There are a number of tasks and actions you can take before you arrive to help get your journey with us off to the best start, starting with Enrol Now.
As soon as you receive your enrolment invitation, it is time to enrol.
You need to be fully enrolled to access to your timetable, collect your Smartcard (student ID) and begin your studies.
Please note: It can take up to 2 working days following email confirmation of enrolment to access your timetable, collect your Smartcard and access University systems.
Please expand the sections below for full enrolment guidance:
You can complete the full enrolment process online by logging on to your Student Portal, selecting 'Enrol' from the main menu and following the instructions.
For further guidance, watch the short video below (we recommend viewing in full screen) and see Understanding the enrolment process in your Student Portal.
If you require visa or immigration permissions to study in the UK, you must complete our two-step enrolment process before beginning your studies at Northumbria.
Then follow these steps to complete your enrolment - you can complete Step 1 now, before you arrive in the UK:
Step 1. Online Pre-Registration - Before you arrive in the UK
To pre-register, log in to your Student Portal, select 'Enrol' from the main menu, and follow the instructions provided.
Step 2. Visa Verification - As soon as you arrive in the UK
As soon as possible after you arrive in the UK, you must upload your visa documents and your eVisa share code for verification via the Student Portal. It can take up to 5 working days to complete the verification process, and a further 2 working days before you can access your timetable, University systems and collect your Smartcard.
Once visa checks are complete, you will receive email confirmation of your enrolment to both your University and personal email accounts.
For further guidance, watch the short video below (we recommend viewing in full screen) and see Understanding the enrolment process in your Student Portal for full guidance.
If you are a Student Route visa holder, you MUST create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and ensure you can access your eVisa share code before you travel to the UK as this will be required for entry.
Please DO NOT travel to the UK before the 'valid from' date on your eVisa.
Details of tuition fee costs, payment schedules and methods of payment can be found in the following articles in your Student Portal:
If you are a sponsored student - for example by your government or an employer - you must provide a sponsorship letter at the start of each academic year. For full details, see the article Payment of Fees by a Sponsor in Ask4Help online.
If you are paying your own tuition fees, you are called a self-financing student. Soon after you start your programme, you will receive an invoice, which will detail your payment schedule. For further details, please see Tuition fees for 2025/26.
Student Finance-funded (Home students):
If you are funded by Student Finance, make sure you complete an application for the start of each academic year. See Applying for Your Undergraduate Funding from the Student Loans Company for more information. See the 'When You Arrive' tab for information on making a payment.
Living in London can be expensive, so it is important to organise your finances before you arrive. Information about budgeting can be found in the Budgeting and Money Advice article in Ask4Help Online on your Student Portal.
Our aim is to ensure students are supported to reach their full potential and have the best possible experience here at Northumbria. If you have an accessibility need - including Specific Learning Differences and neurodiversity - we offer support throughout your journey with us, even before you arrive.
Visit Your Support at Northumbria for more information and to register with the Student Accessibility Team, who can ensure any relevant support is in place before you get here.
We are committed to ensuring our campuses are accessible, and have partnered with AccessAble to create detailed guides to the physical access features of all our buildings and services. This include information on colour contrast and lighting, signage, background noise, and much more. See AccessAble - Campus Access Guides for more information.
It is essential that you arrive on campus in time to take part in Welcome and Induction Week activities, which take place during week commencing including your programme induction. Please plan your travel carefully to ensure you do not miss these important sessions.
Important information for international students
There are two dates shown on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Your official course start date and the latest enrolment date on your CAS.
You must plan to arrive and enrol before the official course start date shown on your CAS.
If your visa is delayed, please see the Arriving on campus - for London students article on your Student Portal. You will not be permitted to enrol after the latest enrolment date on your CAS.
It is essential that you organise your accommodation before you arrive in London and through a reputable provider. For advice, please see the Finding accommodation in London article on your Student Portal.
Using your Student Portal to Navigate Northumbria from Northumbria University on Vimeo.
We know that there is a lot of information to take in during your time at university – so to help you navigate your Northumbria journey, your Student Portal brings all of the knowledge, advice and support you need together in one place.
As well as links to essential Northumbria information such as your timetable, your virtual learning environment (Blackboard) and Library Online, you can also use the Portal to read the latest Northumbria news stories, keep your personal details updated and check your finance and accommodation status.
If you have any questions during your time at Northumbria, you can search Ask4Help Online in your Student Portal for the answer, or submit an enquiry via the text box at the end of each article and a member of our team will get back to you.
Your Welcome Guide can also be found below and contains lots more information and practical guidance for getting started at Northumbria.
During induction week, you will have the opportunity to settle into your new surroundings, meet teaching staff and make friends. You will also be required to consider practical information and complete key tasks.
As soon as you have arrived in the UK, you should complete Step 2 of your enrolment by uploading your visa documentation to your Student Portal. This includes your eVisa Share Code (if applicable).
You are only officially enrolled once these documents have been checked and you have received email confirmation.
Once visa checks are complete, you will receive confirmation of your enrolment by email, sent to both your University and personal email addresses.
For step-by-step guidance, watch the short video below (we recommend viewing in full screen) and see Understanding the enrolment process in your Student Portal.
Your welcome week and programme induction schedule can be found here: NU London Welcome Week and Induction Timetables - simply select your programme from the list for details.
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From week commencing 22 September, once you have received your enrolment confirmation, your Smartcard (student ID) will be ready to collect from the Ask4Help desk within two working days.
Your Student Smartcard is an essential part of getting started at Northumbria. You should arrange to collect your Smartcard during your Induction Week and keep it with you at all times. Your Smartcard is your student identification, but you will also use it to access University buildings and services and to register your attendance.
One of the key tasks you will use your Smartcard for is to register your attendance at taught sessions - this is a vital activity that all students need to do. Attendance and being engaged with your studies are both key to succeeding at University. Please read our article on the Student Portal about Registering your attendance and notifying us of absence for more information.
DUO protects your account by adding a second step (like a push notification) to verify your identity when you log in.
After enrolling in your programme, you will receive an email from DUO Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (sent by no-reply@duosecurity.com).
Download the DUO Mobile app to your smartphone.
For detailed steps, please refer to our Guide to Enrolling with Duo (pdf) and watch the short video below.
Your safety is our priority. Please follow the steps below to keep yourself and your fellow students safe:
Your Welcome Pack also contains details of security and emergency contacts.
Taking care of your health and wellbeing is crucial while at University. One of the first steps to take after arriving in London is to register with a local doctor's surgery, also known as a General Practitioner or GP. This ensures you can access medical care when needed. Please register as soon as possible - do not wait until you are unwell.
For more information and advice on how to do this, see the Registering with a doctor/GP article in your Student Portal.
It is also important to take care of your money and finances while at University. We recommend that all students open a student bank account - if you are joining us from overseas it's particularly important to think about a UK account. See the Opening a bank account article on your Student Portal for more information.
As part of the University's commitment to providing a safe and respectful environment, you must complete the following mandatory training as part of your induction:
Understanding consent means we are all able to have more safe, healthy and enjoyable sexual experiences. This training will help you:
This training will help you:
Once you are fully enrolled onto your programme, you can access the training via Blackboard.
Your Welcome Guide can also be found below and contains lots more information and practical guidance for getting started at Northumbria.
By now you should have accessed your programme Blackboard site and attended your induction sessions.
During your first weeks of teaching, you will meet your named Personal Tutor. They will be your main academic contact during your studies, offering guidance and support with your progress, study options and academic practice. Your Personal Tutor will provide academic advice and guidance on performance, study options and good academic practice among other things. You can read more about Personal Tutors on your Student Portal.
You can access a wide range of information, guidance and support from your University Library throughout the year, including online content, workshops and one-to-one sessions. See Developing your learning skills for more information on topics including:
From your first term to your final assignment, the Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) helps you develop the academic and digital skills needed for success.
ACE can support you with:
Support is available through:
To learn more and access support, visit Accessing Academic Community of Excellence (ACE) support in Ask4Help Online via the Student Portal.
As a London Campus student, you have access to a wide range of careers support including:
Visit Accessing careers and employability support at London Campus in Ask4Help Online on your Student Portal for further information.
Northumbria Students' Union (NSU) is here to make your student experience the best it can be! NSU offers advice, support, representation, events and lots more.
NSU is run by the SABB Team, consisting of six student-elected officers. Members of the SABB Team visit London Campus each term to gather feedback and organise social events to help students make friends all year long. There are already a number of societies established at NU London, but you could always start your own!
You can also access independent advice about your course, housing and your wellbeing through the NSU Advice Centre.
We know it can be daunting starting out at University but we are here to help and support you every step of the way.
Ask4Help is the name of our frontline service and it is available 24/7 during term-time on campus, online and via telephone.
Ask4Help can answer any questions you have or signpost you to more specialist support should you need it. Ask4Help Online in your Student Portal contains a range of useful articles providing self-help information on topics including:
You can submit any queries you have or access specialist support from staff via the enquiry box at the end of each article.
Your Blackboard site is an invaluable source of information about your programme. Your Programme Leader and Personal Tutor (who you will have met during induction), will also be essential contacts if you have any programme-related questions throughout your studies.
Your Welcome Guide can also be found below and contains lots more information and practical guidance for getting started at Northumbria.
We welcome all new students joining us from overseas! This guide is full of useful information and advice - from before you arrive to getting here and settling in. You can access a pdf version of the guide here.
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