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Information for New International Students

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How do I enrol as an international student?

Before you can enrol on your course at Cardiff Met, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Prove your immigration status & confirm you are in the UK

If you have applied for a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will have an eVisa which is an online record of your immigration status and the conditions of your permission to enter or stay in the UK.

You will need to provide the University with a copy of your share code so that your eVisa can be checked. To view your eVisa and retrieve your share code, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status.

Once you have obtained a share code, you will need to upload this along with a copy of your flight boarding pass to CAS Shield.

2. Complete the online enrolment process

You will need to check your email (including your junk / spam folder) for an email from enrolment@cardiffmet.ac.uk. You will then need to click on the link in the email and enter the username and password provided.

To complete the online enrolment process, you must use a computer not a phone. It is important that you complete all the enrolment screens. All fields marked with a red star must be completed and you should ensure you enter your permanent UK address (not temporary accommodation i.e. a hotel and UK mobile number.

You will complete your enrolment and receive your student ID card at the International Student Welcome event.

All students should make every effort to arrive at the University in time to attend the International Student Welcome Event. This will usually take place on the Saturday before your course start date (this date can be found on your offer letter and CAS). However, confirmation of the date and time of this important event will be sent to you via email. On this day, you will be able to complete your enrolment, collect your student ID card, gain practical advice about living in Cardiff, access your timetable and meet lots of other new students. Your first week at University is one of the most important weeks because this is when you will find out what is expected of you as a student and what you can expect from the University. You will meet the academic team for your course, your fellow course-mates, undertake some preparatory work for your course and engage with the University services that you will need throughout your studies with us.

If there are circumstances beyond your control which mean you are unable to arrive on time, you must email immigrationregs@cardiffmet.ac.uk to explain the reasons for your late arrival along with the date you are intending to travel. The team will contact your Academic School to enquire if they would permit you to enrol late and provide you with further advice. Please note, there are no guarantees that late enrolment will be approved.

It is essential that you carefully consider your accommodation options and fully understand the costs associated with living in the UK. We strongly recommend that you begin researching accommodation in Cardiff before you travel.

For more information on finding accommodation in Cardiff and avoiding any scams, please visit: Accommodation for International Students at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Although Cardiff Metropolitan University offers halls of residence, many international students choose to live off-campus in privately rented accommodation, and some opt to stay with friends or relatives to save on costs. Wherever you choose to live, it is important that your accommodation is within a reasonable commuting distance of your campus. The University recommends that you live within a maximum of a one-hour commute of Cardiff.

Please note that the location of your accommodation will not be accepted as a valid reason for missing classes, nor is it grounds to request online study. Attendance at all face-to-face classes is mandatory and a requirement of your student visa. You will be studying a full-time course, which may involve classes scheduled every day from Monday to Friday. Your timetable cannot be adjusted to accommodate personal circumstances, including your travel distance.

Living too far from Cardiff could cause several problems:

  • Expense: Long-distance public transport in the UK can be costly.
  • Time: Roads and railways are often congested during peak hours, leading to longer travel times.
  • Impact on studies: Long commutes increase the risk of lateness or absence and can lead to fatigue, affecting your ability to concentrate and engage fully in your studies.

As required by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the university will closely monitor your attendance and engagement. Failure to attend classes regularly due to accommodation choices is not acceptable and may result in your withdrawal from the course and cancellation of your student visa.

Other useful links:

For more information about paying your fees, follow this link.

It is important that you plan to pay your tuition fees on time. Failure to pay on time or to clear your balance by the deadline could result in sanctions and potential withdrawal from your course. This will also affect your visa.

We know that part-time work is important to many international students in supporting their studies and career aspirations. There are a wide range of part-time job opportunities for international students in Cardiff. Once you have enrolled, Cardiff Met has a dedicated Careers Service that will be able to provide you with support as you seek part-time work.

However, it is important that you do not rely on the availability of part-time work to fund your life in Cardiff. You should ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay for your studies and your life in the UK before you arrive.

Further information about working during your studies can be found here.

Yes, all students should bring a laptop with them to enable full engagement with their studies.

There is a Cardiff Met helpdesk for students who have queries or issues with their IT equipment during their studies. They are always happy to help.

You can find more information and advice on IT and libraries support and equipment in our new student FAQS – please note that some of these links may not be available until after you have enrolled.

If you are not registered with a doctor in the UK, but you need medicine, you can purchase medication from a pharmacy such as Boots. You can only register with a doctor (GP) once you have a UK address. When you have moved into your accommodation, you must register with a doctor’s surgery located near to your new home as soon as possible, do not wait to become unwell first. You can find more information in our new student FAQs.

If you believe that you need medical help, you can call NHS Wales by dialling 111 on your mobile phone. You will be connected to a medical professional who can help and provide advice.

If there is an emergency situation, please call 999. You should only call this number if your life, or the life of someone else is in immediate danger.

It can take a number of weeks for students to open a bank account once they arrive in the UK. Therefore, it is vital that you have means to make essential purchases when you first arrive. Although you will need some cash available, for security reasons, we recommend that you do not carry large amounts of cash.

We strongly recommend that you contact your bank before you arrive to open an account that will provide you with a credit or debit card that you can use abroad. Although this may not be a good solution for you long term, it will be very useful for you to use for a few weeks when you first arrive in the UK. You will find that many places in the UK, including Cardiff Met campuses, are cashless, so you must have a credit or debit card available to make purchases.

No. Your course is not an online course. Attendance at all face-to-face sessions is compulsory and an essential requirement of both your course and immigration obligations as a student visa holder.

There’s lots of information about getting around Cardiff on our new student hub.

You can also read more about our Llandaff and Cyncoed campus locations.