Arriving in the United Kingdom
We appreciate the challenges that can arise when living and studying somewhere new, and so we are always happy to help with any concerns you have prior to your arrival. Many students will not have a UK contact telephone number before they leave home, and so we are always happy for students to give the International Office's telephone number to family or friends in case they need to contact you urgently, until you are settled in to your accommodation. This is +44 (0)1326 213794.
General Security
Airport security is generally very thorough and efficient at international airports. However, you should allow plenty of time prior to your departure to pass through all the security checks and Immigration. Generally, airlines operating long-haul flights advise that you should arrive at the airport between three and four hours prior to departure (one to two hours for short to mid-haul) - please check this with your airline. You should also take note of the security advice given by your airline on permitted and non-permitted items in hand luggage. For your own convenience and safety, the College strongly recommends that you avoid lengthy stopovers, i.e. of more than two hours. It may be better to stay overnight at your stopover point.
Immigration
Please ensure that you have your passport (stamped with a visa, or entry clearance certificate, where appropriate), when you pass through Immigration. Check that you are in the correct queue/line at Immigration, or you may have to start queuing all over again. If you are being met by the UCF Meeting Service, and you encounter any problems with the immigration process, let the officer know that you are being met at the airport by staff from the College who can answer any questions about the College - just call any of the telephone numbers that we will send to you prior to your departure.
What do I wear?
The weather in the UK in late September/early October can be cool, especially if your plane lands early in the morning (because of its topography, 6am temperatures at London Heathrow Airport can be as low as 5 degrees C). We recommend that you carry a sweatshirt (or similar item of clothing) in your hand luggage so that it is easy to find if you feel cold when you first encounter the autumn climate.
How much money will I need?
You are advised to bring at least £250 sterling in cash with you when you travel to the UK to cover immediate travel, food and communication needs. This may help in case of any emergency that might arise. Don't forget to keep it in a safe place and avoid showing it around in public. You may to wish to open a bank account here - we would recommend that you bring sufficient money in travellers' cheques to cover your immediate living expenses prior to having an active bank account in Falmouth (keep them separate from your passport). It usually takes between five to seven working days from your first deposit in a bank to obtaining an active bank account, so you should have sufficient funds to cover this period of time.