International students FAQs

Before you travel, you must check the rules for the country you are coming from or will travel through. If you are coming from or travelling through a red list country, you will need to quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine facility. Click here to information on how to book and pay for a quarantine package.

Please follow the UK Government guidance for safe travel, and travel straight to the place where you will be self-isolating or be in quarantine. Solent does not currently provide a pickup service from the airport. 

It is more important than ever to open a bank account before you arrive in the UK.

The UK Government's list of countries from which travellers need to self-isolate or quarantine upon arrival could change shortly before your planned arrival date. We strongly recommend you arrange an international account or bank card to facilitate your self-isolation or quarantine period upon arrival, even if you currently are not required to do so.

In the UK many places accept card payments only, due to the pandemic. Therefore, you should arrange an international bank account or bank card to be able to make card or online payments for basic necessities, such as food shopping, takeaway meals, and paying tuition fees, when you arrive in the UK.

Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in the UK - you should avoid bringing a large amount of cash with you as opening a UK bank account may take a little while, depending on which bank you choose.

It's important you keep in touch and we recommend you have a PC, tablet or smartphone so you can access the student portal, download the MySolent app and connect with the University's online learning platform, Solent Online Learning.

If you are in a University student residence, you will have access to the internet, but you need to ensure you have internet access if you are in private accommodation.

Quarantine or self-isolation can be really difficult, and you might feel bored and lonely. The Solent Self Isolation Kit will give you tips and support and our Wellbeing Team is here to help you.

You can also access our Get Ready to Learn programme to prepare you for studying at Solent.

You can also join Friends International. This is an organisation based in Southampton which supports international students and organise regular social events

The residence team will support those who are self-isolating by:

• Ensuring a swift check-in procedure on arrival,
• Providing a handbook in your room with lots of useful information,
• Arranging for deliveries and mail to be taken to your room,
• Residence staff available to call 24 hours a day if assistance is needed.

You should arrange an international bank account or bank card to be able to make card or online payments for basic necessities such as food shopping or takeaway meals.

You may place and online order for groceries, toiletries or other essential items from one of the following stores and have it delivered to you:

• Tesco
• Co-op
• Sainsbury's
• Asda

If you have any questions or concerns while you are self-isolating, you can contact the Student Hub by email at student.hub@solent.ac.uk or by phone on 023 8201 5200.

The time will pass very quickly, and you’ll be able to get on with your studies and your new life in Southampton in no time.

You will be able to collect your biometric card after you have completed your quarantine or self-isolation.

• If your visa letter states that you should collect your BRP from Solent University, you will be able to collect your BRP when you enrol, before 27 September enrolment in the Spark. If you enrol after classes have started, please go to the Student Hub to collect your BRP and student card. You should bring your passport and visa letter at enrolment.
• If your visa letter states that you should collect your BRP from the post office in Southampton but you would rather collect it from a different post office you can do this through the Post Office website.

You can start your registration online on the Hampshire Police website and book an appointment to go and register in Winchester after your isolation. Please follow the guidelines on the police registration page on the student portal.

If you already have a police registration certificate that needs updating, you should contact your local police station (by phone or email).

There are two different scenarios that may apply to you:

Tier 4 visa holders needing to extend their visa to complete their course in the UK
If you hold a Tier 4 (General) visa and need to extend your visa to continue your course of study, please complete the CAS request form on the student portal.

Visa holders whose leave expires soon but cannot return home due to Covid-19 restrictions
You are expected to take all reasonable steps to leave the UK where it is possible to do so or regularise your stay in the UK.

If you intend to leave the UK but are not able to do so and your leave expires soon, you may request additional time to stay, also known as ‘exceptional assurance’. All details are available on a dedicated UK Government website.

The UKVI will make decisions on a case by case basis on the permitted engagements within the leave granted. Once your exceptional assurance leave is granted you may be allowed to apply for a different visa category. But please note you will not be able to apply for a short-term student visa from within the UK.

Government advice is that no charge is made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis or treatment of coronavirus. All overseas visitors, including anyone living in the UK without permission, should be aware that:

• No charges apply to testing for Covid-19, even if the result is negative, or to any treatment provided for Covid-19 if the result is positive or up to the point that it is negatively diagnosed. The same is true of most other infectious diseases.
• NHS trusts have been advised that no immigration checks are required for overseas visitors that are known to be only undergoing testing or treatment for Covid-19.

Students with immigration and visa-related queries can contact the international support team by email: internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk.

In addition, the UK Council for International Students (UKISA) has created a frequently asked questions page, which contains information and guidance for international students.The visa guidance states I need to collect my biometric card within 10 days of arrival in the UK, but I need to quarantine for 14 days