Meeting our team
Our meet and greet team will meet you at either:
- London Heathrow Airport – Terminal 3 international arrivals lounge
- London Gatwick Airport – South Terminal international arrivals lounge
They will be there to help direct you towards our airport meet and greet pick-up coach service or public transport options, and answer your questions.
Airport meet and greet pick-up coach service
This is a free coach service for those arriving to study in the UK for the first time and staying in University halls of residence, or have a booking through the University in our private partner hall, Orion Point.
If you have any queries about the service or require any assistance, please email the meet and greet team.
If your flight is delayed and you miss your coach booking, we will release your space to another student on the waiting list and you will need to arrange your own travel to your accommodation. There will be helpful information on how to do this in your confirmation email.
If you are landing at a different terminal to where our meet and greet team will be based, you will need to transfer to the pick-up terminal. Please allow yourself enough time to complete any transfers.
Due to limited space, family and friends cannot accompany you on the coach service. If you are a PhD student travelling with your family, please email the meet and greet team.
Our free airport pick‑up coach service runs on set days only. It operates across 4 days, with coaches departing from the airport between 9am and 6pm.
Service dates
This year, the service will run on:
- Thursday 10 September
- Friday 11 September
- Sunday 13 September
- Monday 14 September
Places are limited on each date. Once all places are booked, the form will close.
If you arrive on a different date, or do not book in time, you will need to arrange your own transport to your accommodation.
Book your free airport meet and greet pick‑up coach service
As places are limited, booking the service in advance is essential.
You need to be a student arriving for the first time and staying in University halls of residence to be able to book – you will be asked for your accommodation contract number when booking.
Book our meet and greet service
Once booked, you will receive an automated confirmation receipt. We will also send you an email in September with more details on what you can expect at pick-up.
Pre-sessional meet and greet service
If you are a pre-sessional student arriving in the UK in July, you may book our pre-sessional meet and greet service.
The service runs on the following dates – select a date and complete the short booking form:
The booking forms for our pre-sessional meet and greet service are separate from the booking forms for our September meet and greet service.
Cancelling your meet and greet pick-up
If you need to cancel your meet and greet airport pick-up service for any reason, please complete our cancellation form.
Luggage
Due to limited space, the amount of luggage you can bring onto our meet and greet pick-up coach service is limited to:
- 2 large suitcases
- 1 item of hand luggage
- 1 rucksack or laptop bag
We understand some airlines may offer you more than this luggage allowance, however there is no space available for additional luggage on the coach.
Please email the meet and greet team before you book your seat if you need more luggage than our allowance, or to discuss other options available to you.
You are responsible for carrying your own luggage.
Independently travelling
If you arrive after the last meet and greet service or decide to travel independently, you can take a National Express coach to Southampton Central Coach Station or Winchester. Alternatively, you can take a train from London Gatwick Airport or London Heathrow Airport to Southampton.
There will be signs directing you to National Express or National Rail trains in the airports. National Express coaches run throughout the night.
Once you arrive in Southampton or Winchester, you will need to take a taxi to your University accommodation. We recommend using Radio Taxis.
If you are using the National Express coach service, or arriving by train at Southampton Central Train Station or Winchester, you will need to pay all travel costs.
Other meet and greet service providers
Some independent providers offer meet and greet services. However, they are not affiliated with the University and require you to cover all travel costs.