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International arrivals

Last updated: 10/07/2025 16:38

Advice for international students before you travel to Cardiff.

Starting your journey to Cardiff is exciting but can also feel a bit overwhelming. This guide is here to help you get ready for your arrival, covering everything from vaccinations and essential items to pack, to what you can expect at the airport and how to make your way to the city.

Vaccinations and medical documents

To help protect your health during your time in the UK, make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel. Bring a doctor’s report (in English) that outlines any medical conditions or ongoing care you might need.

If you're a healthcare student, your vaccination records will be reviewed as part of your Occupational Health Assessment. Make sure you can provide up-to-date records.

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:

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.

International Health Surcharge and private health insurance

To access the National Health Service (NHS), you’ll need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Learn more about the surcharge and whether you need to consider private health insurance for additional cover during your stay.

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:

You may still need to pay for:

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.

What to bring

A checklist of essential items to pack for your new life in Cardiff.

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

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:

Clearing immigration and customs

Entering a new country can feel daunting, but this section will help you understand what to expect at the airport.

When you arrive you’ll go through two main checks:

  • immigration – checking your passport, visa, and reason for entering the UK
  • customs – checking what you’re bringing into the UK (your luggage and goods)

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.

Travelling to Cardiff from the airport

Wherever you're arriving from, Cardiff is well-connected by road, rail, and air. Plan your journey in advance and aim to arrive before your course starts, as late arrival could mean missing key university events or your accommodation.

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:

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:

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.

Coach collection from London Heathrow

We are offering a free coach collection service from Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport on 17, 18 and 19 September.

The first coach departs at 09:00 and the last coach will depart at 14:00 (no coaches will depart after 14:00). The University reserves the right to amend these collection times based on booking numbers and vehicle availability.

We recommend allowing at least 3 hours between your flight arriving at the airport and the coach collection departure time.

For example: If your flight arrives at London Heathrow at 07:00, you need to book onto the 10:00 or 12:00 (noon) service. If your flight lands after 11:00, it is recommended that you find alternative transport to Cardiff.

This service is exclusively for new Cardiff University students. We are unable to transport your parents, guardians, and extended family members (such as cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents).

If you’re travelling with your partner, spouse, or children, contact us in advance coachcollection@cardiff.ac.uk

Bookings are now open.

Choose the date you will be arriving:

Our welcome team will meet you at Costa Coffee, Terminal 5 Arrivals. They’ll be there 30 minutes before your coach is scheduled to depart.

Your coach will take you directly to the Centre for Student Life on Park Place. The journey will take 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic.

We have arranged onward transportation to take you to your accommodation.

Be aware that there may be a short wait of up to 45 minutes while we organise vehicles and group students heading to similar locations. If you would prefer not to wait, you are welcome to make your own way to your accommodation.

We will be offering drop-off services at the following locations:

  • Talybont (all sites), University Hall, Senghennydd Hall/Court, Student Houses
  • Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA's) including West Wing, Bridge Street Exchange, The Neighbourhood.

If you reside in Cathays or in the vicinity of the main University campus, we may ask you to walk to your accommodation, as this is often quicker than traveling by vehicle.

Unfortunately, we cannot transport any students to locations outside of Cardiff, and we will not be able to change the route of the coach, even if your accommodation is along the way.

All passengers are allowed two suitcases for the hold and an additional bag (such as a rucksack, handbag or laptop bag) with them on the coach.

Due to the size of the vehicles, storage restrictions, and safety concerns, we are unable to transport more than the advertised luggage per person. We reserve the right to refuse passengers who do not comply with the advertised luggage allowance.

Coach collection

Coach collection service