January 2015 Your pre-departure checklist Before you depart, please make sure you have: Informed the Admissions Centre (AC) that you have received your visa Informed the AC of your flight arrival details Requested a taxi transfer with us, should you require this service Booked your accommodation and received confirmation of your room allocation Made a copy of your passport and other essential documents Taken four passport-sized photos to bring with you. 18517_05/14 Welcome from your Head of Centre Welcome to the University of Lancaster International Study Centre (ISC).The start of term is fast approaching and I expect you are planning for your arrival in the UK. To help you as much as possible, we have put together some useful tips. It is extremely important that you arrive on time in order to report to the ISC between 09.00 and 15.00 on Monday 12 January 2015 for registration (please ensure you have your documentation, including your passport, with you). Your course and induction will begin at 15.00 when you will need to report to the George Fox Lecture Theatre (see below). During the first week you will have a complete induction to the ISC and the university, including a campus tour. You will also meet your teachers and receive your all-important timetable. Please do not arrive at your accommodation before Thursday 8 January if you have been allocated university accommodation or before Friday 9 January if you have been allocated a room at the Cable Street residence as it will not be ready. The Admissions Centre can provide you with a list of hotels in the local area should you wish to arrive earlier. Please also ensure you provide your flight details by emailing [email protected] so we know when to expect you. We are looking forward to welcoming you here at the ISC and ensuring that you have a good start to your studies. Sincerely Sunil Banga Contact information Head of Centre Sunil Banga Address of the ISC International Study Centre B Floor George Fox Building Lancaster University Lancashire LA1 4YX England Telephone number +44 (0) 1524 594623 Emergency telephone number* +44 (0) 7824 592783 Please note, after you arrive in the UK, you no longer have to dial +44 when you call any of the contact numbers. Instead dial 0 and then the phone number. *Our emergency phone line is very busy over the arrivals weekend so we kindly request that this is only used if you have a particularly urgent issue. Lancaster University International Study Centre Useful links Lancaster ISC Facebook page Visit Lancashire Visit Britain UK Maps BBC Weather Centre www.facebook.com/isclancaster www.visitlancashire.com www.visitbritain.com www.streetmap.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/weather If you are a new student coming to the Lancaster University International Study Centre, this information should answer some of your questions and help you prepare for your arrival at the ISC: Your pre-departure checklist Before you depart make sure you have: Informed the Admissions Centre (AC) if you have received your visa Informed the AC of your flight arrival details by emailing [email protected] Requested a taxi transfer with us, should you require this service, also by emailing [email protected] Booked your accommodation and received confirmation of your room allocation Made a copy of your passport and other essential documents Taken four passport-sized photos to bring with you. What to pack/bring Essential items to bring with you include: Your passport* Visa/Home Office letter* CAS* Offer letter* Accommodation documents* Your qualification certificates A sponsor letter (if you are being sponsored) Passport-sized photographs Essential toiletries and medications. *These items should be packed in your hand luggage Don’t forget to pack photographs of family and friends to help brighten up your new room. You may also wish to bring a towel as this is not included in a bedding pack you are able to pre-order. (Bedding and towels can be bought in local shops after arrival, but these may not be open if you are arriving during the late evening/night.) It is important that you have original copies of all documentation on paper not in electronic formats on smart phones, tablets or other electronic devices. Before flying, check with your airline what you are allowed to bring onto the flight, particularly with reference to food products. Lancaster University International Study Centre Arriving in the UK/at your accommodation By plane/pre-booked taxi Please be prepared for an immigration interview with UKVI staff at the airport on arrival; you must be able to answer questions and have a basic conversation without the assistance of an interpreter – failure to do so may result in access to the UK not being granted and having to return home. If you are arriving by plane and have booked a taxi pick-up from the airport, you will be met by the taxi driver in the Arrivals Hall. The driver will be holding a sign with your name and Lancaster University International Study Centre on it and they will take you to your taxi. If you cannot find the taxi driver, please follow these instructions: 1. Telephone One Transport on 0207 281 5522 and ask them to contact the taxi driver for you – give them your name, your booking reference and the name of the ISC. Stay where you are instructed to be so that the taxi driver can find you. 2. If you still cannot find the taxi driver, please call the ISC emergency number (in the Contact Information section above) and a member of staff will assist you. In the unlikely event that no-one answers immediately, please leave a message, including your contact details, and somebody will return your call as soon as possible. Please do not take a private taxi before you have spoken to someone on the ISC emergency number. The taxi driver will take you to collect your keys for your accommodation – they will have been informed where you will be staying, but it is a good idea for you to have the details to hand too. Please check your room confirmation for details of where and when to collect your keys. Please do not pay the taxi driver as your fare will have been pre-paid. Making your own way to your accommodation By train There are trains directly from Manchester Airport to Lancaster every hour throughout the day and early evening. Journeys take between 1½ and 2 hours. You can check exact train times in advance online at www.nationalrail.co.uk, or when you arrive at the train station. Some journeys are not direct and may involve changing trains more than once. A one-way ticket currently costs approximately £20. Once you arrive at Lancaster Station, you can call a taxi on 01524 848848 to take you to your accommodation. You will be picked up just outside the station and the cost will be between £6 and £9 depending on luggage and passengers. Ask the taxi driver to drop you at your College if you have university accommodation. By car – university accommodation If you are arriving by car, you should be able to drive to the porter’s lodge to collect your keys. You can take your vehicle to the residence and unload, but then you should park in one of the visitor car parks for the day. Please ensure you ring home to inform your parents or agent that you have arrived at your accommodation safely – they will be worried about you and will want to know as soon as possible. Lancaster University International Study Centre Your accommodation Your accommodation will be available from Thursday 8 January if you have a university room and from Friday 9 January at the Cable Street residence, so please do not arrive before these dates. We recommend you arrive no later than Saturday 10 January. If you need to arrange a room for a period prior to these dates, please contact the Admissions Centre (AC) who can provide a Private Accommodation factsheet with information to enable you to book alternative accommodation. The ISC is unable to provide last-minute accommodation on arrival and it is the student’s responsibility to secure somewhere to stay pre-arrival. Please note that dependent on your study plan, you may be required to move rooms during your course, and may have to sign separate contracts for each tenancy period. Late arrivals Please be aware that allocated rooms may not be held past the start of term, unless agreed in advance with the accommodation provider. Late arriving students may lose their original room and have to re-apply for accommodation on arrival, at which point there can be no guarantees as to the availability. There may also be a financial penalty imposed. If you know that you will miss the start of term and have been allocated residential accommodation, you must ensure that you have emailed your flight details to [email protected] so we can inform the accommodation provider. Key collection University accommodation Once at your accommodation you will be met by college security staff who will tell you where your room is and give you your keys. The college staff will make sure you also have your room inventory and welcome information. It is recommended that you arrive between 09.00 and 17.00, however, the security staff are on duty 24 hours a day to help with any problems you may have with your accommodation. Cable Street residence Keys can be collected from the reception which is open 24/7. Students will be required to provide their estimated time of arrival in advance. Bedding pack University accommodation A set of bedding (duvet, pillow, covers for both duvet and pillow, bed sheet, mattress protector) can be requested online when you apply for your room: https://online-payments.lancaster-university.co.uk The cost is £35 and this will be charged to your university account. Cable Street residence Students will be contacted directly with details of what bedding is available to order. Prices start at £35. Catering University accommodation All accommodation is self-catered and communal kitchens are equipped with cooking facilities. You will however need to provide your own crockery, cutlery and pans. These can be bought cheaply from local shops. Cable Street residence Students will be contacted directly with details of what is available to order. Smoking – university accommodation Smoking is not permitted in any building owned or managed by the university, including bedrooms. Cleaning – university accommodation The university provides a cleaning service for communal areas. Lancaster University International Study Centre Settling in When you arrive we aim to help you to settle in as quickly and as smoothly as possible. We know that you may feel anxious that you do not know anyone, but everyone feels the same and living in student accommodation you soon get to meet your neighbours. You will have access to a telephone service and broadband internet from your room, so keeping in touch with family and friends is easy. Your first day It is very important that you arrive on time and are ready to start your course. Registration will take place at the ISC between 09.00 and 15.00 on Monday 12 January 2015. Your course and induction will begin at 15.00 when you will need to report to the George Fox Lecture Theatre (map reference 55). A map of the campus can be found here: www.lancaster.ac.uk/maps/campus.pdf If you have an enquiry, staff will be available at the ISC, B Floor, George Fox Building (map reference 55) between 08.30 and 17.00, Monday to Friday. It is important that you register with the College Administrator in your college as soon as possible after arrival. This should be between 09.00 and 17.00, Monday to Friday. This applies to off-campus students as well as those living on campus. On your first day you must bring your passport, evidence of your SELT (Secure English Language Test) and visa with you so that we can register you for your course. Students who do not arrive for the first day of term may be required to take additional classes in order to remain on track – additional costs will be incurred which students will be required to pay in Centre. Your first week Induction activities During your first week of term you will have a complete introduction to the UK, the university and the ISC. The induction programme is designed to help you settle down within the university so that you can concentrate on your studies. You will receive information about starting your individual courses, including timetables and academic information, and will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions. You will also have the opportunity to meet your Head of Centre, ISC staff members and your teachers. You will be tested to ensure that you are allocated to the correct class for your current level of Maths and English. In some cases, it may require that your study plan is changed, which can incur additional costs. You will also: Take part in social and sporting activities for ISC students Register with the university and receive a student ID and library card Get set up and logged on to the university internet network Learn about the programme that you have registered for including information relating to progression to the university Learn the rules and regulations of the ISC and the university Open a bank account Register with local health services Ask questions about accommodation issues Learn about visa applications Register with the UK police, if necessary. Lancaster University International Study Centre Opening a bank account If you are coming to the UK for at least an academic year, it is recommended that you open a bank account. Before opening an account, you should check whether money can be transferred into it from outside of the UK. To open a UK bank account you will need a letter from the ISC for the bank confirming that you are a full-time student. Our staff will help you with this in your first week. Please note that the International Study Centre cannot accept large cash payments. Warning: DO NOT carry large amounts of cash with you or keep large amounts of cash in your accommodation. Police registration If on entering the UK your visa is stamped with the words ‘Register with UK police on arrival’ you will have the opportunity to do so during your first week with us. Staff at the ISC will help you with this. You will need your passport and a sum of money, currently in the region of £34. You will be given further information on registering with the police during the induction programme. Medical information There are medical facilities located on or near to campus. Staff will ensure you are registered at the local Health Centre, and will show you where the closest pharmacy is located, where you can collect prescribed medication. End of term It's essential that you book any flights home after the official end of term date, which can be found on the ISC's noticeboards and in your induction pack. Please check before making final travel arrangements at the end of the course in case it is necessary to stay on in order to receive results and be informed about the next steps in your study plan. Lancaster University International Study Centre
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