PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION��JANUARY 2026 ARRIVALS

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• Items to prepare before flying to London and information on what to pack
• How to travel to the campus
• Important checklist items to complete when arriving at Middlesex
• Your accommodation
• International Orientation and Welcome Week
• Resources to help you settle in

THIS PRESENTATION WILL COVER…

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Take out travel insurance and contents insurance before you arrive

WHAT TO PACK

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

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ARRIVING IN THE UK

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ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT – BORDER CONTROL

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• When you arrive at an airport in the UK you will first pass through Border control. There will be two queues: one for European Economic Area and Swiss nationals, and one for everyone else. Queue accordingly.
• A border force officer will look at your passport and check your visa/entry clearance, or assess you for a short-term student visa if you are a non-visa national applying at the border. They must be satisfied that you speak English at the required level, without needing an interpreter for Student visa immigration permission.
• Once the Border Force Officer is satisfied, they will put a date stamp on your passport (if you have a Visa or Entry Clearance) or they will stamp your passport with ‘Student Visitor’ (if you are a non-visa national coming for a course of less than six months and do not need Entry Clearance).

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Do not use the eGates - you will need to ensure you get a stamp which makes clear that you are a short-term student.

Important documents to carry in your hand luggage (in paper and electronic form)

• Middlesex offer letter - Accommodation offer
• Confirmation of Acceptance letter - Finance information

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ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT – CUSTOMS

• Once you have collected your baggage, you must pass through Customs Control. At Customs, you must join a queue. The queue you join depends on whether you have anything to declare.

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MIDDLESEX AIRPORT MEET AND GREET

• We are offering an Airport Meet and Greet service at Heathrow Airport on Monday 5 to Friday 9 January (8am-8pm). Complete the form on our website with your flight information so we know which Terminal to meet you at.
• Our friendly student ambassadors will say hello and help you find the best public transport or taxi service for you to travel to the campus.

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OUR LOCATION

Middlesex is situated 10 minutes walk away from Hendon Central tube station on the Edgware Branch of the Northern line.

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OUR ADDRESS

Middlesex University

The Burroughs, London, NW4 4BT, UK

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TRAVELLING TO THE CAMPUS

• Download the Citymapper app to check the best way to travel to the campus. The app will show you public transport and taxi options in live time.

• Uber – download the Uber app to book your taxi. You will need to go to one of the designated Uber pick-up locations at the airport.

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• Payment – cash is not accepted on buses, tube, or trains. Contactless bank cards and mobile payment methods are accepted on all public transport

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YOUR ACCOMMODATION

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ACCOMMODATION

There are many food shops and take-aways nearby the University and all of our halls so will have plenty of options when you get to your accommodation. See stars below.

Get accommodation advice:

Call +44 (0)20 8411 6121

Email accomm@mdx.ac.uk

• At Middlesex you have the choice between 3 student halls of residence.

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• Our student halls are available to move into from the 8^th of January.

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• Our partner UniKitOut has designed a range of packs to give you all the essentials you need in one go, from bedding to crockery. As an MDX student, you'll also receive 10% off and they accept international PayPal payments. Use code MDX10

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• Consider sending your luggage directly to your accommodation with ‘Send My Bag’. Register with student discount companies TOTUM or Student Beans to get your 10% discount.

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• If you arrive at your accommodation outside of office hours the security team will be on-site and you will be able to collect your keys from them.

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YOUR FIRST WEEK AT MIDDLESEX

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UK VISAS AND IMMIGRATION ACCOUNT

Create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

The UK is now digital with eVisas, replacing physical immigration documents. You need to open a UKVI account in order to access you EVISA.

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COLLECT YOUR STUDENT ID

• To obtain your ID Card, you must first have attended an ID check. You must enrol before your ID check can be processed. The check ensures that your name will appear correctly on your ID card and your degree certificate.
• If you are not a national of the UK, we also need to check that you have the right to study in the UK, so please bring your visa or immigration documents with you.
• If you have been issued with a Student Route visa, please access your EVISA before attending ID check or you will have to complete the process twice.
• You will be given a slot for your ID check in your Course Welcome schedule. Here are the documents to bring:

1. Your student number - Which can be found on your offer letter and after logging on to MyUniHub

2. Original Photograph ID - (photocopies are not accepted)

• After the ID check, a photograph will be taken which will appear on your student ID card. Only one photograph is taken. It will then be ready to collect within 48 hours.

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REGISTER WITH A DOCTOR

• You can decide to take out private medical insurance or to use the National Health Service (NHS) which is the UK's state health service.
• If you are from Europe you will receive free medical care from the NHS. If you are from outside Europe you will receive free medical care as long as your course is longer than six months. You may need to pay a one-off surcharge to access NHS services as part of your visa application.
• Registering with a doctor or GP - Do not wait until you are ill to do this!

It is very important that you register with a local doctor while you are at university. 

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OPEN A UK BANK ACCOUNT

Opening a bank account

• We recommend opening a bank account as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK.

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• Having a UK bank account will make it easier for you to manage your finances and receive payments from your job.

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STUDENT DISCOUNT

• Once you have enrolled at Middlesex, don’t forget to take advantage of your student discount privileges! Download the apps below:

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MONEY SAVING TIPS

• Middlesex offers free food twice a week to ensure that you can get a hot meal when coming to campus, we are serving free breakfasts and dinners from the hot food counter in the Quad.
• Watch our videos on how to save money as a student.

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PLACES TO GO UNI SHOPPING UPON ARRIVAL

• We know that packing as an international student can be stressful. We’ve got some fantastic recommendations for shops where you can find everything you need so that you don’t need to bring it all to London:

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Supermarkets

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ASDA, LIDL and ALDI are the most affordable supermarkets in the UK.

TESCO is great place to stock up on food, cleaning supplies, and other essential items. Use your Tesco clubcard to keep costs down.

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Home and furniture

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Visit IKEA for all your kitchen supplies, room decor, and housing essentials.

Order starter packs from UNIKITOUT for all your essential. Get 10% off everything with the discount code MDX10.�

INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION & WELCOME WEEK

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• Our team will help you settle in, and make friends.�They'll guide you through the important information on being a student at Middlesex, including finding out about the different support services and getting familiar with the University.

INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION – ONLINE AND IN PERSON

• Various events will be happening during your first weeks at Middlesex. You will be able to register for as many as you want, including:
• Ice breaker activities (coffee mornings, games nights, afternoon tea parties)
• Q&A with current students
• Tea party
• You will receive an email from the Student Engagement team with more information and you can see the planning and book your place.

During January, our International Student Ambassadors will be available in the quad at the International Welcome desk to help answer any query you might have. You can’t miss them, they will have flags and banners on their desk.

WELCOME WEEK: YOUR COURSE INDUCTION

• Taking place between 12th to 16th of January Inductions are important because you get to:
• Meet your tutors
• Learn more about your course of study
• Receive your course handbook
• Get to know the library and its services
• Make friends with fellow students and have some fun

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• See all details within MDXapp (more details about this later)

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WE’RE HERE TO HELP

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SUPPORT AT MIDDLESEX

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GET READY TO CONNECT WITH THE MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY

• Middlesex Student Union

Middlesex Students’ Union (MDXSU) is led by a team of Student Officers who make sure you’re represented at university.

All students automatically become a member of MDXSU, who provide you with support and extra curricular activities so you have the best possible student experience. At Middlesex we have over 85 societies you can join.

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• MDX app – Middlesex on the move

Stay connected with our free Middlesex mobile apps. Locate buildings and

services on campus, check opening times, stay up-to-date with the latest

campus news and more.

Download MDXapp on Android, iOS or as a Web App.

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