{"id":7489,"date":"2026-08-14T15:49:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/?p=7489"},"modified":"2026-08-26T09:15:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T09:15:52","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-starting-at-imperial-as-an-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/2026\/08\/14\/how-to-prepare-for-starting-at-imperial-as-an-international-student\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prepare for starting at Imperial as an international student"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Priyal (India),\u00a0MSc Business Analytics (Online)<\/em><\/p>\n

Getting an acceptance letter from Imperial is a dream come true, but as time comes closer to departure, your\u00a0initial\u00a0wave of excitement might turn into a mountain of logistical questions.<\/p>\n

No matter where your journey to Imperial starts,\u00a0the reality for most international students will be the same.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0moving away to another country by yourself,\u00a0living on a student\u00a0budget\u00a0and navigating a massive lifestyle adjustment. Fortunately, getting everything sorted\u00a0isn’t\u00a0nearly as\u00a0confusing or stressful as it sounds, or as intimidating as some people online might make it look.<\/p>\n

To help you hit the ground running, I\u2019ve mapped out a practical guide with recommendations\u00a0to\u00a0help you\u00a0navigate\u00a0the start of term, making sure you actually have the time and energy to make the most out of your university experience from day one.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Managing your student visa<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once you can log into\u00a0My Imperial<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0submitted\u00a0all your relevant documents and met your offer conditions, your next step is downloading your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) document once\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been issued by the Admissions team. This document is Imperial\u2019s official confirmation to the UK government that you have a place to\u00a0study\u00a0and your student visa application relies on it. Take a few minutes to check your name, passport number, course\u00a0details\u00a0and fees before booking your visa appointment to prevent any delays.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0You can check the\u00a0UK Government\u2019s website<\/a>\u00a0to 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\u00a0UK government website<\/a>\u00a0to avoid your application being rejected.<\/p>\n

Alongside your main visa application,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0need to pay the\u00a0Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).<\/a>\u00a0This mandatory fee is paid upfront and the\u00a0final price\u00a0depends on how long your course lasts \u2013 check the\u00a0UK government website<\/a>\u00a0for details. This surcharge gives you access to the local NHS for standard medical care, however it\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0cover private hospital care, dental work and eye care so expect to pay for those appointments yourself, even if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0seen by an NHS practitioner.<\/p>\n

Once your fees are processed, you will attend your local visa application centre to\u00a0submit\u00a0your biometric data and physical documentation. Depending on your region, some visa offices may also require proof of pre-booked flights, so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0essential to check your local guidelines before your appointment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Preparing your e-visa before arrival<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Instead of a physical visa sticker in your passport or a plastic Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs)\u00a0card, your student visa status is now stored electronically. To prove your right to study to border officials after landing in the UK,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0need 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:<\/p>\n

1. Take a screenshot before you fly\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 before you\u00a0leave home,\u00a0log 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\u00a0<\/strong>90 days and can be used multiple times, giving you total peace of mind even if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0entirely offline.<\/p>\n

2. Use the airport Wi-Fi\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 if you forget to save your document before boarding,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0worry, 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.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0state\u00a0that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0entering 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get your accommodation sorted\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While you are waiting for your visa to arrive,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the perfect time to turn your attention to where\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0going to live while studying at Imperial. London\u2019s housing market is notoriously\u00a0fast-paced, meaning good student rooms disappear in the blink of an eye. If you\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0secured a spot in university housing yet, or if\u00a0you’re\u00a0looking into private accommodation, start your search early!<\/p>\n

First,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0suggest looking at Imperial\u2019s Accommodation Hub for advice and guidance on securing accommodation, whether that be university halls or renting privately.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0looking at private housing, platforms like\u00a0Zoopla<\/a>\u00a0are great for standard rentals, while sites like\u00a0AmberStudent<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Chapter Living<\/a>\u00a0are excellent for finding modern, purpose-built student accommodation.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0thinking 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.<\/p>\n

Other popular areas for Imperial students are White City and North Acton, mainly because they are home to some of Imperial’s biggest\u00a0and most modern\u00a0undergraduate halls of residence. These areas tend to offer more\u00a0affordable accommodation and have great public transport links into central London. If\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0got a bigger budget for accommodation, you can look at areas such as Earl’s Court, or even within South Kensington itself!<\/p>\n

One thing to keep in mind during your accommodation search is\u00a0whether or not\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0going to pay your rent in monthly or termly instalments instead of the entire year upfront. If\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0like to pay in instalments, landlords in the UK will\u00a0almost always\u00a0require you to have\u00a0a UK-based guarantor. Since most international students\u00a0don’t\u00a0have a family member living in the UK to be a guarantor, you have two options:<\/p>\n

1. Imperial\u2019s <\/strong>Rent Guarantee Scheme<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the university can act as a UK based guarantor for\u00a0undergraduate students<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0postgraduate research students<\/strong>\u00a0when renting private accommodation (not private student halls).<\/p>\n

2. Private guarantor companies<\/strong> \u2013 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\u00a0it’s\u00a0good to get multiple quotes before committing to one provider.<\/p>\n

If you plan to use private guarantor companies,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0need to pay close attention as the London student housing market unfortunately sees cases of fake services and rental\u00a0scams\u00a0specifically looking to exploit international students. This\u00a0isn’t\u00a0meant to scare you, but you should always be cautious, do your research, read student\u00a0reviews\u00a0and verify companies through Imperial’s\u00a0private housing support services and guidance<\/a>\u00a0before transferring any funds.<\/p>\n

When\u00a0you’re\u00a0packing to move countries,\u00a0it’s\u00a0a good habit to check what your room already comes with as it stops you from wasting suitcase space on things you\u00a0won’t\u00a0need. 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\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0in the UK.\u00a0Don’t\u00a0stress about trying to fit your entire life into two suitcases as\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0much easier to buy your heavy essentials once\u00a0you’ve\u00a0settled into your room \u2013\u00a0save your luggage space for clothing or sentimental items instead.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Settling in early<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since student visas usually take up to four weeks to process,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a 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\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0have to think about them later when Welcome Week and your classes start.<\/p>\n

Once you arrive and unpack your bags, there are just two quick things to get out of the way first:<\/p>\n

1. Choosing a phone plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

To avoid high roaming charges,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0want 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 \u00a310 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.<\/p>\n

2. Setting up a UK bank account<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since London runs\u00a0almost entirely\u00a0on card payments, most students pick traditional high street options like HSBC,\u00a0Barclays\u00a0or 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,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0generally just\u00a0need your passport, a UK phone number and your e-visa share code. Every bank has slightly different requirements, so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0always\u00a0a good idea\u00a0to look at their checklist online before you apply.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting your student ID card<\/strong><\/h3>\n

With your essentials sorted, the next step is getting your Imperial student ID card ready for campus life. You can\u00a0actually do\u00a0most 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,\u00a0library\u00a0and lab from your very first day.<\/p>\n

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 \u2013 clothing, laptops, food delivery and streaming subscriptions \u2013 making it an incredibly easy way to save money.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s ready exactly when you need to start commuting to campus or travelling around London.<\/p>\n

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\u00a01\/3\u00a0discount on single pay-as-you-go fares\u00a0and also\u00a0lowers 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Registering for a doctor and dentist<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0Imperial\u2019s website.<\/a>\u00a0Many 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Planning your first few weeks at Imperial<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At this stage,\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0settled into your room and finished the admin work,\u00a0so you can finally\u00a0explore your new home and city.\u00a0Before Welcome Week hits, give yourself a day or two to just exist in London.\u00a0Go find\u00a0your 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.<\/p>\n

To start off, make sure to browse all the\u00a0student clubs and societies Imperial has to offer<\/a>. There are over 350 clubs and societies to choose from, so\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0something 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\u00a0different 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.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0the easiest way to break the ice, and\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0naturally find your people there.<\/p>\n

If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0starting at Imperial Business School,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0also have a fantastic chance to explore their dedicated career clubs, which are great for connecting with industry professionals and building your network early on.<\/p>\n

To finish off,\u00a0definitely check\u00a0out\u00a0Ethos<\/a>, 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!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Priyal (India),\u00a0MSc Business Analytics (Online) Getting an acceptance letter from Imperial is a dream come true, but as time comes closer to departure, your\u00a0initial\u00a0wave of excitement might turn into a mountain of logistical questions. No matter where your journey to Imperial starts,\u00a0the reality for most international students will be the same.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0moving away to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1636,"featured_media":7490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[300975],"tags":[300964,300890,300966,300965],"class_list":["post-7489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-students","tag-how-to-guide","tag-international-student","tag-international-student-support","tag-starting-at-imperial"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1636"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7491,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7489\/revisions\/7491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/student-blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}