Moving overseas can be an exciting and stressful time. Our International Student Advisory Service has put together a Pre-Departure Checklist of important things to think about before leaving for the UK.
Your visa: Check the visa requirements and allow yourself enough time to prepare your documents and submit your application in time for your course start date.
Money: Make sure you have access to enough funds to cover your tuition, accommodation fees and initial expenses.
Initial Expenses: How will you access your funds? Contact your home bank before travelling to ensure you will be able to access your account when you arrive here in the UK.
Tuition & Accommodation Fee payments: Make arrangements to ensure that you will be able to pay your Tuition Fees on time. Failure to make Tuition Fee payments may result in suspension of your studies and withdrawal of your visa.
Accommodation: Have you been accepted and paid your deposit stay in University Accommodation or will you be looking for Private Accommodation once you arrive? Whatever the case, be sure to check if you can collect your keys when you arrive or if you will need to book temporary accommodation for the first couple of nights.
Arrival Date: Not only do you want to arrive in time for the start of your course, but what about Induction Activities? Give yourself enough time to settle in before embarking on your studies.
Book your flights: The closest Airports to Chester are Manchester and Liverpool.
Insurance: Make arrangements to take out insurance for your personal belongings. This can be done on arrival, but you may want to take out travel insurance to cover journey and first few days in Chester.
Health Insurance: Check out if you will need to take out health insurance to cover the cost of any medical treatment you may need whilst you're in the UK.
Take photocopies of your important documents (passport, visa, CAS etc) in case you lose them in transit or whilst in the UK and keep these copies in a safe place.
Specific Support: Make sure you tell us if you require any specific support or arrangements because of a disability.
Clothing: Be sure to research the weather before you arrive. The UK weather can be very unpredictable.
If you have questions or need more information regarding your arrival at Chester, please contact international.arrivals@chester.ac.uk.