The countdown is on...

Soon you'll be arriving here at uni, but before you do here is all the information you need to know if you are arriving from outside of the UK...

This page explains what you will need to when you arrive at the UK Border and the tasks you need to do soon after arriving in the UK.If you have been granted Student immigration permission, you should carry the following documents in your hand luggage when you arrive in the UK. Always check the Advice and Counselling Service information for International Students as the prime source of information, the below is a summary.

• A valid passport, with a visa or UK visa vignette (if applicable) 
• Your UKVI decision letter which confirms your leave granted  
• Your travel ticket 
• Vaccination certificates, if required 
• An X-ray certificate, if required 
• A paper copy of your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) 
• Documentary evidence that you have enough money to pay your tuition fees and accommodate yourself while you’re in the UK (recent bank statements, proof of scholarship or sponsor’s letter) 

Border Force Officers may ask you simple questions about your stay in the UK when you arrive at passport control. See 10 top tips from the UK Border Force [PDF 39KB] 

EU, EEA or Swiss nationals with Student permission 

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and you applied using the UK Immigration: ID Check app, you will receive your permission in the form of an online digital status, you will not receive a physical document. When you enter the UK, information will be checked digitally, and those with a UKVI account will not routinely need to prove their status. To prevent unnecessary delays at the border, it is important to ensure the document you travel on is registered to your account, which you can do by updating your details if you intend to travel on a different document (for example a new passport). We advise that you carry a printout of your decision email, just in case of any issues at the Border.  

Checklist on arrival

• Check your decision letter if you will need to collect their biometric residence permit (BRP) after entering the UK. You will need to collect this from the Post Office you have chosen on your visa application form within 10 days of arriving in the UK.
• Your physical document (BRP or visa vignette) will not be valid beyond 31.12.2024. You will need to create an online UKVI account to be able to show an eVisa by 31.12.2024 to prove your immigration status and rights in the UK starting from 2025. On how to create an UKVI account - Online immigration status (eVisa) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 
• Once you have collected your BRP card  keep it somewhere safe at home. You do not normally need to carry it with you in the UK and if you lose it, it takes a long time to replace and it is expensive. You can buy a Totem card as evidence of your age to buy alcohol or cigarettes or enter pubs and clubs.  
• Attend all induction activities arranged by your School and support services, to understand how you can get the best out of your studies. 
• We recommend that you register with a doctor (GP) as soon as you can after you arrive in the UK. You can find instructions on how and where to register on the Student Health web pages.  

Coming to campus from the airport

Taxi

Queen Mary works with Greater London Hire Limited (GLH) to provide students with a secure and discounted taxi service from any London airport to campus or Stratford. Please have your flight details ready and airport terminal before you contact Greater London Hire. They can only accept payment via credit card.

How to Book

By telephone: Call 020 7490 4222 and quote the Account Reference Number: 99610

This must be quoted to benefit from the preferential rate.

Online: To register for the on-line booking service, please go to Greater London Hire’s website and register using the fields on the right hand side, using your allocated Pin Number which is 99610. Slide ‘Do you have an account pin?’ to ‘Yes’ and then enter your email address.

This pin must be entered to benefit from the preferential rate.

Prices

Saloon Car: 4 passengers and 2-3 medium suitcases

MPV: 6 passengers and 3-4 medium suitcases or 2-3 passengers and 5-6 medium suitcases

Gatwick Airport to E1 Postcode:

Saloon car: £133.40

MPV: £195.10

LHR Airport T1-4 to E1 Postcode:

Saloon car: £100.40

MPV: £145.60

LHR Airport T5 to E1 Postcode:

Saloon car: £107.90

MPV: £153.10

The price quoted includes 30 minutes waiting time and airport car park charges. The driver can meet you 30, 60 or 90 minutes after the flight is scheduled to land. To avoid any further waiting time charges, please state your preference when booking. To add this online after you have entered your flight number a box will appear that says ‘Hold Off Time’, enter how long after the flight has landed you would like the driver to meet you in arrivals.

Any additional car park charges are charged at cost depending on the airport and waiting time is an additional £2.70 per 10 minutes for a saloon car and £4.27 per 10 minutes for an MPV and will be charged automatically to your card after the booking has gone ahead.

Your driver will text you to let you know they are there which will include a photograph and their telephone number. They will also meet you at arrivals with a name board. If you are arriving into Terminal 5 in Heathrow, the meeting place is by Costa Coffee as you come through arrivals.

If you have any difficulties, please contact GHL on 020 7490 4222 quoting your booking reference number.

Underground

• Heathrow Express and Underground: change at Paddington for Hammersmith and City Line
• London Underground: change at Holborn for Central Line

Travelling to Dawson Hall and Charterhouse Square

Queen Mary’s campuses are easily accessible from all of London’s airports. For general directions to our six London campuses click here.  If you choose not to book a GLH taxi then there are alternative ways to travel. Below are brief directions for each of our accommodations. You can always use apps such as Citymapper or sites like Transport for London for specific up-to-date transport times and locations. Do check out the dedicated Residential Life article on Transport for London too.

Heathrow to Farringdon (Dawson Hall) via the Elizabeth line

• Transfer to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 Rail Station. Take the Elizabeth line to Farringdon Station (approx 36 mins). Walk from the station to your accommodation (8-minute walk to Dawson Hall or 6-minute walk to Charterhouse Square). 

Gatwick to Farringdon (Dawson Hall) via ThamesLink

• Walk to Gatwick Airport train station located in the south terminal. Take the ThamesLink to Farrington Station (approx 47 mins). Walk from the station to your accommodation (8-minute walk to Dawson Hall or 6-minute walk to Charterhouse Square).

London City Airport to Bank/Monument via the DLR

• From the London City Airport DLR station (overground), take the train directly to Bank station (approx 25 mins). The trains are usually every 15 minutes. From there, you have the option to walk, taxi/uber or take the underground (Circle Line from Monumnent, which is connected to Bank via a walkway) to get to either Dawson Hall or Charterhouse Square.

Walking Directions to Dawson Hall

Follow our walking directions video from Barbican Station to Dawson Hall/Charterhouse Square.

Travelling to Floyer House and Whitechapel

Heathrow to Whitechapel via the Elizabeth Line

• Take the Heathrow Express direct to London Paddington station (approx 15 mins). Then from Paddington take the Elizabeth line (Shenfield) to Whitechapel (13 mins, 5 stops). Walk from the station to your accommodation (6-minute walk to Floyer House or 4-minute walk to Whitechapel).

Gatwick to Whitechapel via ThamesLink and Elizabeth line

• Walk to Gatwick Airport train station located in the south terminal. Take the ThamesLink to Farrington Station (approx 47 mins). Then from the same station, take the Elizabeth line (Shenfield) to Whitechapel (5 mins, 2 stops). Walk from the station to your accommodation (6-minute walk to Floyer House or 4-minute walk to Whitechapel).

London City Airport to Whitechapel via DLR and Elizabeth line

• From the London City Airport DLR station (overground), take the tram to Stratford station (approx 15 mins). From there take the Elizabeth line (Heathrow Terminal 5) directly to Whitechapel (5 mins). Walk from the station to your accommodation (6-minute walk to Floyer House or 4-minute walk to Whitechapel).

Walking directions to Floyer House

Follow our walking directions video from Whitechapel Station to Floyer House.

Travelling to Mile End

Travelling to Mile End from London Heathrow

• Heathrow Express and London Underground: The Heathrow Express is a quick and easy way to reach central London from Heathrow (approx. 15 minutes). The Heathrow Express goes to Paddington station where you will need to take the Elizabeth Line to Whitechapel and then change to the District Line or Hammersmith and City Line to Mile End. Heathrow Express tickets can be booked in advance or on the day of your journey.
• London Underground: Take the Piccadilly Line to Holborn then change to the Central Line to Mile End.
• if you are moving into Blithehale Court, the nearest station is Bethnal Green or if you're moving into Sherren House, Stepney Green is the nearest.
• Uber: You will receive directions to Heathrow Airport pickup points directly in the app. Pickup locations may vary by terminal. More information can be found here.

Travelling to Mile End from Gatwick

• Southern railways and London Underground: Take a train from Gatwick Airport to London Bridge station. Once you reach London Bridge, follow the signs in the station for the Underground. Take the Northern Line to Bank and change to the Central Line eastbound to Mile End.
• if you are moving into Blithehale Court, the nearest station is Bethnal Green or if you're moving into Sherren House, Stepney Green is the nearest.
• Uber: Pickup locations may vary by terminal. To find your pickup location, check the Uber app after you request a ride.

Travelling to Mile End from London City Airport

• Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Underground: Take the DLR to West Ham station. Change to the District or Hammersmith and City Line to Mile End.

Walking directions to Residences Reception and Sherren House

Follow our walking direction videos from Bethnal Green Station to Blithehale Court, Mile End Station to Residences Reception, Stepney Green Station to Residences Reception or from Stepney Green Station to Sherren House.

BRP collection

Please pay attention to the information on this page which contains important information about collecting your BRP and what to do if you encounter any problems.

When you are completing your Student Visa application form, you will choose a participating Post Office from which to collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit).

The form will normally default to the Whitechapel Post Office branch, which is nearest to Queen Mary’s main campus. Depending on which campus you will be studying at and where you will be living, this may not be the most convenient Post Office branch for you. You should choose the most convenient Post Office branch for where you are living or studying. 

You can enter an “Alternative Address Postcode” to select a different Post Office branch. 

Please note that there is no Alternative Collection Location (ACL) code for Queen Mary. 

When your Student immigration permission is granted, you will be issued with a visa decision letter explaining the student visa conditions. Normally, this letter will also confirm the date and Post Office location from which you can collect your BRP. Keep this letter safe for your reference. 

If your visa decision letter does not confirm the Post Office from which you can collect your BRP, you should check the payment section of your visa application form for the Post Office location. If you do not have a copy of your completed application, you should be able to log in to your UKVI account and access a pdf.  

You must usually collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival in the UK. You will collect your BRP card from the Post Office you selected on your visa application form. You need to take your passport and decision letter with you. 

Once you have collected your BRP card, check it is correct  straightaway. If there are any errors, refer to our guidance on how to correct the error. It is important that you do this immediately as there is a short period for you to correct errors.  

It is not an error if your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but you have permission to stay longer. From 1 January 2025, your BRP will no longer be valid; instead, you will need to prove your immigration status with your eVisa via your online UKVI account. Your decision letter should include instructions on how to create an UKVI account and access your eVisa. You are advised to do so as soon as you can to ensure a smooth digital transition. 

Once you have collected your BRP card, please put it somewhere safe. You do not usually need to carry it with you in the UK. If you lose it, it takes a long time to replace and can be expensive.  

Problems Collecting your BRP 

If you are unable to collect your BRP from the Post Office for any of the below reasons, you should report this to UKVI on the UK Government website.  

• If you do not know where to collect your BRP (for example you have lost your visa decision letter) 
• If your BRP is not available for collection on the date and at the Post Office indicated in your letter 
• If you have lost your passport or identity document 

You can report the problem collecting your BRP by completing a short online form on the UK Government website 

To report a problem collecting your BRP: 

1. Click on the UK Government website 
2. Scroll down to 'Report a Problem' and click on 'Report Now' 
3. Select "From a Post Office" for where you were asked to collect your BRP
4. Choose the option for why you couldn't collect your BRP and give a short description of the problem - If you lost your visa decision letter or never received it, select "I don't know which Post Office to collect my BRP from" and in the free text describe the problem "visa decision letter lost / never received"
5. Provide your name, date of birth, nationality and passport number
6. Provide your contact details (email) and submit the form. 

You should receive a response within five working days. 

Warning: Do not travel outside of the UK until you have collected your BRP. 

Location of Queen Mary’s campuses and Post Office branches (where you can collect your BRP from)

Visas and international student advice

International Student Advisers are here to provide advice and guidance to support current and prospective students, enabling you to focus on your studies and enjoy university life. See the topics below that we provide guidance on. Find out how we can support you and how to contact us:

• Visas for study
• Working during studies 
• Changes during your studies
• Travelling to and from the UK
• Lost documents
• Money options

Our International Student Advisers offer confidential support to all Queen Mary students, providing expert guidance on visa and international student issues. We're authorized to give visa advice, ensuring you stay informed about your options. Our role is to empower you with information and solutions, letting you make decisions that fit your needs. While we usually help you explore solutions independently, we can also advocate on your behalf if needed. Keep in mind that UK immigration rules change, so verify advice closer to implementation.