Student Guide

Are you joining us at University of Kent International College?

To help you get started, we’d like to invite you to our upcoming student webinars. These sessions are designed to give you all the essential information you need for a smooth transition. You’ll also get the chance to meet our college staff, student support officers, and current students who have been exactly where you are and can share valuable advice.

✨ Why join?

• Gain step-by-step guidance on your pre-arrival journey
• Meet the people who will support you throughout your studies
• Ask questions and get answers live during the session

📌 Missed a webinar?

• No problem — recordings will be available afterwards. If you still have questions, our team is here to help.

✈️ Pre-Arrival Webinar

• • Our Student Experience team will walk you through everything you need to know before arriving at the international college.

What you’ll learn:

• • • • Information and updates about booking your visa
      • Booking your accommodation
      • What is registration?
      • Booking your flight
      • Bringing dependants
      • Arriving in the UK
      • Notable dates
      • Your journey to the college
      • How to complete your online registration
      • The cost of living in the UK
      • Welcome week and induction
      • 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.

Upcoming Pre-Arrival Webinars:

Sorry there are no webinars scheduled at the moment, please check back closer to your enrolment.

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 reach out 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.

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 Accommodation

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

UKIC Under 18s

University offers under 18 accommodation, including age 16. Same application process as 18+

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.

Other recommendations:

• Homes for students
• Parham Student Village
• Kent Uni Let

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.

Important Information

• 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.

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 you 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

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

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)
• eVisa/ Share code
• 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)

* 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.

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 here to make your payment.

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

If you will finance your studies via Student Loan Company (SLC), you must make your application prior to arrival at the college. You can start making an application by clicking HERE. Please note that SFE take between 6 to 8 weeks to process SLC applications so please sure that you apply well in advance of your course start date.

Setting up your eVisa account:

You can set up your eVisa as soon as your visa is granted. You should create your UKVI online account before arriving in the UK. This ensures you can manage your digital immigration status without delays.

Steps to Take:

1. Access Your eVisa: Create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access your eVisa (Get Access – eVisa)

Ensure your personal details and the passport you will use for travel are correctly linked to your UKVI account. (Making sure your eVisa is correct)

2. Verify Your eVisa Details: Use the ‘View and Prove Your Immigration Status’ service to confirm that your immigration status is displayed correctly and that you have permission to travel to the UK.

Pre-Arrival Support: arrivalsupport@oxfordinternational.com

Visa: Pathways@oxfordinternational.com

Tuition fee payments: creditcontrol@oxfordinternational.com

Late arrival: arrivalsupport@oxfordinternational.com

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

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

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

College support: ukicadmin@kent.ac.uk

We want you to have the best possible student experience and we will provide you 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 anticipate arriving in the UK after your course start date, it is crucial to inform us as soon as possible. Please email the Pre-Arrival team at arrivalsupport@oxfordinternational.com

Kindly note that late arrival requests submitted to other teams will delay processing. To ensure a prompt response, all requests must be directed to the Pre-Arrival team at the email provided above.

By Train and bus

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.

By coach

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).

By private car/taxi

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

By Train

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.

By private car/taxi

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

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 university!

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
• eVisa/Share code
• Qualification documents (original)

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.

It is important that you declare any medical conditions, disabilities or specific learning differences during your admission stage so that we can prepare to support you before you arrive. However, you will also get the opportunity to let us know during your face-to-face registration. You can let us know anytime if anything changes and we can offer support and guidance.

Keep us up to date with your details (UK address, phone number, email) if anything changes. You can also email ukicadmin@kent.ac.uk

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.

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, Passport and Student ID and eVisa/Share code

Please make sure you pick up a UK SIM Card as you will be required to have a UK number for the duration of your studies. You can speak to the Student Experience Team at the college if you need some help doing this.

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 eVisa/Share code
• 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

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

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

During your face-to-face registration, you will receive a quick post arrival survey to complete. This will allow us to see how you have found your arrival at the College and highlight to us any areas of improvement or changes that we can make to ensure the process is as smooth as possible for students.

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

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.

The induction sessions will help you familiarise yourself with the College, the team, the campus and facilities, and the city. It will also be an opportunity to speak with current students and to make friends. You will receive a lot of useful information about how to open a bank account, how to register with a doctor and what services are available to you. You will also attend an academic induction during the first week of teaching. This is an opportunity for you to meet your tutors, learn all about your course, meet classmates and ask questions.

These inductions also give you the opportunity to ask questions and get an understanding of what to expect during your time at the college.

Canterbury Campus Map

Medway Campus Map

Follow us on Instagram to be the first to hear the latest news and to see what the students get up to!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.