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. 

Students walking with suitcases, guided by the Welcome Team.

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.

During the winter holiday break, our airport pick-up service will be unavailable from Friday 20 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025. 

If you plan to arrive during this time, you will need to make your own travel arrangements to Leeds.   

Check when and how you can book your transport depending on when you’ll arrive in Leeds.

Postgraduate Researchers

New Postgraduate Researchers can book our airport pick-up service up until and including Thursday 19 December 2024. After the holiday break, our airport pick-up service will resume from Monday 6 January 2025.

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 Autumn

If your school has given you permission to arrive late, please visit our delayed arrivals page for support and information about booking the airport pick up service which runs until 27 October 2024.

Students arriving in January 

If you’re a student starting a course in January 2025, you can book your airport pick-up service from Wednesday 22 January until Sunday 2 February 2025. 

Please contact the relevant team responsible for your programme to book your airport transfer.  

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. These contact details can be used 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 some tasty treats and a UK SIM card. Find out more information about UK phone plans options.

New Postgraduate Researchers

Please email internationalwelcome@leeds.ac.uk to request your welcome food box. 

Students arriving in January

Welcome food boxes will be available from Friday 17 January to Sunday 2 February, whether you need an airport pick-up or not.

Please contact the relevant team responsible for your programme to request a welcome food box: 

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.

International Orientation Support and Resources

Make sure you access our orientation support before and after you arrive by visiting our orientation resources webpages.

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. 

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