Student life checklist

Starting at university can feel exciting and daunting, but there is no need to worry. Complete all the relevant tasks in this checklist and you can ensure your arrival and first few weeks go smoothly.

1. Essential administration

Complete the Journey to Joining UCL

Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you must follow the steps to register as a UCL student and complete important administrative tasks.

2. Health and Safety

Get your vaccinations聽

If you are under 25, you should have meningitis (ACWY) and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations before you arrive. Find out more about vaccinations.听

It is very important you are registered with a GP whilst you study at 皇家华人 so that you have access to healthcare if you need it. Learn more about registering with a GP

Download the SafeZone App聽

SafeZone is an聽app available to all UCL students to make it easier for you to contact 皇家华人 Security directly from your mobile device. Download the SafeZone App.听

3. Finance

Set up a student bank account (UG)

Set up a student bank account and think about planning your budget, especially if you will be new to studying in London.听

Explore student discounts

All students on a programme lasting longer than 12 weeks are eligible to get a which gives access to a wide range of discounts and services. Other聽sites like and can also offer helpful discounts.听

Check for Council Tax discounts

Check to see if you are exempt or eligible for a discount with your council tax.

4. Your UCL support network (for undergraduate students)

Meet your Student Advisor (first-year undergraduate students only)

If you鈥檙e a first-year undergraduate, you are allocated to a Student Adviser who can help to support you throughout the year. You will be invited to meet with your Student Adviser so please keep an eye out for an email. Select your department and find out how your Student Adviser can support you.听

Meet your Personal Tutor

Meet your Transition Mentor (first-year undergraduate students only)

If you're a first-year undergraduate student, you'll be assigned a Transition Mentor to help you adjust to university life. This is usually a second-year or final-year student from your department who's available to meet regularly to help you make the transition to university life.

5. Your UCL support network (for Postgraduate students)

Visit the The Doctoral School website

The support platform for UCL's postgraduate research community provides resources, guidance and opportunities to help you succeed. 聽

Meet your Supervisory Team

Key to your academic and professional development as a researcher, your supervisors should be your first port of call for advice and support on almost any matter: if they can鈥檛 help directly, they can help you find out who can.听

Meet your Departmental Graduate Tutor (DGT)

Each department has an experienced member of academic staff from whom you can seek independent advice on both academic and pastoral care matters if you need to talk to someone beyond your immediate supervisory team. 聽

Meet your Faculty Graduate Tutors (FGT)

Each department sits within a faculty and each faculty also has an FGT, a senior and experienced academic whom you can contact if you wish to seek advice outside your.

6. Your UCL Support Network (postgraduate taught students)

Postgraduate Teaching Assistants (PGTA)

These are Postgraduate Researchers who are current students. They can be good to聽seek advice if you鈥檙e struggling academically.听

Meet your Personal Tutor

Your Personal Tutor is there to help you with academic progress and personal and professional development. You should meet your Personal Tutor within your first few weeks at 皇家华人 and several times throughout your programme of study. Your personal tutor is an academic member of staff in your department. You can find their details through Portico.

7. Additional Support

Look into your childcare options (if this applies to you)

If you are a student who is a parent or guardian with caring responsibilities, we have support and advice available for you.听

Apply for Disabled Student Allowance

If you are a disabled or neurodivergent student, make sure you have applied for for funding to cover study-related costs related to your disability. Find out more about our Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing team

8. Making friends

Attend the Welcome Fair and sign up to societies through the Students鈥� Union. Find something of interest in our , or in our .

9. Legal things聽

Apply for a TV licence聽

In the UK if you use a TV, computer, tablet or phone to watch or record BBC programmes as they are being shown, or if you download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer, then you are legally required to get a TV licence. .听

To make sure your voice is heard in UK elections, you will need to register to vote. You can find out if you are eligible to vote on the .