Arrivals day

We'll be on hand to make moving into your new home a fun and exciting experience
Arrivals day

Congratulations and welcome to the University of Plymouth
and University-managed halls! Below you'll find everything you need to know about joining us this September.

This year arrivals will take place over a longer period of time than usual in order to ensure social distancing is maintained. A plan has been prepared to manage traffic flow around campus, parking and to minimize queuing for lifts and access to flats. This will make your move into your new home as hassle-free as possible. It is important that you stick to your arrival time and read your arrivals information carefully in order to ensure a smooth arrival for you and everyone else. We look forward to welcoming you this September!

Essential arrival and check-in information


Arrivals are being split over several days and will depend on your length of contract. Please look at your portal for available time slots. Colour-coded routes have been created for your smooth arrival, they are available to download below and will also be posted around the city.

  • There are a number of bus-only lanes across the main routes into the city to be aware of, including Embankment Road, Exeter Street and Tavistock Road (A386). See Plymouth City Council’s parking pages for more information.
  • Time slots are currently being sent out to students via email. 
  • It is important that you arrive at the specified time to allow for a smooth moving process for yourself and other students.
  • Please print off and fill in your specific hall parking permit/window card. You will need to display this upon arrival at your hall
  • On arrival, you’ll be met by University staff and students. We will be adopting a 'drop and go' principle where you will unload straight away and then move your car. Maps for parking locations will be supplied
  • Trolleys will be available for unloading
  • Please refrain from ordering any shopping deliveries to halls of residence over the weekend of arrivals. Delivery vans will be unable to park at the halls as we have suspended the parking bays in the surrounding roads.

Prior to arrival

  • download your specific hall route map
  • take note of your move-in time slot
  • print off the relevant parking permit for your hall and ensure that it is filled in correctly.

On arrival

  • please follow our designated route maps to your hall (not a satellite navigation system) as these routes have been carefully mapped out to reduce the volume of traffic and disruption within the city
  • park in the drop-off zone and display your parking permit
  • collect your keys and a member of the team will escort you to your flat
  • unload your vehicle as quickly as possible
  • relocate your vehicle to a longer stay car park (maps will be provided).

Route Maps

Parking Permits

Blue route A–D

Red route

Booking your time slot

You will be invited by email to log onto your accommodation portal to book an arrivals time slot. If you are unable to make any of the slots available please email residencelife@plymouth.ac.uk stating the date and time you would like to book and we will see if we are able to accommodate the request. Please note that due to managing social distancing measures we may not be able to accommodate all requests. 

If you are arriving by car the time slots are for unloading your belongings only, You will then need to find alternative parking if you wish to stay longer.

Arriving outside of your allocated time slot will limit your ability to park close-by, and may disrupt the moving in experience for yourself and other students.

Medicine and Dentistry student arrivals

You will be able to book a move in time slot for the 11th or 12th of September. Staff will be on site and available to help ensure your arrival goes smoothly and is a positive and exciting experience. Please check your emails for more information on your parking options during your arrival slot. 

43 week licence holders

You will be able to pre-book your arrival time slot for either the 4th or the 5th of September. You will receive further information on how to collect your keys via email.

41 week licence holders

Your arrivals will take place between the 15th and the 20th of September. The arrival slots available to you will be dependent on which hall you are moving into and the location of your flat. You will receive an email inviting you to book your slot via the accommodation portal. 

Arriving by public transport

If you are arriving by public transport, please ensure that you arrive within your pre-booked time slot. On our website, we have provided some useful information about getting to the University of Plymouth campus.

International student arrivals

You will be invited by email to book your arrivals time slot via the accommodation portal. We are offering a free meet and greet coach service for International Students from Heathrow Airport. Student ambassadors or members of staff will meet you at the airport and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Book your seat on one of our coaches or visit our International student welcome page for more advice.

  • Coach one: Monday 31 August – the latest time to book on to this coach is 24 August.
  • Coach two: Tuesday 15 Sept – the latest time to book on to this coach is 9 September.
The coach is free and is only available to students (unfortunately not for accompanying family or friends due to limited space). Once you have booked your seat, further information on where to meet the coach and other information will be sent a week prior to your arrival.

Self-isolation

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions students arriving in the UK from designated countries will be required to self isolate for 14 days before they can leave their accommodation and attend University events and teaching sessions. If you are travelling to Plymouth from outside of the UK please check on the government website if this affects you. If you do need to self isolate please email residencelife@plymouth.ac.uk so we can put support in place for you.

Please see our University-managed accommodation guidance for more information concerning COVID-19.