Arrival support
When you have booked your travel, make sure you tell us your date and time of arrival and book our arrival services so that we can support you.
We know how tiring travelling can be, especially (but not only) for those of you coming from afar!
We hope you’ll choose to use our arrival support services so that we can help you have a smooth arrival in Leeds.
Airport pick-up service
We offer a free pick-up service from Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport to our University campus for new international students and Postgraduate Researchers arriving in Leeds for the first time. If you’re arriving at any other UK airport, we have useful information to help you arrange your own travel to Leeds.
You must book your airport pick-up at least five days before your arrival.
Before you make a booking, please make sure you have the following information:
- Your accommodation address on arrival
- You have booked your transport to the UK (If you are travelling by plane, you will need your flight number)
- A valid student ID number
- Details on the number of suitcases you’ll bring. Please note that you can bring a maximum of two large suitcases and one small suitcase on our vehicles. Check the what to bring page to find out more about packing for Leeds.
Our international arrivals booking form will ask you to confirm all the above information so make sure you have them ready in advance.
When and how to book your pick-up service
The airport pick-up service is offered at key arrival times. Check when and how you can book your transport depending on when you’ll arrive in Leeds.
During the Spring Break, our airport pick-up service will be unavailable from Wednesday 27 March until Friday 5 April 2024.
If you plan to arrive during the Spring Break, you will need to make your own arrangements to travel to Leeds.
Postgraduate Researchers
New Postgraduate Researchers can book our airport pick-up service up until and including Wednesday 27 March. After the Spring Break, our airport pick-up service will resume from Friday 5 April 2024.
If you’re a new Postgraduate Researcher, please email internationalwelcome@leeds.ac.uk to request your transport at least five days before you plan to arrive. Airport pick-up can be arranged for when your programme starts during the year.
Students arriving in the Summer
Details of our airport pick-up service for students taking part in Leeds International Summer School, and students starting on a pre-sessional language course will be available in May 2024.
After you’ve booked your airport pick-up
We’ll contact you to confirm the details of your transport at least two days before your arrival.
The confirmation will include details of who to contact in case you have any problems on your journey or if you need to change any arrival information relating to your airport pick-up booking, including updating your flight or accommodation details.
Welcome food box
Our welcome food boxes can be booked by all new international students at key arrival times, whether you need an airport pick-up or not.
This little box is designed to help you settle in during your first day in Leeds and includes a UK SIM card. Find out more information about UK phone plans options.
The option to request a welcome food box will resume later in the year for students arriving in Summer 2024.
Essential items
If your accommodation doesn’t provide kitchen equipment, bedding, or other essential items, you can order these to be delivered directly to your accommodation before you arrive via UniKitOut.
Check what’s included with your accommodation and request what you need in advance to set you up for the best possible start.
The Student Information Service
Get in touch with the Student Information Service with any questions about preparing for your time in Leeds.
Our friendly SIS team will be able to answer your questions or put you in touch with the right team on campus that can help you. If you don’t know who to ask, ask the Student Information Service.