Travelling in the UK and Europe

The programme is open to all international students in higher and further education in the UK who are at least 18 years old and have enrolled on a full-time course of a minimum duration of three months.

All of the host’s homes have been visited by HOST UK and approved as safe, welcoming and hospitable. You can go alone, or with your partner and children if they are living in the UK with you. It is also possible to go together with an international student friend, you should apply separately but give the same dates and travel budget.

HOST UK have experiences available all over the UK, enter your travel budget and the team will set about finding you opportunities to match this.

Visits can be for a day, a weekend, or three days at Christmas. Their significance for hosts and guests is much greater than their length suggests and can become a home away from home for a short period.

The University of Surrey will cover the cost of your visit as part of your University experience.

Apply

Submit an application. Visits are very popular so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

• Check current travel advice on Covid-19 both for the countries you are visiting to and for when you return to the UK
• Take out comprehensive travel insurance which includes adequate medical cover
• Scan your passport and Student Visa or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card so that you can access it from anywhere in the world
• Scan your student status letter which can be used as proof that you are a registered student at the University of Surrey
• Make a note of the contact details of your bank in case you have any problems accessing your bank account overseas or you lose or have your debit or credit card stolen
• Make a note of the contact details of your embassy in any of the countries you will be visiting in case you lose or have your passport stolen
• Find out details of the British embassy in any of the countries you will be visiting in case you lose or have your passport or BRP stolen
• Take a guide book and refer to the relevant sections on safety carefully
• Inform friends and family of your travel itinerary.

• Make sure that your passport and your biometric residence permit (BRP) are kept in the hotel or room safe along with any other valuable items. If you do not have access to a safe make sure that you carry your valuables in a special money belt or security wallet, preferably worn as a belt, not across your chest or over your shoulder. Try to keep your BRP card separate from your bank cards if possible
• Do not carry large amounts of cash when you are out and keep your cash and cards separate to reduce the risk of losing everything in the case of theft
• After using an expensive camera or mobile phone, make sure you put it back somewhere safe and out of sight
• Do not leave your bags unattended and use padlocks wherever possible.

Please read the information above about how to keep your passport and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) safe while you are travelling overseas. Losing your passport and/or BRP will delay your return to the UK and the process of getting new documents can be expensive and time consuming.

If you lose either your BRP or passport while overseas, please contact us immediately so that we can support you and ensure your studies are not disrupted. The International Student Advice team can assist you in getting new documents. However, we will be unavailable during official University closure dates therefore you may need to begin the process of renewing the documents yourself by following the instructions below.

I've lost my passport

• Report the loss or theft to the local police and where necessary get a police report or reference number
• Contact your Embassy or Consulate for advice on getting a new passport
• You should not attempt to travel internationally without first getting a new passport or otherwise seeking support from your Embassy or Consulate.

I've lost my BRP

• Report the loss or theft to the local police and where necessary get a police report or reference number 
• Report the loss of theft to the Home Office - please note that once you have made this report your BRP will be cancelled and even if you find your BRP later on, you will need to follow the steps below before travelling 
• Apply for a 'Replacement BRP Visa' - this document will allow you to re-enter the UK
• Once you have returned to the UK, you will need to apply for a replacement BRP card 
• You should not attempt to travel to UK without first getting a 'Replacement BRP Visa.'

I've lost my passport and my BRP

• Firstly, you will need to follow the steps above and get a new passport - you will not be able to apply for the 'Replacement BRP Visa' until you have a new passport
• Secondly, you will need to follow the steps for applying for a 'Replacement BRP Visa.'