What to bring
- informal clothes (students dress informally on campus in the UK)
- formal clothes for special events
- national dress for international student evenings and for the Mayor of Bath's reception for international students
- immunisation records and any medical certificates
- passport photos - you'll need them when you first arrive
- photocopies of important documents e.g. your passport, offer letter
- traveller's cheques for the first few weeks.
Coming to the UK
You will be able to buy lots of essentials when you get to Bath - books, cheap kitchen equipment, warm clothes ... so don't worry if you can't squeeze everything into your suitcase!
Travel insurance
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance for your journey to the UK and for about a week after arrival, to cover any loss or damage to personal property as well as any medical costs.
Customs
Be careful to check what you can and cannot bring to the UK. Even items such as milk and meat products are prohibited.
Coming from outside the EU?
If your usual residence is outside the EU and you are coming to Bath as a student you can import the following items for your own use:
- clothing and household linen
- articles for use in your studies
- things for furnishing your room.
You do not need to pay duty and tax on these items nor declare them to Customs if they are for your use, they are brought into the UK with you and you do not sell them.
Sending luggage ahead
Check the baggage allowance of the airline and insure your belongings against loss or damage. We cannot accept any responsibility for items sent ahead that are lost or damaged.
If forwarding luggage please try to ensure it arrives after you are actually due to arrive in Bath and collect it promptly. We do not have sufficient space to deal with long-term storage of luggage.
All luggage should be clearly marked with your name and course and room/residence details (if known).
If you will be living on campus address your luggage to:
The Accommodation Mail RoomWestwood
University of Bath
Bath
BA2 7AY
UK
If you will be living off-campus address your luggage to:
City Accommodation CentreJohn Wood Complex
University of Bath
Avon Street
Bath
BA1 1AG
UK
Money
Don’t bring lots of cash to the UK. We do not have any facilities to look after cash for you. Travellers’ cheques are safer than cash because they are insured against loss and theft.
- bring enough travellers’ cheques to meet your needs for the first week including travel. £500 should be adequate
- any bank or post office will cash travellers’ cheques
- before you leave home talk to your local bank about taking money with you (some countries restrict how much currency you can carry) and about how money can be transferred to your UK bank account.
Find out how long transfers will take and how much they will cost. If your bank at home asks for proof of you coming to study in the UK and living costs, contact the International Student Advice Team.
Voltage
UK voltage is 240 volts. You can buy adapters here.
Receipts
It’s a good idea to bring receipts for any electrical equipment that you bring with you – such as a laptop – showing when and where you bought it.
Import duty
If you think you’ve been wrongly charged for importing goods contact HM Revenue and Customs or the International Student Advice Team.
If personal effects are sent by post complete a Customs form (C3). You can get this from the shipping agent.
Make it clear on the form that the goods are for personal use only and that you are a full-time student in the UK.
