Your DMU Future - information for international students

To be able to study in the UK, you will need a Tier 4 student visa. We encourage you to get in touch with your education agent or the regional team in our friendly International Office for visa support and guidance for your country.

We encourage all international students to make sure you have a credit card available to use (ideally not an American Express card as this is not accepted everywhere) for immediate payments and internet shopping. You will need this if you are required to quarantine (self-isolate).

To make sure you've got everything you need before you depart for the UK, here's our handy 10 step check-list to help ensure you have a smooth journey and settle into life at DMU.

1. Apply for your visa to study
   

   Make the most of your time at DMU and take the worry out of visa issues, take a look at our visa advice page or contact us if you have any questions about applying for a visa.

2. Book your room
   

   We guarantee accommodation to all international students starting with us this September.

   If you’re travelling to England you must either quarantine in the place you’re staying or in a managed quarantine hotel for 10 days because of coronavirus (Covid-19). What you need to do depends on where you travel in the 10 days before you arrive in England.

   You must also get two coronavirus tests after you arrive in England. You’ll need to book these before you travel.

   You cannot currently enter the UK without quarantining, and you will be refused entry to the UK if you’ve been in or through a country on the banned travel list (sometimes known as the ‘red list’) in the last 10 days, unless you’re British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK.

   We recommend reading the Government's latest updates on requirements on entering the UK.

3. Arrange your travel to the UK
   

   We recommend you arrange your travel well in advance as flights may be reduced from some countries. Remember to check the latest rules and guidance for arrival in the UK.

   You can take advantage of our free airport pick-up service that operates from Heathrow Airport on key arrival dates. If you're arriving at a different airport, find out how you can travel to Leicester.

4. Organise your documents
   

   Keep all your key documents safe and easily accessible on arrival into the UK, including your offer letter from DMU, evidence of financial support, your passport and your CAS letter.

5. Get travel insurance
   

   We recommend you arrange travel insurance for yourself, your luggage, personal belongings and valuables. The National Union of Students (NUS) recommends Endsleigh insurance packages for students.

6. Plan your finances
   

   Make sure you know the cost of living and studying in the UK so you can plan accordingly. We suggest using the Student Budget Calculator to get an idea of how much you might spend whilst living and studying in the UK. Once you're on campus, our Student Finance team can provide advice on how to budget and manage your money.

7. Do your online enrolment
   

   Before arriving, we'll email you details to complete your e-induction to prepare you for university life. You'll also get an email to register and complete our two-step online enrolment to DMU. Make sure you have accepted your offer in time if you haven't done so already.

8. Your DMU Welcome
   

   A welcome and information programme will be available to help you settle in when you arrive, with guidance on living and studying at DMU. Keep an eye out for more information about the DMU Welcome programme in coming weeks.

9. Pack your things
   

   UK weather can be changeable, so make sure you pack clothes for both cold and warm weather. Don't worry if you forget something, you can buy most things easily and cheaply in Leicester when you arrive.

10. Arrive on campus!
    

    We are committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for you when you arrive. You can find guidance and updates on Covid-19 at Your DMU Safety.

The UK Government has changed its policy around UK Visas and Immigration for International Students. Due to these changes, DMU is working to support online learning for its international students up to 5 April 2022, the latest date of arrival on your Conditional acceptance of Study (CAS) where possible.

Your blended learning for this academic year will start, as planned on 4 October 2021, however we are still expecting you to arrive on campus as soon as this is possible. However due to the nature of teaching and requirements by our external accrediting partners this may not be the case for all courses.

We plan to open our campus to students from the start of the academic year, and we are looking forward to welcoming you here as soon as you are able to travel.  

Arts, Design and Humanities programmes

While most Faculty of Arts, Design & Humanities programmes students can arrive by 5 April 2022, there are some exceptions where practical elements of your courses cannot be done online and therefore you will need to arrive on campus by 15 October 2021. These courses are:

• Architectural Practice
• Architecture MArch
• Architecture PEDR
• Architecture
• Architectural Technology
• Quantity Surveying and Construction
• Art and Design (Foundation Studies)
• Design Crafts

Business and Law programmes

Our campus will be open to students from the start of the academic year, and we are looking forward to welcoming you here as soon as you are able to travel. Your hybrid learning will start, as planned on 4 October 2021, however you are encouraged to arrive on campus as soon as this is possible.

Computing, Engineering and Media programmes

As a student of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media we are aware of the potential need to use laboratory and workshop facilities for the practical aspects of your various modules. Facilities at Gateway House (Computing), Queens Building (Engineering), and Clephan/Bede Island (Media) are being reconfigured to enable Covid secure access. This is why we are keen to encourage you to attend in person at the earliest available opportunity.

Health and Life Sciences programmes

While many of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences programmes students can arrive by 10 January 2022, there are some exceptions where practical elements of your courses cannot be done online and therefore you will need to arrive on campus by 15 October 2021. These courses are:

Undergraduate:

• Nutrition
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Health Care Science (Audiology)
• Diagnostic Radiotherapy
• Biomedical Science
• Health and Wellbeing in Society
• Medical Science
• Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science
• Forensic Science
• Nursing – All Courses
• Midwifery
• Associate Ambulance Practice
• Paramedicine

Postgraduate:

• Physician Associate Studies

DMU is offering a free pick-up service from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on specific dates in autumn 2021 to coincide with the start of the welcome programme. These dates include:

• Friday 10 September
• Friday 17 September
• Saturday 18 September

Further details and online booking are available at www.dmu.ac.uk/heathrow.

We have also provided guidance and information on how to travel from the airport to DMU, including links to the National Express bus service and to taxi companies.

If you have any questions about travelling to Leicester or need further information or advice, please email us at arrivals@dmu.ac.uk and we'll do our best to advise you.

Fees

• When it comes to paying your fees it’s really important that you have you finances in order and everything planned out. As an International student you are required to pay 50% of your fees in advance of or on the day of registration. If the amount is not paid you will not be able to register and therefore your visa will be curtailed within the required time period. The remaining balance must be paid by a monthly/termly instalment plan that must be agreed with the Income Team within four weeks of registration.

Working in the UK

• The UK government has announced a new immigration route (the Graduate Route) which will enable international students to apply to remain in the UK for two years once they have completed their studies. Any eligible student who graduates from the summer of 2021 onwards should be able to apply for this route. Successful applicants will be able to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for a maximum period of two years.

• Under Student Visa regulations, students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during term time. Working can be a good way to enhance your skills and experience, develop your English and earn extra money – however you should not rely on part-time work to pay for your fees or accommodation costs. Please be aware that impact of Covid-19 may reduce opportunities for part-time work in the UK.

Self-isolation guidance

If you need to self-isolate (quarantine) when you arrive in the UK, we suggest you look carefully at our guidance document for international students. It includes:

• Links to the rules on Covid-19 testing before and after travel
• Links to rules on quarantine
• Buying food in quarantine
• Information on bedding and kitchen equipment
• How we can support you

To complete your registration with us we need you to follow these steps as soon as possible:

1. Complete your online registration form. You will have been emailed to invite you to complete an online registration form. This is where you will give the university the information we need about you to set up your record as a student with us. Information about online registration can be found here.

2. Pay a minimum of 50% of your fees. University fee policy requires international students to pay at least 50% of their fees in order to be able to complete their registration with the university. 

3. Book a video appointment.  The last step to complete your registration is to have a short video appointment with a member of DMU staff. Once you have completed steps 1 and 2 above you will be emailed with more information and invited to book your video appointment.

What you need to do before your appointment

Provide copies of your visa and passport documentation by email to internationalregistration@dmu.ac.uk. What you need to send will depend on your situation:

If you are in the UK at the time of registration we will need a copy of the visa sticker in your passport that has been stamped at the border AND your Biometric Residence Permit Card - both sides (if you have been able to collect it) 

If you are outside the UK and have had your passport back following a visa application we will need a copy the sticker in your passport.

If you are outside the UK and have not yet applied for your visa we will need a copy of your passport - we should have this on file from your application, so you do not need to send this again unless you are asked to do so.

Photographs of your documents are acceptable - but they must be in colour and clear enough for us to be able to read all details on the document.

Any student progressing to DMU from DMUIC do not need to provide further copies of visas unless you have new documentation since your initial registration. 

Please use the online document guidance form to determine the evidence you need to email to; internationalregistration@dmu.ac.uk

What you need to do at your appointment

Be available for the full time of your appointment slot. Appointments will be booked in three-hour slots. We will make a call to you on Microsoft Teams during this slot. if you have done everything required before your appointment then the call itself should not take more than 5-10 minutes. We will get to you as soon as possible, but it is important that you remain available until we have spoken with you.

Have your passport and visa documents ready. We will need to check your identity. We may also ask for copies of any documents by email if we do not have a copy of what we need, so please be prepared to email copies of your documents again if requested.

Confirm the date you expect to arrive in the UK. You must arrive in the UK as soon as possible. We have made an allowance for students to register before arriving where restrictions following Covid-19 have limited their ability to travel on time - but we must know your travel plans and reason for any extended delays and you will need to discuss these during registration.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information. We are taking steps to register students remotely to support students that may be in a period of self-isolation following travel, those that are registering before they are able to travel and to ensure the safety of our staff and students.

It is really important that you work with us to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible during registration by following the instructions included closely.

If you have difficulty completing the tasks above, please contact internationalregistration@dmu.ac.uk.

i-Buddies is a mentoring scheme that matches our newly arrived international students with an existing DMU student. i-Buddies can support you as you transition into life in the UK and will help you start to make friends straight away. The scheme lasts for the first term of the new academic year, but many Buddies become friends and choose to stay in contact after this. Click here to learn more about i-Buddies.
Please note: This video was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

International students from amber listed countries required to enter quarantine on arrival to the UK will be offered free accommodation to cover the isolation period.

UK guidelines currently require those arriving from certain international destinations (designated amber counties) to quarantine for 10 days. 

If this still applies on the date of your arrival, you can get up to three weeks rent-free if you book through the DMU Accommodation service.

The three-week free period would begin immediately prior to the tenancy start date and is available at Bede Hall, Castle Court, Filbert Village, Liberty Park, Newarke Point, New Wharf Hall, The Grange & Rose House and  10 free days are available at The Glassworks.

To qualify for the rent-free period, you will need to book before the end of October 2021 and arrive no later than the end of February 2022 (please note Accommodation through DMU is designed for sole occupancy). Once you have confirmed your booking you must notify us of your arrival date by emailing accommodation@dmu.ac.uk

We hope this will allow you to concentrate on getting started on your course, meeting new friends and making the most of your study experience here. 

The full list of participating halls of residences is found here - but this offer only applies if you book your accommodation place through DMU.

PLEASE NOTE - arrivals from red-listed countries are required to complete their quarantine in a managed hotel and consequently students living in countries designated as red are not eligible for this offer.

Please see the latest guidance and requirements for entry into the UK.

We have put together a guidance document for international students on self-isolating which we encourage you to take a look at. It includes information on the rules of self-isolating, how to buy food under quarantine, how we can support you and more.

If you have booked accommodation through DMU but are prevented from travelling to the UK because of government-imposed lockdowns or travel restrictions (either by the UK government or other relevant national governments), or if you withdraw or decline your place at DMU, then we will cancel your accommodation booking and refund your booking payment. This also applies if you decide to defer your place at DMU until 2022. We would ask you to notify us of any change as soon as possible by emailing accommodation@dmu.ac.uk  (Please note that this only applies to bookings made through the DMU accommodation booking service.)

If there are no travel restrictions in place and you change your mind about your accommodation you will remain liable for all payments under your accommodation contract.

Please note that the arrangements outlined above do not change your right to a 14-day no-question cancellation period, which begins from the point your accommodation booking is confirmed. 

We hope that this gives you the information and the reassurance you need in making your decisions about accommodation at DMU next year. If you have any further questions, please contact the accommodation team: accommodation@dmu.ac.uk

We encourage our international students to live in Leicester within a reasonable distance of the DMU campus so that you are able to easily access facilities.

Students that may have received a Covid-19 vaccination in their home country are encouraged to bring any proof of vaccination documentation with them to the UK. Take a look at our FAQs for international students on the Covid-19 vaccine. You can also read more about the benefits of the vaccine by visiting our ‘Be safe, get the Covid vaccine’ webpage.