Brochure - ISH

International Student Handbook

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Helios International College

Contents

Title: Version:

International Student Handbook July 2010

This publication is for informational purposes only. Whereas every effort has been made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate at the time of going to press, Helios International College accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions featured in the publication.

Published July 2010. Copyright Š 2010 by Helios International College, Dawson House, 276-278 Northolt Road, South Harrow, Middlesex HA2 8EB, United Kingdom.

Helios International College. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United Kingdom. This publication is protected

by Copyright and permission should be obtained from the Helios International College prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise.

For information regarding permission(s), write to: Helios International College, Dawson House, 276-278 Northolt Road, South Harrow, Middlesex HA2 8EB, United Kingdom.

Welcome from the Principal 5 About Helios International College 6 Immigration 7 Before travelling to the UK 12 Pre-arrival checklist 14 London and the British Culture 15 Financial matters 16 Weather and Climate 18 Essential documents checklist 19 Ready to travel to the UK 20 After arriving to the UK 21 Playing it safe on arrival 22 Travel 24 Accommodation 25 Food and Drink 25 Electricity 25 Banking 26 Healthcare 26 Communication 26 After arriving to the college 27 Students support and counselling 28 Permission to work 29 National insurance and income tax 30 Council tax 30 Studying at Helios International College 31 Useful Websites 35

Helios International College

A very warm welcome to Helios International College. We hope that you will have an enjoyable and rewarding experience as a student here.

We are delighted that you have decided to come to Helios International College to study in the UK. In this handbook is some information and advice which may be helpful to you before you arrive at Helios International College and during your stay with us.

If you have any questions once you have read this guide please do not hesitate to contact the International Office at Helios International College.

International applications and enquiries: international@helioscollege.com Helios International College Web Address: www.helioscollege.com We look forward to welcoming you upon your arrival at Helios International College.

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Helios International College

Welcome from the Principal I am delighted that you have chosen to join us at Helios International College and I wish you every happiness and success during your time with us.

As a nation and as individuals, we have a long history of welcoming students from around the world. Over the years we have seen many thousands of international students graduate and go into jobs that repay, economically and in terms of personal fulfilment, many times over their time spent here with us.

Renowned for its friendly and caring community, Helios International College is today home to students and staff from many different countries. This national and cultural diversity contributes to make a lively and welcoming community which should help to make you feel comfortable, relaxed, safe and ready to succeed. Our friendly staff and close and supportive environment will all help you to adjust to your new environment from the moment you arrive and will be there for you until the day

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you leave.

Our faculty have been carefully selected from amongst the world’s best and as such are recognised widely as authorities in their respective fields by both practitioners and other academics.

We constantly question the quality and effectiveness of what we do, reappraising our primary goal – how to realise the potential of each and every one of our students. We would like you all, wherever you are coming from, to make your individual mark and when the time comes for us to say goodbye, you will take with you everything you need to succeed in your chosen career.

Of course you will have a life beyond study and having chosen to come to London, you will find yourself in one of the world’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities. Few others can compare with London’s tremendous diversity of ancient buildings, shopping streets or its wealth of sport and leisure facilities.

I am confident that the people of

London will join with the faculty, staff and with me in extending a very warm welcome to you all.

Dr Martin Graham Principal

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Helios International College

About Helios International College We are a private education provider offering a variety of high quality but affordable higher education experiences to both continuing and mature students.

Education and training are offered from our specialist facilities in west London and can be taken out to corporate customers both here in the UK and oversees.

The in-house courses that we offer can lead to the achievement of internationally recognised qualifications accredited by and including: Edexcel City and Guilds The Association of Business Executives (ABE) The Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA)

We also offer a range of short courses, specially designed for people wishing to top up their knowledge base particularly in the fields of: IT and computing English language Business development

Being listed in the UKBA Tier 4 Sponsor Register we can accept international as well as domestic students.

Externally and for corporate clients, our research and consultancy capability can design and deliver bespoke education and training materials throughout the world particularly in the fields of: All aspects of the English language e.g. spoken, written, listening and understanding for social and business applications Business management and governance Business finance and accounting

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Why study at Helios International College?

Helios International College provides its students with a culture of openness, determination and educational focus that combine to set us head and shoulders above similar institutions. We make this claim with confidence because our faculty and staff are all friendly, professionally qualified and dedicated to: Delivering quality service and education Providing individual care and support to each of our students Focusing on a culture of probity and honesty in all our undertakings Adopting a diverse yet coherent outlook Providing the very latest IT equipment and support Being available for our students to provide academic and pastoral support Offering an affordable fee structure Having available English Language support for any students who might need it

Helios International College is located in suburban London providing a safe and peaceful environment in which to live and study, whilst being within easy reach of both the centre of this vibrant city and of its beautiful countryside.

This location is convenient to Heathrow airport, is just 2 minutes from the Tube system and has many local buses passing its door.

However, you don’t have to travel far to enjoy a rich variety of multi-cultural shops and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, places of worship, entertainment, libraries, sports facilities etc, in fact everything you need and are familiar with can be found close by.

We look forward to welcoming you and for you to enjoying the experience of studying at Helios International College in the very near future.

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Immigration Warning: The UK Border Agency makes regular changes to the guidance it issues on student applications. Before you make your application, check the UKCISA information sheets www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_ sheets.php to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of this information.

Who is this information for?

This information is for you if you are currently outside the UK and you want to come as student to the UK. This information explains what you need to do about immigration in order to come and study in the UK. On 31 March 2009, the immigration rules for students changed and became Tier 4 of the Points Based Immigration System. If you want to come to the UK to study, you will have to make an immigration application to the UK immigration authorities in your home country for permission to come to the UK as a ‘student’ under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. Permission to come to the UK is called ‘entry clearance’. You should wait until you have obtained entry clearance before you book any non-refundable travel tickets.

If you want to make a successful entry clearance application, it is extremely important that: before you make your application, you read and understand the UKBA Tier 4 policy guidance, which is available to download from [www.ukba. homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk] references in here are to version 04/10 you check that you meet all the requirements before you apply you provide evidence in exactly the format required by the UKBA, as explained in the policy guidance and on the application form you complete all sections of the form fully and accurately you allow plenty of time to make your application and to start gathering documents.

If you do not fully meet all the requirements, or if you provide evidence which is not exactly what the UKBA asks for, it is very likely that your application will be refused.

Immigration permission is given to students either as a Tier 4 General student or a Tier 4 Child student. You will need to decide whether you should apply as a Tier 4 General student or a

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Tier 4 Child student. This will depend on your age at the time you submit your immigration application, the length of the course and the level of the course that you want to study. You should read the Tier 4 policy guidance to ensure that you apply for the correct type of entry clearance.

Note: If you are coming to study for a maximum of six months, you may have an alternative, which is to come as a ‘student visitor’ or a ‘child visitor’. Student visitors and child visitors are allowed to study part-time but are not allowed to do any kind of work or work placement (even if it is part of a course, or is unpaid). As a student visitor you must leave the UK at the end of this six month period, you are not allowed to apply for more time in the UK. If your studies are extended you will need to return home and apply for new entry clearance as a Tier 4 student.

Student visitors are not allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while still in the UK.

rated, by looking at the Register of Tier 4 Sponsors which is available online to view or download at [www. ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/ documents/employersandsponsors/ pointsbasedsystem/ registerofsponsorseducation].

The course you want to do is at a high enough level if the course leads to a qualification which is: approved at level 4 or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), or at the same level or above on the equivalent frameworks that apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland an English language course, at a minimum of level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) an English language course, at any level, if you are sponsored by your home Government or by the UK Government a study abroad programme in the UK which you want to study as part of a qualification which you are studying at a higher education institution abroad (the qualification you are studying for abroad must be at the same level as a UK degree as confirmed by UK NARIC)

If you want to find out about coming to the UK as a student visitor or as a child visitor, see the UK Border Agency leaflet Guidance - Visitors (INF2) www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/ inf2visitors

The rest of this information is all about coming to the UK as a student under Tier 4 of the Points Based System (not as a student visitor or child visitor).

If you are 18 years old or more when you make your immigration application You must apply as a Tier 4 General student. The UK Border Agency sometimes refers to Tier 4 General students as ‘adult students’, in its documents. You will not be granted immigration permission as a general student unless:

AND the institution has a Tier 4 sponsor licence rated either A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor). These courses must not contain any work placements.

In addition to the courses listed above, if your institution has a Tier 4 Highly Trusted sponsor licence, it can also offer courses which:

The college or university that you want to go to has the relevant Tier 4 sponsor licence AND The course you want to do is at a high enough level AND You satisfy strict financial requirements.

A Tier 4 sponsor licence is issued by the UK Border Agency to approved institutions (schools, colleges and universities) within the UK. This licence allows each institution to teach people who come to the UK to study. Every institution issued with a Tier 4 licence will be rated as Highly Trusted, A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor).

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are approved at level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), or at the same level or above on the equivalent frameworks that apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - an example of a course that is at level 3 is an ‘A’ level course contain work placements. These work placements must be an assessed part of the course and do not exceed 50% of the length of the course in the UK (other than where the law requires the work placement to be longer in order to obtain the qualification).

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guidance) to prove that your parent or guardian is in fact your parent or guardian:

The financial requirements If you have financial sponsorship from an official financial sponsor (as defined in the Home Office Policy Guidance, see Note below) you will need: A letter from them confirming that they will cover ALL your fees and living costs is all that you need, to meet the financial requirements. There are precise instructions in the policy guidance regarding the format the letter must take, paragraphs 125-126 for Tier 4 general. Make sure the letter complies with every one of the instructions. If it does not, it will be ignored and you will not meet the financial requirements.

your original birth certificate, or a notarised copy, showing the name of your parent or parents whose bank account you are using for this immigration application if you are adopted, the original certificate of adoption, or a notarised copy, showing your name and the name of your parent whose bank account you are using if you have a legal guardian, an original court document, or notarised copy, which shows the name of your guardian whose bank account you are using.

Official financial sponsors are defined in the policy guidance, paragraphs 120 and 204, as:

If you have a definite offer of a loan from an officially regulated financial institution (for example, a bank):

the UK Government your home government the British Council any international organisation any international company (note that the Home Office has not defined “international company” in its policy guidance) an independant school any university

If you do not have financial sponsorship from an official financial sponsor, or if you do not have the right amount of cash yet, you may still be able to demonstrate your financial eligibility if you have a definite offer of a loan from an officially regulated financial institution (for example, a bank).

If your official financial sponsor is not covering ALL of your course fees and living costs, you must show that you have the rest of the money required.

Please read the information for people who do not have financial sponsorship from an offical financial sponsor (immediately below) for details of the additional evidence that you must provide.

If you do NOT have financial sponsorship from an official financial sponsor: You must have a minimum amount of cash in a bank or building society account (or an account with an officially regulated financial institution). The account can be in your name, or in your parents’ or legal guardian’s name. It can be a joint account with someone else, but only if your name is on the account too. See the Tier 4 policy guidance, paragraphs 127-133 (general students) for full details.

If you apply using a bank account in your parents’ or guardian’s bank name or names, you must also provide one of the following documents (see paragraphs 134-135 of the policy

International Student Handbook

You will be able to demonstrate this if you can provide a letter from the financial institution confirming that the money will be loaned to you. There are precise instructions in the policy guidance about the format the letter must take, paragraph 133 for Tier 4 general and paragraph 216 for Tier 4 child students. Make sure the letter complies with every one of those instructions. If it does not, it will be ignored and you will not meet the financial requirements.

If the loan is for less than the amount described under `How much money do I need?’ (below), then the letter about the loan will not be enough on its own (you can still use the letter, but will have to use one or more of the other methods to show that you have the rest of the money - for example, you can hold the rest of the money as cash in a bank or building society account, provided you comply with all the requirements described in this information sheet for people who hold their money in that way).

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How much money do I need?

This depends on: how long your course is; and whether you will study in London, or outside London (here ‘London’ means the inner London boroughs, which are: Camden, City of London, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster):

Length of course

Where you will study

Money needed

Nine months or less

In London

Course Fees plus £800 for each calendar month* of the course

Nine months or less

Outside London

Course fees plus £600 for each calendar month* of the course

In London

Course fees for one year only plus £7,200

Outside London

Course fees for one year only plus £5,400

More than nine months More than nine months

*Part months should be ‘rounded up’ to the next month (for example, if your course lasts six months and 5 days, you need to have money for seven months).

Can I make any deductions if I have paid some of my course fees, or fees for accommodation arranged by my college or university?

Yes, you can deduct the following from the total amount of money you need: whatever you have already paid towards course fees; and anything you have paid towards your future accommodation fees, if your college or university has arranged accommodation for you.

See the Tier 4 policy guidance paragraphs 118-119 (general students) for details.

You cannot deduct anything for accommodation fees if you arrange the accommodation with a private landlord or housing company.

You will need to provide the evidence described outlined in the policy guidance, paragraphs 123-124 for general students, to show that you qualify to make these deductions. For example, any fees already paid to your Tier 4 sponsor can be included in the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or you should provide an official receipt for the fees (not an online receipt).

What evidence do I need from the bank or building society or financial institution?

The policy guidance gives very precise instructions about the evidence you must produce, in paragraphs 127-133 for general students and paragraphs 211-216 for child students. Follow the instructions strictly, or you will not meet the financial requirements. You can choose to produce statements, or a building society passbook, or a letter from the bank, or a letter from the financial institution (produce whichever one of those four things is appropriate for your situation).

Your evidence must be dated no more than one month before the date you make your immigration application.

If you are producing a letter from a bank or financial institution, remember that the letter must confirm you have had the right amount for the 28 days leading up to the date on the letter. The policy guidance does not explain this very well.

Paragraph 115 for general students, tells you that if your money is not in UK currency you need to look at the Oanda Currency Converter website www.oanda.com/convert/classic

to see how much your final balance is worth in UK pounds sterling, and write this yourself on the document.

Does my course have to be full-time?

If you are applying as a Tier 4 General student, your course must fit one of the following definitions:

If you do not provide the evidence listed in the policy guidance, you will not qualify to make the deductions.

How long must the money have been in my account?

The evidence you produce from the bank or building society or financial institution must show that during the 28 days leading up to the date the evidence is generated, your balance has never dropped below the right amount. If it has dropped below the right amount even for just one day, you do not meet the financial requirements.

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a full-time course of study that leads to a qualification at Level 6 (equivalent to degree level) or above of the revised National Qualifications Framework; or an overseas course of degree level study that is recognised as being equivalent to a UK Higher Education course and is provided by an overseas Higher Education Institution; or a full-time course of study involving a minimum of 15 hours per week of organised daytime study and (except in the case of a short pre-sessional course) leading to a qualification below degree level (where daytime study is 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, not at weekends).

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When will my entry clearance start?

If you apply as a Tier 4 General student: If it is for a course of six months or more, or for a ‘pre-sessional’ course of less than six months, your entry clearance will start a month before the course.

If it is for a course of less than six months, which is not a pre-sessional course, your entry clearance will start seven days before the course.

Translations

A course is described as ‘pre-sessional’ if it prepares you for your main course of study in the UK.

When will my entry clearance end?

If you apply as a Tier 4 General student, your entry clearance will end: Four months after the end of the course, if your course lasts 12 months or more.

Two months after the end of the course, if your course lasts six months or more, but less than 12 months.

One month after the end of your course, if your course is a presessional course of less than six months.

Seven days after the end of your course, if your course is less than six months long, and is not a presessional course.

One month after the end of your course, if you apply to be a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a Foundation Programme.

See the Tier 4 policy guidance, paragraphs 63-66.

If you have financial sponsorship from a government, the British Council, an international organisation, a company or a university which wholly covers your fees and living costs, and your financial sponsor limits the time you can study in the UK, you will be given permission to remain for that period plus the usual post-course period allowed as stated in paragraph 71 of the policy guidance.

If your course is a pre-sessional course which will prepare you for a main course at the same college, the college might give you a single visa letter which includes both courses. If they do this, your entry clearance will end after the main course, rather than after the presessional course. This will save you the money and inconvenience involved International Student Handbook

in having to apply for an extension in the UK. They will only do this if your admission to the main course is already guaranteed (and is not conditional, for example, on you attending or passing the pre-sessional course, or another exam).

Paragraphs 12-14 of the policy guidance states that if any of the documents you provide with your application is not in English (or Welsh), you must provide a professional translation. Please see the guidance for specific details regarding translations.

If you do not follow these guidelines exactly, your translated documents will not be accepted.

How to apply?

1. Download the UK Border Agency leaflet INF29 for students www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/ inf29pbsstudent It contains links to a number of documents that you also need to print off: Tier 4 guidance, also referred to as the ‘policy guidance’ (Tier 4 is the part of the immigration system that deals with students).

Application form VAF9 - PBS Migrant.

PBS Migrant guidance notes.

PBS Appendix 8 General student, if you are applying as a Tier 4 General student.

If you do not have access to the internet, ask the British Embassy or High Commission in your country for printed copies of the documents.

2. Find your country on the list at Where to apply www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/ wheretoapply It tells you how to start the process of applying in your country - for example, whether you need to make an appointment or complete an online form, or have a tuberculosis test first (tuberculosis tests are only required in a few countries). If you cannot see any information about how long it takes applications in your country to be processed, use the contact details that they give to contact them and ask. Read through the INF29 leaflet, for other instructions about the application process.

3. Take time to read through the whole of the policy guidance, and all the other documents you have printed

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off, very carefully. They contain a lot of very detailed instructions about the documents you must provide (such as the certificates that have been included in the confirmation of acceptance for studies by your institution, evidence of why they offered you a place, and your financial evidence).

There is no flexibility about the documents - if your documents do not exactly match the requirements set out in the policy guidance, your application will be refused and you will have wasted your application fee and a lot of time. You will not be warned if you have forgotten to include documents, or your documents are inadequate. Your CAS must not be more than six months old.

4. Complete application form VAF9 and application form PBS Appendix 8 (if you are applying as a Tier 4 General student).

The forms ask how many ‘points’ you are claiming. You need to claim: 30 points for ‘attributes’ and for your ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (these are the same thing, but are described in these two different ways on the two different forms); and 10 points for ‘maintenance’; and zero points for ‘English’.

A confirmation of acceptance for studies or CAS is a reference number which will be issued to you by the college after you have accepted the offer to study. The college will also send you the information that they have used to generate this reference number, including their Sponsor Licence Number, start and end dates of the course, course title, any tuition or accommodation fees already paid to the college (if a separate receipt has not been issued) and the certificates that they have used to assess your ability to study the course.

You will need to know all of these details before you can accurately complete you immigration application. This is often referred to as a ‘CAS statement’ and may be sent to you in electronic or hard copy format.

Use the process described for your country to submit your two application forms, and the supporting documents.

Make sure you enclose all the documents listed in the forms and guidance as well as the ones mentioned in this information sheet. The INF29

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leaflet tells you to submit a photocopy of each document in addition to the original document itself. You will have to pay a fee for the application, currently the equivalent of £199 in your local currency.

Warning: Do not allow an agent to send off your application unless you have checked through the completed forms and all the documents that are enclosed with it. Errors made by an agent (or attempts to deceive) can result in you being barred from entering the UK for up to 10 years.

It is important that you keep photocopies of the completed forms and all the supporting documents.

At some point, you will be asked to attend an office to give your fingerprints and have your photograph taken.

Criminal convictions The application form requires you to state any criminal convictions, including traffic offences, that you have obtained in any country. For further details regarding the types of convictions you must declare, you should refer to the UKBA guidance on good character www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ britishcitizenship/eligibility/goodcharacter

When your entry clearance is issued Check it carefully to make sure: your name and date of birth are correct it says that you are a student the Sponsor Licence Number is identical to the one given to you by the college or university where you intend to study it starts on or before the date you want to travel to the UK it does not end sooner than you expected (see the paragraph above headed ‘When will my entry clearance end?’) whether it tells you to register with the police on arrival in the UK, or not. If it does, then make a note to contact the International Student Adviser at your college or university to ask how you do that as soon as you arrive in the UK. Unless your college or university has a special arrangement with the police, you will be expected to register with the police within 7 days of your arrival. Note that not all students are given an entry clearance that requires them to register with the police.

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If there is anything wrong with it, ask to have it changed immediately, before you travel. It is very difficult to make changes after you travel.

Make sure you talk to your college or university immediately if there will be any problem in arriving in time for the start of your course. Tier 4 sponsor duties now require institutions to keep the UK Border Agency informed of students who have been given immigration permission and then fail to arrive on time, or who do not attend properly, so it is important you keep them informed if there are any problems.

Other things that you should start to do now are: Start keeping an up-to-date photocopy of the whole of your passport, except for the blank pages.

Get in the habit of updating it each time more stamps or stickers are added by the immigration authorities of any country. If your passport expires at any point, keep hold of it (unless your country requires you to give it back) - as you may be asked for it in connection with a future immigration application.

Keep your passport somewhere safe it is a valuable document.

Keep all the letters (and any other documents) that you receive from the UK immigration authorities about any applications you make to them. You might need some of the details from them when you fill in an immigration application form in the future.

Take photocopies of all the tickets that you ever buy for travel to the UK, from another country. If you have letters or documents relating to the bookings, keep those too. And keep all the ticket stubs that are given back to you by the travel operator (or even better, the whole ticket). You may need these for future immigration applications.

The length of your permission to stay in the UK is shown on your entry clearance. Make a note in your diary now, four months ahead of this date.

At that stage you should seek advice from the international student adviser at your college or university if you want to extend it. DO NOT REMAIN IN THE UK AFTER THE DATE SHOWN IN YOUR PASSPORT (unless you have already submitted your application for an extension).

If a passport or identity card is stolen, report this to the police (and take a note of when you reported it, which police station you reported it to, and

any reference number they gave you).

Keep hold of any letters or documents the police give you.

If your entry clearance application is refused There is no full right of appeal. Instead, you can ask for an ‘Administrative Review’ of the decision to refuse your application. There is no fee for an Administrative Review. You have to make your request for an Administrative Review within 28 days of the date you receive the refusal notice. The process is explained in Annex 4 of the Policy Guidance.

Administrative Review does not usually result in a change in decision, because in most cases you are not allowed to produce new or different documents in support of your application. They are simply looking to see if the decision was correct based on the evidence you submitted with your forms.

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International Student Handbook

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Before travelling to the UK When travelling anywhere, there are some basic essentials that are necessary, without which, you might fail to leave the airport let alone, arrive at your intended destination; things such as your passport and other travel documents, money, details of your intended destination. Listed below and some of the obvious and not so obvious items that you should ensure to pack before you fly.

Packing Hand Luggage allowance: 7kgs your valid passport, with visa or entry clearance if relevant your travel tickets money – cash, travellers’ cheques, credit card – preferably in a money belt or a very secure inside pocket vaccination certificates if required X-ray report if required any prescribed drugs or medicines you are taking, plus a letter from your doctor explaining what they are original letter of acceptance from your institution original documentary proof that you have enough money to pay your fees and meet your living costs (e.g. recent bank statements, proof of scholarship, sponsor’s letter, reference letter from your bank in your own country) originals (or certified true copies) of any degree, certificates or technical qualifications a pen or pencil and some paper, in case you need to write down directions, telephone numbers, etc. confirmation of any accommodation you have booked, including full address and telephone number address and telephone number of your final destination (if different) details of your arrangements for onward travel within the UK insurance documents a list of what you packed in each item of your main luggage, in case you need to make an insurance claim a warm sweater an umbrella any particularly fragile or valuable items current driving license if you are considering driving in the UK in the future. name and telephone number of international students’ adviser at your institution in case of an emergency and any out-of-hours emergency contact telephone numbers.

International Student Handbook

Items prohibited for hand luggage In light of recent security threats in Britain, allow extra time when you are at the airport for the increased security checks, and ensure you do not carry any of the following in your hand luggage: Scissors Razor blades Knives with blades of any length Household cutlery Tweezers Hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons) Tools or toy/replica guns (metal or plastic) Catapults Knitting needles Sporting bats Billiard, snooker or pool cues Darts

Main Luggage allowance: 30kg (student package) a photocopy of each page of your passport, including its number and the date and place of issue and any entry clearances a note of the serial numbers of your travellers’ cheques back-up photocopies of all essential documents at least nine passport-size photos of yourself - you will need them for student identification cards, bus/rail passes and various other purposes clothing - mostly comfortable and informal but do also bring some smart clothes for special occasions toiletries and personal items to last a week or so towels and/or bed linen, if your accommodation doesn’t provide them, but remember that these are bulky and heavy to bring in your baggage a notebook, pen and pencil to use in the first few days a bilingual dictionary if English is not your first language a few small photos of family and close friends one or two small souvenirs to keep you feeling connected to home.

What not to pack DO NOT bring: any prohibited items (e.g. weapons, certain drugs, certain foods and plants) too much clothing, especially if you’re

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coming from a very different climate you will have a better chance of finding the clothes you need once you get to UK lots of food — this is heavy and most of the ingredients you will need are available in the UK lots of books - it may be cheaper to buy them once you get here, and you may not need to buy all the books on your reading list anyway lots of stationery (paper, pens, pencils, etc.) - you can buy all that when you get here, so just bring one or two things to get you through the first few days so many things that you exceed your baggage allowance - the surcharges will be expensive and you will be exhausted trying to carry it all.

Remember that you will have to carry your luggage with you from the airport to your final destination. This may mean changing your means of transport several times and it will be easier if your suitcase has wheels, and you do not have too many pieces of luggage to look after.

Prohibited & restricted goods To protect health and the environment, some goods are prohibited - banned completely - from being brought into the UK, and others are restricted - you cannot import them without authority such as a license. Below, we have listed some examples for you to use as a guide, but be aware that these are only a small selection of goods prohibited and restricted in the UK. If in doubt you should contact the National Advice Service at HM Customs & Revenue:

Prohibited goods Unlicensed drugs, such as heroin, morphine, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, LSD and cannabis.

Though cannabis now a Class C drug in the UK, bringing it into the UK is still illegal and may result in seizure and prosecution.

Offensive weapons, such as flick knives, butterfly knives, push daggers, belt-buckle knives, death stars, swordsticks, knives disguised as everyday objects, knuckledusters, blowpipes, spring-operated telescopic truncheons, and some martial arts equipment.

Indecent and obscene material featuring children, such as books, magazines, films, videotapes, laser discs and software.

Pornographic material other than that

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Helios International College

which depicts the type of consensual sexual activity between adults, which can be legally purchased in the UK. Counterfeit and pirated goods and goods that infringe patents when brought into the UK from outside the UK (such as watches, clocks and CDs, and any goods with false marks of their origin).

Meat, dairy and other animal products (such as fish, shellfish, eggs and honey) from outside the EU, except: Powdered infant milk, infant food and special foods required for medical reasons which do not need to be refrigerated and are proprietary branded products, with packaging intact unless in current use.

Meat, milk, eggs, honey, fish and their products for your own consumption from Andorra, Norway, San Marino, the Canary Islands and the Channel Islands.

Meat, milk and their products for your own consumption from Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, with a combined total weight of not more than 5kg per person.

From some other countries you are allowed to bring in up to 1kg of food not containing meat or milk derivatives e.g. fish, eggs and honey.

Live birds – with some exceptions, there are currently strict restrictions on the import of live birds.

Restricted goods Firearms, explosives and ammunition, including electric shock devices (such as stun guns) and gas canisters.

Live animals must normally have a British import (rabies) licence and must be quarantined, But dogs or cats that meet the conditions of the Pet Passport Scheme can be imported without quarantine. Live birds, including pets, must normally have a British health import licence.

Endangered species, including birds and plants, whether alive or dead; also such things as fur, ivory or leather (or goods made from them) that have been taken from endangered species.

Certain plants and their produce, including trees, shrubs, potatoes, certain fruit, bulbs and seeds.

Radio transmitters such as CB radios that are not approved for use in the UK.

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Customs and immigration Non-EU allowances If you come to UK from a country outside the EU, there are limits on the amount of tobacco, alcohol, perfume and other goods you can bring with you, without paying duty.

Leaving the airport through customs

If you have not exceeded your allowances, go through the green channel. If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and may be prosecuted.

You should also be aware that: If you are under 17 you cannot bring tobacco or alcohol into the UK. You are entitled to the allowances above, only if you travel with the goods and do not sell them.

If you bring in something worth more than the limit of £145, you must pay charges on the full value, not just the value above £145.

You and anyone you are travelling with cannot pool your individual allowances to bring in an item worth more than the limit. You will have to pay charges on the full value of the item.

If you are bringing back any duty-free or tax-free goods you bought when you left the UK, these count as part of your allowance.

Most UK ports and airports have three exits or ‘channels’, while some have only one exit, with a red point phone for declaring goods.

Use the Red Channel if you: have goods to declare; or have any sums of cash (notes, coins, bankers’ drafts or any cheques including travellers’ cheques) of 10,000 Euro or more (or the equivalent in another currency); or have commercial goods; or have tobacco products from an EU country that are over the limits for imports from that country; or are not sure what you should declare.

Use the Green Channel if you are travelling from a non-EU country with: no more than the customs allowances: and no banned or restricted goods

Use the Blue Channel if you are travelling from a EU country with: no banned and restricted goods; and no tobacco products that are over the limits for imports from that country.

If you bring in goods on which tax has been paid in an EU country, you do not have to pay any tax or duty on them in the UK.

If you also have tobacco or alcohol goods that you bought in an EU country (other than tobacco products over the limit for imports from that country), you will not have to pay any more duty or tax on these so long as: they are for your bwn use; and you can show that you have paid duty and tax in an EU country, for example by producing the receipt.

Air transfers

The amounts you are allowed When travelling from a non-EU country you can bring the following into the UK for your own use without paying UK tax or duty: 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco 2 litres of still table wine 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), sparkling wine or other liqueurs 60cc of perfume 250cc of eau de toilette £145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs

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If you arrive by air and are transferring to a flight to another EU country, at the transfer point you need only declare goods in your hand baggage. You do not declare your hold baggage until you collect it at your final destination.

The same usually applies if you are transferring to a UK domestic flight.

But in some cases we must clear both your hand luggage and hold baggage at the transfer airport. The airline will tell you when this is necessary.

International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Pre-arrival checklist Check List

Tick

Have you organised your entry clearance and checked the expiry date?

Have you bought travel tickets and checked the return date?

Have you organised travel insurance?

Have you ordered British currency and travellers’ cheques for your initial expenses when you arrive in the UK? (You are allowed a maximum of 10000 euros) Have you checked whether your own country has restrictions about the amount of money you can take out of the country?

Have you taken out personal insurance for the duration of your stay in the UK? Have you checked with your local British Mission what you must declare at customs?

Have you weighed your baggage to make sure that it is within the baggage allowance of your airline?

Have you received details of your accommodation in the UK? Have you requested a taxi to meet you at the airport?

Have you packed warm clothes and a waterproof jacket for your arrival in the UK? Have you got a letter from your doctor for any prescribed drugs you may need to bring with you?

Have you taken a photocopy of your passport?

International Student Handbook

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Helios International College

London and the British Culture London London is the capital and largest city in England. It is one of the world’s largest financial centres. London is very densely populated and therefore has a huge underground railway network, which is the oldest in the world. It is particular famous for sites such as Buckingham Palace, Wembley Stadium, Big Ben, the River Thames and Tower Bridge.

London’s Oxford Street is the busiest shopping area in Europe, where you will find a vast range of department stores.

There are also a large number of parks and gardens, giving you the option of relaxing, away from the busy streets of London. However, one of the busiest areas to relax is the West End. It is known as ‘Theatreland’ and is centred around Leicester Square, where shows such as Les Miserables and The Lion King are performed.

London is a very culturally diverse city with over 300 different languages spoken and provides a huge network to the rest of the UK, making travelling easily accessible for you to be able to explore even more of the UK’s cultures.

To find out more about London, go to www.visitlondon.com

where you will find general information plus where to find tourist information centres.

The Culture English people will generally be welcoming and friendly. Adjusting to the English way of life may take a little time though.

Basic politeness is expected, such as saying please, thank you and sorry.

You should attempt to make all appointments or meetings on time, as punctuality is very important.

When waiting for a bus, train, to buy something in a shop or to be seen for an appointment by someone, people will form a queue – it is considered rude to push yourself to the front of a queue.

The humour usually involves the use of irony and can be difficult to understand.

The roles of men and women may be different to what they are in your home country.

People will make an effort to not invade your personal space or privacy, however this can easily be misread as being unsociable, reserved or distant.

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British people will not always say what they mean or they will speak indirectly about a subject, this is so as not to be impolite or hurt one’s feelings.

There are many regional accents in England and therefore might be difficult to understand. Do not feel bad about asking them to talk slower or to repeat themselves.

Freedom of speech is seen as a necessity, so disagreeing with others if fine, especially in lectures and the classroom.

Britain is generally very welcoming towards people of other nationalities helping your stay to be an enjoyable one.

“Culture Shock” When you first travel over from your home country to the UK you may find it a little intimidating. It might be stressful as you are away from your friends, family and home comforts. The different way of living without anyone to share it with can be a daunting one.

However, there are many ways of overcoming this anxiety of a new cultural environment. These are: Keep in touch with friends and family by phone, video-phone or skype.

Speaking in your own language and keeping up to date with what’s happening in your country, city or town can easy stress.

Being involved in as many activities as possible will ensure meeting new people and new friends, therefore settling into a new country will become less overwhelming.

Visit a religious place of your faith. This will calm your nerves and help you relax.

Bring things such as photographs that will be of comfort to you.

Culture shock is a very normal process to go through for anyone living and studying in a completely new country.

If you are anxious with the way you are feeling then you mustn’t hesitate to discuss it with the staff at the college.

For more information on culture shock please visit: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/ culture_shock.php

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International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Financial matters Cost of living Apart from the fees for your course itself, how much will it cost you to live in the UK? As a rough guide, for a 8 academic months, you should allow (on average): £6,000 4 months, you should allow (on average): £3,500

These figures are based on 2009 prices, and include the cost of accommodation, heating, lighting, food, clothing, books and daily travel for one person for an eight academic months.

Please note that in London in particular you can expect to spend a significant proportion (half or more) of your monthly budget on accommodation.

Cost breakdown Here are some typical prices for specific items and services in the UK overall. In London you might need to pay a little more for some things. On the other hand, at discount stores and street markets (both in London and elsewhere), you may be able to find many of these things for less than the prices given below.

Deposit on rented accommodation : £200 - £500 (one month's rent) Heat and light (if charged separately) : £20 - £40 per month, depending on the season Food (if not included in accommodation) : £30 - £40 per week Wine : £3 - £5 for a 75cl bottle (table wine) Beer : £1 for a half-litre can of lager; £2 - £3 for a pint of beer in a pub or bar Personal hygiene items, cosmetics, etc : £10 per month Haircut : £7 - £20 T-shirts, underwear : £10 and under Shirts and tops, lightweight sweaters, : £25 and under lightweight shoes Jeans and other casual trousers, : £35 and under skirts, lightweight outdoor jackets, heavier sweaters, heavier shoes Raincoats and other outerwear, boots : £60 and under Winter coats : £100 and under Laundry : £16 - £20 per month Dry cleaning : £4 for skirt or trousers; £9 for heavy coat Small electrical appliances : £20 and under (e.g. hairdryer, kettle) Textbooks (second-hand for less) : £10 - £50 or more Paperback books to read for leisure : £5 - £10 (used books as little as £1 or less) Newspapers : 30p - £1.20 /issue (Some Free: Metro etc.)

Magazines : 50p - £3

CDs : £5 - £15 Phone card (for use in public telephones) : choice of £2, £5, £10 or £20

(some excellent deals may also be available online) Restaurant meal : £5 per head minimum; £15 per head average (drinks extra) Cinema ticket : £4 - £10 Theatre ticket : £10 - £30 Concert ticket : £5 - £30 Swimming pool use : £ 2.50 Tennis/squash court : £ 3 - £ 5 per hour

Special reductions are offered for students at many local shops, theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries; and special student fares are available on buses and trains. Some stores operate loyalty schemes offering a range of rewards, from cashback to money-off vouchers. Ask at your students' union for details.

Entertainment expenses, in particular, vary a great deal from student to student. Also, remember that in addition to these entertainment expenses, you'll have monthly expenses such as rent and heat, and occasional expenses such as clothing and textbooks.

International Student Handbook

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Ways to transfer money to the UK

should be in small notes, no bigger than £20.

Travellers cheques

Can I get a refund if I don’t get entry clearance or if the course is cancelled?

This is a safe and easy way of bringing money because, unlike cash, you can replace travellers cheques if they are lost or stolen. You should make sure that you keep the travellers cheques and receipts separately. You can use them as soon as you arrive, which is useful as it may take a couple of weeks to open a UK bank account. If you use sterling (UK pound) traveller’s cheques, you can avoid commission charges.

Bankers draft / cashier’s cheque You can buy one from your home bank and bring it with you. Only bring Sterling (UK pound) drafts; they are quick to clear and free to pay into your UK bank account. Drafts/cheques in other currencies are expensive and make take a month to process. Before buying a bankers draft/ cashier’s cheque, confirm what will happen if it is lost or stolen.

We will refund your deposit (less the College Registration Fee of £50 and an administrative charge of £200) if you are not able to get a visa entry clearance.

You will need to send the letter of refusal to us in order for us to arrange your refund. If the course is cancelled we will refund all of your deposit or tuition fees. Fees can be deferred to the following intake. Please allow for bank charges in your payment. On average these charges are about £20.

Telegraphic bank to bank transfer (BACS) Often the cheapest way, but you need to wait until you have opened a UK bank account, so make sure that you have access to other money (e.g. traveller’s cheques). You need to give your home bank the details of your UK bank account. The transfer normally takes 4 working days. Check how much it will cost you to transfer the money as there may be charge and an exchange fee from the UK bank and the bank in your home country.

Credit /debit card from your home country You may be able to withdraw funds from a credit or debit card to pay into your UK bank account if your card is accepted in the UK (if you have a 4 digit pin number). Check how much you will be charged, as this can be a very expensive way of getting money. Check with your home bank if you can get your credit / debit account online.

Cash Please DO NOT carry large amounts of cash with you when you travel to the UK. There is a very serious risk that it will be stolen. Bring no more than £500 in cash for your first week and this

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International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Weather and Climate Whatever the season, the British weather is liable to change from day to day, so if you are wondering what to wear, it is a good idea to bring a selection of items including some light clothes, items you can layer (that way you can add or remove layers depending on temperature), at least one warm pullover and a waterproof coat or umbrella. To get a better idea about what to pack, look at the seasonal variations you can expect in Britain:

Spring (March - May) In spring, you can enjoy wonderful sunny weather, but it can also be cool or wet. Temperatures fluctuate from around 6-11 °C. May can have very warm days - up to about 18 °C.

Summer (June - August) Most days in summer are warm to hot, but evenings can be cool. Temperatures average around 14-30 °C, although it can be up to around 35 °C on some days.

Autumn (September - November) In autumn there can be very warm days, but equally there can be cool ones too.

Temperatures fluctuate around the 7 18 °C mark, but are likely to be much warmer in September than November.

Winter (December - early March) Winter sees Britain's shortest and coolest days (about 7-8 hours of daylight) but these can be crisp and bright. Temperatures fluctuate from around 1-5°C.

Clothing Students tend to wear fairly informal clothing such as, jeans, t-shirts and jumpers. However, you may be invited to attend a formal party or meeting whilst in the UK and therefore should have ready a black tie, shirt and smart black trousers.

Many shops in London will offer student discounts of 10-30%, when you show your college card, NUS card or ISIC card.

International Student Handbook

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Essential documents checklist What essential documents must I bring to the UK and when will I be asked to show them?

Immigration control

Open a bank account

College registration

Police registration

Register with a doctor

Extend leave to remain

Passport

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Visa

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Offer and acceptance certificate

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Proof of fees paid if paid in advance

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Proof of funds (bank statement etc)

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Academic qualifications

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Proof of your home country address

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Proof of your UK address

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2 passport sized photos

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International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Ready to travel to the UK After going through the points listed before, you might find it a bit overwhelming to retain everything.

So, it will help to make a check list of all the things that you consider to be essential to your needs as well as that which is necessary to meet the requirements of the relevant authorities.

Go over the list before leaving home and plan ahead. A word of warning: Never offer to carry anything for anyone (especially strangers). Anything that you have in your possession (i.e. in your hand luggage or suitcase) is your responsibility and you are accountable.

is intact and to your satisfaction, not tampered with.

Customs There are strict laws governing what you can bring into the country. These include laws on bringing in meat, fish, milk and any products derived from them, such as dried food flavourings.

Customs officials may stop any passenger and ask them to open their suitcases to check for prohibited items.

Immigration control The UK offers a warm welcome to overseas students. However, the UK authorities need to make sure that anyone entering the UK is coming for legitimate reasons. For this reason, you may find that immigration control at your port of entry can be rigorous, and may result in a considerable delay at the end of your journey, especially during busy periods (like the start of term). To assist the immigration officials, keep all your documents in your hand luggage and be prepared to wait patiently.

It is illegal to bring drugs (apart from prescribed medication) and animals into the UK. The penalties if you are caught are severe. It is for this reason that you should pack your luggage yourself.

Airport pick-up We do offer to pick up prospective students at any of the two major airports, but this is usually pre arranged as we would need information such as the arrival destination, flight number, estimated time of arrival, date of arrival etc. A car would then be dispatched to the location and would take the student to either their residence or to the college.

Nationals of EU countries are free of immigration restrictions on arrival in the UK – you will, however, still need to show your passport or national identity card on arrival.

Non EU nationals may be required to show additional documents to the Immigration Officer, so make sure you have the following documents in your hand luggage: Valid passport (with entry clearance) College Acceptance letter Evidence of funding A recent medical report including x-ray results

You may be asked questions about yourself, including where you will be staying and why you are coming to the UK - don’t worry, as these questions are routine.

Luggage After you have passed through passport control, you will need to collect your luggage. Luggage will be placed on a carousel/conveyor with your flight number on it. Again, the onus is on you the owner to ensure that your luggage

International Student Handbook

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After arriving to the UK The first few weeks When you first get to the UK, you will have lots of things to do and it may be a few days before you are able to approach a bank and open a bank account. Our staff will prepare a Bank Letters to all students to approach the Bank to open an account. In some parts of the UK it can take several weeks to open a bank account and once you do, it may take a while for your transferred funds to clear through the banking system. So altogether, it could be anywhere from ten days to two weeks before you have access to the funds you transfer. Obviously, you will need some other sources of money in the meantime. The possibilities include:

Sterling cash You should not carry large amounts of cash, but do bring about ÂŁ300 to cover the costs of your first few days.

Other currencies Most airports and seaports in the UK have a 24-hour bank or bureau de change where you can change overseas currency or travellers' cheques no matter what time you arrive.

Travellers' cheques These are safer than carrying cash, as they are insured against loss or theft. They can be cashed at banks and bureaus de change and travellers' cheques made out in sterling can also be used like cash in many shops and restaurants –but check with the staff in each case to be sure. If carrying travellers' cheques, keep them in a safe place, separate from your passport.

Credit cards Credit cards are widely accepted as payment in the UK, and you can also use them to get cash from the machines at banks. Check with your bank at home to find out how much commission you will be charged if you use your home credit card in the UK.

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International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Playing it safe on arrival In the excitement of arriving in a new country, it can be easy to become distracted and misplace things, especially as you get on and off trains, planes, coaches, etc.

Personal safety

Here are some tips for avoiding mishaps: Take special care of your passport, travel documents and tickets. Keep them with you in a safe place or in your handbag and know where they are at all times.

Do not carry large amounts of cash with you; bring just enough for your immediate needs (at least £200). Bring a credit card, if you have one, to pay for things like rail tickets and hotel bills.

If possible, your cash should include some coins and some small bank notes (£5 or £10) so that you can use public telephones and ticket machines if necessary.

Carry cash, credit cards and travellers' cheques in a safe place, such as an inside pocket, a money belt or a zipped handbag. Make a note of the serial numbers of your travellers' cheques, and pack this separately from the cheques themselves, Keep your travellers' cheques separate from your passport. If you lose your travellers' cheques or credit card, report the loss to the police and the issuing organisation immediately.

Label your luggage clearly so that it can be forwarded to you if it gets separated from you during the journey.

If you do lose your luggage at any stage, report the loss immediately to officials of the airline or shipping line.

At airports or seaports, check the 'lost property office' to see whether it has been handed in there.

Keep your luggage with you at all times. If you need to leave your luggage somewhere while you change money or make telephone calls, find an official 'left luggage' office (available at airports and at major rail and coach stations). For a small fee, you will be able to leave your luggage in a supervised area. The attendant should give you a receipt so that you can collect your items later.

Always use a licensed taxi. At Heathrow there are the famous 'black cabs' and at other airports the Information Desk will tell you the name of the reputable companies who are permitted to work there. Never go with someone who approaches you inside the terminal building unless you have made a specific arrangement to be met by a 'minicab' company.

International Student Handbook

By international standards, the UK is a safe country, with low levels of violence and street crime. However, as a visitor you need to be aware of the types of situations that may put you at risk and what you can do to avoid them.

Should you have the misfortune to be involved in any incident involving theft or personal attack, report it as soon as possible to the police. The police have a duty to protect all citizens and can be safely approached. Also, you will need a certificate from the police if you need to claim for theft on an insurance policy.

In an emergency you can contact the emergency services: fire, police or ambulance, by dialling 999 from any telephone. This call is free of charge but should be used only in an emergency.

Non-emergency calls to the police should be made to your local police station using the local telephone number in the telephone directory.

In buildings Make sure you know the location of and – where appropriate —how to use fire exits, fire-assembly points, fire-fighting equipment and first-aid facilities.

Make sure you know the procedures for emergency evacuation and follow them as necessary.

At home Use safety chains or lock all outside doors when you are at home but leave the keys in the locks in case you need to get out in a hurry.

If you live in a flat or a house with an outside light, use it.

If you are female and live in a flat with a door-entry system do not put 'Miss', 'Mrs', etc. before your name, just use your surname. If in doubt about a visitor, do not let him or her in.

If you have a telephone answering machine, do not say 'I am not available', as this indicates a single occupant. It is better to say 'No one is available to take your call'.

Close and lock all windows and outside doors whenever you go out.

When you go out on dark nights and mornings leave a table lamp or room light on to make the place look occupied.

If you have gas appliances in your home, make sure that they are checked annually by a professional to

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safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you are unsure about the safety of your gas appliances, ask your landlord or landlady to have them checked and use a carbon monoxide detector, which can be bought in hardware shops and some petrol stations.

Whenever you go out, turn off gas and electrical appliances, such as the cooker, television, iron, etc. (but not refrigerator),

Your belongings When you first arrive in the UK you need to be well prepared. When moving into new accommodation, don't leave luggage or belongings outside or in an open trunk/boot of a car or taxi.

Use an ultraviolet pen to mark your valuables with your name and student ID number (see your Students' service for details) to enable the police to return them if they are stolen.

Ask your college if they provide safe storage or consider purchasing a small personal safe to keep your passport, traveller's cheques, wallet/purse and other valuables locked away.

Make sure your television, video and other valuables can't be seen through a window and never leave cash or credit cards lying around.

If you go away on holiday, leave your valuables in storage e.g. with a trusted friend.

If you have a bicycle, always lock it up by its frame and wheel to a fixed object. Mark it with your postcode so the police can return it if it is stolen.

Try not to use a computer case when carrying a laptop; use a less obvious bag to carry it in and think before using it and displaying other expensive items such as watches and jewellery in public places where they could be stolen.

Don't leave your mobile phone unattended. If it is stolen, immobilise it by calling 08701 123123. You will need to have your IMEI number (15-digit serial number) when reporting a stolen mobile phone - this can be found by dialling *#06# on most mobiles or by looking behind the phone battery. You should keep a note of your IMEI number in a safe place in case it is required.

When using public transport If you travel by train, tram or Underground (tube), avoid sitting in an empty carriage. Instead, try to sit near

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groups of people in a well-lit area.

When travelling a long way by train, make sure someone knows which train you are travelling on and when you are due to arrive.

Try to avoid walking alone after getting off a bus or train. If you can, walk close to a group of people or arrange for someone to meet you.

Check the time of the last train, bus or tram home to avoid being stranded.

In a car If you are going on a long journey, plan your route using main roads and telephone ahead to let someone know roughly when to expect you.

Carry out pre-drive checks on fuel, oil and tyres. Tyre weld is useful in case of a flat tyre as it will mend the tyre for long enough for you to reach a garage.

Always carry a good torch and check batteries regularly.

Handbags or briefcases are safer placed on the floor or behind the seat.

Never leave valuable items in the car; if you have to, lock them in the boot.

If you do not have a mobile phone always carry enough change and/or a telephone card to make a telephone call.

If you're travelling in a car alone you may feel safer locking the doors while driving.

Current UK legislation requires the use of 'hands-free' mobile phones only while driving.

especially after dark.

Walk on the pavement, facing oncoming traffic. When crossing the road remember that vehicles drive on the left in the UK so will approach you from the right.

Carry a torch after dark and do not take short cuts, for example, through dark alleyways.

If you feel you are being followed, cross the street (more than once if necessary), and if you are still unhappy move as quickly as possible to a public area, such as a restaurant or bar, and telephone for help. It is not necessarily the best idea to use the first telephone that you see if it is in an isolated spot.

To remain safe and alert don't listen to a personal stereo or have long conversations on a mobile phone while you are walking.

In a taxi Keep the number of a local licensed taxi/minicab firm handy – never use an unlicensed company.

Be aware that some minicabs that stop in the street may be cheaper but are not licensed, and are therefore not as safe as taxis or minicabs that you arrange by telephone.

Agree the fare before you get into the taxi in order to avoid confrontation at your journey's end.

Always sit in the back.

It is quite acceptable to chat with the driver, but do not give away any personal information.

Have your cash ready and leave the cab before you pay the driver.

When walking or cycling Keep valuables in a safe place and do not carry large amounts of cash.

Dress appropriately and make sure you (and your bicycle) are visible,

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International Student Handbook

Helios International College

Travel Travel discount card (18+ Student Oyster card) Students are given support in applying for discount on their travels with Transport for London (TFL). With a letter from the college, students can get up to 30% discount on travels in London (Underground trains and buses).

They are also eligible for up to 15% discount on surface rails. This is a welcome gesture as the cost of travelling can be very costly.

MOT Test This is the Ministry of Transport test which makes sure that all vehicles are safe to be on the roads. All vehicles over 3 years old need to take this test.

The MOT test can be done at many garages.

spaces are very restricted and it is unlikely that you will get a space unless there are exceptional circumstances.

There is a NCP close to the College, but it is quite expensive and there is voucher parking nearby. If you park illegally (on double yellow lines or in a restricted area without a permit) you may get a parking fine, which is £60.

Legal Requirements

Taxis Taxis in London can be very expensive and you should always ask for an estimated price before you begin your journey.

Only taxis (black cabs) may be hailed by customers and picked up off the street.

Minicabs cannot accept fares that have not been booked by phone or in a minicab office.

Travelling within the UK The cheapest way to travel around the UK is by train or coach and using a young person’s rail or coach card (available for full-time students).

Driving in the UK Registration If you buy a brand new car, the dealer should arrange for the car to be registered for you. If you buy a used car, you need to transfer the ownership into your name and address. You should ask for the Registration certificate from the owner when you buy the car. You must re-register the car in your name soon after buying it. There is a form to fill in attached to the registration document showing the address where you need to send it. If the owner does not give you this document, you can get it from the post office.

Road Tax and Insurance You must insure your car before you drive it. There are different types of insurance and many different companies offering it. Check in the telephone directory. In the UK drivers are charged a tax which is used to build and mend roads. You must make sure that road tax is paid on your car before

International Student Handbook

you drive it. You can get a tax disc application form from the post office. To get the tax disc you will need this form, your registration certificate, proof of car insurance and an MOT certificate.

You must drive on the left-hand side of the road and over take on the right.

If you are riding a motorbike or moped, you must wear a crash helmet.

The driver and front seat passengers must wear seat belts. Rear seat passengers must wear seat belts if they are fitted. It is the driver’s responsibility to make sure that passengers are wearing seatbelts.

You must not drink alcohol or take drugs and then drive.

You must keep within the speed limits.

There are many speed cameras, and if you get caught speeding you will receive a fine and have points taken away from your licence.

The minimum age for driving a motorbike (up to 25 kW) or car is 17.

You must have a licence that allows you to drive in the UK (see next page).

Driving Licences If you wish to drive in the UK you must find out if you can use your own licence.

It will depend where your licence was issued.

If you have a valid full driving licence from a EEA country, you don’t need to exchange it for a UK one. If you are from any other country, you may drive a car if you have a full valid foreign licence or an international driving permit for 12 months from the date you first arrived in the UK. If you want to continue to drive after the 12 months, you must get a provisional UK licence and pass a driving test before the 12 months elapses. You can apply for this at the post office. For further details, please look at www.dvla.gov.uk

Car Parking Car parking is strictly controlled. The College does have a car park, but

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Helios International College

Accommodation

Food and Drink

Electricity

To apply for accommodation please send off an application form to our accommodation officer (this can be found on our website).

You may find English food very different to what you are used to at home.

The UK uses 3 point rectangular electrical sockets.

Exotic foods can be a lot more expensive in England. The best places to shop for cheaper food and drink products are superstores (Tesco, Sainsburys, ASDA).

Mains voltage: 240v

Our accommodation officer will then deal with your situation by negotiating with a local estate agent. If you have any problems with your request please email international@helioscollege.com or phone +44 (0) 208 422 0604.

There are many different types of accommodation to choose from including;

Flat Rent paid monthly and you will be legally responsible for the property.

House Rent paid monthly and you will be legally responsible for the property.

Homestay Staying with a host who would provide a bed, breakfast, an evening meal and laundry facilities.

Deposits You will have to give the landlord a sum of money before you move in. This money will be given back to you after your stay in the rented accommodation.

It is usually about the same as one month’s rent.

There will also be plenty of smaller ‘convenience’ stores. These will generally be more expensive but are useful when you only need a small amount of food and the larger shops are too far away.

Frequency: 50Hz You are able to buy adaptors from many shops in the UK and in your own country if your electrical sockets are different.

Expect to pay the price advertised for goods – as bargaining is not an option in superstores or convenience stores.

If you are living in catered accommodation, make sure you inform the landlord/lady or catering staff of any special diet or any religious events you wish to observe.

A lot of the social life in England revolves around pubs and bars. Anyone over the age of 18 can visit pubs.

However, never feel you have to accept an alcoholic drink if you don’t want to.

You can always ask for a soft drink, such as coca-cola, orange juice or water.

Utility Bills Every month you will have to paid bills such as gas, electricity, water, telephone and internet. You should read your gas and electricity meters regularly and inform the companies of the readings just after moving in and before leaving.

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Banking

Healthcare

Communication

Cash Points (ATMs)

The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s state health service. For International student some services with be free and other you may have to pay for.

Public payphones are widely available.

However, if you are planning on phoning an international number you will need an international phone-card, otherwise it will be very expensive. You can purchase phone-cards from post offices and some shops.

There are many cash points around the college. There are two Santander ATMS opposite and a Nationwide ATM a few buildings down the road.

These machines accept Visa, Visa Electron, American Express, Plus, Link, MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus.

Banks You will find that most banks in England offer a international student bank account which will cost between £5 and £10 a month. The banks will usually offer a deal to make up for the charge. e.g. rail travel discounts, mobile phone insurance

Opening a bank account Some students will arrive with their personal bank account and bank cards from their respective countries. If you are a member of an international bank that exists here in the UK, you will find it easier to open an account here. In any case, you will need a letter from the college to confirm that you are a student in this country. The letter we offer is usually enough to take along with any other required documents such as passport or other forms of identification.

If your course last more than 6 months then you will be entitled to NHS treatment. To qualify you will have to register with your local GP (see above).

If your course lasts less than 6 months you will only be entitled to treatment from the Accident & Emergency Department of the NHS. If admitted to a ward charges will apply unless it is urgent and cannot wait until the student returns home. Any other treatment will have to be paid for as a private patient.

This can be extremely expensive, so make sure medical insurance has been purchased before travelling to the UK. For further details please visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Registering with local GP As in the case with the bank letter, you will need a letter indicating that you are a student as well as proof of address before you can be registered with a GP.

You will also need the international code for the country you are phoning, which can be found either on the internet, in the phone book (which you will be able to find at your local library or post office) or by phoning the international operator on 155 for help in making an international call.

Emergency Services Police, Fire, Ambulance Services: Phone Number: 999

Postal Services There are plenty of post offices located in London, including one across the road from the College.

You can purchase 1st or 2nd class stamps from post offices. 1st are slightly more expensive (5-10p more) but ensures the letter will arrive the next day.

If you are posting anything valuable make sure that it is sent with Recorded Delivery or Registered Post.

Email This is a much quicker and effective way to communicate. If you don’t already have an email you can set one up with many service providers, like Google mail (www.gmail.com), Yahoo!

Mail (www.yahoo.co.uk) and hotmail (www.hotmail.com) If you need to access a computer you can either use one at the College or at an internet cafe. There is an internet cafe just across the road from the College.

Skype Another free way of communicating with family and friends from home is an internet program called Skype. Millions of individuals use Skype to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users.

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Helios International College

After arriving to the college As soon as you have cleared immigration and customs, you will be required to attend the college to sort out registration and any other incomplete matters. This means that you should attend the college at the earliest possible time (if possible on the first Monday after arrival). Once at the college, you will be taken through a series of steps that will prepare and equip you for the terms ahead. Some areas that will be addressed are:

Induction and enrolment You will have been given the date and time of your induction to Helios International College. Please make sure that you attend this day.

The day will help you settle into life at Helios International College, and will give you the chance to meet other students. The main things that will happen at Induction and Enrolment are: 1. An introduction to the College to meet other new international students and some College staff 2. Organising times for you to register with a doctor, with the police, open a bank account and extend your leave to remain.

3. An English language test for students without the formal English entry requirement (please refer to your offer letter) 4. Enrolling on your course 5. Paying your course fees 6. College tour and induction 7. You will be given information about the time and place of your first course meeting.

8. You will then be given your timetable

department.

Registering with the police New arrivals in the United Kingdom, who will be here for longer than 6 months are reminded to check the immigration entry stamp in their passports to see whether they are required to register with the police. If you are from one of the following countries then it is likely that you are required to register:

Afghanistan

Cuba

Libya

Syria

Algeria

Egypt

Moldova

Tajikistan

Argentina

Georgia

Morocco

Tunisia

Armenia

Iran

North Korea

Turkey

Azerbaijan

Iraq

Oman

Turkmenistan

Bahrain

Israel

Palestine

UAE

Belarus

Jordan

Peru

Ukraine

Bolivia

Kazakhstan

Qatar

Uzbekistan

Brazil

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

Yemen

China

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Columbia

Lebanon

Sudan

If you do need to register, you must do so within a week of your arrival.

When registering, students should take with them their passport, two passportsized photographs and their registration fee of £34.

If you are required to register with the police you must remember to inform the local police station each time you obtain an extension to your Leave to Enter/Remain in the UK and also each time you change address. You will not have to pay each time you inform them of any changes but you are obliged to keep them informed of your current details.

Please bring with you: your offer letter from the college your passport fees for your course your police registration document (if you have one) 2 passport size photographs

English language test A simple English proficiency test will be administered to ensure that students are capable of following the relevant lectures. All lectures are conducted in English and it is a prerequisite to enter and study in the UK. The college however, offer English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses for those students who are challenged in this

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Students support and counselling All grievances, harassment claims and personal issues are first addressed by the Student Welfare Officer whose remit includes dispute resolutions and advice.

We have a compliant form which can be used.

Students ID card Each student is issued with a photo identification card and an identification number. The card contains specific details of the particular student and can be used to identify them in case the need arise. The card is free and renewed annually or at the end of the course. If lost, the card may be replaced with a small charge of ÂŁ5 at the discretion of the college Administration.

Library At the college, a small library is in place for the purpose of students’ referencing.

Many books can be accessed for assignment purposes.

Sexual Health and Contraception Advice If you become involved in a relationship and decide to have sex together, you should consider what measures you are going to take to avoid pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted disease.

There are many National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in London that have walk-in clinics that deal with sexual matters and can offer you advice.

Advice on contraception and sex related matter can also be obtained from your doctor or from the Family Planning Clinic http://www.fpa.org.uk

Racism If you are the subject of any racist behaviour within the College you should report it to your class tutor. Any racial incidents outside of the College should be reported to the police office in Harrow, located on the same street as the College.

Harrow Police Station 74 Northolt Road South Harrow London HA2 0DN Phone: 0300 123 1212 Email: harrow@met.police.uk

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Helios International College

Permission to work Non-European Economic Area (EEA) students Non-EEA students on courses lasting more than six months are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during the semester and full-time during vacations and on work placements which form part of their course. There are some restrictions on the type of work that can be undertaken by non-EEA international students. For instance, they cannot become self-employed or take on work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer.

Families of international students If a student is given permission to be in the UK for 12 months or more, then their spouse or civil partner or children arriving in the UK with them should be given permission to work.

member nationals no longer have to register and can then apply to the UK’s Home Office for an EEA residence permit as a worker. Nationals from Malta and Cyprus are not required to obtain a workers registration certificate.

Students from Bulgaria and Romania are able to work but must first obtain a registration certificate. This confirms them as EEA nationals exercising a treaty right as a student and provides them with permission to work for up to 20 hours a week.

Swiss nationals Swiss nationals have the same rights as EEA nationals to work without a permit in Scotland.

EEA students Nationals of most European Economic Area (EEA) countries are able to work in the UK without any restriction although there are some particular rules relating to citizens of the new member states.

The EEA includes: Austria

France

Latvia

Romania

Belgium

Germany

Liechtenstein Slovakia

Bulgaria

Greece

Lithuania

Cyprus

Holland Luxembourg Spain

Slovenia

Czech Republic Hungary Malta

Sweden

Denmark

Iceland

Norway

UK

Estonia

Ireland

Poland

Finland

Italy

Portugal

New member states Nationals from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are required to register with the Home Office under the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) as soon as they find work. Failure to do so within one month of this date renders their employment illegal. Students have to apply for a fresh certificate if they change or indeed find a second employer. Fortunately they do not have to pay the fee again.

After working legally in the UK for 12 months ‘without interruption’, new

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Helios International College

National insurance and income tax

Council tax

National Insurance Numbers

The national minimum wage

National Insurance (NI) is a type of tax that is payable as soon as someone becomes employed in the UK. National Insurance Contributions (NIC) are paid whenever an employee earns £105 or more per week. NI is charged at 11% (April 2008). Employers automatically deduct NI from employees’ wages. To do so they will need to have details of the employee’s NI number.

With a few exceptions, all workers in the UK, including international students, are legally entitled to be paid a minimum amount per hour. This is regardless of the kind of work they do or the size and type of company.

Most people in the UK pay Council Tax which is based on the value of a private property; this contributes to local services such as rubbish collection, police services, and fire brigade. If you live in private accommodation then your landlord will probably ask to see a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from you, which you can obtain from the University Admissions Office. You will need to request one of these and it will be available for collection.

Current rates of pay At 22 years of age or over = £5.73 an hour From 18-21 years of age = £4.77 an hour At 16 and 17 years of age = £3.53 an hour

International students need to obtain a number as soon as they receive a job offer, or start a job. It is possible to start work using a temporary NI number whilst their application is being processed.

Please note that in the current economic climate finding paid employment can be very challenging, especially for overseas students.

Applying for a National Insurance Number Those seeking a National Insurance (NI) number must first contact the Department for Work and Pensions on tel. 0845 600 0643.

Applicants are then invited for an interview at a local Jobcentre Plus office. As proof of identity the Jobcentre Plus office will ask for particular documents which might include: passport proof of UK address (e.g. a utility bill) a letter/contract from employer birth certificate marriage certificate (If applicable)

If you live in private accommodation, then you are exempt from paying council tax if you fall under one of the following categories: If you and everyone else living at the property are full-time students If you are a full-time student (which all international students (non EU) are) AND you are living in the UK with your spouse and children AND your spouse and children are NOT from a country in the European Economic Area AND your spouse and children have been admitted to the UK as your dependents and have ‘leave to remain’ in the UK AND no other NON-STUDENT lives in the property If you are at all unclear about arrangements it is best to speak to the local authorities (ie. the local council as soon as you can).

It can take up to 3 months to process applications, so it is advisable to ask for a temporary number. The permanent number, when it arrives, will be printed onto a plastic card.

Income Tax All those who live and work in the UK, including international students, must pay income tax if they earn anything over the personal tax allowance limit, currently set at £,6,035 within the tax year which runs from April 6th to April 5th. Employers automatically deduct the tax from employees’ wages. Earnings above the personal allowance are taxed at the levels below: 20% on income between £6,035 £34,800 40% on income above £34,801

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Helios International College

Studying at Helios International College We want Helios International College to be a place where you can study and feel safe, respected and listened to regardless of your background, how you look or any other aspect of your personal life. We want you to feel confident that you can speak out and know you will be heard.

We expect high standards of behaviour from all our students. We will not tolerate bullying, harassment or any other behaviour that makes you or others feel uncomfortable about being in college or prevents you from studying to your best potential. And we want you to have a loud and powerful ‘voice’ to express your opinions and expect action.

To make this happen we have introduced Be Safe Be Heard.

This covers:

Expectations of Behaviour what the acceptable standards of behaviour are both in class and in the College all staff and students have the right and responsibility to challenge behaviour that makes anyone feel ‘unsafe’

The College has clear expectations of behaviour which will be introduced to you at induction and is displayed throughout the College. This sets the high expectations we have of behaviour both in and outside of the classroom.

This is not just about how you behave; it also includes attending all of your classes, arriving on time and respecting staff and your classmates.

This is so you feel safe and comfortable in the College and your class to make sure you achieve your best from your time at college. If any member of staff sees or hears any behaviour that they think goes against these expectations, they will challenge you, report it and it will be followed up.

Bullying or Harassment: What to Do, Where to Go what to do, where to go and understand what will happen if you feel ‘unsafe’ We will not accept any form of bullying or harassment. We will deal with any reported incidents confidentially, impartially and seriously, listening to you and taking action. If you can, you

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should always report what is happening to you. You can talk to your tutor, other teaching staff, a Personal Advisor, counsellor or member of Student Support staff.

Positive Behaviour Management poor behaviour will have consequences through the positive behaviour process which will be applied right from the beginning of the year The Expectations of Behaviour sets out the standards of behaviour we expect of you. If you behave in a way that has a negative impact on your or other’s time at college then the positive behaviour process will be used. This will show that we know your actions are causing concern, give you the opportunity to correct or change the way you are acting and to ensure you understand the possible consequences.

Equal Opportunities what equal opportunities means and why it is important especially relating to racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying and discrimination

things such as access to sports, trips outside, general issues such as bullying or discipline or debates on issues such as the environment, healthy living or drug use. You will also be involved with helping us to agree and plan some of the Wednesday afternoon enrichment activities and the cross college events such as Health or Diversity days.

Respect, Responsibilities and Rights We have high expectations of how our students will behave in college. These expectations are for all students and apply not just in classrooms but in all areas of the College. This is so that everyone has the opportunity to learn, to do the best they can and to feel safe and supported.

Any member of college staff can challenge your behaviour and ask you to identify yourself by showing your college ID card.

Respect for learning: this means that you: Attend all your classes Arrive before the lesson starts ready to start on time Arrive prepared to learn and with the right equipment Meet deadlines set for your course work Take an active role in the class without disrupting lessons Co-operate and communicate with your teachers and other students Follow the class rules agreed with your teacher Have your mobile phone off or on silent and only bring water into class Only take on outside work or commitments if they do not clash with or have a negative effect on your studies

In the College, Equal Opportunities mean that we believe that the College should be open, accessible and welcoming to people from a wide diversity of backgrounds. It also means that any discrimination towards individuals or groups of people based on negative stereotypes or prejudices is completely unacceptable, will be challenged and action taken.

Student Voice you can be elected to be a student representative at the college and represent your classmates on the Student Voice Forums, with the power to express your opinions and views and access to senior managers

Respect each other: this means that you:

We would like you to be involved in discussing and deciding on things that affect you during your time in college.

We want to hear what you have to say so we can change what we do and develop new ideas. The main focus will be your experience as a student and on issues that affect you both in and outside the classroom. This may include www.helioscollege.com

Are polite and do not use language that can offend others Will never be violent, aggressive or intimidate others Will not bully or discriminate against others Listen to your teacher and other students and allow others to take part Look after the College environment and equipment.

You do not have to accept behaviour

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(in or outside the classroom) that makes you feel uncomfortable or stops you learning

Responsibilities: this means that you: Do the best you possibly can, in your class and in your college work Set yourself high targets and tough challenges - believe in yourself Meet our standards, expectations and follow the agreed rules Take responsibility for what you do and what you say Find out about the facilities and services and opportunities the college has to offer Take up opportunities that are offered Ask for help if you need it, take help when it is offered Be proud of yourself and encourage and support others Learn from mistakes and use them to improve Always carry your college ID card and show it when asked by a member of college staff

Rights: this means that you can expect: Your classes will be well prepared, start on time and all students will have the opportunity to learn You will receive useful and regular feedback about your progress and be set challenging targets to improve You will be treated politely, with respect and in a way that recognises and values your differences and achievements Any poor behaviour, in or out of the classroom, that affects your learning will be challenged and dealt with You will receive positive encouragement and support to achieve your best You will be listened to and that the college will act on what you tell us You will have a wide range of opportunities to try new experiences and learn new skills

Positive Behaviour Management Our Positive Behaviour Management Process is designed as part of ‘Be Safe: Be Heard’ to make sure that the College is a safe and pleasant place to work and study in for everybody. This is used to help deal with unsatisfactory conduct or behaviour. This is when you behave in a way that doesn’t meet our International Student Handbook

expectations. This could be conduct which disturbs, upsets or offends other people, or which is preventing you from making the most of your opportunities at the College.

Levels of misconduct Unsatisfactory conduct and behaviour is divided into levels of misconduct. These are: Cause for Concern Minor Misconduct Serious Misconduct Major Misconduct

There are no hard and fast rules which say what sort of behaviour is minor, what is serious and what is major. It depends on the situation. For example, using obscene or abusive language might be considered to be minor misconduct if you were talking to a friend who didn’t mind. However, if you were deliberately directing this language at someone who did mind and felt upset and offended by it then this might be considered serious misconduct. If it was considered that that person might feel threatened by such language then this might well be major misconduct.

Vandalism, theft, bullying, taking or supplying drugs and violent behaviour are examples of major misconduct and are likely to lead you to being excluded from the College.

Formal Warnings If it is agreed your behaviour has been unacceptable then the outcome of the process will depend on the agreed level of misconduct. The idea is to give you the chance to improve your behaviour.

There are four levels of warning; Verbal, First, Second and Final. Initial minor misconduct will usually result in a verbal warning. If the behaviour is repeated or there is a new more serious misconduct then this can lead to a First, then Second and finally a Final warning. If there is no significant change you may be excluded from college. A Second or Final warning can usually only be given following a Disciplinary Hearing.

However, for repeated lateness or absenteeism, where you have been given previous warnings, you may be issued with a Second or a Final warning without a Disciplinary Hearing.

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Absence You are expected to aim to attend 100% of your classes and tutorials and to arrive before the start of your class.

You must tell the College immediately if you are unable to attend any of your classes. You should contact the college administration before 10.00am on the morning you are going to be absent.

All absence is unauthorised unless you have told your tutor and had your absence agreed to in advance. This includes sickness.

If your attendance falls below 90% you will have to attend an Absence Review meeting. Continued absences or lateness can lead to you being asked to leave the College.

Authorised absences may include: Unavoidable medical appointments.

You are expected to make appointments with your GP or dentist outside of class time.

Sickness covered by a Doctors Certificate.

Court or probation appointment.

Attendance at a funeral or death in the family.

Unauthorised absences include: Any holiday taken during term time apart from a recognised religious holiday.

Lateness for no good reason.

Personal/social reasons for not attending college.

If you are off for longer than 2 days you will need to contact your GP for a Doctors Certificate. Normally we will accept a Doctors Certificate for a maximum of two weeks absence.

Continued unauthorised absence will lead to the use of the behaviour management process and can lead to you being asked to leave college.

If someone else is paying your fees (a sponsor), your sponsor or employer will also be told.

If you are absent for two weeks in a row, without a medical certificate or a satisfactory explanation that has been agreed with your tutor, you will be automatically withdrawn from the course.

As an International student, if you are absent for 2 weeks, we must, by law, inform the Home Office.

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Complaints

health and safety.

Reporting of neglect or damage of College property to your lecturer or, if deliberate damage, report to security.

Helios International College actively seeks feedback from all its learners.

All feedback, ideas or suggestions for improvement of our service are gratefully received. We will respond promptly to all complaints and will use your comments to bring about improvement.

All accidents, no matter how minor, must be drawn to the attention of the admin office. If you see something that seems unsafe then it is your responsibility to inform a member of College staff immediately.

The College operates an unbiased, confidential complaints procedure.

Complaints forms are kept at:

In an emergency other than Fire, report the situation to the nearest member of College staff.

The main Reception In the administration offices On the Student Pages of the College website

Your completed form can be handed into the Student Support Services. We will then ensure these are followed up swiftly and answered in writing.

If you experience any difficulties completing the complaints form please call Student Support on 0208 422 0604.

Data Protection

There is emergency first aid cover throughout the College premises.

Security Please remember that in a busy environment open to the public, it is not safe to leave bags, cases or jackets unattended. They may not be there when you return. You must carefully look after your personal possessions at all times. If you leave them in classrooms during a break, make sure the door is locked behind you.

The College keeps records about students to make it possible for tutors and other staff to monitor student progress. All data is kept and used according to the relevant Data Protection legislation.

If you have concerns about how your personal data is used and stored, or wish to exercise your rights under the Data Protection Act, please write to Helios International College.

If you move house or change address, please make sure that you tell our Student Support Team.

Safety As a Learner at Helios International College you are required to meet your responsibilities for Health and Safety by: Accepting personal responsibility for the safety of yourself, fellow students and others.

Observing the safety rules or codes of safe working particular to your course.

Asking for advice where warnings and rules are not made obvious or clear.

Observing standards of behaviour, dress, etc. appropriate to the work situation.

Not neglecting, damaging, misusing or interfering with anything provided for

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General enquiries Phone: +44 (0)20 8422 0604 Fax: +44 (0)20 8422 3304

info@helioscollege.com

Postal address Helios International College Dawson House 276–278 Northolt Road South Harrow Middlesex HA2 8EB United Kingdom

Admission enquiries If you have any questions about your application please contact the Admissions Office at

admissions@helioscollege.com When contacting the Admissions Office always give your full name, your student number (if known), the programme for which you are applying and, if you are checking whether your application has been received, the date you posted the application form and application handling fee (where applicable) and by what means it was despatched, (i.e. registered post, recorded delivery, courier, or by ordinary post).

If you have any questions about the study programmes we offer, staff from our Student Services will be able to assist you.

The College is open from 9.30am until 5.30pm (GMT) from Monday to Friday.

You may also like to look at our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in our College website, which may provide you with the information you require.

How To Find Us Nearby railway stations South Harrow tube station (Piccadilly Line) Northolt Park (Chiltern Main Line)

Bus routes The following London bus routes serve South Harrow: 114 Ruislip Stn to Mill Hill Broadway 140 Heathrow Airport to Harrow Weald (24-hour service) 258 South Harrow Stn to Watford Junction 398 Ruislip Stn to Greenford (Monday to Saturday only) 487 South Harrow Stn to Willesden Junction H9/H10 Harrow Circular H12 South Harrow Stn to Stanmore Stn

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Useful Websites Listed below are a few websites that you might find interesting and useful.

National Express

www.nationalexpress.com

Mega Bus

www.megabus.com

National Rail

www.nationalrail.co.uk

UK Visas

www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.uk/

UK Visas

www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Education Information www.dius.gov.uk

Accreditation www.asic.org.uk

Accommodation for students

www.accommodationforstudents.com

Directgov

www.direct.gov.uk

Employment 4 Students www.e4s.co.uk

Healon

www.healon.co.uk

London events

uk.oneworld.net/section/uk/events/london/

Multikulti

www.multikulti.org.uk

Multimap

www.multimap.com

Qype

www.qype.co.uk

Study Stay

www.studystay.com

Transport for London www.tfl.gov.uk

UK Border Agency

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

UKCISA

www.ukcisa.org.uk

Universal Currency Converter www.xe.com/ucc/

Visit London

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Timeout London

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International Student Handbook

A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

Helios International College Dawson House 276 - 278 Northolt Road South Harrow HA2 8EB United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 208 422 0604 Fax: +44 (0) 208 422 3304 Email: info@helioscollege.com Web: www.helioscollege.com

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