Written by Priyal (India), MSc Business Analytics (Online)
Getting an acceptance letter from Imperial is a dream come true, but as time comes closer to departure, your initial wave of excitement might turn into a mountain of logistical questions.
No matter where your journey to Imperial starts, the reality for most international students will be the same. You’re moving away to another country by yourself, living on a student budget and navigating a massive lifestyle adjustment. Fortunately, getting everything sorted isn’t nearly as confusing or stressful as it sounds, or as intimidating as some people online might make it look.
To help you hit the ground running, I’ve mapped out a practical guide with recommendations to help you navigate the start of term, making sure you actually have the time and energy to make the most out of your university experience from day one.
Managing your student visa
Once you can log into My Imperial and you’ve submitted all your relevant documents and met your offer conditions, your next step is downloading your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document once it’s been issued by the Admissions team. This document is Imperial’s official confirmation to the UK government that you have a place to study and your student visa application relies on it. Take a few minutes to check your name, passport number, course details and fees before booking your visa appointment to prevent any delays.
The next step is showing the UK government you have enough money for your tuition and living costs, and the exact amount depends entirely on your course fees and your home country. You can check the UK Government’s website to find the exact requirements, but for many international students, your total required funds must remain in your account untouched for 28 consecutive days before you apply for your visa. Make sure you plan your timeline to apply for your student visa early and check the exact requirements on the UK government website to avoid your application being rejected.
Alongside your main visa application, you’ll need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This mandatory fee is paid upfront and the final price depends on how long your course lasts – check the UK government website for details. This surcharge gives you access to the local NHS for standard medical care, however it doesn’t cover private hospital care, dental work and eye care so expect to pay for those appointments yourself, even if you’re seen by an NHS practitioner.
Once your fees are processed, you will attend your local visa application centre to submit your biometric data and physical documentation. Depending on your region, some visa offices may also require proof of pre-booked flights, so it’s essential to check your local guidelines before your appointment.
Preparing your e-visa before arrival
Instead of a physical visa sticker in your passport or a plastic Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) card, your student visa status is now stored electronically. To prove your right to study to border officials after landing in the UK, you’ll need to generate a digital share code online. The only real trap here is landing at the airport after an exhausting flight and realising your phone has no data to load the official government website. To keep your border crossing stress free, you can:
1. Take a screenshot before you fly – before you leave home, log into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account, generate your travel share code and save it as a PDF or a screenshot on your phone. A travel share code stays valid for 90 days and can be used multiple times, giving you total peace of mind even if you’re entirely offline.
2. Use the airport Wi-Fi – if you forget to save your document before boarding, don’t worry, you can just connect to the free airport Wi-Fi network when you land. Log into your UKVI account and generate a live code while waiting in the immigration queue.
When you reach the desk, the border force officer will simply scan your passport to view your electronic file. They are legally required to ask why you are entering the UK, so stay calm and clearly state that you’re entering to begin your studies at Imperial College London. Just to be safe, you can also keep your university letters and UK home address easily reachable in your hand luggage in case you need to show any further proof.
Get your accommodation sorted
While you are waiting for your visa to arrive, it’s the perfect time to turn your attention to where you’re going to live while studying at Imperial. London’s housing market is notoriously fast-paced, meaning good student rooms disappear in the blink of an eye. If you haven’t secured a spot in university housing yet, or if you’re looking into private accommodation, start your search early!
First, I’d suggest looking at Imperial’s Accommodation Hub for advice and guidance on securing accommodation, whether that be university halls or renting privately. If you’re looking at private housing, platforms like Zoopla are great for standard rentals, while sites like AmberStudent and Chapter Living are excellent for finding modern, purpose-built student accommodation.
When you’re thinking about the location of your new home, you could consider places with an easy commute to campus, such as Hammersmith which is close to South Kensington Campus. Lots of Imperial students choose to live in this area, which is a massive student hub with great pubs and quick Tube connections.
Other popular areas for Imperial students are White City and North Acton, mainly because they are home to some of Imperial’s biggest and most modern undergraduate halls of residence. These areas tend to offer more affordable accommodation and have great public transport links into central London. If you’ve got a bigger budget for accommodation, you can look at areas such as Earl’s Court, or even within South Kensington itself!
One thing to keep in mind during your accommodation search is whether or not you’re going to pay your rent in monthly or termly instalments instead of the entire year upfront. If you’d like to pay in instalments, landlords in the UK will almost always require you to have a UK-based guarantor. Since most international students don’t have a family member living in the UK to be a guarantor, you have two options:
1. Imperial’s Rent Guarantee Scheme – the university can act as a UK based guarantor for undergraduate students and postgraduate research students when renting private accommodation (not private student halls).
2. Private guarantor companies – these can be found online using a search engine such as Google. These private schemes can charge between 3% and 12% of the annual rent as a charge, the latter of which is extremely high, so it’s good to get multiple quotes before committing to one provider.
If you plan to use private guarantor companies, you’ll need to pay close attention as the London student housing market unfortunately sees cases of fake services and rental scams specifically looking to exploit international students. This isn’t meant to scare you, but you should always be cautious, do your research, read student reviews and verify companies through Imperial’s private housing support services and guidance before transferring any funds.
When you’re packing to move countries, it’s a good habit to check what your room already comes with as it stops you from wasting suitcase space on things you won’t need. You can easily pick up things like kitchen utensils, bedding and basic electronics for affordable prices at places like IKEA, Argos, Wilko or even Primark once you’re in the UK. Don’t stress about trying to fit your entire life into two suitcases as it’s much easier to buy your heavy essentials once you’ve settled into your room – save your luggage space for clothing or sentimental items instead.
Settling in early
Since student visas usually take up to four weeks to process, it’s a great idea to apply early and book your flight to London with a bit of time to spare. Most student accommodation tenancies start in September, and having those extra few days before term begins gives you a quiet window to unpack, explore and find your feet. Taking care of a few small admin tasks during this calm period means you won’t have to think about them later when Welcome Week and your classes start.
Once you arrive and unpack your bags, there are just two quick things to get out of the way first:
1. Choosing a phone plan
To avoid high roaming charges, you’ll want to sort out a UK SIM card right away. Networks like EE are incredibly reliable, but I personally use the VOXI student plan, which gives you unlimited data for around £10 a month. Most networks offer brilliant student deals, so just pick whatever fits your data needs and budget so you can text home without stressing.
2. Setting up a UK bank account
Since London runs almost entirely on card payments, most students pick traditional high street options like HSBC, Barclays or Lloyds, while others love digital banks like Monzo because they are so quick and easy to set up. To set up a UK bank account, you’ll generally just need your passport, a UK phone number and your e-visa share code. Every bank has slightly different requirements, so it’s always a good idea to look at their checklist online before you apply.
Getting your student ID card
With your essentials sorted, the next step is getting your Imperial student ID card ready for campus life. You can actually do most of the work from home by uploading your photo to the student portal before you fly. When your arrival week approaches, the university will email you a specific time slot when you can collect the physical card on campus. Try your best to make it to that slot as having your card handy ensures you can easily enter every building, library and lab from your very first day.
Once you have your student ID in hand, you can immediately use your student status to register for free accounts on apps like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, which offer massive discounts on anything you can imagine – clothing, laptops, food delivery and streaming subscriptions – making it an incredibly easy way to save money.
Having your student status finalised with your physical student ID also means you can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard online to save money on London’s Tubes and buses. Just keep in mind that like a bank card, the Oyster card can take up to 10 days to be mailed to your flat, so getting your application in right after you get your student details ensures it’s ready exactly when you need to start commuting to campus or travelling around London.
If you want to explore the UK beyond London, you should also absolutely grab a 16-25 or 26-30 Railcard online too. On its own, the Student Oyster card only discounts weekly or monthly travel passes, which you might not always need. However, if you take both cards to any Tube station worker, they can link your Railcard with your Student Oyster card, unlocking a 1/3 discount on single pay-as-you-go fares and also lowers your daily travel caps. It works beautifully during off-peak hours, meaning all day on weekends and outside the busy weekday rush hours (06:30 to 09:29, and 16:00 to 18:59). Even better, your Railcard allows you to get affordable prices on national train tickets, making it affordable to go on trips with your friends across the UK.
Registering for a doctor and dentist
Remember that health surcharge you paid during your visa application? To use that healthcare cover, your final admin task is to register with a local doctor, also known as a General Practitioner (GP). You can find out more information about finding a doctor and dentist on Imperial’s website. Many NHS doctor’s surgeries are now completing new patient registrations online which normally only takes a couple of minutes, so you can begin the process as soon as you arrive in the UK and have a UK home address.
Planning your first few weeks at Imperial
At this stage, you’ve settled into your room and finished the admin work, so you can finally explore your new home and city. Before Welcome Week hits, give yourself a day or two to just exist in London. Go find your nearest grocery shop, figure out which Tube station and route is easiest for you, look for the bus stops around you and wander around your neighbourhood to soak it all in.
To start off, make sure to browse all the student clubs and societies Imperial has to offer. There are over 350 clubs and societies to choose from, so there’s something for almost any hobby or interest you can think of. The university has so much to offer outside of academics, and the autumn Welcome Fair gives you an entire week to get a taste of it all. Whether you are highly social and want to sign up for ten different groups, or you just want to find one quiet space to try something out, go at your own pace. Make a quick list of the activities that catch your eye, drop by their welcome events, chat with the committees and ask them what kind of socials they host. It’s the easiest way to break the ice, and you’ll naturally find your people there.
If you’re starting at Imperial Business School, you’ll also have a fantastic chance to explore their dedicated career clubs, which are great for connecting with industry professionals and building your network early on.
To finish off, definitely check out Ethos, Imperial’s main sports centre based on South Kensington Campus. It has a massive gym and a swimming pool, and the basic student membership is one of the cheapest in London!
