Main registration (non-UK/Irish students)

Attending main registration is one of the most important things to do as a new student at Surrey.

Important: who should attend main registration

UK/Irish students 

BMBS Medicine (Graduate Entry) students

We encourage you to attend main registration on Sunday 14 September, as it will be a great opportunity to meet the team and ensure DBS and other pre-enrolment checks have been completed. You will receive detailed information by email from the Medical Programme Professional Services Team.

Veterinary Medicine and Science students  

You should attend main registration and will have dedicated sessions on 13 and 14 September. You will be sent more information via email. 

All other programmes

You do not need to attend main registration as you are fully enrolled upon completion of online registration. 

You will still need to attend campus card collection. 

Non-UK/Irish students 

All programmes including those above

All non-UK/Irish students should attend main registration so please continue to read the information below. 

How to prepare for main registration

We want to make the process as smooth as possible so you can get back to enjoying the many welcome events and activities during welcome week, so ensure you clearly read the information below to get ahead of the process.

What happens at main registration?

At main registration you will have your personal information, ID and any relevant visa documentation checked. 

You will also be able to collect your campus card if you were able to pre-submit a suitable photo as part of your online registration. If not, we will give you information on how to order and collect your card.  

When is main registration?

Main registration happens during the first week of the academic year and you pre-book a slot at a time that suits you. Slots will be during the following weeks:  

  • Courses starting in September 2025: Monday 15 – Friday 19 September 2025
  • Courses starting in February 2026: TBC 

If you cannot attend any of the above dates, you must get in touch as soon as possible. 

If you do not complete registration

If you do not register you will have your place at the University suspended.

If you cannot attend any of the available main registration slots, you must get in touch as soon as possible.

Checklist

Ensure you have read through all the information on this page

All the key information can be found here, including the documentation that you must bring with you (see below).

Complete your online registration

You must do this before pre-booking your slot and attending main registration.   

Complete online pre-registration

Book your main registration slot

It's vital that you pre-book a slot to attend main registration. 

We recommend cross-checking your academic and welcome timetable to ensure that you pick a slot that fits nicely into your schedule. 

If you cannot attend any of the available main registration slots, you must get in touch as soon as possible. 

Bookings will go live in August 2025 - you will receive a booking link via email and it will be added here when live.

Gather up your documentation

You will need to bring documentation with you to your main registration slot, and you won’t be able to register without them. We have provided a list of all the requirements in the documentation section below.

Find out what you need to bring

Attend main registration

Come and find us in University Hall (Stag Hill campus) with your documentation in hand just before your chosen time slot – our team will be there to meet you and answer any questions you have!  

Find University Hall on Google Maps

Collect your campus card

The final step in your registration! When you can collect your campus card will depend on when you completed online registration AND the photo for your campus card is approved. 

You will know when your campus card photo has been approved as you will receive an email confirmation. 

Photo approval date and time (all UK time)  When you can collect your campus card  Where to go to collect your card 
Before Monday 8 September, 8:59am  When you attend main registration (Monday 15 – Friday 19 September, 9am – 5pm)  University Hall, Stag Hill campus 
After Monday 8 September, 9am  Please visit the campus card collection page for information  Please visit the campus card collection page for information 

Documentation required

All students please note:  

  • Unfortunately, we cannot accept scanned copies or photocopies of your ID or visa documents. We can only accept your original documents
  • If you have a conditional offer and we haven't seen your certificates, then upload them to Surrey Self-Service to be checked, otherwise you don't need to bring them with you.

UK or Irish students

Please bring the same passport, birth certificate or National ID Card (Irish students only) that you uploaded during online registration with you. 

If you do not have access to the document that you uploaded during online registration, or you forget it on the day, then in certain circumstances we can accept a UK photo driving licence instead. You must bring your original ID with you, photocopies or scans will not be accepted.

Students may register by showing a UK photo driving licence in the hall only if they have already uploaded a clear copy of a passport or birth certificate during online registration. In all other circumstances a driving licence will not be accepted in the hall and you will need to go and get your passport or birth certificate before you can register.

Non UK/Irish students

Please select the type of visa/status that you hold from the list below to check what you will need to bring with you to registration.

We are responsible for keeping a complete record of your immigration status, therefore registration will only be permitted when all parts of the process can be completed. 

Please note:

  • We cannot accept expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) as evidence of ongoing immigration permission. If you have an ongoing immigration status with an expired BRP, you will need to activate your digital account and provide a share code as evidence of your immigration status.
  • Unfortunately, for main registration, we cannot accept scanned copies or photocopies of your passport or physical visa documents. We must check the original documents.
  • If the image of the passport you uploaded during online registration matches the original document you have with you, no further action is required for ID confirmation. If you bring a new passport with you, or the image you uploaded during online registration is unclear, a new scan will be taken in the hall.
  • If you have any queries about what visa documents you should bring to registration please search MySurrey website, where you will find lots of useful information about visas and contact details if you need more support.
  • Students will not be permitted to register without first providing a share code, in-date physical visa documentation or confirmation of a valid ongoing immigration application.
University of Surrey Student Visa - digital status

In all cases:

  • Passport.

As applicable:

  • Border stamp confirming date of entry, or
  • Other evidence of date of travel if no stamp was issued or an eGate was used. Other evidence can include booking confirmations, travel tickets or boarding passes
  • If you have already provided a Share Code to the University no additional action is required
  • If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before online person registration so we can verify your status. The online  registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

If you were under 18 when making your visa application, you are required to bring a copy of the consent letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian that you provided when applying for your visa.

Ongoing Student Visa application

If you have applied for a Student Visa sponsored by the University of Surrey you can still register as long as you bring the following documents with you to registration.

In all cases:

  • Passport
  • BRP card or share code for your previous UK visa
  • Home Office Document Checklist confirming submission of visa application.
Indefinite Leave/Settlement Visa

In all cases:

  • Passport
  • Evidence of your current status. Depending on when your visa was issued this may be in the form of a share code, BRP card or passport vignette.

If your vignette was issued in a previous passport that is acceptable as proof of immigration status.

A BRP will only be accepted if it is still in date.

If you hold a digital visa status and have already provided a share code to the University no additional action is required.

If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before in-person registration so we can verify your status. The online registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

EU Settlement Scheme

In all cases:

  • Passport or EU National Identity Card

As applicable:

  • BRP Card, only if still in date or;
  • If you hold a digital visa status and have already provided a share code to the University no additional action is required.

If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before in-person registration so we can verify your status. The online registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

Visitor Visa

Only acceptable for programmes of study up to six months in length.

In all cases:

  • Passport.

As applicable:

  • Visa vignette or visa entry stamp, or
  • Other evidence of date of travel if an eGate was used. Other evidence can include booking confirmations, travel tickets or boarding passes.
Asylum Application

In all cases:

  • Application Registration Card (ARC)
  • Bail 201 or IS248 Notice.

As applicable:

  • Passport or Travel Document, if held.
Tier 2/Skilled Worker Visa

In all cases:

  • Passport
  • If you hold a digital visa status and have already provided a share code to the University no additional action is required.

If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before in-person registration so we can verify your status. The online registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

As applicable;

  • If you are enrolling on a full time degree programme please provide a letter from your sponsor confirming that enrolment on our programme will not negatively interfere with the employment you have been sponsored to undertake.
Refugee Status, PBS Dependant Visa, UK Ancestry Visa, UK Spouse/Family Visa, British Overseas National Visa, Ukraine Schemes, or Turkish Worker Visa (including family members)

In all cases:

  • Passport.
  • If you hold a digital visa status and have already provided a share code to the University no additional action is required.

If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before in-person registration so we can verify your status. The online registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

Graduate Route visa

The Graduate Route visa only allows limited study options, and cannot be used for any of our main degree programmes.

If you intend to use a Graduate Route visa to study, please urgently contact Surrey Support to confirm this is appropriate.

If the Graduate Route is not suitable, you will only be permitted to register if there is time for a different visa application to be made. 

Other types of visa

In all cases:

  • Passport
  • Proof of visa type; share code, physical document (only acceptable if still in date).

Registration will only be permitted once a share code has been provided. It can take time for the UK Government to approve online accounts, therefore we strongly recommend completing this process in advance and uploading the share code via the Registration section of your Surrey-Self Service account before coming to the hall.

If you have not yet provided a Share Code to the University, please do so before in-person registration so we can verify your status. The online registration system includes a box to provide a share code in the Passport and Visa section. If you have already completed online registration, a share code can be provided in the Registration section of your Surrey Self-Service account. When generating your Share Code please make sure you choose the third option ('Something Else') when asked what the code will be used for. Choosing either of the other options means unfortunately the code will not work with the verification system we have access to.

If you hold a visa not covered in this list and have any queries before registration please contact Surrey Support.

More information and FAQs

All about your campus card

Common questions and answers related to your campus card, also known as student card

Main registration FAQs

We have a range of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on MySurrey Help.

After main registration

Thinking about what to do next after you have registered? We have a handy checklist to give you some ideas!

MySurrey Help

Search MySurrey Help to find useful articles about life at Surrey