Packing, Visas and Travel: A Practical Pre-Arrival Guide

The academics are the easy part to get excited about. The logistics — flights, visas, what on earth to pack for a London summer — are where families actually spend their nervous energy. This is the practical guide we send every family, gathered into one place.

Before you book flights

Arrival day is the Sunday before the programme begins; departure is the final Sunday. We include a coach transfer from Heathrow on both days, so wherever possible, book flights in and out of London Heathrow. It makes the first and last hours of the trip calm rather than chaotic, and means your child is met by our staff rather than navigating the Underground with luggage on day one.

Aim to arrive during daytime hours. A student landing mid-afternoon, settling into their room before dinner, and meeting their cohort at the welcome evening has a far gentler start than one arriving exhausted at midnight.

Visas — start early

Most international students travel to the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa. The single most important thing to know is this: apply early, because processing times vary by country and the summer is busy.

On enrolment, we issue a formal invitation letter confirming the student's place, which supports the visa application. Please note the visa fee itself is not included in tuition. If you are unsure whether your child needs a visa, check the official UK government guidance for your nationality before booking anything else.

What to pack

London in summer is mild and unpredictable; in winter it is cold and dark by mid-afternoon. Pack accordingly.

Always:

• Smart-casual clothing for daily sessions, plus one smarter outfit for the graduation dinner.
• Comfortable, broken-in shoes — excursion days involve a lot of walking.
• A reusable water bottle and a small daypack.
• Any medication, clearly labelled and declared on the medical form.
• A universal travel adapter (the UK uses three-pin plugs).
• A light raincoat or umbrella. Yes, even in July.

Summer additions: sun cream, sunglasses, a couple of warmer layers for cool evenings.

Winter additions: a proper warm coat, gloves, hat and scarf, and warm layers — the campuses are beautiful in December but genuinely cold.

Please leave at home: large amounts of cash, irreplaceable valuables, and anything your child would be heartbroken to lose in a shared residence.

What we provide

So you do not over-pack: accommodation with bedding, all meals, all academic materials and lab consumables, and a detailed pre-arrival pack with joining instructions, the daily schedule and emergency contacts. Students do not need to bring textbooks, lab equipment or formal stationery — we supply it all.

The day before

Check the passport is valid well beyond the trip. Confirm travel insurance is in place — it is required, and students cannot board without it. Save our duty phone number to your phone. Then take a breath: your child is about to have one of the better weeks of their year, and we have done this many, many times before.