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 that you get off to the best start.  Although the majority of students join the University in September, there are a number of different groups of students who arrive at various points throughout the year. This can affect how and when to apply for accommodation, therefore it is important that you read this information carefully and ensure you have completed each step that applies to you before you continue.

Before you arrive, you must set up your new University computing and email account. You can set up your account from any computer with an internet connection. You will be asked to provide:

• your student ID number (you can find this in your welcome email from the University or at your student office)
• your family name
• your date of birth

Please note: Office 365 is available to download for free to all University of Southampton students, staff and PGRs. You can find out more about downloading the software here: Office 365

During the process you will be given an IT account username and you will be asked to choose a password. It is very important to remember both your username and password so you can enrol and access other University services. Please make sure you:

• write down your username
• choose a password that you will remember and that will be easy to type on a UK keyboard. 

During this part of the process you will be asked to set some security questions and answers.  It is important that you select an appropriate question, and provide an appropriate answer, as these questions will be used to verify your identity in the future should you forget your password, or allow it to expire.   

Once you have set up you University IT account, it is very important that you check your University email account regularly. The University will send important information to you using this email address, for example, information about your course, fees and accommodation.

Please read the information below carefully and then proceed to the bottom for payment methods.

How to pay

You will need your student ID when paying your fees. You will have received this in email correspondence from the University admissions team in your welcome email. Please note the University does not accept cash payments.  

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 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: 

• your student ID number (this is on the welcome email/letter sent to you, or is available from your student office) 
• your current permanent address 
• your term time address in the UK 
• your emergency contact details

Additional information

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

• your term time telephone number in the UK 
• your mobile telephone number 
• the name and address of your doctor 
• information on sponsors (if your tuition fees are not being paid by you or your family) 

As part of enrolment we will also require you to answer a series of questions set by the UK Government for statistical purposes.

International Registration

If you are from outside the EEA, you can complete the online enrolment process to provisionally enrol before you arrive at the University. To fully enrol you will be invited to attend registration where you will need to show your passport, visa and academic qualifications.

Apply for your ID card

You must apply for your student ID card before you arrive, as you will need it to access many of the facilities and buildings on campus, including the library and faculty buildings. 

When you apply for your ID card you will be given the option to choose additional services, which require payment. This includes the option to sign up for membership of the University’s sports facilities. 

Collecting your card

You must have ordered your card before arriving at a collection point. Please order your card above 

Enabling Services

If you require additional support for a specific learning difficultly (e.g. dyslexia), a mental health condition, a disability, or ongoing health condition, it is in your best interest to contact the University Enabling Services Team as soon as possible.

If you have not done so already, please get in touch so that we can explore what support might be helpful for you. The earlier you contact us, the quicker we can get your support in place. This can have a positive impact on your studies and could support you to achieve your full potential.

Support Available

The types of support may include;

• Additional exam arrangements (For example extra time)
• Specialist Study Skills support (1:1 or small group workshops)  
• Learning support  (e.g. notetaking)
• Advice on applying for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which might include access to: specialist one-to-one support, mentoring or specialist equipment
• Short-term counselling and hypnotherapy

Enabling Services offers also a range of support services to help you with your wellbeing, including our daily Drop In service, mindfulness, and online workshops

Care Leavers & Estranged Students Support

We want to ensure everyone has the best possible start to their studies, as such we offer tailored support to those leaving a care environment or studying without the support of their family. More information on the enhanced support package, including 365-day University accommodation and the additional bursary for eligible students, can be found here.

If you are a Care Leaver and have ticked the box on your UCAS form then a member of the Student Inclusion Team will reach out to you before your arrival. Alternatively, if you think you are eligible and did not tick the box or are estranged from your family then please contact studentinclusion@soton.ac.uk.

If you haven't already, remember to download the MySouthampton app and select the Welcome Profile to access tailored information for new students.

Getting to the University

International Students starting your studies in September

Register for Meet and Greet

Meet and Greet is only available to students arriving during semester one and two intake dates, if you are arriving outside these dates you will need to make your own way to the University. To help you with this please visit our website for directions.

To help make your arrival in the UK as easy as possible we run a free Meet and Greet service at London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport. We will be at the airport to meet you and there will be a coach service to take you to your accommodation in Southampton or Winchester. You will arrive in time to take part in the various welcome activities on offer.

Semester One Meet & Greet – September 2019

Our Meet and Greet team will be there to meet you on the following dates:

• Wednesday 18 September
• Thursday 19 September

To sign up for this free service you will need to complete our online booking form. The deadline for submitting the form is 09:00 (local time)  Monday 15 September.

After the 15 September, if you still wish to sign up for the free Meet and Greet Service on 18 or 19 September, please email: meetandgreet@soton.ac.uk with the following information:

Your full name
Student ID
Mobile telephone number
Email
Date of arrival
Airport and Terminal
Flight number
Arrival time
Accommodation details

Your information will be passed to the Meet and Greet Team and they will find you a place on a coach if they can, however this cannot be guaranteed.

Meet and Greet representatives will be at each airport who will be wearing green t-shirts with the University of Southampton logo. The last coach will depart when all pre-booked students have been met by a member of the Meet and Greet Team.

Please note that the coach service is for students only. If there are seats available, your friends and family members may be able to join you on the coach but priority will be given to students first. 

If there are no places on the coach for your friends or family, we will help them find a National Express coach service to Southampton Coach Station. The price for this will be between £20 – £25 per person.  

Please also be aware that the coaches have a limited luggage capacity. There is therefore a maximum luggage allowance of two large suitcases (which you must be able to pick up and carry yourself) and one small piece of hand luggage per student.

If you are not using the Meet and Greet service and you need information on how to get to the University, visit our website for directions.

Students travelling from within the UK

If you are travelling from within the UK, please see our website for information on how to get here.

Starting your studies at another time of year

If you are not using the Meet and Greet service and you need information on how to get to the University, visit our website for directions.

For further information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

UK/EU Students

You have no further steps. Please visit the When you arrive page.

International

Please continue to step 8.

If you are a UK student, you can find directions to the campuses from our directions page.

Do you need a visa?

If you are an international student from any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please visit the UK government’s website to check if you need a UK visa.

There are many visa categories on which you are allowed to study without switching to a Tier 4 general student visa, including PBS Dependent visa, Tier 5 and Tier 2. 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 in good time. You can apply up to three months before your programme start date.

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

If you apply for a Tier 4 visa from outside the UK for a course longer than 6 months:

You will collect your visa for the full length of your stay when you arrive in the UK. The visa you collect when you arrive is called a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit).

When you apply for your visa, you choose to collect your BRP (visa) directly from the University of Southampton; to do this you must enter our alternative collection location code.  You will also have the option to collect your BRP (visa) from a Post Office.

We recommend that you choose the option to collect your BRP (visa) from the University.

The Alternative Collection Location Code for the University of Southampton is:  2HE382

Address details:

University of Southampton
VISAS Team
Building 37, Room 2035
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ

You will need your visa to register at the University of Southampton, as UK Visa and Immigration requires the University to take copies of all immigration permissions and passports for those students who are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. If you have any kind of visa, entry stamp or have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK then you will need to attend International Student Registration, where we will take these copies and you will be able to collect your visa (BRP).

If you have applied to extend your visa inside the UK

If you have already applied for a visa or other immigration permission to remain in the UK, you must bring original evidence of this to register. Acceptable evidence will be a printout of your visa appointment confirmation from UKVCAS and either your document checklist or application summary.

International student registration

If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the University, you will receive your BRP during your international registration appointment.

If you have chosen to collect your BRP from a Post Office in the UK, you must collect your BRP before you attend international registration and bring your BRP and passport to your appointment. 

Please note, once you have been issued your BRP, it will replace the 30 day entry visa in your passport. Your BRP is your visa and should last for the whole of your programme of study.  

Pre-sessional students

You will have attended a registration event as part of your pre-sessional induction programme and do not need to attend another registration event for your main degree programme. You may need to apply to extend your Tier 4 visa if your current visa was for your pre-sessional programme only.  

Please refer to our pre-sessional visa extension webpage for information and about how we can help you apply.

What is International Registration

It is a requirement of the UK Home Office for us to check that you have the right to study in the UK.

Please read the section that applies to you to find out if you need to attend, what you should check before booking, what you will need to bring with you and what will happen at your appointment.

eGates at the UK Border

If you have a Tier 4 visa or a BRP card and are a national from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America you will be permitted to use eGates when you enter the UK border.

If you enter the UK using an eGate you will not receive a stamp in your passport so you must also bring evidence of the date that you entered the UK e.g a boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation for travel to the UK.

If you are a national from one of the countries listed and you are coming to the UK as a short term student you must not use an eGate and you should see a Border Force Officer to get a stamp in your passport.