Essential tasks when you arrive

Don’t forget to complete registration before your official start date.

Registering is the formal step to becoming an official student at the University. It enables you to:

• secure your place on your course
• confirm your personal details
• finalise your tuition fee payment method

Complete your registration.

Your school will contact you with details about your school induction.

If you have any concerns or questions about your school induction, contact the Student Information Service or contact your school.

Find your school on the campus map.

After your identity documentation is checked, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your student card.

Please note that during peak periods it can take up to 10 working days for your documents to be checked.

If you’ve booked university accommodation, check your accommodation contract. It’s important you arrive on or after the start date shown in your contract.

For more information, visit our Arriving at your accommodation page.

When you arrive in Leeds, registering with a local doctor’s surgery and a dentist should be one of your first priorities.

A General Practitioner (GP) is the first point of contact for most medical care in the UK. To see a GP, you must be registered as a patient at a doctor’s surgery.

If you need dental care while you’re at university, you can register with a local dentist in Leeds. 

Visit our Register with a doctor and a dentist page for more information.

If you’re an international student, you can also check the ‘Healthcare and Wellbeing’ recording and slides for more information about the UK healthcare systems, what healthcare you’re entitled to based on your visa, how to register with a doctor and more.

You can also visit our Where to get healthcare page for more about the National Health Service (NHS) and what to do if you’re ill or need medical treatment. 

Fresh Start festival runs on campus from Monday 26 January and Sunday 1 February.

It’s a week filled with a variety of events and activities designed to welcome all new students to the University of Leeds. 

Find out more about Fresh Start festival and upcoming activities and events:

• Fresh Start festival
• Leeds and You events
• University of Leeds Welcome Instagram

Everything you need, in one app!

You’ll need the UniLeeds app to log your attendance for all your teaching sessions. You must check in to every teaching session so that your attendance is recorded. Read how to check in to a teaching session.

Through the app, you can also access your timetable, university email and Minerva, as well as manage sports bookings and explore places to eat on campus. ​​​​​​

Apple iOS: Go to the App Store to download the iOS UniLeeds app

Android: Go to the Google Playstore to download the UniLeeds Android app

Minerva is the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), giving you easy access to online module materials and a range of digital tools.

To log in, visit Minerva and sign in with your username@leeds.ac.uk and password.

Use the Student Guides for help with Minerva, or browse the A to Z of Minerva Guides for more detailed support.

Your teaching timetable is your guide for the year. Since details can occasionally change, we recommend checking it often to stay up-to-date.

Here’s how you can access it anytime:

• Log in to Minerva using a laptop, computer, or your phone’s browser.
• Download the UniLeeds app to have your timetable right in your pocket.

If you are on a Student visa, you may need to be in the UK to complete an additional step for your identity check.    

Why it’s important:

• Your student registration is not complete until you have done the identity check. 
• You will be able to get your student card, which gives to access to services on campus such as libraries, computer suites and sport facilities (if you’re a member).

Complete your identity check.

Our International orientation programme has been designed to help you have the best possible start in Leeds.

• Join webinars, talks, workshops, tours and social events to help you feel at home and meet new people.
• Attend a ‘Welcome to Leeds talk’ – your official welcome to Leeds as an international student.
• Book onto a campus and city chase tour to help you explore campus.
• Take part in Fresh Start festival (26 January to 1 February) for exciting events on campus and in Leeds University Union.
• Watch pre-recorded webinars and download slides for useful tips, guidance, and support throughout your time at Leeds.

If you’re moving to Leeds from outside the UK, it's important to have access to your money as soon as you arrive.

Some students keep using their bank while living in the UK. Others might need to open a UK bank account to access money.

You don’t have to open a UK bank account unless you need to.

What to consider:

• Opening a bank account with a traditional bank can take several weeks.
• Consider opening an account with a digital bank while you wait for your account to be set up, so you can still access money.
• If you’re in Leeds for a semester, it might be easier for you to set up an account with a digital bank.

Visit our Opening a UK bank account page, or sign up for an ‘Orientation essentials’ talk as part of International orientation for information on banking, safety and more.

You could also watch a pre-recorded ‘Money and Banking’ webinar for more information on banking and budgeting.