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Travelling to and in the UK
Before you travel
Plan your journey
Before you start your journey with us, it’s good to plan ahead. That’s why this page has all the information you need about travelling to the UK, and around campus.
Travelling to the UK
The first thing you’ll need to do, of course, is to get on a plane. Here are some useful tips when travelling to Birmingham.
- Check the UK Council for International Student Affairs website. It will help you prepare for when you land in the UK.
- Passport control can feel a little daunting at times. They may ask you questions about your visa, so make sure you have all your documents with you. You’ll find what you need on the immigration on arrival page. But don’t worry too much if the person asking you looks very official. It’s just part of their job and they do it with everyone, including people from the UK.
- When you pass through customs, you’ll need to collect your baggage. Here’s some useful information on what you’re allowed to bring into the country.
We'll meet you at the airport
Landing in the UK after a long journey can be tiring! We will help make your journey easier.
Our Airport Collections will run from Heathrow over Arrivals Weekend, from Friday 15 - Monday 18 September. Outside of these times, public transport in the UK is easy to access.
At Birmingham, our Welcome Assistants will help you find a taxi or public transport, so you can finish your journey quickly and in comfort.
Getting to campus
You may have already planned how you’ll travel to campus from your accommodation. But you can make your journey easier with these helpful tips.
Travel using Swift Go
Want to make every journey easier? Swift Go is a smart and contactless way to travel around Birmingham and the West Midlands. Make as many journeys as you like, across tram, rail and most buses. Swift Go will automatically cap your fare at a day or weekly ticket. Meaning you don’t have to worry about how much you’re spending on your travel.
Find your way around campus
Our campus map will help you find your way around our Edgbaston and Selly Oak campuses. It shows you buildings, study space locations, opening times and real-time travel information.
Other useful travel links
Here are some helpful links to help you get around.
- National Rail and Trainline will help you plan and buy tickets for the train.
- Citymapper will help you plan routes and travel right across the city.