Customs and quarantine

Students arriving in the UK will have to undergo a number of formalities before they can enter. You will need to pass through Immigration controls and customs.

• You should ensure that you have the following available in your hand luggage when you arrive in the UK:
• Valid passport
• Valid visa or entry certificate
• Evidence of funding – personal or family resources, confirmation of sponsorship
• Letter from HIBT confirming your place of study as a full time student.
• Recent medical report including x-ray results (check with the British Embassy in your country if this applies to you)
• You may be asked for additional information regarding your proposed studies in the UK.

Immigration procedures at British Airports can be stringent and may result in a considerable delay at the end of your journey, especially during peak traffic periods (at the start of term). To assist the immigration officials keep all your documents available and be prepared to wait patiently.

Airport arrival information

If students let the college know prior to their arrival we can arrange for you to be collected from the airport and driven to HIBT. There is an additional charge for this service of £60

Students who have requested this service should clear customs and come out of the arrivals hall into the main area and look for a HIBT sign held by the driver. If you can not immediately find the driver you should wait by the Information desk for the driver. If the driver is not found after waiting for a while, you can then call the emergency number – 07813010811 and someone will be able to help you. Please only call this number if you have waited a reasonable time for the driver.

How to get to HIBT

It is very important that we know when you are arriving and where you intend to stay in the UK. Please contact us with your flight details and if possible a contact telephone number as soon as you book your flights. We can then ensure that your arrival is as smooth as possible.

By Public Transport Travelling From

Heathrow Airport

At the airport bus station students can get a bus from either National Express or Greenline bus companies that go straight to the University of Hertfordshire’s Hatfield Campus. Students should ask the driver to make sure they are on the correct bus.

Gatwick Airport

Catch the Gatwick Express train to Victoria Train Station. Take the Victoria Underground train line to Kings Cross Station and then catch the overland rail link to Hatfield (ask the information desk for train times). From Hatfield train station catch the 603 or 341 bus and ask the bus driver to stop at the University of Hertfordshire Hatfield campus.

Stanstead Airport

Catch the Stanstead Express train to Tottenham Hale. Then catch the Victoria Southbound line to Finsbury Park Train Station and then catch the overland rail link to Hatfield ask the information desk for train times. From Hatfield train station catch the 603 or 341 bus and ask the bus driver to stop at the University of Hertfordshire Hatfield campus.

London City

Catch the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Bank then get the Northern Line on the London Underground to Kings Cross station and then catch the overland rail link to Hatfield (ask the information desk for train times). From Hatfield train station catch the 603 or 341 bus and ask the bus driver to stop at the University of Hertfordshire Hatfield campus.

By Taxi

If you are travelling with plenty of notice, please contact HIBT in advance and we will arrange a taxi pick-up for you. However, if you have not had time to arrange a pick-up at the airport, there will be plenty of taxis outside the arrivals halls. Please ensure you have the full address of your accommodation and the emergency telephone number in case the driver gets lost. A taxi from Heathrow should cost no more than £75 if you have not booked in advance.

Where to go when you arrive in Hatfield

If you are arriving during office hours (Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:00) ask for the Hatfield Campus of the University of Hertfordshire. Go to the old Cricket School building (which is the building where HIBT is based) and report to HIBT reception.

If you are travelling outside office hours and staying off-campus – please make sure we know at what time your flight arrives. We will then ask our Housing Manager to meet you at your new house. Please call the emergency number 07813010811 if you have any problems with this.

If you are travelling outside office hours and staying on-campus – please make sure we know at what time your flight arrives. We will then ask the Halls of Residence Manager to leave your keys with the 24 hour security guard. Please ask your taxi driver to drive you to the Halls of Residence at the College Lane Campus. The taxi should drop you at the main entry where the security guard is based. The security guard will be expecting you and will help you to your room.

Useful facilities in Hatfield town

De Havilland Campus – on this campus you will find the Sports Village (including swimming pool, climbing wall, fully equipped gym and exercise classes) - http://www.hertssportsvillage.co.uk/

Hatfield town centre - is a pedestrian shopping area situated behind Asda (24 hour grocery shop). You can reach the town centre by foot (walk through the car park at the College Lane Campus, as you are facing the Art and Design building, turn left and walk through the bus barrier and along College Lane, continue walking along College Lane until you get to the fist roundabout, cross over and continue straight ahead along Cavendish Way take the underpass at the next roundabout and follow signs to the shops, you should now see Asda, walk to the far side of Asda and you will see a footpath leading to the town centre. In the town you can find a Boots chemist, clothing stores, all high street banks (including a branch of HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, Natwest), dentist, doctors surgery, a fruit and vegetable market in the market place (Wednesday and Saturday).

Galleria – cinema, shops, restaurants and bars, 10 minutes walk from College Lane (Walk along College Lane through the bus barrier and at the first roundabout, take the left turning and you will see the Galleria on the opposite side of the road) - www.factory-outlets.co.uk/home.htm

Asda – 24-hour shopping centre, selling all kinds of food, CDs, DVDs, magazines and clothing, 15 minutes walk or a short direct bus journey from College Lane (see walking instructions above and there is also a map on the Asda website, under local store guide) – www.asda.co.uk

Who needs to register with the police?

Certain nationalities of international students are required to register with the UK Police on arrival. This is also stated as a condition of some students’ visa conditions and will be clearly written in your passport when you receive the student visa ‘Please register with the Police within 7 days’.

Students from all the following countries will need to register with our local Police:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kuwiat, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikstan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yeman.

As part of your orientation programme, we will arrange for the Police to come in to HIBT to register you, so as long as you make sure you attend this session you will not need to worry about finding the Police Station. If you are unable to attend this session, please inform us when you arrive and we will give you full details about where to go and who to speak to. Please note that registering is an official requirement for administrative purposes and nothing to worry about. Generally the Police in the UK have a reputation as being quite kind and helpful.