Study Abroad and Exchange arrivals

As you intend to study in the UK for a full year, you will require a Student visa.  

To apply for a Student visa, you will need to request a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) with our CAS team.

Request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

A CAS letter will be issued subject to you meeting the relevant UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Student visa requirements as well as York St John University's internal requirements.

When you have your CAS you can apply for your Student visa. Visit the UK Government website for guidance on how to apply for a Student visa.

Once you have an outcome on your visa application, you must do the following:

Before you travel to the UK

1. Open your UKVI account as soon as you get issued with your eVisa.
2. Obtain your eVisa share code after you have opened your UKVI account.
3. Upload the following documents onto your Enroly CAS Shield account:
   • Your passport ID page
   • Your eVisa share code
   • Your UKVI decision letter/email
   • Your entry clearance vignette (if you were issued with one)

Airport documents

Make sure you have the following ready to present at the UK border:

• A valid passport or travel document for the duration of your stay
• Your offer letter from York St John University
• Proof of funding
• Accommodation details
• Proof of intention to leave the UK at the end of your visit (for example, return or onward travel confirmation)

This is not a conclusive list. UKVI may request additional information.

Please check if you need to apply for a UK visa before you travel to the UK.

Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a Standard visitor visa or get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

When you get issued your Standard visitor visa or ETA you must do the following:

Before you travel to the UK

Email the following documents to the Visa and Compliance team at visa@yorksj.ac.uk. Please make sure to state your full name and student ID number in the subject heading of your email:  

• UKVI decision letter or email (for visa nationals)
• Your 6 months visa vignette (for visa nationals)
• Confirmation of your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for non-visa nationals (if you have been issued with one)

Airport documents

Make sure you have the following ready to present at the UK border:

• A valid passport or travel document for the duration of your stay
• Your offer letter from York St John University
• Proof of funding
• Accommodation details
• Proof of intention to leave the UK at the end of your visit (for example, return or onward travel confirmation)

This is not a conclusive list. UKVI may request additional information.

Use the dates below to help you plan your travel in the UK:

• Yearlong: Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 September 2025 to Saturday 13 June 2026
• Term 1: Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 September 2025 to Saturday 20 December 2025
• Semester 1: Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 September 2025 to Saturday 31 January 2026
• Semester 2: Wednesday 4 February 2026 to Saturday 13 June 2026

Payment dates

• Semester 1 students: Full payment is due in October
• Semester 2 students: Full payment is due in April

Making payments

Once you arrive, payments can be made through e:Vision (this will be accessible once you are enrolled). Go to the homepage, then select Quick Links, 'Manage your balance and bank details' and then 'Statement of Financial Position.' You will then be taken to the payment page.

You can also make payments through the online payment system.

If you don't have a UK bank account, you can make an online payment using another method. More information on making payments is on our How to pay page.

If you do not wish to pay online, you can visit the Finance office to pay by card or by cash (but only up to £250 cash per student per day). The Finance office is located on the first floor of Ripon Wing and is open Monday to Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm.

You are not allowed to end your accommodation contract early unless there is an exceptional and unforeseen circumstance, such as bereavement.

If you intend to leave your accommodation early, you must pay for the full duration of your contract and hand in your keys prior to your departure.

Please refer to our academic term dates.

Find out what you can and cannot bring into the UK by watching this UK Customs film. 

Try to pack only what you will definitely need.

Check your airline's baggage and weight allowance in advance.

Pack a few adapters for your electronic devices. In the UK, the main voltage is 240v and the frequency is 50Hz.

Label all your checked-in bags with the University address, so they can be forwarded if they get lost or delayed:

Your name 
York St John University (Porter's Lodge)
Lord Mayor's Walk 
York 
YO31 7EX 
United Kingdom

If you take regular medication, we advise you bring as much as you are allowed into the country, as it may be difficult to get new medicine immediately. We also recommend that you bring copies of your medical records to assist you when registering with a health practice in the UK. Please read through the guidance on bringing medication into the UK on the government website. 

You do not need to bring spices or ingredients from your home country into the UK. We have lots of international food stores in York.

Remember that the UK climate may be colder than you are expecting so bring a coat with you.

Always carry valuable items and documents in your carry-on bag. 

Remember your passport and tickets, as well as medical records (if necessary). We recommend taking pictures on your phone and printing off copies, in case you misplace the originals. Keep a copy for yourself and give one to whoever you are travelling with.

Keep evidence of your acceptance to York St John University with you. This could be your unconditional offer letter, or similar acceptance letter.

Make sure you have some British Pound Sterling that you can use when you arrive. Try to get your money broken down as small as possible (£5 notes, £1 coins, and a few 50p, 20p and 10p coins).

Have a few spare passport-sized photographs with you, as you may need these for different registration forms after you arrive. 

Pack your toothbrush and 1 change of clothes in your hand luggage, just in case your checked-in bags get delayed or lost. Remember to check with the airline you're flying with what you can and cannot take in your hand and checked-in luggage.

You can buy your train ticket in person from the train station. You can buy it at the information desk or at a ticket machine.

You can also buy a train ticket in advance online at nationalrail.co.uk or thetrainline.com. You can then collect it from the ticket machine when you arrive at the train station. You must have the same credit card you paid with to pick up your ticket.

Trains run frequently throughout the day and night. Depending on what time you are travelling you may be able to buy an off-peak ticket, which is cheaper. We do not recommend buying a ticket that is only valid for a specific train time, as if you miss that train your ticket will not be valid.

Keep your ticket with you on the train as you will be asked to show it to the ticket inspector.

Please consider how much luggage you bring with you to make your train journey easier.

When you arrive at York train station, go to the taxi rank located directly outside the station.

Travel to private accommodation

If you are in private accommodation, you can go there directly from the train station.

Travel to University accommodation

If you are in University accommodation you need to come to campus to get your keys. The journey from York station to York St John will take 5 to 10 minutes and will cost about £10. Please give the taxi driver this address: York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, Y031 7EX.

When you arrive, you can ask the taxi to wait for you and leave your luggage with them. Your luggage should be absolutely fine but if you leave it with them, you do so at your own risk.

Head to the Student Hub Desk in Holgate to collect your keys from the Accommodation team. If you arrive outside working hours, please go to security to collect your keys. If you need to call security, they can be contacted on 00 44 (1)904 876 444 or 00 44 (0)7885 201 182.

You can then return to the taxi and ask them to drop you off at your accommodation. This will probably cost up to another £10 plus waiting time.

Some taxi drivers in York only accept cash as payment, so make sure you have enough money with you. Please make sure you have small notes as they may not be able to accept anything over a £20 note.

Before you can begin, you need to get your enrolment email.

Your enrolment email will contain your Student ID number and enrolment key.

Our Enrolment team will begin sending enrolment invitation emails from the first week in August. If you are a pre-sessional student, this will come after you have successfully completed the pre-sessional course.

If you have not received your enrolment email by the first week of September, please get in touch with the study abroad team at studyabroad@yorksj.ac.uk. 

Create your IT account at the link below.

Create your IT account

You will need your enrolment key and a digital photograph. A photograph is required for ID purposes and will be used for your Student ID card, if you are eligible for one.

Please refer to our ID card guide for information on submitting your photograph and collecting your card.

Student ID cards and images

For further information about our IT processes, visit our information page: IT resources quick guide.

As part of this process, you will be asked to confirm your personal details and provide information about how you will be funding your course.

Log into the enrolment portal

Please note, you will not be able to log in until you have received your enrolment email.

Please note: You do not need to wait until you arrive in the UK to complete the online enrolment task. This part of the process should be completed as soon as you receive the email from the enrolment team.

You will complete your registration in person at the York campus, as appropriate. You will be emailed full details for how to register.

You will be able to collect your ID card after your documents have been checked by the Visa and Compliance team and you have completed your registration.

The course will help you prepare for studying at university. From navigating new technology to effectively managing your time, we will cover all the key skills so you can start your course with confidence.

The course is available to everyone through Moodle, the Virtual Learning Environment you will be using during your degree, and to access it you will need a University login. To get your University login you need to go through the  enrolment process.

This course covers:

• Digital Skills to Succeed: introducing you to key IT systems and tools here at York St John.
• Studying at university: finding out about independent learning at university, and important skills you need to get started.
• Your Health and Wellbeing: learning about the support available for your health and wellbeing.

It's easy to access the YSJ For You Moodle course. This short video guide will show you how:
Getting into YSJ for You (YouTube).

You can also use the link below and follow these steps:

• Log in to Moodle, our virtual learning environment, using your York St John University username and password.
• Click on the 'enrol' button to permanently enrol yourself on the course.
• You will then be able to view the course content.

Access the YSJ for You course