Welcome to the University of Southampton

Finalise your accommodation

Organising and confirming your accommodation before you arrive, and knowing what to do when you get here, will ensure you get off to the best start possible.

We’ve put together some helpful information for those students staying in our halls of residence, as well as those staying in private rented accommodation or living at home.

Students staying in University accommodation

Although the majority of students join the University in September, there are different groups of students who arrive at various points in the year. This can affect how and when to apply for accommodation, so it is important you read this information and ensure you complete each step that applies to you before you continue.

If you have applied for accommodation before 1 August 2021, you are covered by our accommodation guarantee. If you have missed this date, or if you are not covered by other terms of the guarantee, please do apply as we still welcome your application for accommodation.

We suggest you apply as soon as possible as we always make offers to students if we have suitable availability.

Accommodation offers are normally made from mid-August to early September although we can still make offers through to late September 2021. Please note that we will only make you one offer.

When we make you an offer of accommodation, you will have four days to accept it, before it expires. This accommodation offer is subject to our Terms and Conditions.

We are not able to change any offers once made. Please note: if you miss the deadline to accept your offer, you will lose your room and we may not be able to offer you another room.

Students who need to quarantine

If you are a student who needs to quarantine with us on arrival, you will receive a separate contract for your quarantine accommodation.

Students who need to quarantine can find lots of helpful information including details of when to arrive, as well as financial support available on the button below.

Quarantine information

We have put together information that you might find useful on our Accommodation webpage below, but if you can’t find the answer that you’re looking for, please contact us at: acccommodation@soton.ac.uk.

Need support with accommodation?

Our dedicated Accommodation Support Team are ready to help with any queries or concerns you may have and to support you through the accommodation process. They can be contacted using the details below via phone, email and online chat and are open weekdays from 09:00-18:00

• Got a quick question? Use our online chat facility to contact one of our Accommodation Advisors
• Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 5959
• Email us at accommodation@soton.ac.uk. Don’t forget to include your student ID number in your email.

Students who live at home

If you plan to live at home whilst you’re studying with us then you’ll find a range of useful information and advice for those who live locally or commute using the link below.

Private rented accommodation

As an alternative to University accommodation, both Southampton and Winchester offer a wide range of private rented accommodation and there is support available to find it at whatever time of year you are starting your studies.

We are a core partner in the Southampton Accreditation Scheme for Student Housing (SASSH) and the Students' Union also has its own letting agency to help you find private rented accommodation in Southampton or Winchester.

ISolutions, our IT department, offers a wide range of IT services and support for students.  Visit our IT webpages for more information or check out our quick guide to get you up and running.

Set up your University IT account

Before you arrive, you must set up your University IT account as it will give you access to your email and other University IT systems.  You can set up your account from any device with an internet connection.

To set up your account, you will need your:

• University ID number, also known as your student ID number (you can find this in your welcome email from the University, your original offer letter, or by contacting the Student Hub at: studenthub@soton.ac.uk)
• Family name
• Date of birth

Before you get started, there are a couple of important items to cover:

Security questions: While setting up your IT account, you will be asked to set some security questions and answers.  These answers are important to remember as they are required to verify your identity in the future if you forget your password.

Secondary email address: It is helpful to add a secondary email address when setting up your IT account.  In the event that you forget your password, you can use the secondary email to get access to your University account.

How to set up your IT account

You can use our Subscribe Self-Service site anytime to manage your IT account, including resetting your password.  

To keep your account secure, you will be prompted to set up MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) on your IT account.

Once you have created your account, please be aware that it can take up to 24 hours for all systems (for example, Blackboard) and services to become available to you.

Our helpful video will walk you through each step in the process:

What computer equipment is available to use on campus?

You have access to approximately 2,000 computer workstations* within rooms across all campuses and in most halls of residence.  Log in and use these machines using your university username and password. The Library also offers a laptop loan service that is available to students.  (*The number of workstations may be reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions.)

What software is available to students (including Office 365)?

Many software applications are available to you under a University licence whilst you are studying with us. 

Office 365: Once you have set up your IT account, you can sign in to the Office 365 apps online or visit this link to download Office365 apps to your personal computer.

The Microsoft Teams app is widely used for courses across all faculties at the University. It may be helpful to familiarise yourself with Teams before you join us if you haven’t used it before. Microsoft has some free training available online.

Other software applications: If you require a specific software application for any of your courses, there are a number available on our software download site.

How does printing on campus work?

The University uses Follow Me Print, a managed service that enables students to print documents from anywhere to any managed printing device. More information is available here on printing services, costs, and credit.

Need help?

Don’t struggle with your IT; even if it’s something small, we are here to help.  If you need support, contact ServiceLine, your university IT helpdesk.

You may have questions about how you register with us, as well as questions around visas so we’ve provided some helpful information below.

What you need to do to register will depend on your nationality. If you are not a UK or Republic of Ireland national, you will need to complete a Right to Study check to complete your enrolment.

I am a UK or Republic of Ireland national

Although you will not need to attend an in-person Registration Right to Study check, you will need to submit proof of your identity which you can do by following the steps below:

• Follow this link to Banner and log in
• Click: View Action Items
• Follow the instructions for Identity Check
• Upload two forms of ID

I have a student visa

You will need to upload clear colour photos or scans of your passport and immigration status and attend an in person Right to Study check.

If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the University, you will collect your card as part of your in-person Right to Study check.

If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the Post Office this will be stated on your decision letter.

Further information on collecting your BRP card from a Post Office Branch

Follow the steps below to upload your documents:

• Follow this link to Banner and log in 
• Click: View Action Items 
• Follow the instructions for Right to Study Check
• Upload the relevant documents.

What documents do I need to upload

You will need to upload a clear colour photos/scans of:

• Your passport photo page
• Your visa vignette with entry stamp
• If you entered using an eGate and did not receive a stamp in your passport, you must provide evidence of the date that you entered the UK e.g. a boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation for travel to the UK.
• Both sides of your BRP card if you have collected your BRP card from the Post Office

You will receive an email in early September inviting you to book an appointment for an in person Right to Study check.

How do I book an in person Right to Study Check?

If you have a student visa you are required to attend a right to study check in person. If you have another immigration status, we will invite you to book an appointment if it is required. 
Please book your appointment for the earliest appointment available after any period of self-isolation has ended.

Click here to book an appointment. Please use your university email address when booking your appointment. 

I have a different Immigration status

You will need to upload your proof of nationality and immigration status by following the steps below:

• Follow this link to Banner and log in 
• Click: View Action Items 
• Follow the instructions for Right to Study Check
• Upload the relevant documents.

You will need to upload a clear colour photos/scans of:

• Your passport photo page
• Your visa sticker in your passport; or
• Both sides of your BRP card; or 
• Your share code to prove your Immigration Status

We may need to see further documentation and will invite you to book an appointment for an in person Right to Study check if this is required.

What to bring to the in Person Right to Study check

You will need to bring your passport and one of the following documents:

• BRP; or
• BRP collection letter showing University of Southampton address; or
• Vignette or entry stamp for full length of stay in the UK; or
• If you have submitted a visa application and are waiting for a decision
  • visa application summary AND document checklist (generate these by logging into your visa application on GOV.UK) and;
  • evidence of most recent immigration permission; or
• Evidence of exemption from immigration control

At a Right to Study check, we will check your passport and immigration permissions and update our records to say that we have completed your right to study check.

Do you need a visa?

If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you may need immigration permission to study in the UK. Please visit the UK goverment's website to check if you need a visa.

There are many visa categories that you are allowed to study on without switching to a general student visa. If you already have an immigration status which you think allows study in the UK but are unsure, please contact the VISAS team as soon as possible.

Getting a visa can take a long time, so it is important to apply early. You can apply for a Student visa up to six months before your programme start date if you are applying for a visa from your home country.

If you haven’t already applied, find out whether you need a visa and see our guidance on the application process using the links below.

For further information about COVID-19 for students with a visa, please see our visa guidance page.

We’ve put some helpful information together below so you can prepare your finances before you join us.

Setting up a bank account

You’ll need to make sure you have a bank account set up before you arrive, if possible. Many banks have updated their application process and will accept applications from international students before arrival.

We are asking that payments on our campuses are cashless to help keep our community safe. Google Pay and Apple Pay are great ways to keep cashless too, make sure you have set these up on your devices. If you are travelling to the UK to study we recommend setting this up from your home country and checking it works before you travel.

Paying Your Fees

Undergraduate students

Students starting your studies from September 2021

Tuition fees are due in full by Monday 4 October 2021 for the 2021-22 academic year

If you've been approved for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, you do not need to do anything. The Student Loans Company will pay your fees to us.

If you're funding your own studies, you can choose to pay in 3 instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 34% of your fees by Monday 4 October 2021
• 33% of your fees by Monday 10 January 2022
• 33% of your fees by Monday 25 April 2022

Postgraduate taught students

Courses starting in September 2021

Your fees are due in full by Monday 4 October 2021.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay in 3 instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 34% of your fees Monday 4 October 2021
• 33% of your fees by Monday 10 January 2022
• 33% of your fees by Monday 25 April 2022

Courses starting in January/February 2022

Your fees are due in full by Monday 7 February 2022.

Alternatively, you can choose to pay in instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 34% of your fees by Monday 7 February 2022
• 33% of your fees by Friday 1 April 2022
• 33% of your fees by Sunday 1 May 2022

UK students with a Masters loan from the Student Loan Company should pay their fees as soon as their loan payment has been made and no later than:

• 34% of your fees by 7 February 2022
• 33% of your fees by 25 April 2022
• 33% of your fees by 26 September 2022

Postgraduate research students

Your fees are due in within 7 days of starting your programme.

Courses starting between 1 August 2021 and 31 October 2021

You can choose to pay in 3 instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 34% of your fees by Monday 4 October 2021
• 33% of your fees by Monday 10 January 2022
• 33% of your fees by Monday 25 April 2022

Students starting between 1 November 2021 and 31 December 2021

You can choose to pay in 3 instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 34% of your fees when you enrol
• 33% of your fees by Monday 10 January 2022
• 33% of your fees by Monday 25 April 2022

Students starting between 1 January 2022 and 25 April 2022

You can choose to pay in 2 instalments. Payments are due as follows:

• 50% of your fees when you enrol
• 50% of your fees by Monday 25 April 2022

Students starting after 25 April 2022

• 100% fees are due on enrolment

Now that you have set up your IT account, you should enrol online via the Student Enrolment website. If you have only just set up your University IT account, remember that you may need to wait between 15 – 30 minutes before the system will allow you to enrol.

What you will need to enrol

To log in, you will need your University username and the password you chose when you set up your IT account. You will also need the following information:

• University ID number, also known as your student ID number (you can find this in your welcome email from the University, your original offer letter, or by contacting the Student Hub at: studenthub@soton.ac.uk)
• Your current permanent address
• Your emergency contact details

Additional information

You will also be asked for the following details, but these are not essential to enrol. You can always add them to your online student record at a later date:

• Your term time address
• Your mobile telephone number
• As part of enrolment we will also require you to answer a series of questions set by the UK Government for statistical purposes.

Your student ID card is important and will be used a lot throughout your student journey. It will be valid for the duration of your studies.

Not only does your ID card identify you as one of our University of Southampton students, but it also provides you with access to many of the facilities and buildings on campus, including the libraries and faculty buildings. You should have your ID card with you when on campus in case you ever need it.

Please ensure you order your ID card online before you arrive. Please note that you will not be able to order your ID card until you have subscribed to your university account (see step 2) and then enrolled (see step 5).

How to apply

Log in to our ID card portal using your university username and the password you chose when completing step 2. Make sure you have an appropriate digital passport-style photo ready to upload.

When you apply for your ID card you will be given the option to choose additional services which require payment.

Receiving your ID card

Your ID card will be posted to your home address if you place your order before the start of term. Once term has begun, we will post your ID card to your term time address.

If you are joining us from overseas, please ensure you order your ID card before 14 September for it to be available to collect at your in person Right to Study check on campus. Any orders received after this date will be posted to your term time address.

Please be advised that we are unable to process ID card orders without a UK address. Please ensure you update your term time address before ordering.

We cannot provide an exact time frame of when you will receive your ID card, however card orders will be processed every day and we will ensure we process your order as soon as we can.

Digital version of your ID card

You will be provided with a digital version of their ID card automatically so if you will not be studying on campus, you will only require the digital version. This can be downloaded to your smartphone through the MySouthampton app once you have fully enrolled for this academic year.

If you have any questions relating to your ID card, please reference our FAQs or contact studenthub@soton.ac.uk and a member of the Student Support Hub will assist you. 

Undergraduates:  

For most students, learning at university will be new and exciting but also very different to your previous experiences of education. So, what can you do to help you to prepare?

From September, complete our Welcome to Undergraduate Study at Southampton course

We have designed an online course called Welcome to Undergraduate Study at Southampton, which we will ask you to work through and complete before you arrive.

You will be emailed with details of how to access the course in early September, so keep an eye on your University email account! The course is designed to follow on from our Getting Ready for Academic Study module and introduce you to more details about studying here at Southampton, highlighting the tools and resources you will need to access your teaching and learning. 

The course will be hosted on your Faculty Hub in our Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard. You can access your Faculty Hub using the links below.  

Postgraduates:  

Whilst you will understand the rigours of academic study at undergraduate level, it is important that you understand expectations at postgraduate level.  

We have designed an online course for postgraduate students called Welcome to Postgraduate Study at Southampton, which we will ask you to complete before you arrive. You will be emailed with details on how to access the course in early September, so keep an eye on your University email account!

The course is designed to introduce you to Postgraduate study here at Southampton, highlighting the tools and resources you will need to access your teaching and learning. The course will be hosted on your Faculty Hub in our Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard. You can access your Faculty Hub using the links below.  

Don’t know your Faculty? Contact the Student Hub at: studenthub@soton.ac.uk.

Whether you’re travelling to us from across the globe or within the UK, you may be starting to plan your travel arrangements so you can get to Southampton or Winchester in time for the start of your studies.

We recommend that before you travel you refer to the UK Government guidelines for the latest information on safe travel.

You may have some questions about how to plan for your arrival, especially if you’re coming from outside of the UK. Students who need to quarantine can find lots of helpful information including details of when to arrive, as well as financial support available on this page.

International students

The University offers a free Meet and Greet airport collection service, which is available to book from 10 August 2021.

This Service is only available to first time arriving students - students who have never travelled to the UK before to study, are 1st years or have previously studied online and this is the first time arriving in the UK.

The Meet and Greet service is available from London Heathrow (LHR) and Southampton International (SOU) airports. If you need to arrive at a different airport please email the Meet and Greet Team on meetandgreet@soton.ac.uk

The Service is available on the following days in September and October 2021 with our coaches or taxis taking you directly to your University or private accommodation in Southampton or Winchester.

The service is available until 12 October. Spaces are limited and once we are full, we will close the booking slot for the day. Bookings must be made 72 hours in advance and not later than 48 hours. We will close the booking slots 48 hours before each date.

Social distancing will be maintained throughout the journey. All vehicles will be sanitised before and after use to help ensure your safety and we ask that you wear face coverings whilst travelling.

Coaches or taxis will depart the Airports at frequent intervals throughout the day. On arrival at the airport Arrivals Hall you will be allocated to the next available vehicle. 

Red Listed Countries – Airport Quarantine

If you are self-isolating from a Red list country and are quarantined in an airport hotel, we will also make arrangements to pick you up after your self-isolation period. Please email the Meet and Greet Team on meetandgreet@soton.ac.uk to give us your hotel details and exit day.

Familiarise yourself with the rules for entering England by viewing the information on the gov.uk website, linked below.

University accommodation

If you are planning to stay in University accommodation and you are using the Meet and Greet Service, your accommodation is guaranteed to be available on your arrival. The additional days will be charged to your offer of Accommodation contract.

How to book our Meet and Greet Airport Collection Service

Please book early enough so that you have time to self-isolate for 10 days (if required) before the start of teaching.

You will receive an email with details of your Meet and Greet Airport Collection pick up arrangements 5 days prior to your arrival in the UK.

UK and International students

If you are planning to use public transport to make your own way to the University, you may find the information below helpful.

Despite the easing of restrictions in the UK, COVID-19 testing will continue be a part of life at the University this next academic year. To help keep our University community safe, all students and staff are expected to take part in regular COVID-19 testing while living in halls or accessing any of our campuses and activities.

We will email details about how and when to test towards the start of term. Please keep an eye on your soton.ac.uk email address for more details.

Please be reassured there is a lot of support available from the University for anyone who tests positive or who needs to self-isolate during their studies.