Travel information for international students

Here you’ll find essential information to help you plan your travel to the UK and onwards to our campus.

 

Planning your travel to the UK

Flying is the easiest way to get to Scotland. Edinburgh and Glasgow international airports are your go-to destinations, with a wide range of incoming flights each day from across the globe and from UK airports including regular flights from London airports. You will be able to arrange most of your travel through a travel agent in your home country or online. It is usually cheaper and more reliable to arrange as much of your journey in advance as you can.

Arriving in the UK

Please read the UK Border Force student guidance which has top tips to help students through passport control when arriving at the UK Border. You should also read the UK government's general guidance on entering the UK.

It is really important that you have paper copies (not an electronic copy on tablet or phone) of all your important documents in your hand luggage as you could be asked for them at the UK border. These could include:

  • Passport
  • Visa or immigration status documents
  • Information about the course you are studying
  • Accommodation paperwork to show where you will be living
  • Your university Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number, letter and information
  • Recent bank statements

Arriving via Dublin? Important information

There is no routine passport control between Dublin and the UK. This means that you may not pass through passport control in the UK if you arrive from Dublin.  If you arrive from Dublin with a Student Visa you should keep your flight confirmation emails/papers about the Dublin-UK flight and carry them with you the next time you travel. You will have to leave the UK and re-enter within three months of arrival so that your Student Visa can be activated. This can obviously be costly so any savings made arriving in Dublin initially may be lost.

Luggage

Label all luggage clearly with your full name and the full name and address of the University of Stirling. When you arrive at a UK airport and have cleared Immigration Control, you must collect your luggage and pass through customs.

See more information about what to pack for coming to Stirling.

Travelling to the University of Stirling campus

At Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport regular buses or trams can take you to the city centres where you can then access frequent train services to Stirling. Find out more at:

You can also pre-book a taxi in advance with Stirling Taxis.

Edinburgh Airport is a 45 minute drive to the University campus while Glasgow Airport is approximately an hour drive.

See more information about travelling to Stirling in our getting here section.

Travel insurance

Many students take out travel insurance before coming to the UK. A good travel insurance policy may provide compensation in the event of missed fights, lost luggage or other things that don't go as planned on your trip.

Travelling with relatives and friends

If a friend or relative is travelling with you to help you settle in, please remember to arrange accommodation for them. It may be difficult to find accommodation at short notice, especially in the days before the start of semester as many parents, friends and relatives come to Stirling with new students.

Residential Services can provide information about short term accommodation including Bed and Breakfast near campus - contact accommodation@stir.ac.uk. Bed and Breakfast accommodation usually means a room in a small guest house or hotel with breakfast provided. This can be cheaper than a major hotel.

Money for the first few days

We advise all students to open a bank account in the UK, but this will take at few days to arrange. You should make sure you have access to money to cover your needs for the first few days in the UK:

  • If you plan to use a non-UK credit card or bank card to make payments or withdraw cash, check with the card provider that there will be no problems with this.
  • If you plan to bring cash, consider bringing traveller's cheques instead. Cash is easily lost or stolen

Remember that there may be unexpected or emergency expenses (for example paying for accommodation in London if you miss a transfer flight) so you should budget to spend more than normal in the first few days. Anything you do not use can then be deposited into your UK account once it has been opened.

See more information about opening a UK bank account.

Useful travel and transport links

Getting to the Stirling campus
Information on getting to the University from UK locations

Traveline
Travel information for the UK including a journey planner

National Rail
For train travel, including a searchable timetable

National Express
For coach travel

freebus.scot
Young people under 22 who live in Scotland more than 6 months per year are entitled to free nationwide bus travel.

Citylink
For coach travel

Student accommodation
The University's accommodation service

Visit Scotland
Tourist information site, useful for booking temporary accommodation 

Visit London accommodation
For accommodation options in London