Newsletter series for new students

Missed the Pre-Departure Briefing?

No problem — we’ve got you covered. Click here to view the pre-departure briefing slides.

September Newsletter

August Newsletter

Our August newsletter is here — we can’t wait to welcome you!

At Warwick, we are proud to be an international university. As an international student, you are a vital, valued and important member of our diverse community and we look forward to welcoming you.

Just one more month to go!! We can't wait to meet you!

Your visa application

We have provided detailed information on visas in our July 2025 newsletter for international students (click the video above to access the newsletter).

If you are worried about visa processing time, you can find more details on how to get a faster decision.

If you are extending your Student Visa in the UK because you have just completed a course at Warwick or elsewhere, ensure you check that you are eligible to apply in the UKLink opens in a new window first. If you currently hold a Student Visa, you do not have to pay additional fees for a faster decision, as you can enrol and start your course if you provide evidence of an in-progress Student Visa application which is made before your current visa expiry date.

Remember, if you need help, we are here for you!

Contact the Student Visa Advice Team

Enrolment

Emails from our Enrolment Team inviting you to complete course registration are usually sent from late-August (4-6 weeks before your course start date).

If you applied for a Student Visa outside of the UK, you will need to first receive your visa before you can complete course registration, and we have set up an automated email to tell you when your CAS status changes to "Used". You can, however, register an IT account and upload your photo before receiving your visa.

If you have already received your visa, make sure you visit our website to see how to select your visa type and what documents you should upload. You will need a share code which you can get after creating a UKVI account for an eVisa.

After completing course registration, you will need to book a slot for an in-person right to study check. You can do this via the Welcome Week timetable, when booking opens in early September. It is mandatory and you cannot start your course until the check is completed.

Airport Transfers

Students travelling from London Heathrow can use our dedicated booking portal for a 20% discount on their National Express coach. We've also emailed all offer holders inviting them to book their free onward travel to campus from

Coventry Pool Meadow Bus Station, if travelling during our main arrivals window, Thu 25 - Sun 28 Sep 2025.

If you're travelling outside of the mentioned period, you can still use the 20% off using the National Express booking portal. Pool Meadow is located in the city centre, and taxi and bus services are available for onward travel if you are living off-campus.

Worried about flight delays? Why not add "Change and Go" to your trip for £5.

1. Book Your National Express Coach 2. Book your FREE Coventry Pool Meadow Coach to Campus

For more information, and if you have any questions about this service, please visit our website. If you're planning on arriving at a different airport or by sea or rail, we also have advice on travelling to our campus independently.

New to Studying in the UK?

It’s normal to feel a bit nervous or unsure. If you have questions about campus life, accommodation, or study support, connect directly with our current students via Unibuddy. You can also explore blogs under the Content tab to hear about life at Warwick.

You should also have received an invitation to join the Unibuddy Community. This online space helps you meet other new Warwick students — future flatmates, classmates, people from your country, or those who share your hobbies. Connect before you arrive, start making friends, and feel at home from day one.

Some student Societies in the Students' Union also offer top tips and support to help you prepare and settle in. To find a Cultural Society, click on "Filter by Category" and click on "Culture".

Banking in the UK

You should bring a bank card or prepaid travel card (preferably a "contactless card") to the UK. The cafes, restaurants and stores on campus do not accept cash. We've prepared a page to help you find out about opening a UK bank account, including top tips from current international students.

In your first few days, try setting up a digital banking account; it's a fast, safe and flexible way to manage your money while you settle in.

Life in the UK

Did you know most shops close at 4pm on Sundays? Did you know you need the exact change to pay for local buses, unless you have a "contactless card"? Do you know what British weather is really like?
Life in a new country can be full of surprises and we'd like you to be prepared as much as possible! Check out our short quizLink opens in a new window and hopefully learn a few new things along the way.

Other Useful Information

Information on what to bring with you, including details about UniKitOut (items you can pre-order before you leave home).

If you're starting a Master's degree, it might feel strange to think about applying for jobs at this stage, but the UK graduate scheme recruitment starts now for jobs starting next Autumn. Read more on the International Student Careers webpage and learn about the recruitment timeline, what you can do before arrival, and essential information about working in the UK. The next pre-arrival career webinar for experienced candidates will take place on Wed 27 August 2025.

You can find out more about wellbeing support at Warwick and watch our dedicated video for international students before you leave home.

We have been made aware of a number of scams targeting international students in the UK. Please visit our guidance for avoiding scams for international students.

It's a good idea to get a UK phone number, you can even pre-order it before you leave home!
Have a look at our welcome pages for a sneak peak of some of the fun activities we have planned to help you settle in and start to make friends.

July 2025 newsletter

Our July newsletter is here — we can’t wait to welcome you!

As you prepare to begin your university experience, take time to explore the information and advice we have available for you. These resources are designed to help you make the most of this exciting opportunity.

Pre-arrival task and checklist

Studying abroad can be both exciting and stressful as you will encounter a lot of unknowns - navigating a new culture, learning social etiquette in a global campus, understanding academic expectations, staying healthy and perhaps finding a part-time job.

Our International Student Support webpages your one-stop shop for everything you need to know before travelling to the UK.

We also strongly recommend that you spend 2-4 hours completing this interactive International Student Success Course before leaving home, so that you can have the best possible start when you arrive.

Download your full pre-arrival checklist :Undergraduate/ International Foundation Programme or Postgraduate.

Visa for studying in the UK

Unless you already hold a UK visa which permits study in the UK , all non-UK/Irish students coming to study in the UK for a course that is longer than 6 months need to have a Student visa sponsored by The University of Warwick.

If you currently hold a conditional offer

This email should not be taken as an indication that your place will be confirmed. You will need to satisfy all the conditions of your offer to obtain an unconditional offer and apply for your visa.

If your final result is under what’s listed in your conditional offer, still send your documents to our admissions team as they will look at your whole profile, not just one number.

The Student Visa process can take some time so if your hope is to study at Warwick this autumn, you may wish to start thinking about preparing for your visa application now.

For example, before you can submit your visa application, required funds need to be held in a bank account for 28 consecutive days. In some countries, it might take time to secure an appointment for a Tuberculosis test. For certain courses which require an ATAS clearance, it can take up to 30 working days to obtain the ATAS certificate.

Please take some time to read the Application process, how to fill out the visa application form and watch the short videos we put together to help you prepare for a Student visa application.

If you currently hold an unconditional offer

The Admissions team should have been in touch via email to begin the process of creating your CAS, which is a document you will need in order to apply for a Student visa. Please read that email carefully and request a CAS online as soon as possible, as it can take up to 10 working days to process it. Get in touch via our Live Chat if you have any questions not answered on our CAS website.

If you have received your CAS but not applied for your Student Visa yet If you have submitted your Student Visa application

If you have submitted your Student Visa application and are currently waiting for a decision, please be patient. We will email you as soon as your CAS status changes to ‘Used’ (this is when a decision of your application is likely to have been made). Please don’t visit the Visa Application Centre to collect your passport until you have been told, as there might be a few days of delay from the date of visa decision to the date you can collect your passport.

Please note that from 15 July 2025, e-Visa will replace any physical visa sticker on your passport and your Visa Application Centre will give you detailed guidance.

If you have received your Student Visa

Accommodation

IFP & UG

We have a large international undergraduate and postgraduate community that choose to live on campus and Warwick Accommodation offer helpful cancellation termsLink opens in a new window in the event you are unable to commence study due to not obtaining your visa or deferring for the full year.

Undergraduate and foundation year students

As an Undergraduate or Foundation year student, you should ensure you submit your accommodation application online by19 August 2025 in order to meet our university-allocated accommodation guarantee. Find out more about how we allocate accommodation.

Incoming visiting or exchange students please visit this page on the Warwick Accommodation website to submit your accommodation application and find out more about accommodation during your time at Warwick.

If you plan to live off campus (private accommodation)

Many landlords require you to pay the full year of accommodation fees upfront or have a UK Guarantor. There are also accommodation related scams. Therefore, it is important that you read the guidance below before signing a contract or paying any fees so that you are aware of any surprises or potential issues.

International Student Support – choosing accommodation
Warwick Student Union Housing Advice – our experienced Student Union advisors can check your contract before you sign, offer practice advice via email and appointment, even if you are overseas.

·Read our Safety tips for how to stay safe and avoid accommodation scams

Need Help?

Our Accommodation Team is available for live chats Monday to Friday until late August. Reach out for a 1-to-1 conversation — we're here to support you!

If you plan to live on campus

As a postgraduate student, you can book a room directlyLink opens in a new window with Warwick Accommodation, when you have accepted an unconditional offer. Bookings are taken on a first-come first-served basis (subject to availability) and so do book as soon as you are eligible.

If no rooms are showing, check the booking portal regularly for live availability as rooms tend to be released back to the booking system if they become available. You can also check for any student vacancies that may be available if we’re fully allocated. Read our helpful FAQs for more information about postgraduate accommodation.

If you plan to live off campus (private accommodation)

International Student Support – choosing accommodation
Warwick Student Union Housing Advice– our experienced Student Union advisors can check your contract before you sign, offer practice advice via email and appointment, even if you are overseas.

·Read our Safety tips for how to stay safe and avoid accommodation scams

Need Help?

Our Accommodation Team is available for live chats Monday to Friday until late August. Reach out for a 1-to-1 conversation — we're here to support you!

Pre-pay course fees

If your offer is unconditional, and you wish to pre-pay some course fees so that your CAS shows the amount of course fees already paid, our Student Finance team offers detailed guidance on how to use the Flywire Open PortalLink opens in a new window

to do so. We have been made aware of money scams when students pay fees via private arrangement. Please do not put your money at risk by dealing with any agents or intermediaries, who may offer seemingly attractive rates of exchange but cannot be guaranteed to be secure or legitimate.

Booking your flight

If you are booking a flight before you receive your visa, please ensure that your travel date can be amended with the airline if necessary, for example, in case your visa is delayed. Your Student Visa will only be valid from up to 1 month before the course start date as stated on your CAS (for example, if your course start date is 29 September, the earliest date your visa may be valid is 30 August). Therefore, please do not travel too early.

PGT students- How to make the most of your time career-wise

Thinking about working in the UK during or after studies? There are things you can do even before you come to the UK. Start with the International Student Careers page — it breaks down everything from UK recruitment timeline, part time jobs, CV tips and practical steps you can take to be ‘job ready’.

Our Careers team are hosting Pre-arrival career webinars in August too. Dates will be released soon and there is no need to sign up, just click on the joining link on the day.

Volunteering - documents you may wish to obtain now

If you are interested in get involved in volunteering in the UK and make a difference in the communities around campus and the local area, Warwick VolunteersLink opens in a new window has a wide variety of opportunities. For some volunteering roles (those that involve working with children or vulnerable adults), a ‘ Certificate of Good Conduct ’ (or a ‘Certificate of No Criminal Record’) may be required from your home country, so it’s now time to get one before you leave home.

Join our Unibuddy Community

We’ll keep in touch and share more information and guidance over the summer.