International Students Before You Arrive

Welcome and Orientation 2026

A large group of students by the riverside with the castle and cathedral in the background

Before you arrive: Essential steps for new International Students

There are some steps that you must take to become a Durham student - such as enrolment and registration. There's also other things that we recommend you do so that you're ready to study and live in Durham.

Get started

1. Enrol and register online

This is the first and most important step you should take before you arrive. This will make you an official Durham student!

How to enrol for undergraduate students

How to enrol for postgraduate taught students

How to enrol for postgraduate research

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2. Get connected with My Digital Durham

Once you are enrolled, you get access to a range of digital services such as your university email account, FREE Microsoft 365 and Office subscription, plus a range of teaching and learning apps to help you with your studies.

Visit My Digital Durham

3. Selecting optional modules

From the 1 September, you will be able to select your optional modules as part of the registration process. It’s important that you take the time to read the information that your department will share with you before making your choices.

Undergraduate: selecting optional modules

Postgraduate taught: selecting optional modules

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4. Plan your Welcome Week

Use the handy Online Planner to create your personalised schedule, simply select:- Your Department - Your College - Your Level of Study (Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught or Postgraduate Research). This will then show the events most relevant to you.

The timetable has been designed so your College events don't clash with your Academic Department events. It provides lots of opportunities for you to meet your fellow students, find your way around and settle into student life.

Create your Personal Welcome Week Planner

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A group of students studying together on laptops

5. For undergraduates only: access the Transition to Higher Education online course

To make the transition to university as smooth as possible, we’ve worked with students to create an online pre-arrival course for you to complete. Use our virtual learning environment, Learn Ultra, to try out some valuable academic skills and to become familiar with our commonly-used digital tools.

Complete Transition into HE from late August

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6. Get to know your Department

There are a number of different ways you can get to know more about your department before you arrive, including looking at their Welcome webpages and exploring their Induction Site on Blackboard.

Find your Department's Welcome pages

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7. Find out more about your College

Your College is waiting to welcome you, visit their Welcome webpages to find out more. Your College will contact you directly with more information.

Find your College's Welcome pages

Explore more

We can't wait to welcome you to Durham and we're excited for you to experience everything that the University has to offer. Explore our New International Student Information for more ways that you can get prepare for living and studying in Durham.

Return to the New International Student information