how to open a bank account, please read here.

eVisa and share codes generation

Once you arrive in the UK, you will need to setup your UKVI online account and activate your eVisa. Once active, you can then generate share codes. You can read more here.

Feeling homesick?

Find out more about homesickness and culture shock below:

When a person moves to a new country the experience can feel overwhelming. Whether an individual moves to a country with the same first language or not, the process of getting used to the new culture can be a time of uncertainty and anxiety.

This can apply to international students and it is helpful to realise that is quite normal to feel this way. It is important then to remember that it is a learning process and that most students will return with greater self-confidence and the ability to manage in an intercultural environment.

When you arrive in England, you will no doubt encounter a multitude of new things. The food is not the same as it is at home, and familiar greetings such as 'hello' and 'good day', 'thanks' and 'how are you doing', may suddenly give completely different responses than the ones you are used to. People talk in a strange language and look different. University rules are different, and the way of studying may appear strange and difficult.

Even though things seem very similar, they may not be, and suddenly everyday routine and simple actions become difficult and frustrating.

It is often small differences that are most frustrating, as you think you know how to behave/do things, but you get a strange response. Your family and friends are very far away.

Culture shock often develops in different stages:

Arrival and 'honeymoon' stage
Everything is new and exciting.

Culture shock stage
You start to experience difficulties with everyday things, as they are different from home, such as the language barrier, getting the right food etc.

Adapting stage
You slowly start to understand the new culture and feel more in balance. You feel an urge to belong.

Reverse culture shock
This stage takes place when you return to your home country and suddenly find out that you have brought back something with you, namely something that suddenly makes you see your own culture with more critical eyes. This can be difficult to come to terms with.

Before coming to study at Solent University you probably thought about how you would cope with adjusting to a new country, language, food and customs. But you may not have thought that you might need to make similar sorts of adjustments when you return home. Many people are surprised that they can experience problems readjusting to home life, relationships with friends and family and patterns of behaviour. This process of re-adjustment has been called ‘reverse culture shock’. UKCISA have a very useful information sheet available: UKCISA culture shock

Talk to a friend about your feelings.
Stay active – a physical activity often helps! Try a new sport with Solent Sport.
Stay in touch with family and friends at home.
Try to do things that you did at home, listen to your favourite music and/or eat familiar food.
Try to avoid evaluating their behaviour using the standards you would use in your own country.
Accept that you cannot know everything about the new country and the language, and if it is overwhelming, take a break.

If you experience some of the above symptoms and have a sudden feeling of loneliness or sadness, here are some ideas that may be helpful in dealing with culture shock:

Keep an open mind – people in England may say or do things that people at home would not do or say. But the people in England act according to their own set of values, not yours.
Learn from experience – moving to a new culture can be the most fascinating and educational experience of your life. There is no better way to become aware of your own values and attitudes or to broaden your point of view.

If you find yourself unable to function normally and the cultural shock affects your study, you may like to talk to one of our wellbeing advisers. They can offer you tips and strategies on how to cope better. To access the service please come to the Student Hub in TS114.

Religion and spirituality

Read more about religion and spirituality at Solent on our website.

The location of the multi-faith space/prayer room is JM112.

International scams and phishing

International students are quite often a target of scammers pretending to be calling from a government body or police and asking for money.

Once your visa is granted, you will not be required to pay additional fees!

Do not send money if requested by the "police" or "government"

The police will never ask students for money or for them to download specific applications on their phones. Students are encouraged to contact the university international support team or the British police if they receive any requests.

International police do not have jurisdiction in the UK

Law enforcement agencies from other countries, including China, cannot conduct investigations or make direct contact with individuals in the UK without prior agreement from UK police and Interpol. If a student receives such a call, they should cease communication immediately and report the incident to British police.

Protect personal information online

Students should regularly review their social media and online presence to ensure that personal details are not publicly accessible.

Use a UK-registered SIM card

Students should obtain their own UK SIM card upon arrival and avoid using any SIM cards provided by third-party ‘agents’ before entering the country.

If you receive a request like this, you should end the communication and immediately report this to the police. Please also report this to the University as soon as possible to safeguarding@solent.ac.uk.