International Welcome

Once you have arrived at the University, you will be able to participate in a range of events designed to help you settle in, enrol and find your way around.

Our programme for September 2013 will be published here shortly.

Please check back regularly for updates.

Don't forget to also check our the New Student webpages which contains a lot more information about what you need to know before your arrive and has links to your Faculty programmes.

Please note that if you arrive after the published start dates, you will still be required to attend a late induction session before you can enrol.  Please contact the International Student Support team on arrival in the UK who will provide you with the details of the next available session.

 (Last updated: 16th April 2013)

Arrival day for new International and EU students starting with us in September 2013 is Wednesday 18th September 2013.

Further information on arrival day activities and how to get to the University from all major airports will be published here shortly.

Please check back regularly for updates.

Arriving by Train?

If you plan to arrive at the University by Train, we will be operating a free Meet & Greet service throughout September from Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station and Stafford Railway Station.  You will need to let us know you are arriving by completing the Meet & Greet form (DOC, file size: 48.5KB) and returning this by email to iss@staffs.ac.uk   We will then arrange for a University representative to meet you when your train arrives, bring you to the University and help you to settle in and find your way around.

(Last updated: 16th April 2013)

Who will be there to meet me when I arrive on campus?

When you arrive on campus, you should go to one of our University Receptions where are staff will be on hand to Welcome you to the Unviersity.  The Reception points are located in the following areas:

• Cadman Building, College Road Campus, Stoke - open from 08.30am until 5.00pm

• New Science Reception, Leek Road Campus, Stoke - open from 08.30am until 5.00pm

• Student Union Reception (above the Ember Lounge), Stoke - open from 08.30am until 8.00pm

• Student Union Reception, Beacon Building, Stafford - open from 08.30am until 8.00pm

The points will be easily recognisable - just look for our purple welcome banner! Welcome Week banner (JPG, file size: 272.21KB)

Also, each Faculty has a Faculty Student Guidance Advisor who you should all meet during your induction and who will be around all week and throughout the year.

[Taken from the British Council/Education UK booklet “First Steps", 2009-10]

Whether you arrive by air or by sea, when you get to the UK your first step is to pass through immigration control. The UK offers a warm welcome to international students. But, as in all countries, the authorities have to ensure that everyone who enters the UK has a legitimate reason to be here.

At first sight an airport might appear a difficult and confusing place, but if you follow the steps below, getting through is actually quite easy.

These are the steps you must take:

• Follow the sign for ‘Arrivals’ unless you are transferring to another plane at the same airport. If you are transferring to another plane, follow the ‘Flight connections’ sign and any further instructions.

• ‘Arrivals’ will take you to passport control.

• As you approach passport control you will see electronic screens, which will show you which zone you will need to go through. Make sure you join the right queue or you could waste a lot of time.

• All passengers must go through the immigration zone dealing with their flight. Note that there is one zone for passengers who have UK or EEA and Swiss national passports and one or more zones for all other passport holders.

• The immigration officer will want to see that your documents are in order and that you have an up-to-date passport, your landing card from the plane and, if required, a valid visa.

• If you do not require prior entry clearance or a visa, you will also need to show a letter of acceptance as a student from a UK institution and proof that you are able to pay for your course and living expenses without working in the UK, for example, bank statements for the last three months and/or a sponsor’s letter.

• If you are bringing family to live with you in the UK, and they are not EEA nationals, they must have entry clearance, which they must have obtained from a British Mission before travelling to the UK.

• The immigration officer needs to be satisfied that you meet the immigration rules for students and that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies.

• Another part of the immigration process is health control: you might be asked to undergo a brief, routine health check by the airport doctor, which might include an X-ray as part of a short medical examination. The health check will take place in a separate room. Afterwards you will have to return to immigration control.

As long as your documents are in order, you should pass through immigration smoothly.  But if you find you need any help for any reason, there are two things you can do:

• Ask the immigration officer to telephone Staffordshire University: 01782 294711 or 01782 294539 (keep these telephone numbers with you).

• Ask to see a representative of the Immigration Advisory Service.  The service has offices at most major airports and seaports, and can also be reached on the following numbers:

Central Officer 020 7357 6917
Helpline 020 7378 9191
Detention freephone (free call) 0800 435427
From Birmingham airport 706 9765
From Gatwick airport 533385
From Heathrow airport 020 8814 1559
From Manchester airport 834 9942 

Don’t Panic!
Go to the helpdesk or luggage enquiries desk and tell the official that your luggage has not arrived. You will need to give the address of the University for your luggage to be delivered to.

For students staying at the Stoke campus the address is:

Residences Office-Stoke
Staffordshire University
Leek Road
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 2YJ
t:+44 (0)1782 294223

For students staying at the Stafford campus, the address is:

Residences Office-Stafford Staffordshire University
Stafford Court
Beaconside
Staffordshire
ST18 0AB
t: +44 (0)1785 353592

Make sure you get a reference number and a telephone number to call for news about the whereabouts of your luggage. Proceed to the University and inform staff that your luggage has not arrived so it can be delivered to your room when it arrives from the airport.

Once you have arrived in the UK, you will have lots of questions about local services, how to enrol, open bank accounts, where the shops are etc.  The guide below has been designed to help answer these questions.  Please take a look.  If you still have questions then please do get in touch with us in the International Student Support, where a member of our team will help you.

Our Pre-arrival guide for September 2013 will be published here shortly.

Please check back regularly for updates.

(Updated: 16th April 2013)