Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about accommodation
You can stay in your room during the holidays, but you may not be able to use your food allowance if you live in catered accommodation. You should check with the accommodation team when exactly the catered service ends and resumes.
Some laundry machines in our Bognor Regis accommodation work with coins. To get coins, visit your local post office.
Accommodation fees are payable in three instalments. 40% at the beginning of your studies, 40% in January and 20% in April. Payment plans must be set up via your Chiview account. More information is available on our website.
All International students living in the halls of residence accommodation received a bedding pack . The pack includes a duvet, pillows, sheets, towels. Email accommodation@chi.ac.uk to request it before your arrival.
Questions about travelling to the UK
The weather in Britain is rather unpredictable. It can rain on any day of the year, so you will need a waterproof coat, good shoes and possibly an umbrella. Of course there are also many sunny days – Chichester is one of the sunniest places in the UK! The temperature does not often drop below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but the dampness can make it seem colder in the winter and humid in the summer. The warmest months are June, July and August and the coldest usually December, January and February. You might find it cheaper to buy some types of clothing after you have arrived in the UK, but if you arrive in the colder months (October to April), make sure you have a coat and a jumper with you.
We do not offer an airport pick-up service, but you can find information about using public transport on our Be Prepared webpage.
If your course is longer than 6 months , your visa will be granted so that you can arrive up to one month before the start date of your course. Make sure you don’t arrive before your visa start date.
If you are an exchange student coming for less than 6 months who is coming here with a student visa (rather than as a visitor), the earliest you can arrive is 1 week before your course start date.
Please note that our Halls of Residence accommodation may not be ready at this point, and arriving too early can make you feel a little bit isolated. Most students will be arriving during the welcome weekend, which is the weekend preceding the first Monday of the semester, usually around 19-20 September.
Most undergraduate students start their studies on the Monday closest to 20 September (eg Monday 21 September 2026). Your start date might be different if you a PGCE, postgraduate, nursing, or a Musical Theatre student. To find out your start date, please visit the course and semester dates document on our website.
Your course start and end date are stated on the CAS. You should always arrive by the start date of your course. The latest arrival date on the CAS is the latest possible date to start your studies only if you have contacted us and asked for late arrival authorisation. We do not recommend arriving late as it puts you at a disadvantage with your studies. The only reason we can authorise a late arrival is if your visa application is delayed. In this situation you must email international@chi.ac.uk to get advice on late arrival authorisation.
You will need to apply for an ETA in advance of your travel the UK if you meet the following conditions:
- Are a non-visa national; and
- Come to the UK for a study visit that is less than 6 months long; and
- You do not need to apply for a visitor visa in advance.
Questions about settling in and making friends
If you have accepted an offer to study at the University of Chichester and would like to be paired up with a current student who can answer any questions you might have, email international@chi.ac.uk and ask to be matched.
Do you speak multiple languages, would like to learn one, or you would enjoy getting people from different countries? Fill in our form and grow our community! We can put you in touch with other students learning the same language, or fluent in a language you are learning.
In addition, if English is not your first language, you may have access to support and extra classes if you wish. Sign up here.
Your partner, or children aged under 18, may be able to come to the UK providing you are:
- Studying for a course of study which the provider has confirmed is a PhD, other doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.
- Financially sponsored by the UK or an Overseas Government.
Undergraduate students are not normally permitted to bring dependants.
You must provide proof of your relationship and proof of finances to fund their maintenance. This is in addition to the proof of finances that you will show as part of your own application. For further information visit Gov.uk.
What do you mean by a research-based higher degree?
A research-based higher degree means a postgraduate program comprising a research component (including a requirement to produce original work) that is larger than any accompanying taught component when measured by student effort. The University of Chichester has the following research-based degrees: D Prof, PhD by Publication, PhD, MPhil and MRes.
Can dependants remain in the UK if a Graduate visa holder switches back to the student route on or after 1 January 2024?
Dependants that are already in the UK are permitted to apply for further leave to remain. If family members do not already have a Dependant visa, the student will need to meet the eligibility criteria to bring dependants into the UK
What type of scholarships qualify for the dependant’s exemption?
To be eligible to bring dependants on a scholarship it must be:
A Government funded scholarship.
From a central Government department
Covering all fees and living costs for the student
If a scholarship does not cover dependant living costs, then they need to provide separate financial evidence to cover them.
Will there be a concession for disabled students to be able to bring carers?
There are currently no concessions for disabled students to bring carers and this will continue to be the case until further notice
Please visit UKCISA website for more information on who can bring dependants to the UK.
If your friend or relative is a non-UK/Irish national, they may need to enter the UK under the Visitor route. Some nationalities can enter the UK without applying for a visa in advance, but other nationalities have to apply for a Visitor visa before leaving home (these national are called ‘Visa Nationals’). You can check which category they belong to by visiting the UK government website. You will need to write an invitation letter and include your student status letter (printable via Chiview) as evidence of your status in the UK. Please see more information on this topic on the Graduation webpage (click on ‘International Students’).
Questions about Health & Wellbeing
It is important to look after your mental health and we have a student wellbeing team here to advice you and refer you to external services so that you can get the support you need. Please make sure that you declare your health and mental health conditions as part of your application process, so that our teams can help you put support in place in advance of your arrival.
All personal information will be treated as strictly confidential and will not affect the decision about your eligibility for the course. Please see our website for more information.
If you have a disability or any additional need for which you require support or special arrangements, please let us know in advance, so that we can help you plan your time here with us. All personal information will be treated as strictly confidential and will not affect the decision about your eligibility for the course. Please see our website for more information.
Please note that some support is funded by the UK government, which is not available to international students. However, we can discuss the cost of the support with you if we know about it in advance and see what options you have and how much you may need to pay. It is good to be prepared well in advance.
The University of Chichester is an international place of education where you will find people of most faiths and also those of none. We try in many ways to meet your needs in all areas of life, including religious belief and special dietary requirements due to religious beliefs. We have a Chapel on Bishop Otter Campus where Christian worship takes place. There is also a prayer room on each campus which is open to people of any faith to use for individual prayer and meditation. Please get in touch with our Chaplain (chaplain@chi.ac.uk) who would be happy to hear from you if you need someone to talk to or if you would like to find out more about local faith communities. Please visit the chaplaincy webpage for more information on World Faiths and Places of Worship near Chichester/ Bognor Regis.
Questions about working in the UK & finances
Before you start working, will need an National Insurance number. If you have an e-visa, you might already have one: check whether your national insurance number is displayed on your e-visa account. If you cannot see it on your e-visa, you need to apply for one: the process is easy. You need to complete this short online application form. If you need any help with this the International Student Advisers can assist you.
Note: If you need to apply for one, the government will send you your National Insurance number by post as a letter – make sure you regularly check your mailbox!
University of Chichester International Students studying at degree level are usually allowed to work 20 hours per week during term-time and full-time during vacations. Visit our website for more information on this topic. Visitor route students (for example, one-semester exchange students) can neither work nor engage in volunteering.
Top tip: Our Careers and Employability team is here to help you plan your career and to help you draft your CV and find part-time employment while you study with us. Get in touch via careers@chi.ac.uk.
Our current tuition fee policy states that you can pay your fees in one instalment at the beginning of your studies or in two equal instalments – first instalment at the beginning of semester one and the second instalment at the beginning of January.
Our Money Advisers (studentmoney@chi.ac.uk) would be happy to meet with you to help you plan your budget for your studies in the UK. They can also give you helpful tips on discounts, and cheaper shopping habits/locations.
If you successfully complete your studies and apply for the Graduate Route visa in the UK before your student visa expires, you should be able to apply. More information on this visa route and the eligibility criteria is available on our website.
The Turing grant is a UK Government funding scheme available for any exchange semester/year abroad, any work placement, volunteering, training, or summer school programme you attend. The programme can be as short as 2 weeks and as long as 1 year. You can be awarded the Turing grant even as a recent alumni, for up to 12 months after the end of your degree course. You can also cumulate the grant and obtain it again in the future.
International students are eligible for the grant too; but they must not use the grant to go to their country of habitual residence outside of term-time.
In the case of a work placement, it makes no difference whether it is paid or unpaid.
Who to contact
Contact exchange@chi.ac.uk
How it works
We apply for the UK Government Turing grant on your behalf, and our Turing placement pathway will allow you to upload all the documents we need (these are also documents we have to keep for our auditing process).
We get our budget from the government for one academic year at a time, until 31 August Our budget for the following academic year is only confirmed when we receive the outcome of our bid. Get in touch with exchange@chi.ac.uk to check if funding is available.
There may be delays with payments, as we need to follow a lengthy reporting process with many universities doing so at once. Strict auditing requirements also mean we need students to regularly check their university mailbox, in case there is any additional document we require.
How much you can get
The Turing grant rate will vary based on the number of placement days. The amount is usually between £13-£20 per day.
The grant is split into two lump sums, given at the start and end of your placement (80% and 20%).
Depending on your life circumstances, you could get more funding, for example if your annual household income is £30,000 or less. If you currently access or have accessed in the past either our University of Chichester bursary or our University of Chichester Support Fund, you will also be eligible for a Turing Grant uplift.
Getting started with your University accounts
Moodle is our Virtual Learning platform that all academic departments and professional services staff use to post information and resources. Your module (course) information, reading lists and weekly learning sessions will be available via Moodle and you are advised to access your Moodle account regularly in order to be successful in your studies.
Chiview is your online student record. You can register onto your course, edit your details, find your results, print letters and make payments via Chiview. See more information on our help page.
Around the beginning of September, you will be invited to register online, and by completing this process you will create your IT account. If you can’t remember your IT log in details after creating your IT account, you can contact help@chi.ac.uk or visit help.chi.ac.uk for instructions and videos.
You may need a letter from the University for various reasons. It may be to prove your student status, your address or that you can work. Please see a list of the most common letter requests we receive and instructions for how to get your letter.
Bank letter: Log into Chiview, search for a “printable documents” tile. You will need to know your bank’s address and include it on the letter. The letter will be signed and appears as a PDF document and you should print it in colour.
You can print a bank letter via Chiview, once you have registered and visited Registry with your original ID documents.
Council tax* exemption letter (students who live outside Chichester/Bognor Regis): If you live in the local area, the University confirms your student status directly to the local council. If you live further away and need a council tax exemption letter please contact sturecords@chi.ac.uk. You should also make sure you inform your local council that you are a student by completing their online form.
*What is council tax? Visit UKCISA website to find out more.
Student Status letters (September starters) – log in to Chiview and print your letter via “printable documents”. You can print a student status letter with our without your term-time address. The letter will be signed and appears as a PDF document.
Student Status letters (January/Summer starters) – If you start your studies outside our standard semester star dates and can’t see a “printable documents” tile on your Chiview record, please contact sturerecords@chi.ac.uk to request a letter.
Schengen visa letter: You can print a student status letter via Chiview. If you require a stamp, please visit Student Records and they can stamp your letter.
Letter for your employer (Student Route visa holders): Email academicregistry@chi.ac.uk. This letter will confirm that you are a student and includes a sentence about Student Route visa holders being able to work part-time during term-time and full-time during vacations.
Letter confirming your term dates (if you want to work full-time during vacations): Email academicregistry@chi.ac.uk to request this.