Travelling to the UK

Before you travel

You may need to apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa if you have a flight connection in a Schengen member state on your way to the UK. This is in addition to your UK visa, and if you require this type of visa you will be unable to board your flight without it.

Further information about which nationalities this applies to, as well as how to apply for the Airport Transit Schengen Visa, can be found on the Schengen Visa information website.

Please note that the individual Schengen countries have added extra countries to the list of those who need an Airport Transit Visa when travelling through their airports, so it's important to check both the general list and the extra list of the country you will be travelling through.

Before you begin your journey to the UK read through the UKCISA guide to arriving in the UK; it has useful information on immigration, UK public transport, what money to bring with you and how you can call home once you arrive.

Travelling from China?

If you are travelling to the UK from mainland China you will need to show notification of a negative COVID-19 test result at the airport before departing. 

Find out more on the UK government website.

When you arrive in the UK

You will need your passport or identity card to enter the UK. If you are from the EEA or Switzerland from the 1 October 2021 you have not be able to use your identity card unless you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme or have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.

If you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you will also need this when you arrive. You can find out more and get in touch with our visa team for advice on our visas and immigration page. Make sure you read the UK government guidance on this in advance and be prepared.

Collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

If you applied for a Student Route visa from outside of the UK and are required to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on arrival, you are usually required to collect this within 10 days of arrival to the UK. If you are not able to collect your BRP within 10 days due to mandatory quarantine, this is not a problem.

Getting to the University of Brighton

The University of Brighton is based in two cities - make sure you have checked whether your course is based in Brighton or Eastbourne before you leave your home country so that you know which you need to travel to once you arrive in the UK. If you're not sure, you can check with your academic school.

Brighton

Three of our campuses are in the city of Brighton:

• Falmer campus
• City campus
• Moulsecoomb campus

Here is a map of our Brighton campuses.

Eastbourne

The Eastbourne campus is based at two places in the town.

Here is a map of our Eastbourne campus.

There are a number of taxi companies providing an airport collection service, so you may wish to do your own research. Some local companies are:

• Brighton & Hove Streamline Taxis
• City Cabs Brighton

You can get to Brighton and Eastbourne by train or coach from the airport.

Check the departure times for transport from your airport:

• Train – National Rail
• Coach – National Express

Once you've made it to Brighton or Eastbourne, you'll need to consider your onward travel to your accommodation. Check which train or bus stop your accommodation is nearest to, alternatively if you have a lot of luggage with you, it might be easiest to take a taxi to your accommodation.

Arrival at your accommodation

If you have a place in University of Brighton halls of residence or managed accommodation, our accommodation team will have sent you information about what to do when you arrive at your accommodation.

If you have any questions about your accommodation please contact accommodation@brighton.ac.uk.

Contacting home

Once you have arrived at your new home, you might like to call your friends and family to let them know you have arrived safely.

Now that you're in the UK you will need to use the international dialling code for the country you are calling in order to get through.

Find out the international dialling code for your country.

If you do not wish to use your mobile phone to call, our halls of residence have pay phones on site that you can use.

Find out more about living in the UK before you get here.

Find out more about what the start of the academic year will look like at Belong at Brighton.

Orientation

You can now book your place on our orientation programme for students starting courses in January and February. This includes online pre-arrival sessions as well as an in-person orientation day.