If you need a Student Route visa to study in the UK and you have been issued a travel vignette (Entry Clearance) in your passport, you'll need to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card from a local Post Office within 10 days of arriving in the UK. When you're issued with your 90-day Entry Clearance vignette in your passport, you'll also receive a letter confirming your visa and telling you which Post Office you'll need to collect your BRP card from. Please keep your BRP safe, it is an important part of your visa.

If your course finishes later than 31 December 2024, your BRP will likely experience before the end of the course. Don’t worry, this isn't a mistake; UKVI are gradually switching to digital visas, and you'll have digital permission to cover the rest of your stay in the UK.

There are many options when it comes to organising a mobile phone in the UK. Many students will arrive with a mobile phone from their own country which is not attached to a particular network and can accept a SIM card from any network. SIM cards are readily available in the UK from airports, supermarkets and high street shops. It will definitely be cheaper for you to use a SIM card bought in the UK instead of using a service from your home country. Please explore the following options:

1. Pay Monthly

With this option, you can take out an agreement with usually a 12-month minimum, but it can be anything up to two years. The agreement (contract) will state how many minutes, texts and data you can use per month (allowance), and you will pay a set monthly fee(this is often referred to as a ‘plan’). If you go over your allowance, you must pay extra. You will also be provided with a phone as part of the contract – sometimes you will need to pay an extra amount at the beginning of the contract for your phone, depending on the handset and plan you choose.

2. Pay Monthly (SIM only)

This option is the same as above, except a phone is not included in the contract. This would be a good option if you also have a phone that you would like to continue using, as these plans are usually much cheaper. You will need to make sure your phone is ‘unlocked’ or ‘network free’, so you can use it with the new SIM card.

3. Pay as you Go

This option does not involve signing a contract and does not usually include a phone. You will need to regularly ‘top up’ your SIM, so you have enough credit for calls, texts and data. Most providers offer Pay as you Go plans. In some cases, if you top up £10 each month, you will receive a certain amount of minutes, texts and data to use each month. This works a little like Pay Monthly, except there is no contract, and you can stop at any time.

The most popular networks in the UK are:

EE

Three

O2

Vodafone

GiffGaff

You will also find that some supermarkets offer phone plans too.

Cycling is a very popular option for students when travelling around Bournemouth and Poole, which has several cycleways. There are also a number of covered cycle racks on the AUB campus and throughout Bournemouth and Poole. When possible, always use a designated cycle rack to secure your bike with a D-lock type bike lock and avoid using lamp posts or fences. You can find more information about the cycling routes on the Bournemouth Borough Council website. If you decide you would like to travel by bike, students can enjoy discounts from some local bicycle shops and can also get a free high-visibility jacket for safety.

For more details, please contact the AUB Students’ Union. If you choose to cycle when it is dark, it is the law to have a front white light and back red light on your bike; if you do not, the police can stop you and give you a fine. It is also illegal for bikes to use most pavements. We recommend that you read the Highway Code to give you an understanding of the rules of the road and the best way to get around by bike safely. It will also be a good idea to invest in a good cycling helmet and wear it at all times when cycling to limit injury in the event of an accident.

There is so much to do and discover in both Bournemouth and the surrounding area. Explore more in Our Guide to Bournemouth.