The New to the UK programme is a series of free events specially designed to help international students feel welcome and supported when they first join Royal Holloway. Whether you've studied in the UK before or not, we recommend that you attend New to the UK.
New to the UK September 2025
The New to the UK programme will be held from 17 to 19 September .
We encourage all new international students to attend the events. Recent research shows that international students who take part in welcome events at Royal Holloway are over 10% more likely to successfully completed their course than those who don't.
Remember, if you're living in accommodation on our Egham campus, you can move in early (from 17 September) by attending New to the UK.
Book your place on New to the UK
Our New to the UK programme aims to help international students in 3 ways, by
- Giving you important information that will make your transition to studying at Royal Holloway and life in the UK as smooth as possible
- Orientating you with the campus and surrounding area
- Providing opportunities to socialise and meet other students
New to the UK events are free to attend but we do ask you to book in advance so that we can plan for your participation.
Book your place on New to the UK
After you've booked, you'll be provided with a full timetable of events that will take place from 17 to 19 September.
Events from previous years have included...
Talks and information sessions
Our New to the UK programme will include informational talks delivered by subject matter experts. There will also be plenty of time for students to ask questions after each talk.
Welcome and visa talk
Come and meet the International Advice Team and learn about the support that they offer to students during their time in the UK
You'll also be able to understand how to
- Register with a Doctor (GP)
- Access wellbeing services at the University
We also provide you with important information about your visa, including
- How to activate your new eVisa
- How to complete your in-person course enrolment
- What your responsibilities as a Student visa holder are
- What your post-study visa options are
Money and Working in the UK talk
Come and meet our Money Advice Team and learn about how to make the most of your money while studying in the UK including
- How to open a UK bank account
- What a national insurance number is and how to get one
- How to avoid paying tax in the UK
- What your working rights as an international student are
- How to keep your money safe
- How to benefit from student discounts and cheaper travel
- What support is available if you have money problems
Intercultural Communication Talk
Royal Holloway is a multi-cultural environment that has students and staff from over 130 countries across the world. In this session we think about
- How you can successfully communicate with people from a different culture
- How to navigate University services and processes
- What expectations the university has on the way you communicate and access support
Careers and Volunteering Talk
Our Careers Team will give a presentation detailing the support they can offer on
- Where to look for part-time work
- Improving your employability skills
- Advice on your CV and interview technique
- Support with your post-study career opportunities
Our award winning Volunteering team will also present on
- Opportunities to get involved in local, national and international volunteering programmes
- The benefit to your employability and study skills of volunteering
Introduction to UK Culture and Academic Skills Talk
The Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS) aims to enable all students at Royal Holloway to achieve their full academic potential. This presentation will help new international students to understand
- What a typical day/week/term is like for a student at Royal Holloway
- How you'll be taught and assessed
- How you'll receive marks and feedback
- The kind of skills you'll be able to develop
- Where to go for academic support during your time at Royal Holloway
Getting Involved on Campus Talk
Members of the Royal Holloway Students' Union, including societies that represent international students on campus, will join us to talk about the many different opportunities for students to join clubs and societies at Royal Holloway. Our Active Lifestyle and Sports Team will also be there to speak about the opportunities for sports and fitness on campus.
Events and activities
New to the UK includes a range of events and activities for you to take part in. Some are purely social while others will ensure that you can complete some of the key activities that we know international students need to complete quickly and easily when they first arrive at Royal Holloway
Welcome Dinner
Join other new students and enjoy a welcome dinner against the backdrop of the beautiful and iconic Founders Building.
Bingo Night
Bingo is a fun and easy to play game. We usually host this session in our Crosslands restaurant in the heart of the Egham campus where students go to hang out and socialise. A great chance to meet new and current students from all over the world and the UK.
Quiz Night
Our Halls Life team run a variety of fun activities throughout the year and they start off with a quiz night. The questions are fun and cover a range of topics. Come and join a team and see if you can win the quiz.
Campus Treasure Hunt
Working as part of a team, you’ll need to solve a variety of clues while walking around our beautiful Egham campus. This is a great way to get to know people, find your way around campus and learn about many of the services the University offers. Will your team be the first to solve all the clues and win the prize?
Egham Hotspots Tour
Join us on a guided walk into Egham where we’ll show you where the supermarkets, banks and other important shops and services are located.
Open a UK Bank Account on Campus
We'll be inviting several high street banks onto our Egham campus, saving you the trouble of travelling to them. They'll be on hand to answer any questions you have about the banking system in the UK and of course they can help you set-up a UK bank account.
Early Enrolment
We offer an early in-person enrolment session for students on the New to the UK programme. Beat the queues and get your campus card (Student ID) before everyone else!
Careers Workshops
A great chance to secure a part-time job early in the year. Bring your CV along and have it checked by a member of our Careers Team. Have them provide tailored advice on where to look for jobs and how to prepare for the interview.
Sports Taster Sessions
Fancy a quick game of badminton, football or ping-pong (table tennis)? A friendly game is a great way to relax and meet new people.
Events on our London Campus
If you're studying at our campus in central London then you are very welcome to join any of the events above which will all take place on our Egham campus.
However, we will also organise a welcome event for you in central London. The date is to be decided and we will confirm details as soon as possible.
Late arrival support
We really hope that you can arrive on campus in order to make full use of the opportunities that the New to the UK programme has to offer. However, we also understand that international students can be subject to delays in arriving on campus through no fault of their own.
To ensure that late arrival doesn't impact your transition into life in the UK and study at Royal Holloway, our International Advice team will be
- Recording our talks and informational sessions and making them available to all students
- Available in-person at our Egham campus. No need to make an appointment, just drop-in whenever you need us. No question is too big or too small!
- Proactively contacting students who miss the University's welcome events to make sure they feel supported on arrival in the UK and that we can answer any questions you might have
