International Students
Resources to support students who are from outside the UK with their student life at Leeds Conservatoire.
Arrival Checklist
These are the things you need to do as you arrive in Leeds to begin your studies at Leeds Conservatoire, as well as set you up for life as a student in Leeds
1. Arriving In Leeds
Make arrangements for arriving at your accommodation and book your transport.
When you booked with your accommodation provider, they will provide you with information about checking into your student accommodation building; including if you are arriving out-of-hours.
Staff at your student accommodation are very experienced in supporting students and will be able to help with any queries that you have once you check in.
You can also contact the Accommodation Support Team at Leeds Conservatoire for advice.
FAQs
2. Find Your Welcome & Enrolment Week Schedule
Visit the Welcome Information Page to access the schedule.
From Monday 15th September 2025 you must attend your welcome and enrolment events. All students must take part in the following:
- Welcome Talk – address from the Vice-Principal and other key members of staff
- Enrolment – completing the final steps to fully enrol on your course, including providing your eVisa share code.
- Course Induction – a talk from the course leaders and key faculty members
- Wellbeing Talk – key information about living a safe and successful life as a student at the conservatoire
- Boost Webinar – extended induction session, equipping you for the start of your studies
There are also lots of social activities organised by the Students’ Union to enjoy!
3. Register with a Doctor
Registration at Leeds Student Medical Practice is available online.
Should you need assistance, please email the Health & Wellbeing Team at the conservatoire: HealthandWellbeing@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Leeds Student Medical Practice
4. Connect with the Leeds Conservatoire Students’ Union
Our Leeds Conservatoire Students’ Union is here to support you and help you settle in during your time studying here. From Fresher’s Week to charity fundraisers, gigs, sports events, and awareness days, there is always something exciting happening. They can also help you in organising your own events and projects.
There is a dedicated International Student Rep who is part of the Student Council, you can find out more about what Student Union Reps and the Student Council do on the LCSU page.
Other Student Unions in Leeds
Leeds Conservatoire students can also join other students unions societies at some of the other universities in Leeds. This could be another way of connecting with other students and socialising.
International Students’ Rep
Meet Bern Koh – your LCSU International Rep
5. Join a Language Exchange
Language Exchanges are a great way of learning a new language, whilst teaching someone else your language.
Leeds Language Exchange is a local organisation who can help you connect with other language speakers/learners, but there are various options available.
Language Exchange Links
Visa Information
Complying with the conditions of your student visa.
Complying With Your Visa Conditions
You have been granted a visa by the UK Home Office to study at Leeds Conservatoire.
You must ensure that you comply with the conditions of your visa by fully engaging with your course and the conservatoire as follows:
- You need to provide all the immigration documents that the Admissions Team have requested before you can fully register for your course
- You must prepare for and attend all of your timetabled classes, whether they are in-person or online
- You must prepare for and undertake your assessments
- You must inform the conservatoire of, and any change to, your address or UK mobile phone number
- You must inform the conservation if you lose, renew, or replace your passport or official immigration documents
- You must not work unless you are allowed to
- At the end of your course, you must leave the UK before your visa expires (unless you have been granted further leave).
Important Links
Visa Compliance Advice
What to do if you are unable to attend a lesson through illness or other unexpected circumstances…
If you cannot attend a class, for example if you are too ill, you should report your illness before the class starts, otherwise you will be recorded as absent rather than sick.
If you will be missing a Specialist Group Study class, you should also email your group study tutor to let them know that you will not be attending that class.
You will not succeed on your course if you do not attend your classes, plus the conservatoire is required by law to report any students on student visa who do not fully engage with their studies to the Home Office.
How do you update your contact information and what changes must you inform the conservatoire of…
You must inform the conservatoire if your UK mobile phone number or address changes. You can update your details on the My Portal student record system.
As a sponsor, Leeds Conservatoire is required by the Home Office to ensure up-to-date contact details for all students on a Student visa are held on record.
How do you ensure you do not breach the conditions of your visa by working…
You must not work if you are not allowed to do so. If you are allowed to work, you must not work more hours per week than you are legally allowed to. For the purpose of counting hours, the first day of a week is always a Monday.
You can work more hours outside term-time, for example in vacation periods and before or after your course starts or ends.
You are not allowed to be self-employed, so for example you can’t set yourself up as a guitar teacher, or promoter. Furthermore, you are also not allowed to work as an entertainer, playing a gig in a bar, or busking for example, even if you do not receive any payment for these activities.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website has more information about working on your Student Visa.
Graduate Route Visa
If you want to work in the UK after completing your degree or other relevant qualification, you may be eligible for the Graduate route. If granted you will be able to stay and work for up to 18 months.
Please see the information on the UKVI website, as there are some important conditions to a gradute route application.
Help Resources
Useful links, contacts, and resources for International Students.
If you are unsure who to contact at the conservatoire, you can email help@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk who will direct you to the correct information.
Useful Contacts & Services
Organisations and services outside the conservatoire who can help you:
UK Council for International Student Affairs offer independent international student advice.
Details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK, including heads of mission.
A service which works directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence & connections in partnership with the UK.
UKVI is part of the Home Office and is responsible for immigration documents, including student visas.
Health, Wellbeing & Safety
A confidential listening and information service targeted at students in the Leeds area.
General health information, phone 111 for non-emergency advice. For emergency services, phone 999.
High quality, professional and confidential sexual health services across Leeds.
Local crime information, including how to report a crime. In an emergency, dial 999. For non-emergencies dial 101.
Report a hate crime to this organisation, this can be done anonymously. Otherwise, contact the police.
Insurance provider specifically for students.
Specialist musical instrument insurance.
Contacts at Leeds Conservatoire
Key emails of teams who can support international students at the conservatoire:
studyvisas@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Contact the HE Registrar who can advise you on meeting your visa requirements.
healthandwellbeing@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Contact our dedicated international student wellbeing adviser, who can support you when you’re struggling with your mental health, anxiety, homesickness, stress or relationship issues.
skillsforlearning@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
The Skills for Learning team can support you with your academic skills such as academic writing, research, referencing, and presenting skills.
Leeds Conservatoire Services
Other information pages which you may find helpful:
Staying Safe
Avoiding Scams & Phishing Targeting International Students
There are occasionally stories in the press about international students being the target of fraudsters who want to take money from them. They frighten students into paying large sums of money (hundreds or thousands of pounds) by saying that they are at risk of deportation or penalties or a ban from the UK if they don’t pay.
If you receive a telephone call from someone who says they are from the Home Office or UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) or the Government, you should ask them for their name, job title and contact number so that you can ring them back when you have arranged for a member of conservatoire staff to be with you when you do. A genuine official would see this as an acceptable course of action.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you happen to receive any phone calls or letters like this. We are here and more than willing to assist you.
Advice Links
Check out these websites for additional resources and support