New students guide

We look forward to welcoming you to the Royal Agricultural University where a new and exciting chapter of your life is about to begin.

We understand that you may have many questions about arriving here and these pages should hopefully go some way to providing answers. Please spend time in particular reading the Registration Information – completing your online self-registration before you arrive is vital to ensure there are no delays to receiving your student ID, moving into accommodation and starting your studies. Your first few days with us should be all about enjoying settling in here, not queuing and waiting to join in.

Registration information

Soon after 15 August 2024 you will receive an email from the RAU’s Registry Team, with your log-in credentials and additional details of how to complete your self-registration.

Before arriving, please log into the Student Portal and complete all the steps to self-register, especially:

  • Check and update all your details to enrol
  • Upload a valid form of photographic ID
  • Upload a passport style photo for your student ID card
  • Pay / confirm funding for your tuition and accommodation

Checking your ID and preparing your student ID card are manual processes. Please keep in mind at this time of year it can take a few days to go through any last-minute submissions, so upload your details as soon as possible.

Timetables

Once you've completed your self-registration your personal timetable will be available. This will show details of your lectures, seminars and other teaching events – when and where they take place, and who is leading them. You can find a link to your personal timetable on the Gateway home page.

If you're having issues with your timetable, please read the timetable FAQs by clicking the link.

Laboratory sessions

All students participating in laboratory activities will require their own full length “Howie” Type lab coat. These can be purchased through the following websites:

The quality of the coat needs to be of sufficient standard to protect from chemical spillage. No student will be admitted into the laboratory activities without a lab coat for Health and Safety reasons.

International students

Each year we offer an optional International Students' Welcome day to welcome new EU and international students. The welcome day takes place before the start of the new academic year and helps international students prepare for their time with us. To find out more and book the Welcome day click here.

University Health Centre

The local GP surgery, Phoenix Health Group, operates a health centre on the University campus. Students registered as patients with Phoenix Health Group will be allocated a named GP and will have access to the health centre's services. The health centre is managed by two nurse practitioners with advanced clinical training, who support students with a range of needs, for example: contraception, sexual health, long term conditions, mental health support, wound care, immunisations and minor illness. The nurse practitioners can also provide medical evidence for extenuating circumstances. The health centre offers both pre-booked routine appointments and on the day consultations, either face to face or over the phone, where students will be supported in the most appropriate way. This may involve referral to GPs or other specialist professionals.

The health centre is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and appointments are made via the Phoenix Health Group telephone number. Outside the health centre’s opening hours registered students can access support at the main surgeries in Tetbury and Cirencester.

To register please use the following link. New patient registration (RAU student) – Phoenix Health Group.