Sheffield is conveniently located in the centre of the UK, and there are good transport links to all major cities and airports. We recommend you fly to Manchester Airport as we can meet you and bring you to the University.

Manchester Airport pick-up service

We strongly encourage you to book our free airport pick-up service. It will make your arrival easier and more enjoyable. You must book a place for this service at least one week before you are due to arrive. Our friendly student guides will

• meet you at the terminal
• introduce you to other new students
• bring you to Sheffield by train or private coach
• order a free taxi to take you to your accommodation

It is your responsibility to find our student guides as soon as possible after your arrival. Unfortunately, if you fail to do this and you miss the pick-up, the University cannot cover your travel costs to Sheffield.

Other ways to arrive in Sheffield

If you choose to fly to another major city in the UK, you can either get a connecting flight or travel by bus or train to Sheffield. Visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for train times and http://www.nationalexpress.co.uk/ for bus times. Go to www.shu.ac.uk/visit for information about how to find the University.

Important – you must tell us when you plan to arrive

It is very important that you let us know when you plan to arrive, even if you do not think you will need help on arrival. Please complete the form at go.shu.ac.uk/arrival and select ‘I will be at a different UK airport’. You will receive a confirmation email with instructions about travelling to Sheffield from the UK’s major airports. Please check your inbox when you have registered.

When to arrive

You must arrive before the beginning of your exchange and attend the Orientation Programme, which will help you settle in effectively.

Travel tips

• Use good, strong luggage labelled with your contact details in your home country and the UK. If you do not know your address in the UK yet, put the University’s address – Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK
• Do not bring large amounts of cash. Credit cards or travellers’ cheques are safer.
• Look after yourself and your belongings. Keep copies of your important documents separately in your home country.
• If your luggage is damaged or lost, report it at the airport. Your luggage can be delivered to our 24 hour reception if necessary. Our student guides can help you.

Immigration controls

You should have no problems going through the immigration controls, but if you do you should phone us on 0800 073 1318. The immigration officer will check all your documents. Carry all your University papers with you in your hand luggage.

If you are a Tier 4 student, you must also carry your Home Office decision letter informing you where to collect your visa (BRP) on arrival to the UK. You should also carry your CAS – see the UK government’s 10 top tips document at go.shu.ac.uk/top10tips

European Union currency controls

We don’t recommend bringing large amounts of currency with you as this can be a potential risk. Only bring a small amount of cash with you to cover expenses for the first few days. If you have no other option than to bring a large sum of money with you, then please read the following guidance.

If you are entering the UK from a non-European Union (EU) country and are carrying 10,000 Euros or more (approximately £8,700, or the equivalent in other currencies) you must declare the cash to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at the place of your arrival in the UK. If you fail to declare any cash, travellers’ cheques or bank drafts that you are carrying, or if you provide incorrect or incomplete information, you could receive a fine of up to £5,000. You must use the C9011 form to make the cash declaration. Forms are available at ports and airports and also from the HMRC website at www.gov.uk – search for ‘C9011’ to download a copy. If you are travelling between another EU country and the UK, you do not have to make a declaration.

Your first night in Sheffield

Before you travel, you must book some accommodation for your first night in Sheffield. If you arrive in Sheffield without accommodation, you will have to stay in a hotel. Hotels in the UK are expensive, but if you do need information about where to stay, visit our Meet and Greet desk or email internationalexperience@shu.ac.uk