New International Students' Pre-Arrival and Arrival Information 2013

48 Pages·2013·13.04 MB·English

www.uclan.ac.uk/international
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New International
Students’ Pre-Arrival
and Arrival
Information 2013
Innovative thinking
for the real world
www.uclan.ac.uk/international
Contents I International Student Buddy Team 28
International Students’ Help Desk 28
International Student Support Team (ISST) 29
Hello from the University L Library 30
of Central Lancashire 3
Life in the UK 30
Introduction to the Guide 4
M Maps 31, 47
SECTION 1: PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION Medicines 31
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies M and M Mentoring 31
(CAS) Number, Visas and Immigration 5
Mobile phones 31
Insurance 10
Multi-Faith Centre 32
Integration 10
O Opportunities Centre 32
Accommodation 12
Opticians 32
Travelling to Preston 14
P Personal problems 33
Orientation 17
Plagiarism 33
SECTION 2: ARRIVAL INFORMATION Points-Based System 33
A Academic information 18 Police registration 34
Academic study methods 18 Preston 34
Advisory service for students with disabilities 19 S Safety bus 35
Attending classes 19 Security 35
B Bank accounts 20 Shopping 35
Buddies 20 Smoking 35
C Clubs and societies 20 Social life 36
Council tax 21 Social Media 36
Culture shock 21 Sports 36
Currency 21 Structure at UCLan 37
D Dentists 22 Student and Academic Support Service 37
Disability 22 Student Charter 37
Doctors and Health Care 22 Student Lobby 37
Driving in the UK 23 Students’ Union 38
E Electrical equipment 24 T Telephone cards 38
Emergencies 24 TV licence 39
English language support 24 The ‘i’ 39
Enrolment 24 The International Students’ Association 39
Events 25 Travelling outside the UK 40
F Facebook 25 Twitter 40
Fees 26 U UCLan corporate card 40
Food 27 V Visas - extending your Tier 4 visa 41
G General Practitioners 28 Voluntary work 41
Glasses/contact lenses 28 W Working in the UK during your studies 42
H Health centre 28 Working after your studies 43
Hospital 28 Contact Details 44-46
2 All information is correct at the time of printing.
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Hello from the University
of Central Lancashire
Dear Student, This guide has been
written for you to
Congratulations on deciding to study at the
give you as much
University of Central Lancashire!
information as possible
Preston is one of the UK’s newest cities to help you prepare to
offering an exciting social and cultural life, come and live and
combined with a warm welcome. The North study in Preston.
West of England is famous for its friendliness
If, after reading the booklet, you have
and you will find people happy to meet
any questions or would like any further
you and welcome you and the many other
information, please do not hesitate to
international students and visitors who
contact the International Student Support
come to Preston each year. The University
Team. I wish you a safe journey to Preston
of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is a dynamic,
and we all look forward to welcoming you
modern University and you will find student
to the University of Central Lancashire.
life busy, fun and intellectually stimulating.
Dr Graham Baldwin
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor
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www.uclan.ac.uk/international
Introduction
Going to live and study in another country is very exciting; it can also be very challenging.
At the University of Central Lancashire we have many years’ experience of welcoming
international students and we are here to help you every step of the way. We know that you
will have a lot of questions before you leave home and this booklet has been prepared to help
answer as many of your questions as possible.
This booklet contains key information for all accommodation and living in Preston. If, after
of our international students and it is very reading this booklet, you have any questions
important that you take the time to read please do not hesitate to contact us. Our
through it. Please print off this booklet and details are shown in the back of this booklet.
bring with you in your hand luggage when You do not have to wait until you have a
you travel to the UK. question to contact us: if you want to email
to say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, or to give
The map of the UK on the back page shows
us feedback on this booklet, we would love to
you where Preston is and how far it is from
hear from you.
other cities such as Manchester and London.
If you are bringing your family with you to We look forward to meeting you
live in the UK during your studies, you should when you arrive.
read carefully the sections on immigration,
John Quirk - Director of International Affairs
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Section 1: Pre-Arrival
Information Advice on how
to prepare for your life
and studies at UCLan
Confirmation of Acceptance
for Studies (CAS) Number,
Visas and Immigration
Tier 4 (General) Student Visa
To obtain your student visa you
International students applying to come to
must supply the British Embassy/High
the UK to study at degree level or above
Commission with the following:
(and some English language courses) will
normally have to apply for their visa under • a completed visa application
Tier 4 of the Points-Based System (PBS). The form with the required fee
only exceptions to this are non-EU/EEA/Swiss
Nationals (please see below – EU/EEA/Swiss • a current passport or travel document
National students). • a CAS number from UCLan (if applying
You should contact the visa section in your for Tier 4) OR a letter from UCLan
local British Embassy/High Commission and (if applying for a Student Visitor Visa)
they will be able to provide you with full • documents to show that you
information, including a list of all documents have the correct level of finances
that you will need to apply for a Tier 4 visa (maintenance) available
and information about any health checks/
certificates you may need to have/provide. • documents used by UCLan
when you were accepted onto the
You can apply for your Tier 4 visa three course (if applying for Tier 4)
months before the start date of your
programme of study. To check where your • your biometric details
nearest British Embassy is located, please visit
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
countries
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IMPORTANT Your CAS Number
Please check that, once granted, your Tier You will need a CAS number in order to
4 visa lasts for the duration of your course apply for a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK (or to
of study in the UK. It can be very difficult to switch from a different immigration route [or
change the information on your Tier 4 visa Tier] to Tier 4) under PBS. Your CAS number
once you have used it to travel to the UK. will confirm that UCLan is your sponsor, in
immigration terms, and that you have fulfilled
There is more information about coming to
our requirements for entry onto your course.
the UK to study on a Tier 4 visa at http://
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas- Please note that we will need to see
immigration/studying/ and on UCLan’s the originals of all your certificates and
International Office website transcripts at enrolment as well as your
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/study/ passport and visa (please see the section on
international_students.php Enrolment in Section 2).
The International Student Advisors at UCLan You should accept your offer as quickly as
are trained to provide you with specialist you can. If you applied through UCAS you
information about applying for a visa to should accept your offer through them. If
come to the UK and about extending your you have applied directly to UCLan or are a
visa when you are in the UK. postgraduate student you can confirm your
acceptance to your School or International
Further information about visas and
Admissions: [email protected]
immigration can be obtained from the UK
Council for International Student Affairs Registering with the police
(UKCISA) website: www.ukcisa.org.uk
Please see ‘Police Registration’ in Section 2
The UKCISA website is a very good resource of this booklet. This is done following your
and contains lots of information for arrival at UCLan.
international students.
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Enrolling and Attending FoundatiONCampus Courses
As a Tier 4 student, you will have a number of If you are coming to join a
very important responsibilities. These include FoundatiONCampus course please contact
enrolling on your course at the right time and the UCLan International Student Support
attending regularly. Penalties for failing to Team for advice about applying for your visa.
comply with PBS will be implemented by the
Students wishing to bring their
Home Office and may be severe and long-
lasting. UCLan staff are committed to helping families to the UK
you comply with PBS regulations. If you have
There are very strict rules about whether
any questions, please contact us.
you can bring your family to the UK whilst
For more information, please see you are studying. There is more information
‘Attending classes’ and ‘Enrolment’ in about this at: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
Section 2 of this booklet. student/immigration.php#bring_family
University Pre-Sessional If you are able to bring your family with you
to the UK during your studies, please be
English courses
aware that it may take some time for you
If you are coming for a University Pre- to find suitable accommodation for your
Sessional English course http://www.uclan. family – please see the Accommodation
ac.uk/courses/pre_sessional_english_ section on page 13. You may also need
language_programme.php and have a to arrange the enrolment of your children
conditional offer for a degree level course in school, if you have children between
(i.e. entry to your degree course depends on the ages of 4 and 16, and then organise
the successful completion of your University accommodation close to the school (please
Pre-Sessional English course) you will only get email [email protected] before you
a Tier 4 visa for the length of your University arrive; we can provide you with a list of
Pre-Sessional English course plus one month. schools and nurseries). For these reasons
Upon successful completion of this University we do not recommend that you bring your
Pre-Sessional English course, you would family with you to Preston until you have
have to apply for an extension to your Tier secured suitable accommodation.
4 visa (this can be done in the UK and the
If your husband/wife and/or dependant
International Student Advisors will be able
children are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals then
to help you with this). Please note that if you
they do not have to apply for a visa. We
hold a Student Visitor Visa whilst studying
would recommend that you apply for an EEA
the University Pre-Sessional English course,
Family Permit. Please contact us if you want
you will need to return home to apply for
more information about this.
a Tier 4 entry clearance visa for your main
degree course.
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www.uclan.ac.uk/international
Cost of living certain English language courses) you must
return home. You cannot ‘switch’ to a Tier
The cost of living in Preston represents
4 (General) Student Visa while you are in
excellent value for money compared to
the UK if you entered the UK with a Student
other cities in the UK. A single student (with
Visitor Visa.
no family) on a course lasting 9 months
or more will need to provide evidence to If you enter the UK on a Student Visitor
the Home Office of access to living costs/ Visa you will not be able to work (whether
maintenance funds totalling £7,200 per this is paid or unpaid; this includes work
year, in addition to evidence of funds to pay placements).
tuition fees. If you are on a course lasting less
If you are a non-visa national – i.e. you
than 9 months you will still be required to
do not need to obtain entry clearance
demonstrate access to maintenance funds of
before travelling to the UK – we would
£800 per month, as well as having enough
still recommend that you apply for entry
money to pay your tuition fees.
clearance as a student visitor before you
When you arrive in the UK you should travel. However, if you are a non-visa
ensure that you have enough money to pay national and you decide not to apply for
for your accommodation and buy food for your Student Visitor Visa before you travel
the first few days while you are waiting to to the UK, you will need to explain to the
open your bank account. We advise you not Immigration Officer at the UK airport/port
to bring large amounts of cash with you. You of entry about your course, stating that
should bring about £400 and carry it in your you require a Student Visitor Visa. You will
hand luggage. need to show documentation (your original
offer letter) for the course which lasts six
PLEASE REMEMBER: AS AN
months or less and evidence of your financial
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT YOU ARE
resources to pay tuition fees, living costs, and
NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE UK
the fare for your return journey home. Please
STUDENT LOANS COMPANY.
note: If the Immigration Officer refuses you
Student Visitor Visa (SVV) entry into the UK when you arrive and you
have not obtained your visa before you
You can apply for this type of visa if you travelled you will not be allowed to remain
are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss National coming in the UK to appeal against the decision to
to UCLan to study on any course which is refuse you entry; you would be sent home
for six months or less or for certain English immediately. A list of visa nationals can be
Language courses that last up to 11 months. found at the following web address (if your
country is not on this list, then you will be a
If you are a visa national – i.e. you need
resident of a non-visa national country):
to obtain entry clearance to come to the
UK – you must apply for this visa before http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
you travel to the UK. You should be aware visas-immigration/general-info/
that you cannot extend your Student Visitor
Visa while you are in the UK - at the end of
the six months (or 11 months if granted for
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Passports If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and you
have accepted a place on a course at UCLan,
If you have a passport and are using it to
you can enter the UK without a visa and you
apply for a visa to travel to the UK, please
also have the right to live in the UK for the time
check that it is not due to expire within the
you will be studying on your course.
next six months and that you have enough
blank pages left in it. Although not essential, people from the EU/
EEA can apply for a UK residence permit. A
EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals
residence permit simply confirms that EU/
EEA nationals have the right of residence in
The following countries are members of the
the UK under European Community Law.
EU/European Economic Area (EEA):
This is very helpful if your husband/wife or
Austria Greece Netherlands
dependants (children) are not EU/EEA/Swiss
Belgium Hungary Norway nationals and are going to live with you in
Preston. The EU/EEA Residence Permit is free
Bulgaria Iceland Poland
of charge to EU/EEA and Swiss nationals and
Cyprus Ireland Portugal their families. Please email us if you want any
further information about this.
Czech Republic Italy Romania
Denmark Latvia Slovakia
Estonia Liechtenstein Slovenia
Finland Lithuania Spain
France Luxembourg Sweden
Germany Malta United
Kingdom
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Integration
Integrating successfully into life in the
UK will mean the difference between
your experience being good and your
experience being fantastic! The process of
integration can start right now with you
preparing yourself for the differences you
will encounter in the UK; this preparation is
very important and we have attached a link
on our website to a free online resource to
help you develop an understanding of the
differences in academic life here and also
Insurance about how best to integrate socially and
culturally into life in the UK; the link is
www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk/
We strongly recommend that you arrange
adequate insurance for your stay in the UK. We want to help you to make the most of
We suggest your insurance includes: travel your time in the UK and get the maximum
insurance, belongings insurance and personal benefit from your time here. In order to help
insurance to cover unexpected events such as the process of you integrating into the life
the need to travel back to your home country and customs of the UK, and making friends
in an emergency. You may wish to arrange with both UK students and students from
appropriate insurance before you leave other countries, the International Student
home; alternatively, you may wish to make Support Team organises a wide range of
insurance arrangements once you are in the social events and activities in the first few
UK (although if you choose this option, please weeks of term and throughout the academic
ensure you have enough travel insurance for year, including a welcome party, day trips
your journey to the UK). and evening events. Please make every effort
to join in these activities as integrating well
Companies such as Endsleigh Insurance
from the start will help you to have a rich
offer good student packages - see
and varied experience in the UK.
www.endsleigh.co.uk. Remember to
make sure your insurance covers the value of You can also watch videos of some of
your possessions. UCLan’s international students talking about
integration at: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/
international/
10 All information is correct at the time of printing.