When you arrive
Before completing these tasks make sure you complete those in Before you arrive. The essential tasks listed below are for you to complete when you arrive at university.
Essential tasks
Exeter Campuses
For more information on arriving at your accommodation and settling in, take a look at our moving in pages and New Arrivals Guide. You will receive arrival instructions, which tell you where to collect your key, when you book your arrivals slot online.
Cornwall Campuses
If you are studying at Penryn Campus and living in University accommodation (The Sidings or Glasney Student Village) you will receive instructions on moving in before your arrival, including where to collect your room key.
Your UniCard is a vital part of your university life. You will need your UniCard to do things like access buildings and take out physical books from the library. Apply for your card here if you’ve yet done so: Exeter Campuses UniCard application portal
Please bring photo ID when collecting your UniCard.
For all Streatham and St Luke’s courses with an official start date of 21st September 2026: special advance access collection arrangements are in place during Welcome Week. You can collect your card at The Sanctuary (Streatham Campus by the Great Hall) during the following times:
| Day | Card collection times |
|---|---|
| Saturday 12th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Sunday 13th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Monday 14th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Tuesday 15th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Wednesday 16th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Thursday 17th September | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Friday 18th September | 11:00 – 14:00 |
From Monday 21st September, UniCards will be available to collect from the Student Information Desk in the Forum (Streatham Campus) or, if your course is based at St Luke’s, from the Student Information Desk at Info@St Luke’s (South Cloisters). See a list of St Luke’s-based programmes on the St Luke’s section here.
If your course officially starts earlier or later than 21st September, you can collect your card directly from the Student Information Desk in the Forum (Streatham Campus), Monday–Friday 09:00–17:00, or from Info@St Luke’s (between 09:00–13:00 or 14:00–17:00).
Online/Distance Learners and CEDAR Students (Clinical Education Development and Research): If you are not based in Exeter or are unable to collect your UniCard on campus, go to SID Online and log a question under 'Uni admin', then select 'UniCard distance learner request' to confirm the address you would like your card to be posted to.
Degree Apprenticeships: You can collect your card in person from SID when you are undertaking campus-based learning. Please follow the standard collection guidance above depending on your start date. If you are not attending in person, go to SID Online and log a question under 'Uni admin', then select 'UniCard distance learner request' to confirm the address you would like your card to be posted to.
If you didn't submit a photo online
Please submit your photo now to the UniCard Portal. Cards can be collected as above 24 hours after you have received the photo approval confirmation email.
Need support?
If you need help applying for or collecting your UniCard, go to SID Online and log a question under 'Uni admin', then select 'UniCard'. The SID Team will check your card status and advise you. If you prefer to phone or speak to SID in person for support, see our opening hours and contact number here.
Penryn Campus
Students arriving at Penryn Campus, Cornwall can collect their ID cards over arrivals weekend and after that time at the Info Point in the Peter Lanyon Building.
Card not ready? This could be because:
You submitted your photo online by the deadline?
If you did and your card isn't available please contact the Penryn Info Point, and the team will check your card status and advise you.
You didn't submit a photo online
Please submit your photo now to the UniCard Portal. Cards can be collected from Penryn Info Point 48 hours after you have received the photo approval confirmation email.
You submitted a photo online after the deadline.
Your card will be printed and can be collected from Penryn Info Point 48 hours after you have received the photo approval confirmation email.
If your place has been confirmed, you will be prompted to activate your IT account in your welcome email: Welcome to the University of Exeter: Important Next Steps.
You need to do this before you can complete online registration. You will be allocated a student username, password and university email address.
We also have a New Students IT Welcome Pack with advice and information on getting started.
Your Academic Induction is an important introduction to your course and subject. This will be held during Welcome Week. It's an opportunity to meet your new classmates, as well as some of the lecturers who run your course.
If you have any questions which aren’t covered in the induction or you have arrived late to campus and have missed induction sessions you can contact your Hub/Info Point. They will inform you about any faculty or department procedures and how to contact your Personal Tutor or Supervisor for your initial meeting.
Exeter accommodation
In Exeter all bedrooms in our residences have access to Glide Student Internet. The Glide Student service offers both wired and wireless connectivity, allowing for the use of devices including desk-tops, notebooks, games consoles, tablets and smart phones running various operating systems.
In addition to the Internet access in the bedrooms, many communal and some external areas are also provided with WiFi coverage.
Glide Student operates a Support Desk that can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by X (formerly Twitter), telephone, email, ‘Live Chat’ (Instant Messaging) or SMS. You can also download the support app 'Glide Broadband Support' via the Apple store or through Google Play.
You’ll find details of how to contact the Glide Support Desk, plus a user guide with instructions on how to connect on the website. Please note: You won’t be able to connect to Glide Wi-Fi until you are in your student accommodation in a Wi-Fi area.
Penryn accommodation
Penryn students in Glasney Village use ResNet; you will have a basic broadband package included in your accommodation fees and will be able to log onto ResNet with your student ID and password.
Students living in the Sidings in Penryn have a slightly different internet offering managed through CRM Students.
SafeZone is a free online app that helps us to help you while you're on campus, if you request it.
Once you download and sign in to SafeZone, you will be able to quickly and easily make contact with the security team whenever you’re on one of our campuses.
Download the app and find out more on the SafeZone webpages.
In Cornwall
On Penryn Campus once you have downloaded and registered on the SafeZone app for free from the Apple or Google store, you will need to select Falmouth and Exeter Plus as the organisation.
Here are the steps:
- Download the app and sign in using your Exeter email address and password.
- From the top left-hand menu, select ‘Add organisation’
- At the bottom of the next screen add your email address and press search.
- Select ‘Falmouth Exeter Plus’
- Re-enter your details
We will be sending you information about your pre arrival Academic Induction in your Academic Induction email. This online course will help you learn more about the University and your course.
There will also be an academic induction during Welcome Week where you can meet with your new classmates and lecturers.
The University has a range of accommodation available - please visit the Accommodation site for details.
What to bring with you
Deciding what to pack for university can be hard, especially if you have limited luggage space. If you are living in uni accommodation, check the Exeter or Penryn accommodation websites for help with planning what to bring. On the Exeter web page you'll find a handy video and Moving In Guide.
For students from outside of the UK, we have some helpful suggestions in our International Students Guide.
And remember, you'll be able to buy anything you've forgotten locally or online.
Additional tasks for international students
Make sure you complete the tasks above as well as below when you arrive at university.
Once you have arrived in the UK, you will need to bring your passport and immigration status (or visa) to us so that we can take a copy of it - this is called International Student Clearance. You will not be able to complete your registration until you have attended.
You will receive information on how to attend International Student Clearance in your Welcome to the University of Exeter email.
Our International Welcome Programmes will help you get settled. The programmes are full of information sessions, online tours and events.
It is important that international students who are with us for more than 6 months register with a Health Centre or the doctors' (GP) surgery near your accommodation.
Students with us for less than six months may not register with a Health Centre but are entitled to emergency health care. You can find out how and where to register on our guide to healthcare in the UK.
All students under 25 years of age starting at the University of Exeter are advised to have the Meningitis ACWY vaccination. Our Student Health Centre in Exeter will vaccinate you for free, and it is offered in doctors' surgeries in Cornwall too.
Exeter campuses (Streatham and St Luke's)
Cornwall campuses (Penryn and Truro)
You should also ensure you have had two doses of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination and the HPV vaccine before you join us. If you have not received these or are unsure, we suggest discussing this with your doctor.
Your doctor in your home country should be able to recommend what vaccinations you need for living in the UK.
The Meningitis B vaccination is available to anyone under 25 who is starting university for the first time in Autumn 2026. MenB will be delivered in two doses, one month apart. According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), international students aged under 25 starting their first year of university should receive their first Men B dose in their home country, where possible. Find out who is eligible here.
Many UK banks do not let you open a bank account until you are in the UK and have registered on a programme of full-time study. It can take up to 2 weeks to open a bank account. Find out how to open a bank account here.
If English is your second language you may wish to enrol in some free support classes or look at the possibility of credit bearing module options. Find out about English language support here.
In Cornwall, you can find out about English language skills support here.
