Arrival Information
Arrival Information
Starting University is a very exciting time, and we can't wait to welcome you to your new home!
All this information is subject to any changes in Government COVID-19 rules and guidelines.
The sections below outline important details about moving in with us. As a new student, you might feel a bit nervous about living by yourself for the first time, so we have put together a series of welcome booklets for each site with some key information to help you settle in quickly.
Key collection
Key collectionWhen you arrive into Newcastle, make your way to your accommodation reception and your keys will be issued there. Opening times along with address and contact details can be found within the Residence Reception tab of our Current Students section on the website.
If you arrive outside of reception opening hours, you'll need to contact our Estates Security Office on +44 (0) 191 208 6817. Security Officers will arrange to meet you and give you your key and you will be asked to show a copy of your Accommodation Acceptance with details of your room allocation.
If you’re staying at one of our managed partnership sites, you’ll need to contact your accommodation directly. Contact details for your accommodation and the out-of-hours team is available within the Residence Reception tab of our Current Students section on the website.
If you are travelling from abroad
If you are travelling from abroadUniversity-owned accommodation will have all the basics that you need for your arrival, including bedding, towels, a toiletry pack, crockery and cutlery. You can use these items throughout your contract period.
If you are arriving from a country on the red-list, you will need to complete your quarantine period on arrival in the UK at a managed hotel quarantine facility. Once your quarantine period is complete, you will not be required to quarantine upon reaching university accommodation.
The rules for travelling to the UK from a country that is not on the red-list is dependent on your vaccination status. The University has written a simple guide to explain this in more detail. Please read through the guide before you travel and check that any travel arrangements you make comply with the correct rules at the time of travel, including the rules for any countries you will transit through. The most up to date information for travel to England can be found on the Government rules, guidance and support pages.
If you are self-isolating whilst awaiting your day 2 PCR test results, or your vaccination status requires you to quarantine on your arrival at your accommodation in Newcastle, please complete this form when you arrive so that we know you are in self-isolation (it should not be completed in advance).
Further information about travelling to Newcastle can be found here.
Please read the section above (Key Collection) for information regarding arriving at your accommodation and key collection.
Keeping you safe
Keeping you safeYour room will have been deep cleaned before you arrive, once here, you will see signs and posters directing you around the accommodation and showing you how to use stairwells and lifts safely.
You will get to know the friendly faces of our residences team as they clean high traffic areas such as staircases, lifts and common rooms frequently. There will be hand sanitiser available at the entrance to every building, too. If your room has shared washroom facilities, these will be regularly checked, cleaned, and sanitised. But we encourage you to develop a new life skill and clean too! After all, it’s working together and helping one another that’ll help to keep us healthy and safe.
ResLife
ResLifeWondering what to do in your first week?
You will be welcomed into your Newcastle home with a range of activities with your ResLife team who are there to support you throughout your time living with us. These activities will be organised both present in person and remotely.
Your ResLife Coordinator (RLC) will be available throughout the week to answer any questions in the ResLife Connect Zoom Rooms, as well as offering a range of ‘hacks’ to help you get used to living with your flatmates and how to survive with everything cooking, cleaning and living independently. And if you want some top tips from an experienced student, one of our ResLife Student Assistants (RSA’s) will be available as well to talk through any information or support you might need, as well as talk through what to do in your accommodation, University life, and within the city.
In your first weeks you will be able to choose from:
- Quizzes
- Games nights
- Arts and Crafts
- Cookery classes
- Sustainability and everything ‘recycle and reuse’
- Webinars on independent living
- Orientations around your accommodation and the city
- Competitions and Giveaways
- Online top tips and ‘hacks’ providing handy information
Full information is available on the ResLife webpages.
In the meantime, please also check out the University Welcome pages.
What should I bring?
What should I bring?Although it is tempting to bring as many of your belongings as possible, you should consider the amount of storage space available in your room and communal areas.
Bedding and crockery isn't automatically included in your accommodation (unless you are travelling from abroad – please see the section above). If you are planning to order essential items such as crockery, bedding, etc from any other retailers, please ensure that these will be delivered after your arrival as we will be unable to take deliveries of parcels before your contract start date.
Some items can also easily be purchased once you’ve arrived, such as stationery, books, food, etc. There are plenty of shops in town, and you will be able to find most of the things you need there.
Typically, the things that new students find most useful to bring with them are:
- Documents – ID, passport, bank card, etc.
- Your National Insurance number
- Clothes (don't forget your fancy dress!)
- Necessary medicine, plasters, etc.
- TV licence - if you'd like to watch TV as it's being shown on any of your personal devices (TV in your bedroom, PC, laptop, tablet, phone), or use BBC's iPlayer, you'll need to be covered by your own licence!
- Hygiene products (toothbrush, hairbrush, soap, etc.)
- Towels
- Bedding (pillow, duvet, sheet)
- Tea towels
- Laundry basket
- Cutlery, a pot and a pan - although to make moving in easier, we'd recommend that you buy these once you're in Newcastle!
- Coat hangers
- Laptop/desktop PC
- Chargers
- Alarm clock
- Things that will remind you of home – e.g. photos of friends and family, a cuddly toy
- Items to personalise your room with – cushions, bed throw, battery-operated fairy lights, photo frames
What not to bring
What not to bringWe wouldn’t recommend bringing anything that might take up too much space, be a potential hazard (either to you or the property) or cause disruption to your flatmates and neighbours. Some examples are:
- Your pet (sorry!), no matter how small
- A drum kit
- BBQ
- An inflatable pool
- Candles
- Kettles, toasters, microwaves – your kitchen will be equipped with electronics which have been tested and proven to be safe
- Portable heater
- Mains-powered fairy lights
- Mini fridge (if you need a mini fridge for medical reasons, please contact us)
- Furniture - your room and flat will be fully furnished
- Vacuum cleaner - your University-owned residence will provide you with this (for Managed Partnership residences, please check with them directly)
- Ironing board - as above