Welcome to BU

We would like to offer a very warm welcome to you. You are joining a successful and vibrant modern institution, with ambitious plans based on our powerful concept of Fusion. This brings together research, education and practice, creating a unique staff and student experience where the sum is greater than the component parts. Through Fusion, we support our staff to think differently and find solutions – whether it is a way of enhancing the degrees we offer, developing an exciting new direction for research or engaging with the local community to develop their passion and knowledge for a particular subject.

We benefit from a wonderful location; famous for its seven-mile stretch of award-winning sandy beaches, Bournemouth is quite simply one of the most stunning coastal towns in the country. 

There will be a lot to do in order to move to the UK. To help, we have created this International Staff section of the website. If having read all the guidance, you have any queries about moving to Bournemouth, starting at BU or require assistance with your visa, please contact our Compliance Manager via email or phone +44 (0) 1202 961133. 

We have created a pre-arrival checklist, which includes some useful tips and advice to ensure you are prepared for your arrival in the UK, including how to travel to Bournemouth. When you first arrive in Bournemouth there are a number of important steps for you to take, some of which we suggest you do in a certain order. For instance, in order to open a bank account, you will need to show your passport and a proof of residence, such as a local rental contract or council tax or utility bill with your name and current local address. If you would like a mobile phone contract or other utility services, you will need a bank account. 

Here are the most important things to do when you arrive and a suggested order to complete the tasks in:

  1. Organise travel to the UK and to BU, including driving in the UK.
  2. Contact our Compliance Manager and visit Human Resources with your visa and confirm your first date of work. If you have been issued with a vignette in your passport you must also collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of entering the UK or before your vignette expires, whichever is the later. Once you have your BRP you must visit Human Resources with this.
  3. Register with the police – the UKVI website provides details of which nationalities need to register and how to register with the police. Further details are provided below.
  4. Find somewhere to live
  5. Organise your finances
  6. Arrange mobile phone and household utilities
  7. Register with a local Doctor

Police Registration

Dependent on nationality and if you are in the UK for more than 6 months you may need to register with the police within 7 days of arriving in the UK.  If you need to register with the police and are travelling from outside the UK, it will be stated on your entry clearance vignette. If you have applied for leave to remain and are already in the UK you will receive a letter from the Home Office when your visa application is approved which will confirm that you are required to register with the police. 

The UKVI website provides details of which nationalities need to register and how to register with the police, including the documents required.