Study and work abroad guide

• Embassy interview – Check if you are required to attend the London based embassy of your host country either for a formal Visa interview, or to collect your visa in person. Book and attend if necessary.
• Immunisations - check the NHS's 'fit for travel' site to find out what immunisations, if any, you need. Visit your GP to arrange prescriptions and necessary immunisations.
• Student finance - inform student finance of your circumstances.
• Research your destination - research your host country/region/city/culture before arrival.
• Travel advice - it is essential to be aware of and understand documents and procedures relevant to the host country. Read our travel advice below for students travelling abroad.
• Brush up your language skills - view the language apps and learning information (below) to help you with key phrases to use when you arrive in your host country.
• Stay in touch - Stay in Touch - prep your Social Media and download useful apps for staying in touch with friends and family.

• Banking – explore the best options to access your money overseas and tell your bank you are preparing to live abroad.
• Healthcare – research how you will access healthcare and dental services in your host country.
• Healthcare/insurance - apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).
• Accommodation – speak with your host institution/company/organisation to see what accommodation options are available.
• Arrange travel – book tickets, research routes and arrival at accommodation; consider buddying up with other students or book an 'arrival service' with the host organisation if offered.
• Staying in touch – look into the costs of using your phone abroad, research phone services in your host country, and think about internet access. Our contact details are below in the contacts section.
• Exchange students – get in touch with previous students for tips on accommodation and settling in at your new university.
• Work placement students – if you haven’t done so already, confirm your placement with UWE Bristol.

• Contact details on MyUWE - ensure your contact details in MyUWE are up to date.
• Complete your Overseas Travel Form on Infohub
• Print all copies of necessary paperwork, including your passport and visa, and leave copies at home with relatives for safe-keeping.
• Money for transportation - make arrangements so that you can access cash on arrival so you can use public transport.
• Pack - keep in mind airline weight restrictions.
• Work placement students – finalise any outstanding details of your placement with your employer.
• If needed, purchase additional Health Insurance for the duration of your stay.
• Download useful travel apps

• Register with your host organisation and attend all possible induction or orientation sessions arranged by your host.
• If studying abroad, familiarise yourself with the Erasmus/Exchange/International Office and find out how to access student support.
• Check your UWE Bristol email regularly and respond accordingly.
• Check in with friends and family.
• Register with a local doctor. Unsure how? Speak to your host work/university contact.
• Keep a journal or blog to record your memories – especially milestones.
• Act responsibly – remember you are an ambassador for UWE Bristol.
• Provide us with feedback about your experience.
• Remember to use #UWEGoGlobal in your social media posts.

The first few weeks in a new country can be a wonderful and exciting time. However, it can also be a stressful experience. Even for the most properly prepared student, it is normal to feel levels of disorientation, homesickness, helplessness and frustration as you settle into a new community and host culture.

There are a number of things you can do to help yourself cope with these feelings:

• get to know fellow international students and share your experiences
• if studying abroad, speak with staff in the appropriate student services at the host institution
• get involved with your local community (student societies/activities at your host institution or workplace; volunteering; your faith community in the area etc.)
• keep in touch with family, friends, and university staff back home
• seek support from UWE Bristol contacts (see contact list below)
• read more about dealing with culture shock.

Upon arrival, take some time to get to know your local neighbourhood. As is the case in Bristol, there are areas that you would avoid and would not feel comfortable going into. We recommend that you check with local university/company staff for expert knowledge about your community.

Make sure you know where the closest hospital, police station and food markets are located. It is also good to note their opening hours as most countries have different schedules.

Please check visa requirements for your destination country. 

The university/company/voluntary organisation you will be with may be able to help you with the visa application – please seek advice from them.
You can also look at the website of the Embassy/Consulate of your destination country for further information. Most countries will have an office in London which should be able to offer assistance. The Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has a helpful listing on its London Diplomatic List.

UK nationals should also be aware that as of the end of the transition period, free movement privileges within the EU/EEA will no longer apply and you will be subject to the local immigration and COVID entry rules for third-country nationals, with requirements and restrictions differing between individual member states.

Non-UK passport holders should note that they may need a visa to study or work within or outside of the EU.

Students studying at UWE Bristol on a Tier 4 visa undertaking a work or study placement as part of their course should make the University aware of their visa status when applying for an international opportunity. This enables us to make appropriate arrangements for engagement and attendance monitoring whilst working or studying abroad.

For further information and advice, please speak to an UWE Bristol Immigration Adviser.

For students undertaking UWE Bristol approved work and/or study abroad, we would ask you to take out your own travel insurance that is appropriate for your specific needs, including the type of activity you are due to undertake. This insurance cover needs to be for the full duration of your planned travels, including any additional time before or after your approved activity. Those students who undertake a study exchange or work placement that is a compulsory and credit-bearing aspect of their UWE Bristol degree can access a level of cover through the UWE Bristol travel cover provided by UMAL, subject to formal approval of the activity including completion of a suitable risk assessment, and continued adherence to control measures agreed. 

UWE Bristol travel cover provides students travelling abroad with medical, personal property, personal injury and accident cover. However, this is not travel insurance as UMAL is not an insurance provider and cover is discretionary. Please note that there are a number of cover exemptions, including no cover for any disruption arising out of COVID-19. Therefore, we advise you to carefully review the cover summary below to ensure it provides you with the appropriate level of cover for your personal circumstances.  

For more details on travel cover until 31 July 2022, please read the UWE Bristol Travel cover summary (PDF) document.

For information on travel cover after 1 August 2022, please read the updated UWE Bristol Travel cover summary (PDF) document. 

Please note:

• No cover will be provided for any disruption arising out of COVID-19.
• UMAL travel insurance cover only applies to those people under 80 years of age. If 80 or over and travelling on UWE Bristol activities please contact the Insurance Manager.
• You are allowed to arrange for cover by more than one policy, if you are making a claim, you must not claim for the same expense from more than one insurer.
• If you have a pre-existing medical condition and the doctor advises you not to travel, the UWE Bristol travel insurance policy is invalid.
• Some partners or work placements may require you to purchase additional insurance.
• Please ensure that you also take a hard copy of all travel cover/insurance with you, as well as leaving a copy with your family or friends at home.

For work placements, an additional agreement will be made with the employer on indemnity insurance as part of the placement agreement and health and safety form. This is completed through the Employability Activity Confirmation Process (InfoHub login required).

You may find the FCDO Foreign Travel Insurance guidance helpful when considering appropriate levels of cover.

• DuoLingo – courses created by native speakers, combining gaming with learning.
• Busuu – full courses in 12 languages. Most features require a monthly subscription.
• Babbel – the free version comes with 40 classes and a lot of content – subscription required thereafter. Classes can be downloaded for later offline study.

• HelloTalk – find native speakers and chat with them through voice and text in this WhatsApp-like app. Correct each others messages with an in-built tool.
• HiNative – a question-and-answer community for language learners.
• TripLingo – designed to make you speak and be understood before a short trip. Phrases for formal and slang contexts. Also features an inbuilt voice translator and the option to call a real translator.

• Memrise – good for fun vocabulary practice. Courses are coupled with memes created by the community.
• AnkiApp – Japanese developed app using flashcards to expand your vocabulary.
• TinyCards – bite-sized lessons delivered via a flashcard app.

If you're keen to enhance your language skills abroad, contact your host institution or employer to ask about inductive language classes or local language schools.

• Global Graduates – information to help you prepare for international experience abroad. Includes 100 reasons to study abroad, an extensive packing list, and blog posts/articles from students who have studied or worked abroad
• Global Response's Travel Advice online platform – a service through UWE Bristol’s insurers providing comprehensive advice on safety and the practicalities of living abroad (currency, business hours, etiquette, public transport). in order to access the online platform, you will need to:
• Lonely Planet – a traveller's perspective of the different countries, including practical information and public transportation
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Government travel and consulate advice and information
• Go International – benefits of studying, working or volunteering abroad, with advice on accessing opportunities and funding
• AngloInfo – Information and support aimed at English-speaking expats living in particular regions
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC) – provides a variety of student discounts in the UK and worldwide and can be purchased through STA travel
• Travel Blog – blogs written by people living, working and travelling abroad
• LGBTQ guide to travel safety
• Studying Abroad: A guide to supporting LGBT students in Higher Education (log in required)
  
  

• Check the official Tourism Board website of your destination country to find out information about history and culture, things to do and places to visit
• Visit your airline website for information on duty-free allowances, banned goods etc
• If you are studying abroad, see whether your host university has its own Student Union membership/discount cards

• City Mapper - detailed journey planner information, including real-time departures for public transport in 30 cities worldwide
• Maps.me - enables you to download regional or country maps and then use them offline to navigate or plan journeys
• Rome2Rio - plan cross-country, multi-mode travel with flight, train, bus, ferry, and driving options with estimated travel times and fares
• Google Trips and Tripit - pull together travel information from your confirmation emails for flights, buses, and hotels bookings etc into one single itinerary
• Seat 61 - ditch carbon-heavy cheap flights for a low-stress rail alternative. Seat 61 provides information on train travel within and to/from most worldwide destinations

• Skyscanner and Kayak – search across travel sites to help you find the best prices for flights
• Hopper – tells you the best time of the year to book a flight to ensure you get the cheapest deal and sends alerts when your favourite routes go on sale
• App in the Air – tracks flights and provides info on delays, check-ins, boarding schedules, and baggage arrivals

• Time Out – a directory of ideas for things to do in cities around the world, including bars, restaurants, attractions and events

• XE currency app – provides access to live exchange rates. Can be used offline but rates are automatically exchange rates when you have internet
• Splittr – a platform to share travel costs between friends including opportunities to mix currencies