All students traveling to England must adhere to government travel advice in travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Before arriving in the UK, all students should:

• check the very latest information on entering the UK
• inform their provider when they intend to arrive on campus so that they can be appropriately supported
• understand their vaccination status

Different restrictions apply to students arriving from overseas depending on where they are coming from.

The University has an extensive network of specialist support available and we invite you to make use of any service you feel is relevant to your needs. For information click here.

If you have any money concerns or are experiencing financial hardship please speak to our Student Support Advisers for support and advice. You can contact our Advisers by email: studentsupport@canterbury.ac.uk. Virtual Drop-ins are held from Monday- Friday, between 12 noon and 1pm (via Blackboard). 

Support for self-isolaton

If you need to self-isolate, please inform the University as soon as possible by completing this form 
so that we can support you. 

Immigration

In addition to immigration advice available at the University, students have access to UKCISA’s confidential helpline, (+4420 7788 9214) which is open Monday to Friday (except for public holidays), 1.00pm to 4.00pm (UK time) – all advice given is in the strictest confidence; no information is ever shared.

Stay connected

Christ Church International Society
Why not consider getting involved in our International Society? This is a new, student-led group looking for members to help devise a fun and interactive programme. If you would like to host an event, or contribute to the International Society in another way, please contact us by emailing international@canterbury.ac.uk

Virtual intercultural exchanges
HOST UK Virtual Visits promote international friendships by offering digital cultural exchanges. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people in the local community and learn more about traditional British culture.

Request a student peer mentor
Whatever your circumstances, we can link you with a fellow student who has been in your shoes and can offer you support from their shared experience. Our peer mentors can be first, second or third years as well as postgraduate students who are trained to provide a safe and confidential space for new students to talk freely and ask questions providing reassurance and guidance to help you to settle in.

Anybody aged 18 or over in the UK is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination for free, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.

Nobody in England has to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge and does not count as the kind of care that requires payment.

International students or anyone seeing requests for payment should report this activity to their university institution and to Action Fraud. More information on COVID-19 vaccine scams is on the Action Fraud website here.

While registration with a GP is encouraged to access the vaccine, you can request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.

You should approach your local GP practice, saying you would like to register for the purposes of receiving the vaccine.

Anyone in England is eligible for the vaccine if they fall within the current eligibility criteria set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and should come forward once it is their turn.

You are encouraged to register with a GP and get an NHS number. An NHS number can be found on any letter the NHS has sent you, on a prescription, or by logging in to a GP practice online service. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.

It is possible to request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient by approaching a local GP practice.

While registration with a GP is encouraged, you can also request to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments as an unregistered patient through a local GP practice.

Students who are not registered with a GP will not be proactively contacted by a local NHS service, hence you are encouraged to register with a GP.

However, you can still book your vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service with your NHS number if you have previously received NHS treatment. You can also find an NHS number using this tool.

If you have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine overseas that is also available in the UK, you should receive the same vaccine for your second dose. If the vaccine you received for your first dose is not available in the UK, you should be offered the most similar alternative as per the advice here (see sections on vaccine interchangeability guidance). You should check with a GP that you receive an appropriate vaccine for your second dose.

To travel into the UK

You will be considered fully vaccinated for the purposes of international travel if you can demonstrate that you have had a complete course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England.

Please check if you have had an approved vaccine, if you are fully vaccinated and what proof you will need here.

To be exempt from self-isolation as a close contact

Anyone who is identified as a close contact of a positive case by NHS Test & Trace should self-isolate

They do not have to self-isolate if they are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months or not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons. When contacting anyone, NHS Test & Trace will check whether they are legally required to self-isolate.

If you are recognised as ‘fully vaccinated’ under the UK’s travel policy, you will also be treated as ‘fully vaccinated’ for the purposes of self-isolation exemption. This means that you will be exempt from self-isolation if you are identified by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, but please ensure you have proof of full vaccination in case this information is required by NHS Test and Trace. 

Please visit nhs.uk/covid-vaccination for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, and www.gov.uk for information on COVID restrictions.