At Arts University Plymouth, the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and visitors are of the highest importance.
If you have course-related queries you should contact your Course Leader. If you have any other questions about your first term, including accommodation, key dates, timetables, and language support, please email international@aup.ac.uk.
To view the latest key dates and timetable information for your course, please click the relevant study-level below:
We welcome applications from disabled international students and we encourage you to declare your disability and your support needs as soon as possible. Telling us about your disability will not affect your selection as a student, but will enable us to assess your needs and inform you as to what extent we can meet your requirements.
In order to help put the right support in place for you, the Student Support team may need to discuss your disability-related requirements with other people and organisations. If you do not wish Student Support to disclose your disability-related information, you must inform them of this immediately.
For information on the support available and if you have any specific access requirements, please contact Student Support on +44 (0)1752 203423 or email studentsupport@aup.ac.uk.
If you require a copy of this information in an alternative format, please contact us.
The university does not provide support with daily living tasks, therefore you will need to think carefully about any non-academic, disability-related support requirements you may have, for example, assistance with shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry or personal care. The university may be able to give information about agencies which provide care assistants, but you need to be aware that you will probably have to meet the costs of this type of support yourself, as this is non-academic support and government welfare benefits are not available to international students.
Please note that whilst disabled UK students are eligible for grants and benefits from the UK government towards their disability-related costs, these grants are NOT available to disabled international students*. You are therefore advised that you need to identify sufficient funding for your disability-related support prior to coming to the university.
*EU students who have been resident in the UK for five years, and international students with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, are advised to check the eligibility criteria for UK Disabled Students Allowances (https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/eu-students).
If an EU student has a UK residency or UK settled status, they would be eligible for Disability Support Allowance.
The British Council has further information on support available for international students, please click here.
There is a network of accessible routes around the campus. The majority of buildings, including all key academic and support service providers, are accessible to wheelchair users. If there is any teaching space that is not accessible, flexible timetabling is used to ensure that lectures and classes are held in alternative accessible venues. The reception area and the lecture theatre have induction loops fitted for hearing impaired students, and portable loops are available for use in other areas within the university.
From 5 October 2020 the Student Visa replaced the Tier 4 route. As an international student, you will need a Student visa which you can apply for online.
The Student route, which falls under the UK's new points-based immigration system, improves on the previous Tier 4 route making for a more streamlined experience for both sponsoring institutions and students.
Visas that have been issued through the Tier 4 route are still valid and those eligible will still be able to apply for the Graduate Route when it opens in summer 2021.
The Graduate Route will be available to international students who have completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance and who have a valid Student (or Tier 4) visa at the time of application.
More information about the UK’s new points-based immigration system can be found here. Further guidance for EU, EEA and Swiss students, who from 1 January will need to comply with the new system can be found here.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 31 December should apply to the EU settlement scheme.
EU, EEA and Swiss students resident in the UK by 31 December.
EU, EEA and Swiss students resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 should not apply for a Student visa through the new points-based immigration system. They, and their family members, are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Those residents here by 31 December 2020 have until 30 June 2021 to do so. More information on the EU Settlement Scheme can be found here.
For more information, please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website or you can contact our Admissions team for step-by-step guidance.
Working Whilst Studying
Working part time during your studies or in vacation periods can be a great way to get to know other people and boost your skills as well as earning extra money. However, before you take any employment in the UK, you should always check if you have permission to work in the UK. Studying on a student visa may mean that you’re eligible to work for up to 20 hours a week, however each visa is different and some may have less hours or offer no right to work. You should check your visa for any restrictions.
The following information is relevant for Arts University Plymouth students who hold a Student Visa. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) regularly posts guidance and advice regarding working in the UK, and we recommend that students check out their website.
Does your visa allow you to work in the UK?
You can check if you are permitted to work in the UK by firstly looking at what is written on your Student Visa. If you are studying at degree level and your CAS was issued by Arts University Plymouth, you should find that the visa states that you are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.
If you are studying below degree level (for example if you are studying a foundation programme), you may in some instances find that you are restricted to working a maximum of 10 hours per week during term time.
If your visa states any of the following phrases this means that you are not permitted to work in the UK:
No work
Work prohibited
If your visa does permit you to work in the UK, you must not work more than the number of hours per week you are allowed, as this would be a breach of your immigration conditions and a criminal offence.
If you have doubts about your right to work in the UK, the permitted hours, or if the visa says something unusual or something that you don't understand, you should contact the international office to discuss. It is very important that you check your permission to work and the permitted hours before you do any work in the UK. If you breach the working conditions of your visa, even by accident, both you and your employer could be subject to a substantial fine and prosecution.
Work that is not eligible under a Student Visa
Unfortunately, not all work is eligible under the Student Visa route. This work broadly fits into the following categories:
Self-Employment
Professional Sportsperson
Entertainer
Permanent Full-Time job
UKCISA has written a very helpful blog regarding working during studies, what is defined as 'self-employed' or an entertainer. It clarifies rules regarding being 'on call', private selling, income from digital and 'influencers', ad-hoc work such as couriering, amongst many other forms of income generation.
Definition of a week
UKVI define a week as a period of 7 days starting with a Monday. During this period, you must not work more than the maximum hours per week allowed by your visa. This weekly limit includes paid work and unpaid work.
Definition of term time
Term time means any period of time when you are expected to do any academic work. For example;
Attending classes and lectures
Writing essays, dissertations or a thesis
Preparing for and taking exams
Doing coursework
The Graduate Visa Route
The UK government have launched a “Graduate Visa” that allows students who have completed a degree (Undergraduate or Postgraduate) to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after graduating.
For information on how to apply for the Graduate Visa, please visit the Study UK Website.
Checklist before your arrival:
Money/card for your arrival and living
Passport and visa
Travel insurance or other relevant insurance
Your accommodation address and contact number
Passenger locator form and pre-departure Covid test
Checklist for your arrival:
If you do not know where to go, please go to Arts University Plymouth’s Campus Reception at Tavistock Place, email enquiries@aup.ac.uk or Whatsapp us on 07722 744184
Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arrival. But do not worry if you need to self-isolate, as you can collect your BRP when you finish isolating. Collection address: Plymouth Post Office, 73-85 New George Street, Plymouth PL1 1RP
Do not forget to register with the police if your country is on the list that requires registration, please check their website for the Police National Registration Scheme to see if you need to register.
Please register with a local doctor (GP), visit the GP Plymouth Register for all of the different options available. Remember, you have paid your Health Surcharge, and that the majority of health care is free in the UK. The closest Doctors Surgery to campus is the University Medical Centre.
Open a UK bank account, you can request a letter from our Campus Reception at Tavistock Place or email enquiries@aup.ac.uk
Please visit the Government’s website for guidance on entering England and to see the current status.
The advice below is from London airports. Please contact our International Team on international@aup.ac.uk if you are not sure how to get to Plymouth from any other airports. We are also pleased to offer reimbursement for your travel expenses from any UK airport to Plymouth.
By train:
If you arrive at Heathrow airport, you can catch the Heathrow Express train, which runs every 15 minutes to Paddington Station in London from where you can catch the train to Plymouth. The train journey from London Paddington to Plymouth takes three to four hours.
If you arrive at Gatwick you can catch the train to Reading station, where you'll join the train to Plymouth. These services are approximately hourly.
The train station in Plymouth is very close to campus and the city centre, but it's advisable to take a taxi if you have luggage.
By coach:
There are two coach companies (National Express and Megabus) running from Gatwick and Heathrow airports to Plymouth approximately every two hours. The journey by coach is longer than the train but it's direct and cheaper.
The Plymouth bus station is very close to campus and the city centre, but it's advisable to take a taxi if you have luggage.
How to find us:
For travel information and maps of the university campus please visit our Getting Here page.
We are committed to ensuring that our students have suitable accommodation choices, and all first-year students are guaranteed accommodation within the city. We work with our safe and affordable accommodation provider Host to bring you a wide range of private halls and housing so that you can find a place to live that suits you.
Our recommended accommodation provider Host, have several policies in place to support students, paying particular attention to the issues brought in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including:
- Semester Lets available
- No Place, No Pay
- Restricted Travel Promotion
- Flexible Booking
- No Visa, No Pay
To find out more about HOST's policies please click here.
Most students in their first year choose to live in a Student Hall of Residence. All rooms in halls of residence offer ensuite bathrooms, and have bright and airy communal areas, with cooking, dining and social facilities.
- Rooms are fully furnished
- Share your flat with other Arts University Plymouth students
- 24/7 concierge at selected properties
- Stay for up to 51 weeks of the year
- Within walking distance to the campus
There are various Student Letting agents in the city, many of whom have international liaisons who can offer guidance and support for students adjusting to their new surroundings. Visit our accommodation page to get started.
After the initial excitement of arriving and starting your course in the UK, it's normal to sometimes feel a little homesick or even a bit lonely. This is true for British students too, so remember, if you do feel like this, you are not on your own.
Take a look at the UKCISA Guide to Culture Shock to find out more about adjusting to life in the UK.
If you need someone to talk to, try chatting to your Subject Leader about how you are feeling. You can also visit our Student Support Team on campus and talk to an advisor who will be happy to listen and offer support and suggestions. Book your free appointment at studentsupport@aup.ac.uk.
Our Students’ Union is also a great place to meet new people and get support. Drop in and chat to the team on campus, visit their website at www.artsuniplymsu.co.uk or email them at studentsunion@aup.ac.uk.
Since 6 April 2015, most Tier 4 applicants who are applying for more than six months leave will need to pay the 'immigration health surcharge' as part of their visa application. Paying this charge will mean that you are entitled to receive free health services from the National Health Services (NHS) while you are in the UK.
The UKCISA guide to health and healthcare explains how the National Health Service works in the UK and has further information on if and how much you will need to pay. It also has advice for EU/EEA /Swiss students and students on courses of less than 6 months on how to access health services.
In order to use the NHS, you will need to register with a GP (Doctors who work in the local community). To find your closest GP, visit here.
It's important that you speak to your bank in your home country before leaving to come to the UK. If they have a relationship with a UK bank that may help you to set up an account. It's also a good idea to ask them if you can use your cash card in cash machines in the UK to access money from your home country account.
It can take up to three weeks to open a UK bank account, so make sure you have access to money for this period. Some banks also require a local address to open the account, so depending on which bank you choose, you'll have to pay rent and a deposit to secure your accommodation first.
It can be useful to bring a bank statement, or a University letter addressed to your home country address, to help you open an account in the UK.
Take a look at the International Student Calculator for information on typical costs in the UK and advice on how to manage your money effectively.
If you have any question, the international team is here to help
Phone: +44 01752 203400
Whatsapp: +44 (0)7722 744184
If you are unable to find the information you are looking for on our International pages or the Welcome Site please contact us:
- Email: international@aup.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 01752 203400
- Whatsapp: +44 (0)7722 744184
