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Student ID card

Last updated: 16/10/2023 15:43

Your student ID card offers proof of identity, library and e-learning access and the ability to gain entry to university buildings.

Your student ID card is valid for the duration of your study, and you must carry it on university premises.

Collecting your student ID card is a mandatory step in the enrolment process. If you are attending campus, you must collect your card in person within three weeks of the start date of your course to complete enrolment.

Before we can issue your ID card, you must complete online enrolment. Once you have completed online enrolment, you can collect your student ID card from one of the collection point venues listed below.

International students

International students studying on campus must bring their original passport and visa documents (including an ATAS certificate if needed) to confirm their right to study so that a student ID card can be issued.

If you are an international student (from outside the EU), you will need to bring your passport and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) with you to collect your student ID card. If you have chosen to collect your BRP from the university, you will receive an email when it is ready and where to collect it.

If you are an international student (from within the EU/EEA), you will need to bring a share code with you for us to verify your immigration status, along with your passport (and ATAS certificate if needed).

Home or EU students (with settled/pre-settled status)

Home students – you must collect your student ID card from one of the collection points below.

If you have not completed the Right to Study (RTS) checks in advance, you must bring your passport/birth certificate with you. You have the opportunity to submit your RTS documents and upload a photograph to be used on your student ID card through your SIMS account once you have completed online enrolment.

Students with EUSS settled/pre-settled status – you will be required to bring your passport and a “share code” (which we will use to verify your status) with you when you collect your student card.

If you have applied for funding through Student Finance, this will only be released when you have confirmed your RTS.

If you are a home student and have already uploaded your identity documents, you will need to bring a form of ID. If you have not been able to upload your identity documents (passport/birth certificate) you must bring one of them with you to collect your student card.

If you are an international student, you will need to bring your original passport and visa documents (BRP and where necessary ATAS certificate) to the student ID card collection venue.

To find out more, see our list of acceptable documentation.

Make sure you have your student number to hand.

Students should collect their student ID cards from the following locations unless your school has informed you of separately arranged events.

International and home students

ID cards can be collected from Student Connect at the Centre for Student Life, 09:15-16:45 Monday to Friday from 16 October 2023.

If you are unable to collect between these times, please raise an enquiry via the Student Connect Portal selecting 'Student ID card enquiry' as the enquiry category or telephone +44 (0)29 2251 8888.

Heath Park based home students

ID cards can be collected from the Cochrane Building on Monday, Wednesday, Friday between 08:00-13:00.

If you are attending campus, you have not completed the enrolment process until you have collected your student ID card.

If you're an international student, the University is required under its sponsor licence agreement with the United Kingdom Visa Immigration (UKVI) to report you as 'Not in attendance'.

Under University regulations, failure to collect your student card within four weeks of the start of your course may affect your study and registration at Cardiff University.

Changing your programme may have an impact on the duration of your study. If you change your programme, you will only need to get a new student ID card if the duration of your study increases or if you change academic school, you will be able to renew this from one of the student ID card collection points.

If you're on a course designated as distance learning and wish to have a student ID card (although this is not mandatory), you'll need to complete the student ID card application form and send it to your School office with a passport photograph.

You'll need to make arrangements with your School for its distribution once it has been produced.

Should your ID card become lost, stolen or damaged you can request a replacement at the Centre for Student Life. A £10 replacement fee may apply.

You can access a digital version of your Student ID Card via our Student App which is free to download.

Contact us

For all enquiries regarding student ID cards, contact:

Student Connect