Welcoming you to the UK

The easiest and fastest way to get to your accommodation from the airport is by taxi, especially if you have luggage and other carry-on items. Listed below, you’ll find contact details for the most popular local taxi companies used by our students. These companies all offer airport pick up services and can be booked online directly with the companies via email. Please book in advance to confirm your pick-up time and location.

It is advisable to:

• Update your arrival details in CAS Shield.
• Once your booking has been processed by the taxi company, they will send you a confirmation via email of your booking. Please check that all the information on the confirmation email is correct.
• Print/screenshot the taxi confirmation that has the pickup details and phone numbers, so that you can contact the taxi company if required when you arrive.
• You can choose to pay by cash or card - please confirm with the taxi company what mode of payment you would like to use. Do note, cards from other countries may not always be recognised in the UK, so prepare some cash in case of emergency.
• If you think you may need a larger size taxi please inform the taxi company of this at your time of booking.
• If there's any changes to your flight details, please inform the taxi company immediately.

Information regarding the approximate taxi charge from the airport to the campus can be found below. 

 Do note this information is correct as of September 2022 and prices may vary accordingly.

If you would rather make your own way to the campus there are train and bus/coach services available that will take you to Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham or Rochester. Travelling by public transport usually takes longer than travelling by taxi and may involve changing trains, buses and walking, depending on your route. If you have large/heavy luggage with you, you may find it inconvenient to travel by public transport.

• Check UK train schedules and prices online at: www.thetrainline.com 
• Check UK coach services at www.nationalexpress.com 

BRP is an abbreviation of Biometric Residence Permit. All students who have a Student visa for over 6 months will be issued with a BRP card.  Your BRP confirms your right to study in the UK and as such is an important visa requirement. You should collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival to the UK (unless self-isolating). 

For more detailed information on BRP’s please visit: here.

When you applied for your visa you should have specified where you would like to collect your BRP from (either a Post Office close to the University or at the University itself). The BRP collection address will be confirmed on the visa acceptance letter from UK Visas and Immigration.
If your BRP collection location is the University you will learn more about collecting your BRP during your Induction week on campus. 

If your BRP is not at the collection location by the collection date do not worry as sometimes BRP’s arrive later than the date specified.

Note: When collecting your BRP ensure to take your passport, with entry visa vignette. Please also bring your visa acceptance letter as it will help the staff to locate your BRP quickly.

Contact visaadvice@uca.ac.uk for more detailed information.
Please also see further guidance on this topic here.

As soon as you have collected your BRP, you should check if your BRP has the correct information. If there’s a problem with your BRP when it arrives, report it within 10 days. Otherwise you may have to apply and pay for a replacement.

• Mistakes in the length or conditions of your visa
• Other problems with your BRP

Apply online for administrative review if the length of leave (the expiry date) or the conditions (working entitlement etc.) on your BRP card are incorrect. You will be charged a fee for an administrative review, but this will be refunded if UKVI agree there was an error.

If there is a mistake on your BRP, such as your name, gender, date of birth, or your BRP was damaged when it arrived, you must report it.

You should also let the Home Office know if your BRP is ever lost or stolen. You can do this by visiting the relevant section of www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/need-brp.

Staying healthy is important to make the most of your time in the UK. It is important that you are registered with a GP (General Practitioner) near you. National Health service (NHS) provides a comprehensive service to register international and EU students, except dental and optical services.

• You will need to register with a local GP on an individual basis. For more information, please join our Induction Events during your first week on campus.
  You can also speak to your Specialist Adviser located in your campus library to find out more information on the local GP surgeries available.

The Police Registration scheme has now ended. Please see further guidance below:

The general requirement under the Immigration Rules for certain foreign nationals to register with the police (the “Police Registration Scheme”) has ceased as of August 2022.

Those who have been issued with a visa with the requirement to register but who are yet to travel, will have their visa re-issued where possible or be notified of the changes in advance of travel. This change also applies to those who have already registered with the Police or who have a condition to register with the police listed as part of their leave to enter or remain in the UK.

You will no longer be required to communicate any updated personal details to the police. Any changes, including address, should be communicated instead to the Home Office directly via: https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp