Part of the Loomz International Student Guide

This article is part of our practical guide to studying and living in the UK for international students.

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Your First 7 Days in the UK: International Student Checklist

You've made it.

Passport survived the journey.

Suitcase appeared on the baggage carousel.

You've found your accommodation.

And you're now officially an international student in the UK.

So...

What are you actually supposed to do next?

Your first week can feel like one enormous list of university registration, unpacking, banking, phone contracts, food shopping and trying to remember the names of 14 people you met yesterday.

You don't need to do everything immediately.

This guide breaks your first week into manageable steps so you can deal with the important things first, and actually enjoy arriving at university.

Important: Immigration, university registration and other requirements vary depending on your circumstances and institution. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your university and check current GOV.UK guidance where appropriate.

First Things First: Get to Your Accommodation

Before worrying about bank accounts, societies or where the nearest supermarket is:

Get yourself safely to where you're staying.

Once you've arrived:

☐ Check in
☐ Collect your keys/access card
☐ Find your room
☐ Check how building access works
☐ Save reception contact details
☐ Save the emergency/out-of-hours number
☐ Find out where post and parcels are collected

If you've had a long international journey, this may be enough achievement for one day.

Check Your Room Before Unpacking

Before covering the bed in clothes and opening every suitcase:

Take a look around.

Check the condition of:

☐ Walls
☐ Floor/carpet
☐ Furniture
☐ Mattress
☐ Windows
☐ Curtains/blinds
☐ Bathroom if en-suite
☐ Lights
☐ Electrical sockets
☐ Storage

If anything is damaged, stained, broken or missing when you arrive, take photographs and report it promptly using your accommodation provider's procedure.

You don't want existing damage attributed to you when you eventually move out.

If you've been given an inventory or room-condition report, check it carefully.

Find Out How Everything Works

Student accommodation can have systems you've never encountered before.

Before you need them urgently, find out:

☐ How heating works
☐ How hot water works
☐ Where bins and recycling go
☐ How laundry works
☐ Where parcels are delivered
☐ How you report maintenance problems
☐ How you contact security
☐ What to do if you're locked out
☐ Where the fire exits are
☐ When fire alarms are tested

Also find out whether your accommodation has an app, resident portal or WhatsApp/community group.

Five minutes spent learning this now can save considerable confusion later.

Meet Your Flatmates

You don't need to become best friends immediately.

But saying hello is a good start.

If you're sharing a kitchen or bathroom, introduce yourself when you get the chance.

Something as complicated as:

“Hi, I'm ___.”

will generally do the job.

Everyone is adjusting.

Home students may be living away from their families for the first time too.

And almost everybody is wondering whether everyone else has already made friends.

They haven't.

Find Your University

This sounds obvious.

But don't wait until five minutes before your first compulsory session to discover that your campus is a 35-minute bus ride away.

During your first couple of days:

☐ Find your campus
☐ Locate your department/building
☐ Find the library
☐ Find student services
☐ Find the Students' Union
☐ Work out your route from accommodation
☐ Check how long the journey actually takes

If your university has multiple campuses, make sure you're going to the right one.

Complete University Registration

Your university will tell you exactly what you need to do.

Follow their instructions.

Depending on the institution and your circumstances, this may involve:

☐ Online enrolment
☐ Identity checks
☐ Immigration/right-to-study checks
☐ Collecting your student ID card
☐ Confirming contact details
☐ Completing course registration
☐ Attending an international student registration session

Universities have responsibilities relating to students they sponsor under the Student route, so don't ignore requests relating to registration or immigration documentation.

If you're unsure what you need to do, contact your university's international student team.

Check Your eVisa and UKVI Details

If you have an eVisa, make sure you can access your UKVI account and that the information associated with your immigration status is correct.

An eVisa is the digital record of your immigration status and the conditions attached to it.

Your UKVI account can also be used when you need to prove aspects of your immigration status.

If your passport or personal details change, you may need to update your UKVI account.

Official information:
Check and manage your eVisa on GOV.UK

Get Connected to a UK Mobile Network

You can survive surprisingly little time at university without your phone.

You'll use it for:

• Maps.
• University apps.
• Transport.
• Banking.
• Authentication codes.
• Accommodation.
• WhatsApp.

And discovering where everyone has disappeared to after Freshers' events.

You have several options.

You might continue using roaming temporarily, use an eSIM, or get a UK SIM.

Before choosing a long contract, compare:

• Coverage where you live and study
• Data allowance
• Monthly cost
• Contract length
• Whether international calling matters to you

A SIM-only or pay-as-you-go, no-contract, arrangement can give you flexibility while you get settled or become your permanent solution.

Connect to University Wi-Fi

Your university will normally provide instructions for accessing its Wi-Fi network.

Get this set up early on:

☐ Phone
☐ Laptop
☐ Tablet

You'll probably spend a significant amount of time on campus, so getting connected now avoids repeatedly dealing with it later.

Your accommodation will normally have its own internet arrangements too.

Sort Out Food

At some point, airport snacks stop being an acceptable diet.

Find your nearest:

Supermarket

Convenience store

and perhaps:

International supermarket or specialist food shop

For your first shop, keep things simple.

Think:

☐ Breakfast
☐ Easy meals
☐ Snacks
☐ Drinks
☐ Basic cooking ingredients
☐ Washing-up liquid
☐ Sponge/cloth
☐ Bin bags if required

You don't need to build a six-month food supply on your first visit.

Learn the Main UK Supermarkets

You'll quickly encounter names such as:

• Tesco.
• Sainsbury's.
• Asda.
• Morrisons.
• Aldi.
• Lidl.
• Waitrose.
• Marks & Spencer.
• Co-op.

Prices and store sizes vary, and convenience branches can be more expensive than larger supermarkets.

You may also find excellent independent Asian, African, Middle Eastern, European and other international food shops in university towns and cities.

Don't assume you won't be able to find ingredients you use at home.

Buy the Essentials You Didn't Bring

This is where your decision not to transport a duvet internationally starts looking sensible.

Once you've checked what your accommodation actually provides, sort out the essentials you're missing.

That might include:

Bedroom

☐ Duvet
☐ Pillows
☐ Correctly sized bedding
☐ Mattress protector

Bathroom

☐ Towels
☐ Shower/bathroom essentials
☐ Bathroom storage if needed

Kitchen

☐ Plate and bowl
☐ Mug and glass
☐ Cutlery
☐ Pan
☐ Cooking utensils
☐ Chopping board
☐ Food containers

Laundry

☐ Laundry bag/basket
☐ Detergent
☐ Clothes hangers

Don't buy everything automatically.

Check what your accommodation already provides first.

Don't Try to Complete Your Room on Day One

You don't yet know what you need.

Live in the room for a few days.

Then you'll discover:

• There's nowhere useful to put your shoes.
• The desk needs better lighting.
• You need more hangers.
• There's loads of under-bed space.
• Or absolutely no under-bed space.
• You need bathroom storage.
• You don't need the storage boxes you nearly bought.

Solve actual problems rather than imaginary ones.

Open a UK Bank Account, If You Need One

A UK bank account can make everyday student life easier, particularly if you're going to receive money in Britain, pay regular bills or work while studying.

Banks have different eligibility and identification requirements.

Your university may be able to provide a student status or bank letter if required.

Before applying, check what the bank actually needs from international students.

You may be asked for evidence such as:

☐ Identity
☐ Immigration status
☐ UK address
☐ Student status

Requirements differ between providers.

Don't submit multiple rushed applications simply because somebody in your flat opened an account with a particular bank.

Understand Your Money Before Spending It

Your first week can become expensive very quickly.

• Deposit.
• Transport.
• Food.
• Bedding.
• Kitchen equipment.
• Freshers' events.
• Coffee.
• More coffee.

A few small purchases suddenly become a substantial amount of money.

Start tracking what you're spending from the beginning.

Work out roughly what you have available for:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Transport
• Phone
• Study costs
• Social life
• Everything else

A basic budget now is considerably easier than discovering halfway through term that September was financially enthusiastic.

Register With a GP

A GP — General Practitioner — is the doctor you normally contact for non-emergency healthcare in the UK.

International students who will be living in Britain for a significant period should register with a local GP rather than waiting until they're ill. Your university may have its own health centre or recommend nearby practices.

NHS guidance says you can register with a GP surgery and that you do not need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number to register, although a surgery may ask for supporting information to help with registration.

Find and register with a GP through the NHS

If you take regular medication, don't leave arrangements for future prescriptions until your existing supply is almost gone.

Know How UK Healthcare Works in an Emergency

Hopefully you won't need this.

But learn it before you do.

999 — emergency services when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

111 — NHS service for urgent medical help when you're not sure what to do and it isn't a life-threatening emergency.

Your university may also provide wellbeing, counselling and other student-support services.

Save useful numbers in your phone.

Learn Your Local Transport

The best transport option depends entirely on where you're studying.

You might rely on:

• Walking.
• Bus.
• Train.
• Tram.
• Underground.
• Cycling.
• Or some combination of them.

During your first week:

☐ Work out your normal route to university
☐ Check ticket/payment options
☐ Look for student discounts
☐ Check late-night transport
☐ Find your nearest train/bus station
☐ Save useful transport apps

Don't automatically buy an expensive season ticket before understanding how often you'll actually travel.

Check Whether You're Eligible for Student Travel Discounts

Student discounts may be available on public transport.

For example, eligible students can purchase a 16–25 Railcard, which offers one-third off many rail fares, while mature full-time students can also qualify subject to additional eligibility requirements.

London students may have different Transport for London discount options depending on eligibility.

Work out how often you'll travel before deciding whether a particular pass or railcard represents good value.

Learn Your UK Address

You'd be surprised how often you'll need it.

Know:

• Building/flat number
• Street
• Town/city
• Postcode

UK postcodes are particularly important.

You'll use your address for things such as deliveries, banking, registrations and online shopping.

Save it somewhere easy to copy and paste.

Work Out How Deliveries Work

Online shopping is considerably less convenient when you don't know where your parcel went.

Find out:

☐ Does reception accept parcels?
☐ Is there a parcel room?
☐ Do you receive a notification?
☐ Do you need ID to collect something?
☐ Are large deliveries accepted?
☐ What happens if you're not home?

This is especially useful before ordering bedding, room equipment or other bulky items.

Check Your University Email

Yes, already.

Universities send an astonishing amount of information during the first few weeks.

Some of it is genuinely important.

Look for:

☐ Registration requirements
☐ Course information
☐ Timetables
☐ Welcome events
☐ International student sessions
☐ Library information
☐ Student support
☐ Freshers' activities

Set up your university email on your phone if that makes it easier to keep track.

Download Your University App

If your university has an app, it may contain:

• Timetable.
• Campus maps.
• Student ID.
• Library information.
• Attendance systems.
• University email.
• Support contacts.
• Events.

Get it set up before classes begin.

Go to Your International Student Welcome Events

These are worth attending.

Not because you need to spend your entire university life exclusively with other international students.

Quite the opposite.

They're useful because everyone there is dealing with some version of the same experience:

• New country.
• New university.
• New systems.
• Probably no idea where anything is.

You'll get useful information and meet people who understand exactly what your first week feels like.

Go to Freshers' Events, Even If You Don't Drink

Freshers' Week isn't simply a week-long drinking competition.

Universities and Students' Unions usually run a huge variety of activities.

That can include:

• Society fairs.
• Sports clubs.
• Campus tours.
• Games.
• Food events.
• International student events.
• Daytime activities.
• Live entertainment.
• Volunteering.

You don't have to drink alcohol to participate in university social life.

Choose the things that interest you.

Join at Least One Society or Club

You don't need to decide your entire social identity during week one.

But societies are one of the easiest ways to meet people with a shared interest.

Try something familiar.

Or something completely new.

• Sport.
• Music.
• Gaming.
• Debating.
• Photography.
• Cultural societies.
• Academic societies.
• Volunteering.

Whatever works for you.

And if you attend once and hate it?

You don't have to go back.

Talk to People

This sounds obvious.

It isn't always easy.

Especially if you're communicating all day in a language that isn't your first language.

You don't need brilliant opening lines.

Try:

“What are you studying?”

“Where are you from?”

“Which accommodation are you in?”

“Have you found the library yet?”

Everyone needs to start somewhere.

Don't Panic If You Feel Homesick

The first week isn't automatically seven days of uninterrupted excitement.

You may feel:

• Excited.
• Exhausted.
• Confused.
• Homesick.
• Confident.
• Lonely.
• Overwhelmed.

Sometimes all on the same day.

Moving country is a significant adjustment.

Keep in contact with people at home, but give yourself opportunities to build a life where you are too.

If you're struggling, universities have student-support and wellbeing services specifically designed to help.

Use them.

Be Careful With Scams

International students can be targeted by scams because criminals know you may be unfamiliar with UK systems.

Be suspicious of unexpected messages or calls demanding urgent payment.

Particularly if someone claims to represent:

• UKVI.
• HMRC.
• Your bank.
• Police.
• Your university.
• A delivery company.
• A landlord.

A legitimate organisation won't become more legitimate because the caller tells you to act immediately.

Never give banking details, passwords or security codes because somebody unexpectedly contacts you.

If you're unsure, end the call or message and contact the organisation independently using its official details.

Understand Your Work Conditions Before Taking a Job

You may be allowed to work while studying.

But don't assume every international student has identical working rights.

Your permission depends on your immigration status and the conditions attached to it.

Check your own conditions before accepting employment.

Your employer will also need to establish your right to work.

Check Student visa conditions on GOV.UK

Your First 7 Days: A Simple Plan

You don't need to follow this literally, but it gives you an idea of how to spread things out.

Day 1 — Arrive

Accommodation → Keys → Room check → Wi-Fi → Food → Sleep

That's enough.

Day 2 — Get Your Basics

Explore locally → Supermarket → essentials → Learn accommodation systems

Day 3 — University

Find campus → Registration → Student ID → University Wi-Fi → Explore

Day 4 — Life Admin

Mobile → Banking → GP → Transport → Deliveries

Day 5 — Meet People

International events → Flatmates → Freshers → Societies

Day 6 — Explore

Your university town/city → Transport → Shops → Somewhere good to eat

Day 7 — Get Ready

Check timetable → Organise room → Laundry → Food → Prepare for classes

And somewhere in there:

Call home.

They'll probably appreciate knowing you're still alive.

First Week Checklist

Accommodation

☐ Checked in
☐ Room condition photographed
☐ Damage reported
☐ Wi-Fi connected
☐ Laundry located
☐ Bins/recycling located
☐ Parcel system understood
☐ Emergency contacts saved

University

☐ Registration completed
☐ Student ID collected
☐ Campus explored
☐ University Wi-Fi connected
☐ University email set up
☐ University app downloaded
☐ Timetable checked

Life Admin

☐ UK mobile arrangements sorted
☐ Banking considered
☐ GP registration started
☐ Local transport understood
☐ UK address saved

Student Life

☐ Food shop completed
☐ Essential room items sorted
☐ Flatmates introduced
☐ Welcome events explored
☐ Societies/clubs investigated
☐ Local area explored

Immigration

☐ UKVI/eVisa accessible where applicable
☐ Immigration details checked
☐ Work conditions understood if planning to work

You Don't Need to Have Everything Sorted in Seven Days

This is worth repeating.

Your first week isn't a test.

You don't need:

A perfect room.

Ten new best friends.

A complete understanding of British culture.

Every society membership decided.

A flawless budget spreadsheet.

Or your entire life organised.

Your job during the first week is much simpler:

Arrive.

Get settled.

Deal with the important admin.

Learn where things are.

Meet some people.

Then university life can start properly.

More Help for International Students

This article is part of the Loomz International Student Guide to Studying in the UK.

Head back to the main guide for practical information covering preparing to travel, paperwork, packing, arriving in Britain, accommodation, money, healthcare, working and UK university life.

Explore the International Student Guide →

Still Setting Up Your Room?

Once you've checked what's actually included in your accommodation, Loomz can help with the things you're missing, including UK-size bedding, kitchen, bathroom and laundry essentials, storage, lighting and useful student tech.

Buy individual items, choose a student bundle or mix and match based on what you actually need.

Shop Student Essentials →

Free UK delivery.

Important information: This guide provides general information. University procedures, immigration requirements, healthcare arrangements, transport discounts and accommodation rules vary and can change. Follow your university's instructions and use official UK Government or NHS information where relevant.