International arrivals

We recommend you should be fully vaccinated against:

• Meningitis ACWY (if you are under 25)
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) - two doses needed
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Diphtheria

If applicable:

• Tuberculosis (TB) – TB screening is required for some visa applicants

Don’t forget to bring a copy of your vaccination record with you so it can be added to your medical notes once you register with a doctor in the UK.

If you're applying for a student visa for more than six months, you’ll need to pay the IHS as part of your visa application.

Current IHS cost

View the latest IHS rates.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals

You may be eligible for a refund if you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein.

What the NHS covers

Paying the IHS entitles you to most NHS services, including:

• free prescription medicine in Wales
• GP (doctor) appointments
• emergency and non-emergency hospital treatment

You may still need to pay for:

• dental treatment
• eye care or glasses/contacts (you can access discounted services at the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences Eye Clinic)
• some GP services (like  vaccinations or certificates)
• treatment for pre-existing conditions

If you're staying less than six months

You don’t need to pay the IHS, but you’ll need private insurance to cover medical costs.

Recommended coverage:

• emergency medical care
• lost tuition fees - if you’re unable to complete your course
• travel costs - if you or a family member becomes ill
• repatriation

Even if you’re eligible for NHS (National Health Service) healthcare, you may wish to consider private health insurance. The NHS doesn’t cover everything, and there may be long waiting times for some treatments.

Private health insurance can help with:

• faster access to medical care
• coverage for existing medical conditions
• repatriation or unexpected travel-related costs
• health issues that happen while travelling to the UK

If you already have insurance in your home country, check if it can be extended to cover your stay in the UK. You can also explore options from UK-based providers.

Visit the UKCISA website for more guidance on healthcare and insurance.

Keep these in your hand luggage as you may need to show them at immigration:

• passport
• confirmation of acceptance for study (CAS) email or offer letter from Cardiff University
• financial documents - bank statements or sponsor letter (as required by your visa)
• accommodation agreement
• any certificates you used in your visa application
• vaccination records

If applicable:

• your Standard Visitor Visa letter
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) (if entering under the visitor route)
• tuberculosis (TB) test result

• laptop and phone – make sure they work with UK plugs and voltage (220V)
• carry chargers and adapters in your hand luggage
• devices with lithium batteries (like laptops, cameras) must go in hand luggage
• consider travel insurance to cover your electronics

• keep medicine in original packaging
• bring a doctor’s note if possible
• some medications are restricted – check UK government guidance

Bring enough for your first couple of weeks:

• Around £400 for food, travel, and essentials
• prepaid travel cards or traveller’s cheques are safer than carrying lots of cash

Make sure you can lift and carry your luggage - 2 suitcases is usually a good limit.

What to pack:

• everyday clothes for mild but changeable weather
• waterproof jacket and comfy shoes
• formal outfit (for events or interviews)
• traditional dress for cultural events (optional)
• hairdryer/shaver (if compatible with UK voltage)
• UK plug adapters (BS1363 standard)

Don’t worry about packing:

• bedding (you can buy it locally or pre-order a pack)
• kitchenware (readily available in Cardiff)

Some food items like meat, dairy, potatoes are not allowed in your luggage due to UK customs regulations.

We’re unable to receive deliveries before you arrive but you can use luggage shipping services like:

• MyBaggage
• Voovit
• Excess Baggage
• Lovespace
• Student Storage Box
• Easystore Self Storage Ltd

You’ll join one of two queues:

• eGates – for eligible passport holders
• manual passport check – for everyone else

Using the eGates

You can use eGates if you:

• have a biometric passport
• are from the UK, EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the USA
• are not travelling with a child under 10
• are not joining an EEA family member

If you use the eGates, your passport won’t be stamped. Keep your flight ticket or boarding pass as proof of entry for university enrolment.

What Immigration Officers might ask

Even if you already have a visa, the immigration officer may ask you a few questions, such as:

• what you’ll be studying
• your level of English
• your plans after graduation

This is a routine part of the process, so don’t worry, just answer clearly and honestly.

Immigration officers may refuse entry if you arrive after the ‘latest start date’ on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If you're concerned about your arrival date, contact the International Office: international@cardiff.ac.uk as soon as possible.

After collecting your luggage, you will pass through UK customs.

Check what goods you can’t bring into the UK before you travel.

By coach

Most affordable option. International students get 20% off National Express. Stops include:

• Cardiff University
• Cardiff Castle
• Cardiff Coach Station, Sophia Gardens

Flixbus also offers low-cost journeys, stopping at Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens).

By train

Faster but more expensive.

1. Take the Heathrow Express to London Paddington (every 15 minutes).
2. From Paddington, take a Great Western Railway train to Cardiff Central (every 30 minutes on weekdays).

• travel time: 2 hours
• cost: £65–£205 (cheaper if booked online in advance)

By taxi

Best for direct travel to your accommodation:

• travel time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
• approximate cost: £200

By coach

International students get 20% off National Express. Stops include:

• Cardiff University
• Cardiff Castle
• Cardiff Coach Station, Sophia Gardens

Flixbus also offers low-cost journeys, stopping at Cardiff North Road (Friary Gardens).

By train

1. Take the Bristol Flyer airport bus to Bristol Temple Meads (buses depart every 10 minutes).
2. From there take a train to Cardiff Central (trains depart approx. every 20 minutes).

By taxi

Best for direct travel to your accommodation:

• travel time: 1.5 hours
• approximate cost: £100

By bus

The First Bus 304 bus service runs daily and stops at Customhouse Street - a short walk from Cardiff Central station.

By train

1. Take the 905 airport shuttle bus to Rhoose station
2. From there take a train to Cardiff Central

By taxi

You can hire a taxi from the Flight Link office inside the arrivals area:

• travel time: 30 minutes
• approximate cost: £40

If you arrive by train or coach, a taxi is often the easiest way to reach your accommodation - especially if you have heavy luggage. Always ask for the fare before starting your journey, and only pay once you’ve reached your destination.

You can get a cab from the taxi rank outside Cardiff Central Station. Local taxi companies include:

• Uber
• Veezu

You can also check local bus routes as a more affordable option. Visit the Cardiff Bus website or use apps like Traveline Cymru or Google Maps to plan your journey.

For guidance on university accommodation early or late arrivals and out-of-hours check-in, visit our moving in pages.

To help you settle in, you need to arrive in Cardiff before your course start date (as listed in your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies email).

If you arrive late, you may:

• not be guaranteed university accommodation. For guidance on late arrivals, visit our moving in pages.
• miss important induction and enrolment activities
• miss lectures or key course events

The latest date you can arrive and enrol is also listed in your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) email. It is important that you do not attempt to arrive after this date, as Immigration Officers will refuse entry to the UK.

If you’re concerned about arriving on time, contact the International Office: international@cardiff.ac.uk as soon as possible.