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.

Welcome Programmes

Will be available for September 2012 intake during the summer - please keep checking this site for updates.

Staffordshire University's Meet & Greet service is FREE to all international/EU students arriving to study at the University.

Our Meet & Greet Service in September will be on Wednesday 12th September 2012. 

The Service will be available from both London Heathrow and Manchester International Airport.

• The Service at London Heathrow will operate between 10.30hrs - 18.00hrs (Coaches will depart regularly throughout the day).

• The Service at Manchester International Airport will operate between 10.00hrs - 19.00hrs (Coaches will depart regularly throughout the day).

To book a place please complete and return the Meet & Greet Booking Form (DOC, file size: 61KB) to International Student Support (email: iss@staffs.ac.uk) before the 3rd September 2012 to guarantee a place.

If you require further assistance with your travel arrangements, please email us at iss@staffs.ac.uk.

For students not using the Meet & Greet service, it is very important that you inform us of your travel plans to enable us to prepare for your arrival.  You can do this by emailing us at iss@staffs.ac.uk

[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.

Pre Arrival Guide January 2012 (PDF, file size: 2.02MB)