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University of Kent International College

We look forward to welcoming you to University of Kent International College. We want all our students to have the best possible start and for this to happen, it is essential that you follow the below steps.

Important Dates

September 2024 intake

Online Registration Closes
Online Registration Opens 19/08/2024
Induction 23/10/2024
Course Start Date 23/09/2024

College Address: Cornwallis Octagon, Giles Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF

Pre-Arrival Webinars

Our pre-arrival webinar series for international students is designed to prepare you for your upcoming journey to UKIC. You can find out some of what we discuss in these webinars below and how to join them.

In these live sessions, your key staff contacts, as well as current international students, will provide you with guidance and advice as a newly-admitted international student.

Do you have questions?
All our webinars have a LIVE question and answer session at the end! You will have the opportunity to ask our speakers questions during the meeting and get fast answers!

Pre-Arrival Webinar

In this webinar, participants will begin by meeting the pre-arrival team for the first time! The webinar will cover a host of topics designed to assist you with all you need to do before reaching the UK, including:

Information and updates about booking your visa
Booking your accommodation
What is registration?
Booking your flight
Arriving in the UK
And much more!
You’ll also get an opportunity to hear from our Student Experience Officers, who will be on hand to help you as soon as you arrive in the UK.

Date Time Link
20/08/24 11am GMT Watch Recording

Accommodation: Your Options

In this webinar, participants will learn about university accommodation, the advantages and disadvantages of living in privately-owned housing and things to consider before booking.

The webinar will also cover:

Where you should live and why it is important to be close to campus
The best websites to search for accommodation
The importance of booking early

Date Time Link
09/09/24 11am GMT Watch Recording

College Pre-Arrival Webinar

In this webinar, participants will begin by meeting the UKIC college team for the first time! This webinar will cover UKIC specific topics, including:

Notable dates
Your journey to the college
How to complete your online registration
The cost of living in the UK
Welcome week and induction
You’ll also hear from current student representatives who joined the course within the last year!

This webinar will be repeated three times before your course start date; you can join as many times as you like and ask questions – we recommend joining at least once!

Date Time Link
04/09/24 11am GMT Watch Recording
27/09/24 09:30am GMT

University of Kent International College (UKIC)

Introduction

We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Kent International College (UKIC)!

We want all our students to have the best possible start and for this to happen, it is essential that you follow the below steps.

Pre arrival information

  1. Apply for your visa
  2. Book your accommodation
  3. Book your flight
  4. How to Register
  5. Tuition fee payment
  6. Late arrival
  7. Pre-arrival timeline
  8. Useful contact information

Apply for your visa

In order to avoid delays in getting your visa, it is very important to apply for your Student visa as soon as you have received your Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) letter. Any delays in receiving your visa, will impact your ability to register onto your course on time.

Our team can support you through this process. You can contact us by using this form.

We will request updates on your visa application status via CAS Shield, the online self-service system that you used when you submitted your CAS documents. Please ensure that you click the button that best represents your situation so we can promptly assist you. Once you’ve received your visa, please upload the vignette on CAS Shield.

Important Note for BRP Collection

We strongly advise you to ensure that your BRP will be delivered to the University and NOT to the Post Office! In order for the BRP to be delivered to the University, you will need to enter an Alternative Collection Location (ACL), on your visa application form (in the section ‘BRP Collection Location’, under the Alternative Location field). Our ACL code is 2HE362.

You will need to have collected your BRP in order to be eligible to complete face-to-face registration!

Benefits of university collection

Convenience: You can pick up your BRP without having to travel to a separate post office. The post offices in the UK typically has a long queues – so it’s best to avoid collection here if possible.

Reduced Wait Times: The university have dedicated staff and procedures in place to streamline the BRP collection process for you.

Support Services: The university staff can provide additional support and guidance regarding immigration matters.

Book your accommodation

Accommodation must be arranged before your arrival to the UK. All students under the age of 18, must provide proof of accommodation before arrival.

University of Kent (UoK) offers several halls of residence options according to your preference. All utility bills, Wi-Fi and a premium sports membership is included meaning no extra bills to pay. No deposit needed.

If you prefer to live in halls of residence, please apply as early as possible as places fill up fast!

You’ll be able to book your accommodation once you have been issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.

  1. To start an application you will need to register for an account. Only your surname, date of birth, and Kent Applicant ID number (which is displayed on your Unconditional Offer letter under the Uni ID section) is needed to create a new username and password.
  2. You will need to submit your online application via the following booking portal: https://kx-web.kent.ac.uk/MyAccommodation/. Reserving any hall, with the exception of Medway, does not require a deposit payment or the need for a guarantor.
  3. Once you have successfully applied online, you will receive an automated email message confirming receipt of your application.
  4. The offers of accommodation will be sent from accomm@kent.ac.uk, so please ensure that this address is saved.
  5. Once you have been emailed your offer, you’ll need to log back into the MyAccommodation Portal and will have 48 hours to either accept or decline your offer there. If you need to extend your deadline by a day or so for some extra thinking time, contact us within the 48 hours and we can do this for you.
  6. You’ll then need to complete your accommodation e-induction. At the end of this process, you’ll be asked to register your arrival date, which will let us know when you are aiming to arrive on campus. You can also log in to the MyAccommodation Portal to update your expected arrival date up to 48 hours before you’re due to arrive (any later than this just email us).
  7. You can find out where to collect your keys, what to bring and the next steps to prepare you for arriving at Kent on the Arrivals webpage, which also includes a very useful FAQ
  8. Take a Look at the range of university managed accommodation from this page

Private accommodation

If you want to live off-campus, please take into consideration that due to the ongoing housing and cost of living crisis, private accommodation is more difficult to find and may be more expensive than usual.

Searching for private accommodation can be quite time consuming so be prepared to do a lot of browsing online.

We recommend using CASITA, as they are a one stop shop for student accommodation and offer multilingual 24/7 support to help you find the best accommodation within your budget. You can start you search by clicking here.

Letting Agents

Not all flats will be rented by the homeowner. In some cases the homeowner will employ a letting agent to manage their properties. The letting agent will manage the rental process, including legal formalities from signing a lease to dealing with repairs and maintenance. The main letting agents advertise on the following sites:

zoopla.co.uk
rightmove.co.uk

Flatshare Websites

There are many online sites such as spareroom.co.uk where people advertise for flatmates to live with them. You’ll need to register with these sites but you can look for a room to rent, as well as post a profile of yourself – be honest! They are quick and easy to search and generally no calls need to be made initially since most of the communication is done via email which makes the process a bit less daunting if English is not your first language.

Spareroom has fees if you want to contact fresh listings – otherwise you will need to wait until the listing is 7 days old.

It is advisable to move into your accommodation a week before your course start date so that you are fully rested and ready to attend our informative and engaging induction events.

To maximize your success on your chosen course and to have the best student experience, we recommend that your term time accommodation is within 40 miles distance from the College. This will make it easier for you to attend your classes and to get involved in clubs and societies of your interest.

We will request updates on your accommodation details via CAS Shield, the online self-service system that you used when you submitted your CAS documents. Please ensure that you click the button that best represents your situation so we can promptly assist you.

Book your flight

Immediately after you’ve received your visa, book your flight. When booking your flight, please make sure you arrive a few days before your first day of the term, so you have enough time to check-in to your accommodation and join your classes on time.

We will request updates on your flight details via CAS Shield, the online self-service system that you used when you submitted your CAS documents. Once you’ve booked your flight, please upload your flight ticket on CAS Shield so we can prepare for your arrival.

For information on getting from the airport to University of Kent, please check the following link: Getting here

Registration terminology

Enrolment is completed online by the student in KentVision, and is the process where you provide your personal details, check we have your correct course details and agree to the terms and conditions of becoming a student at the University of Kent.

Registration is done in person, after the completion of the online enrolment. This process is done in person at the college:

Cornwallis Octagon, Giles Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ

How to register

Stage 1 – Online enrolment

Online enrolment is a compulsory requirement, and all students need to complete it before arrival. The details that you will provide as part of the online enrolment tasks will allow us to prepare for your arrival such as creating your Student ID card, setting up your university email address and enable your IT facilities.

You will receive an email to your personal email address letting you know when you can enrol. Please enrol as soon as possible after receiving this. You can watch the video guidance on how to enrol by clicking here.

You will then need to log in to KentVision, click on Applicant login and then click on Go to enrolment and complete all the tasks in any order.

After you have completed the enrolment, you will receive an email to say that this is complete. The email confirms that you will receive another email once you have been registered and give details about ID card collection.

Please note that you cannot complete stage 2 (face to face registration) unless you have completed enrolment.

After completing your ONLINE ENROLMENT all students must then:

Activate their Kent IT account.

Students will receive an email asking them to activate their account. Once the IT account is activated, students will then need to use the student and staff login rather than the applicant login when using KentVision.

Stage 2 – Face to face registration

Once your enrolment is complete, you will need to make preparations for face to face registration. You will receive emails from our team with what you need to bring. Below is on overview:

  • Proof of suitable accommodation (within 40 miles)
  • BRP to have been collected (or bring home office letter if collecting from the university)
  • Your original passport with stamped vignette (If you do not have an vignette due to using airport e-gates, please bring a copy of your flight ticket to the UK)

(Please note you cannot complete registration without your BRP!)

* If you hold a digital status, you will need to provide a share code for us to verify your digital status

To get a share code, you will need to visit the following website: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. When requesting it, please ensure you select ‘To prove my immigration status for anything else’ when asked for the purpose for the code. Once you are shown your share code  please either take a screenshot of the code or download it as a PDF document.

After completing this step, you’ll officially be a registered student at the University of Kent and will be given your KentOne Student ID card.

Tuition fee payment

We strongly advise that you pay your remaining fee from your home country as soon as you receive your visa and before you travel to the UK. Settling all due payments prior to arrival will allow you to focus on your studies and to enjoy your student life. Without paying your tuition fees, you may not receive your timetable and may have restrictions applied to your university facilities.

You can easily pay your tuition and fees online via Flywire, our preferred payment partner. Flywire provides a secure global payment network that simplifies paying your fees from your home country and countries around the world. Payment options can include bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more, typically in your home currency for most countries. Click the button below or copy and paste the payment URL into your browser.

https://intrinsiq.oxfordinternational.com/Flywire/Index

If you want to discuss your tuition fee payment, you can contact our Credit Control team at creditcontrol@oxfordinternational.com

Late arrivals

We want you to have the best possible student experience and we will provide you with an informative induction and orientation events to help you settle into your studies and make friends. We strongly advise that you don’t miss any of these events and that you attend lectures from day one in order to have the best possible academic outcome. To enjoy the full student experience, you need to arrive at the College no later than the course start date as stated in your offer letter and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If you believe you are going to enter the UK beyond the course start, it is very important your let us know. Unfortunately, there will not be permissions to arrive late unless you are going through very exceptional situations, and these are the reasons why you cannot travel in time for your induction date. Please send an email to the College team at arrivalsupport@oxfordinternational.com and let us know what date you expect to arrive and the reason for the delay. This is so we can ensure you are fully registered and will receive an induction once you arrive.

Pre-arrival timeline

As the course start date approaches, we will be in regular contact with a lot of useful information which will fully prepare you to have the best start. Please check your personal email regularly so you don’t miss out.

Eight weeks to go Book your accommodation

If you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, we will contact you to advise you on accommodation availability and to check if you need any support from us. Please note that we won’t be able to book accommodation on your behalf.
Seven weeks to go Complete online registration

The registration portal will be open and you will receive the portal login details into your personal email address.
Six weeks to go Attend our pre-arrival webinar

In this webinar we will provide you information on accommodation, registration steps, what to bring with you at enrolment and we will answer any questions you may have. You will receive an email invitation on your personal email address well in advance.
Four weeks to go Book your flight

By now you should have received your visa and you need to make your travel arrangements, so you arrive at the college on time to attend our induction events, collect your timetable and student ID card. We will contact you to request your flight details so we can prepare for your arrival.

Pre-arrival emails

The College pre-arrival emails will be sent regularly until the end of registration period and will inform you as well as remind you that online registration is required before the face-to-face visa verification.
Two weeks to go Airport pick up

We will contact you to check if you would like us to arrange your airport pick up and to advise you on how to book and how to pay for this service.
One week to go Self-funded students – Pay your outstanding tuition fee

We will remind you that your remaining tuition fee will become due and will advise you on how to pay.
0 days to go Welcome to UKIC! Our friendly team will be there to help you with any information you may need!

Useful contact information

Visa: Pathways@oxfordinternational.com

Accommodation: accomm@kent.ac.uk / +44 (0)1227 766660

Online enrolment: gettingstarted@kent.ac.uk / +44 (0)1227 764000

Tuition fee payments: creditcontrol@oxfordinternational.com

IT support for technical issues: helpdesk@kent.ac.uk / +44 (0)1227 824 888

College support: ukicadmin@kent.ac.uk

Travelling to UKIC

When you arrive in the UK, you’ll need to make your way to Canterbury to check into your accommodation and complete your face-to-face enrolment and visa verification.

On this page you’ll find detailed instructions on how to get to the college, from the most popular airports close to the university.

From all airports your options include:

Trains: Fast and frequent.

Buses: More economical but longer travel time with potential waiting periods.

Taxi/Car: Direct and convenient but more expensive.

College Address: Cornwallis Octagon, Giles Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF

Video Instructions:

From London Heathrow

1. Heathrow Airport to London St Pancras International

– Heathrow Express: Take the Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Airport to London Paddington Station. The journey takes about 15 minutes.

– London Underground: From Paddington, take the Circle Line or Hammersmith & City Line to King’s Cross St. Pancras. This takes about 10 minutes.

2. London St Pancras International to Canterbury West

– Southeastern High-Speed Train: From St Pancras International, take the Southeastern high-speed train to Canterbury West. The journey takes about 55 minutes.

3. Canterbury West to Kent University International College

– Bus: From Canterbury West, take the UniBus (routes 1 or 2) to the University of Kent. The bus journey takes about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, which will take about 10 minutes.

National Express Coach

– Take the National Express coach from Heathrow Airport to Canterbury Bus Station. The journey takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

– From Canterbury Bus Station, take a bus (routes 1 or 2) to the University of Kent, or take a taxi (about 10 minutes).

The journey is approximately 91 miles and takes approximately 2.5 hours depending on traffic.

From London Gatwick

1. From Gatwick Airport to London Victoria Station:

– Upon arrival at Gatwick Airport, follow signs to the Gatwick Express or Southern Railway.

– Purchase a ticket for the Gatwick Express or Southern Railway service to London Victoria Station.

– Trains run frequently, and the journey takes approximately 30-40 minutes.

2. From London Victoria Station to Canterbury:

– You can take a train from London Victoria to St Pancras International Station and transfer to a high-speed Southeastern service to Canterbury.

3. London St Pancras International to Canterbury West

– Southeastern High-Speed Train: From St Pancras International, take the Southeastern high-speed train to Canterbury West. The journey takes about 55 minutes.

4. Canterbury West to Kent University International College

– Bus: From Canterbury West, take the UniBus (routes 1 or 2) to the University of Kent. The bus journey takes about 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, which will take about 10 minutes.

The journey is approximately 70 miles and takes approximately 1.5 hours depending on traffic.

Useful Apps/Websites

Directions:

CityMapper – Citymapper – The Ultimate Transport App

Google Maps – Google Maps

Buying Train Tickets:

National Rail – Welcome to the Official source for UK trains | National Rail

Trainline – Search, Compare & Buy Cheap Train Tickets

Buying coach Tickets:

National Express – Coach Travel & Airport Transfers | National Express

Booking Taxi’s Pre-Arrival:

Jewels Airport Transfers – UK Airport Transfer Service to and from All Airports

Booking Taxi’s at the Airport:

Uber – Ride with Uber 

For further information, you can also check this link, provided by the univeristy!

Your checklist on arrival

Download your checklist

Once you arrive at the University of Kent International College make sure you let your family know that you have arrived safely and settled into any accommodation.  You can request a member of the team to help you notify your family of your arrival to the college via an email with your permission or a Whatsapp message if you prefer.

Once you have checked into your accommodation, please inform the reception team at University of Kent International College. If you are experiencing any problems, please mention this so we can provide any support you may require. More information can be found in the FAQ section of the accommodation website.

As part of your application, you will have requested how you want to collect your BRP. On your acceptance letter you will have a page stating in a grey box where your BRP card has been sent.

  • If you have requested this to be sent to the University, you will be able to collect it when you enrol.
  • If you have requested to collect this from the Post Office, you will need to take your UKVI decision letter and passport to the Post Office branch mentioned on the UKVI decision letter. You must usually do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later.

You will need your BRP for the face-to-face visa verification.

Once you arrive on the University of Kent campus you should proceed to the International Student Information Point to complete your face-to-face registration and ID check. If you are not able to locate this, please contact the College as soon as possible. You must complete your online enrolment prior to completing in person enrolment. Online enrolment can be completed via the Pre-Enrolment Portal on KentVision. Complete as much as you can before you arrive in Kent.

Once your enrolment is complete, the Student Immigration Compliance Team will then contact you by email to book an appointment in the Arrivals Hub where you will be registered in person. You will need:

  • Your stamped vignette
  • Visa decision letter
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
  • Qualification documents (original)

You will be issued with your student card when you complete your enrolment & ID check appointment at the university. Students are required to have their student card with them at all times when on campus and the card is also used for access to rooms and swiping into on lessons.

Your induction timetable will be sent to both your personal email and your university email address shortly before the start of your course. You will also receive more information about your induction during face-to-face enrolment.

During the first week of term induction, meet and greet events will be scheduled for current/new students, tutors, and members of staff.  The Schedule will be confirmed at your enrolment meeting. You must attend these events so that you get to know your fellow students, tutors and UK IC support staff.

You will need your University of Kent email address and password to access Eduroam (University network).

Before you start you will receive an email from our IT Services department to your personal email account with details of your new username for your IT account. You will need to enter your new username to set your password for your IT account.

Please read and follow the steps in the email carefully as you will need your IT account to use all the University services.

Campus Wi-Fi trouble? What to do – Library and IT news (kent.ac.uk)

If you don’t receive an email with from the IT Services Department with your username before you start, please contact the IT Service Desk:

Tel: 01227 82 4999

helpdesk@kent.ac.uk

Once you are enrolled personal timetables are sent to your UK IC email address.

University of Kent International College
Cornwallis Octagon, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF

Alternatively, Whatsapp our Student Experience Officer +44(0)7503 316055

For general student enquiries, please contact: UKICadmin@kent.ac.uk

Roshanak Zarabi – College Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Vassia Farao – Student Services Director and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Lyn Southen – Student Services Officer, based at UKIC Reception

Once you arrive in the UK you may find it useful to open a UK bank account. To do this you will normally require:

  • your BRP
  • your passport
  • a letter of introduction to the bank (which you can request from UK IC Reception – you must know which bank you wish to open an account with first)
  • proof of address such as a lease agreement

Student support is available through the Mental Health Advisors Team, you can find more information about the team here.

This support could be personal, health, visa, or study problems. In each case student life is available to offer help and guidance for you.

Security is in operation on the University Campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact security via the safe zone app https://safezoneapp.com/ after you have registered using your Kent email address and personal phone number or by calling +44 1227 823333, all University security guards are first aid trained.

You can contact the Police, Fire or Ambulance service by calling 999, this number should only be used in case or emergencies.

For non-emergencies you can contact these services by calling 101.

Register online with the University Medical Centre: GP Reg Registration (gpregistration.com)

The team at UKIC will assist with registering with a local Doctor.  When registering you will need original copies of your BRP Card, Passport and Student ID

If you intend to work part-time during your studies, we advise you to apply for a National Insurance – this is a unique personal reference number which will be required for tax and employment purposes. The application takes a maximum of 4 weeks for approval. The NI number comes through the post and it is important that you provide your correct address details to ensure that you don’t lose it.

You can apply for National Insurance number online Apply for a National Insurance number: How to apply – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You can work in the UK for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during vacations.

You must ensure that you comply with the work restrictions that apply to you, as it is a criminal offence to breach any immigration conditions.

To support your search for a part-time job during your studies, Kent University are offering job search and interview preparation assistance via their Kent Union Jobshop Hub which you can access here:

https://kentunion.co.uk/jobshop

For further help and advice contact the University Career and Employability Service who can offer you lots of support. The UK IC student support team can also offer you advice. she will be able to assist with CV preparation and advise with Application Forms.

Additionally, you can find a wide range of part-time vacancies online, via jobs boards or directly through an organisation’s vacancies pages.

  • Find a job is the jobs database from Jobcentre Plus, the UK government department that provides support for people seeking employment. It has useful advanced search features to help refine your search and is a good source of local part-time jobs.
  • Indeed
  • Totaljobs

Make sure to refine your search by job type, area and contract type to get the best results.

Everyone who possesses a TV, or devices such as a radio or tablet, must pay a TV licence fee.  TV licences must be renewed annually and can be purchased from the Post Office or online.  For more information go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Make sure you join the UK IC WhatsApp group to get the latest updates on events at the College. Also, remember to read the regular student newsletter, keep an eye on the announcement board, and check the latest updates on the UKIC KentVision page.

Canterbury Campus Map

Medway Campus Map

The University of Kent Union of Students is where you will find everything you need to compliment   your student life, whether that is expanding your skills through sports, societies, media areas or volunteering; meeting new friends or enjoying our entertainments; joining with like-minded students in areas of politics; or getting academic or social advice and support.

Explore the Students Union website for lots of information about us, plus videos, photos and audio, and all the latest news and latest events. Make sure you like and follow us on all our social networks to stay connected

KentVision is your virtual learning environment where you can access your course materials, submit your assignments and communicate with your teacher and fellow students. You can access KentVision via this link Log in to the portal (kent.ac.uk) and sign in with your university username. A KentVision mobile app is also available. If you have any problems accessing KentVision when you start your course please speak to your tutor or the UKIC Student Support Office.

The name of your Personal Academic Tutor is available via KentVision. They will contact you within the first few weeks of the course but you can also email them at any time.

The attendance policy will be shared with you when you enrol and is also available via the UKIC KentVision page.

The student handbook will be shared with you when you enrol and is also available via the Kent Moodle page.

All students at the University of Kent International College are required to pay tuition fees either before the start of the course or during the enrolment process. If you are unable to pay your fees prior to the start of your course please contact the college for support.

Failure to pay your tuition fees will result in your becoming a debtor and you will be subject to College Sanctions.

Please note that the fees that you pay for the first part of your course at the University of Kent International College do not include the fees for the second stage of your course at the University. If you wish to discuss payment for stage 2 of your course please speak to the Kent Fees Team at incomeoffice@kent.ac.uk

Student support available

  • Assist you with enrolment and settling into your life at UKIC
  • Should be your first point of contact if you have any personal, financial or welfare issues
  • Can provide First aid and Mental Health First aid to students
  • Can refer you to the counselling, mental health, and disability teams at the University
  • Can issue you with a transcript or provide details on results and re-assessments
  • Can help you with timetable issues
  • Assist with attendance issues
  • Provide a duty of care for U18s and Pregnant students

IT Support

During your studies you may come across IT problems, with connection or email, for example. As an embedded College within the larger University of Kent you will have access to the university’s IT support Services, The University’s IT Services is there to help students and staff with any IT problems and questions. They also provided access to university PCs found across the University’s campus. Within each suite you will find access to a wide range of software as well as printing facilities. For more information about KU IT and the services they provide, see: Library and IT – University of Kent

 

Mental Health Student Services

Student support is available through the student life team, you can find more information about the team here Mental health support services – Help – University of Kent. This support could be personal, health, visa, or study problems. In each case student life is available to offer help and guidance for you.

 

Library and Learning Centre

As a student of UKIC you have access to the University of Kent’s library. Within the library you will find the books, texts, and journals you will need to complete many of your assignments as well as study areas, electronic resources, and staff who will help you locate information you might need. Information on the library and its services can also be found at Library and IT – University of Kent

 

Careers advice

Careers and Employability services at the University offer guidance and advice to students on career-related matters. This service is available to help you throughout your studies as well as when finding a job after graduation. Examples of the support that the Careers Services are able to provide are:

  • Developing your employability skills and experience to make you stand out in the graduate job market
  • Discussing your career options
  • Support with your applications and interviews
  • Study and work placements abroad
  • Part-time jobs and work on campus
  • Placements and internships
  • Graduate vacancies

Further details of all Careers and Employability services can be found on University Career and Employability Service

 

Academic Skills Advice

Most students will need some support with their studies during their time at university. The Academic Skills Advice Service helps students with all areas of academic study and interpersonal skills. They offer 1-2-1 sessions, group advice, workshops and they have a number of online study skills resources. UKIC students can access these resources free of charge, all of which are delivered throughout the year both online and an on campus. The University also offers an interactive range of digital resources on KentVision that you can access to support independent learning across all aspects of Maths, Study Skills And Writing.
You can find more information here: Student Success – Academic Skills

Accommodation Advice

The University of Kent International College can provide you with support and advice related to finding suitable accommodation. It is Recommended that students live in Halls of Residence, on campus, for at least the first year in Kent. This accommodation is safe, secure and is a good way to make friends​. There are a variety of prices to suit different budgets​ and rent includes all bills. Living on campus also means that there is no need to pay for expensive public transport​.

More information on university halls can be found here: Accommodation – University of Kent

The Student Union’s primary mission is to promote and represent student interests throughout the University. The Student Union also offers advice, guidance, and support to students along with access to facilities for social and recreational events.

The student union can be contacted by phone at  01227 824200, by email at: kentunion@kent.ac.uk , or through their website at Kent Union.

  • As a student of UKIC, you are automatically a member of the student union and have access to its facilities and support services.
  • For information on the type of help and advice the student union offers visit: Advice Service | Kent Union.
  • The student union is also the place to go to Join clubs associated with  your favourite hobbies. There are around 50 sports and activity clubs which will give you the chance to try something new, go on adventures and meet new friends​.
  • You can also get the opportunity to represent Kent University​ in various sports and other events.
  • If you are interested in joining any of the Student Union activities or have an idea for a new society, make sure you get in touch with the College Student support team who will be happy to help you.

Your Personal Academic Tutor will:

  • Support you through university life and help you to get the most from your studies
  • Discuss any issues that are stopping you from engaging effectively with your modules, and work with you to find resolutions
  • Help you to focus on your personal and professional development, including your career aspirations
  • Be a point of contact for you to raise academic issues
  • Be available to offer advice, support or guidance, or to direct you to appropriate sources of assistance in the University

FAQs

BRPs are only being issued as valid until 31 December 2024 even if your course and visa continue after this date. This is because UKVI is moving from a physical BRP card to eVisa, which is a digital immigration status, holding details such as your type of visa when it expires and your conditions of stay in the UK.

Watch this video for more info on what an eVisa is.

You will need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa. You do not have to pay to create a UKVI account. You should do this before the expiry date of your BRP at the end of December 2024. Updating your physical document to an eVisa does not affect your immigration status or the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

You should continue to carry your BRP with you when you travel internationally until it expires. Keep your expired BRP card as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK.

Watch this video for more information on creating a UKVI account and accessing your eVisa.

Generate a ‘share code’ in the view and prove service, giving them time-limited access to your immigration status information. You can get a new share code whenever you need one.

Your eVisa will be linked to your passport in your UKVI account. Before travelling to the UK, you must ensure that your current passport is linked to your eVisa, otherwise, you’ll experience delays when travelling to the UK.

You must keep your passport details up to date in your UKVI account and tell UKVI about any changes so that your immigration status can be easily identified at the UK border. You’ll still need to carry your current passport with you.

If you’ve told UKVI you have a new passport and you’re still waiting for confirmation that your UKVI account has been updated, you should also carry your old document with you, if possible, to avoid unnecessary delays at the border.

Remember! You should continue to carry your physical BRP with you when you travel internationally until it expires at the end of 2024.

Watch this video on how to travel with your eVisa.

You will get your registration email no earlier than 7 weeks before the course start date.

If you are having difficulties logging into the Kent Vision portal to complete online enrolment, you can contact Student Record Administration Office – Operations team at gettingstarted@kent.ac.uk.

You can reset the password via this page https://id.kent.ac.uk/reset

Once you complete registration you will receive an email with information on how to collect the Student ID card.

You will need to collect your biometric residence permit from your designated collection point before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later. You can find your collection point on your UKVI decision letter (either the Post Office or the University). Take your decision letter and passport with you.

If you opted to collect your BRP from the University, this will be done on an appointment only basis once we have notified you that we have received your BRP. To collect your BRP, you must bring your passport and Home Office Visa decision letter for verification checks.

If you have collected your BRP from a Post Office, you must bring this in person to the Student Immigration Compliance Team (SICT) so registration can be completed.

If you have received a digital visa status then this will not apply to you and you will not need to collect a physical BRP card.

Accommodation options: https://www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation/canterbury/find-my-room

How to apply: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/accommodation/how-to-apply-for-student-accommodation-at-kent

Private renting: https://www.casita.com/oieg

Contact: accomm@kent.ac.uk / +44 (0)1227 766660

You are expected to be on campus for the start date of your course, you will need to be there at least 1 week before to complete registration and collect your ID card, settle into accommodation, and attend induction events.

To open a bank account, make an appointment with your bank of choice and bring with you your passport and visa, original letter of acceptance at the College, student status letter (you can download this from Kent Vision) and proof of address.

You will need to show the bank your accommodation acceptance letter if you’re living on campus, along with proof of your home address. It’s also wise to ask when making the appointment if there are any other documents you require to get an account opened.

Timetable for term 1 will be sent to you before the start of the term.

It’s important that you register with a local GP Practice (doctors) as soon as possible to access help and services should you have a health concern during your studies. It is essential that your health and wellbeing is looked after and to access this, you must register with a GP near to where your accommodation is. In order to register, you will require a letter confirming you are a full-time student which you can download from Kent Vision.

Kent has its own NHS general practice on campus called the University Medical Centre.

Canterbury students can register for the University Medical Practice online.

For more info on how to find a GP and register, click here.

https://www.kent.ac.uk/welcome/international-students/arrange-your-travel – This link shows travel options from the closest airports (Gatwick and Heathrow)

ukicadmin@kent.ac.uk

For Travel:

  • Your current passport
  • Your Student Visa (if required)
  • Permission to Travel Letter (if applicable)
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
  • Documents used to support your offer as mentioned in your CAS
  • Proof of fees paid
  • Evidence of finances (for example bank statements)
  • Proof of your UK address
  • Medical records for pre-existing conditions & details of vaccinations
  • Any medication you are currently taking
  • Your medical/tuberculosis certificate (if applicable)
  • Travel insurance
  • Small amount of cash or travellers’ cheques for everyday expenses, before your bank account is set up

For university:

  • A suitable laptop or computer for study that can connect to Wi-Fi
  • A mobile phone with a number you can easily be contacted on
  • A smart phone so you can download the ENU Student Portal App

https://www.kent.ac.uk/guides/browse/campus-facilities  – Sports, library, lockers