Our New to the UK programme will include 5 informational talks delivered by subject matter experts. They'll also be plenty of time for students to ask questions after each talk. 

Welcome and visa talk

Come and meet the International Advice Team and learn about the support that they offer to students.

You'll also be able to understand how to

• Register with a Doctor (GP)
• Access wellbeing services at the University

We also provide you with important information about your visa, including

• How to collect your BRP?
• How to activate your new eVisa?
• How to complete your in-person course enrolment?
• What your responsibilities as a Student visa holder are?
• What your post-study visa options are?

Money and Working in the UK talk

Come and learn about how to make the most of your money while studying in the UK including

• Opening a UK bank account
• Getting a national insurance number
• Not paying tax in the UK
• Your working rights as an international student
• Keeping your money safe
• Student discounts and travel offers
• Support if you have money problems

Intercultural communication talk

Royal Holloway is a multi-cultural environment that has students and staff from over 130 countries across the world. In this session we think about how you can successfully communicate with people from a different culture, how to navigate University services and process and the expectations of the ways you communicate at Royal Holloway.

Careers and Volunteering talk

Our Careers Team will give a presentation detailing the support they can offer on 

• Where to look for part-time work 
• Improving your employability skills 
• Advice on your CV and interview technique 
• Support with your post-study career opportunities 

Our award winning Volunteering team will also present on 

• Opportunities to get involved in local, national and international volunteering programmes
• The benefit to your employability and study skills of volunteering 

Introduction to UK academic culture and skills talk

The Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS) aims to enable all students at Royal Holloway to achieve their full academic potential. This presentation will help new international students to understand

• What a typical day/week/term is like for a student at Royal Holloway 
• How you'll be taught and assessed 
• How you'll receive marks and feedback 
• The kind of skills you'll be able to develop 
• Where to go for academic support during your time at Royal Holloway

Welcome dinner 

Join other new students and enjoy a welcome dinner against the backdrop of the beautiful and iconic Founders Building.

Bingo night

Bingo is a fun and easy to play game. We usually host this session in our Crosslands restaurant in the heart of the Egham campus where students go to hang out and socialise. A great chance to meet new and current students from all over the world and the UK.

Quiz night

Our Halls Life team run a variety of fun activities throughout the year and they start off with a quiz night. The questions are fun and cover a range of topics. Come and join a team and see if you can win the quiz.

Campus Treasure Hunt

Working as part of a team, you’ll need to solve a variety of clues while walking around our beautiful Egham campus. This is a great way to get to know people, find your way around campus and learn about many of the services the University offers. Will your team be the first to solve all the clues and win the prize?

Egham Hotspots tour

Join us on a guided walk into Egham where we’ll show you where the supermarkets, banks and other important shops and services are located.

Early enrolment

We offer an early in-person enrolment session for students on the New to the UK programme. Beat the queues and get your campus card (Student ID) before everyone else!

Open a bank account on campus

We'll be inviting several high street banks onto our Egham campus, saving you the trouble of travelling to them. They'll be on hand to answer any questions you have about the banking system in the UK and of course they can help you set-up a UK bank account.

Events at our London Graduate School 

If you're studying at our campus in central London then you are very welcome to join any of the events above which will all take place on our Egham campus. 

However, we will also organise a welcome event for you in central London. The date is to be decided and we will confirm details as soon as possible. 

We really hope that you can arrive on 18 September 2024 in order to make full use of the opportunities that the New to the UK programme has to offer. However, we also understand that  international students can be subject to delays in arriving on campus through no fault of their own. 

To ensure that late arrival doesn't impact your transition into life in the UK and study at Royal Holloway, our International Advice team will be 

• Recording our talks and informational sessions and making them available to all students 
• Available in-person at our Egham campus. No need to make an appointment, just drop-in whenever you need us. No question is too big or too small!
• Proactively contacting students who miss the University's welcome events to make sure they feel supported on arrival in the UK and that we can answer any questions you might have