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 team 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.
1. Activate your eVisa and generate a share code.
2. Attend enrolment and welcome events.
3. Register with a GP (doctor).
4. Open a UK bank account.
5. Check your accommodation arrangement.
Your first few weeks at Solent are an important time to settle in, meet people, and get everything in place for your studies. There will be lots of opportunities to get involved and find your way around.
You will be invited to a programme of international welcome events and talks before teaching starts. These sessions will help you to:
Attending these sessions is highly recommended, and some visa compliance talks are compulsory.
You must complete your university enrolment as soon as possible after arriving.
This may include:
Make sure you complete enrolment before the deadline to avoid any issues with your studies or visa.
Starting university is a great time to meet new people and build friendships.
You can:
Getting involved will help you settle in, feel more confident, and make the most of your time at Solent.
You don’t need to do everything at once - focus on settling in, attending key sessions, and meeting new people. Support is always available if you need it.
Check out our comprehensive housing guide on finding accommodation in the city if you are an international student.
We are here to support you. The 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.
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.
To find out how to open a bank account, please read here.
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.
Find out more about homesickness and culture shock below:
Read more about religion and spirituality at Solent on our website.
The location of the multi-faith space/prayer room is JM112.
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!
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's international support team or the British police if they receive any requests.
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.
Students should regularly review their social media and online presence to ensure that personal details are not publicly accessible.
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.
International Connect is a friendly and inclusive online community space for international students to build links with each other during your time at the university.
This is an opportunity for you to share experiences, ask questions, connect and network with fellow international students enrolled at Southampton Solent. You will also find information on upcoming events and news curated specifically for you!
To participate in the programme, you must meet all of the following criteria: