International Pre-Arrival Guide (Part 2): Planning your arrival

Welcome

We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Buckinghamshire New University.

There are things you still need to do such as book your accommodation and complete your pre-enrolment, and this will be explained here.

First, make sure you have read Guide 1 of our Pre-Arrival Information (hyperlink BNU International Arrival Guide by Buckinghamshire New University - Issuu) which will explain how to meet the conditions of your offer letter and guide you through the CAS and Visa process.

Pre-departure checklist

Arrange the following:

Student Visa

Accommodation

Payment of Tuition Fees

Transport within the UK from the Airport to your Accommodation

Travel Insurance (to cover your luggage during travel)

Medical Insurance

Don’t forget to add your visa outcome, flight details and accommodation plans to CAS shield.

Bring the following original documentation:

Your valid passport

Unconditional offer letter

CAS letter

Original qualification certificates and English Language certificates

Visa decision letter

Accommodation

Please note: As an international student, we require that you live within a 30km radius of the University.

At BNU, we have a range of accommodation options for you all within walking distance of our main campus in the town centre, surrounded by shops and supermarkets making it easy to get around.

If you apply by the accommodation deadline on our website, we guarantee that you will secure a place in our accommodation as a full-time, first year international student for our September intakes – You can apply from April! Accommodation options for January and April intakes may vary, so it’s best to check our accommodation portal for availability.

Once you have booked your accommodation, make sure to add this to your CAS shield portal so we know how best to help you settle in on your arrival.

What we offer

High Wycombe Accommodation

Brook Street

Brook Street has flats of between six and ten bedrooms, sharing a kitchen-diner, two shower rooms and toilets. Each room has its own washbasin and internet access. It is our basic level accommodation and is a five-minute walk from the University.

Brook Street is very friendly and although some students are unsure of the shared facilities, after a couple of days the great atmosphere on site more than makes up for it.

Hughenden Park Student Village

Hughenden Park Student Village is about 15-20 minutes’ walk away from campus. The rooms are en-suite with small double beds, and there is a shared kitchen-diner per flat.

Hughenden is our biggest halls of residence, and our students love the atmosphere and social nature.

Windsor House

Windsor House is right in the centre of High Wycombe and a five-minute walk from campus.

The rooms in Windsor House have small double beds, are en suite, and share a kitchen-diner. There are 6 bedrooms per flat and the kitchendiners have soft seating areas and tables and chairs to sit down and eat together.

Kettles, fridges, ovens and microwaves are provided in all the halls, but you will need to provide your own cups, plates, cutlery, utensils, etc.

We provide 24 hour security, controlled access and our staff are always on site so you will always be safe and secure in your university accommodation.

How to apply?

When you have accepted your unconditional offer we will contact you with details on how to apply. Follow the link we send you and complete your application. It might take a couple of weeks to get your accommodation offer due to the number of applications we receive.

If you are renting privately outside of the university, you can visit bnustudentpad.co.uk to view studentfriendly accommodation. Access to our platform is available with password BNUHousing2022

Due to the cost of travel in the UK, and to ensure you can attend all of your classes without issue, we advise to live within a 20km radius of your campus.

Accommodation Services are available to advise on renting privately, and can be contacted via accommodation@bnu.ac.uk.

Cost of Living

When you arrive in the UK to start your course you will need access to money to cover the cost of living plus all your fees (including tuition and accommodation fees). Until you have opened a bank account, make sure to have access to funds.

As part of your visa application, you will need to show £1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside of London, however your actual living expenses will vary depending on your personal spending habits.

We estimate that you can expect to pay £900 – £1,600 a month, to cover accommodation, bills, food, and other living costs. We also recommended that you set aside some extra money for emergencies.

Undergraduate Postgraduate

Tuition Fees £15,000 for most courses - Please see individual course pages for more information.

£15,000 - £18,800 - Please see individual course pages for more information.

Accommodation Cost of University Halls of Residence approximately £320 - £700 per month. Cost of private accommodation is approximately £500 to £988 (depending on location and quality

Transport University accommodation sites are all within walking distance to the Campus. You can also take advantage of our FREE CampusLink bus to our Uxbridge Campus.

If you are living off campus, your commute costs will vary depending on your location and access – we recommend that you budget for approximately £40 per month. However, travelling by train can be significantly more expensive so it’s best to live nearby to the campus where possible.

Please note: The University Car Park is strictly for staff only. If you are driving into university, you must make your own parking arrangements.

Food £200 per month

Laundry £40 per month

Entertainment £60 per month

Mobile phone and internet £27 per month

Clothing £42 per month

Utilities: heating/lighting £0 if living in on-campus accommodation as they are included in the cost. £80 if living off campus – Your share will depend on if you are splitting costs with other flatmates, the size of your accommodation and how often you have the heating on in the cooler months.

Employment

As an international student with immigration permission, you will have restrictions on the number of hours you can work.

Student visas will allow you to work up to 20 hours work a week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during your holiday periods.

A part time job is a great way to improve your language skills, gain experience, make friends, and earn some extra money.

If you are studying a course below UK degree level, such as foundation year, you are only allowed to work 10 hours per week.

If you require a student visa, you will not be able to rely on expected income from part-time work to demonstrate how you will afford to live and study in the UK.

Finding work

At the University:

- Student Union (SU)

- Our incredible SU have a variety of opportunities to help you get into work.

JobShop

The SU run their own JobShop, advertising parttime and full-time vacancies on-campus and in the local area where you are likely to find something that is relevant to you to help build your CV.

Skills Sessions

Our SU also provide certified courses, skill sessions and essential qualifications to help boost your employability. Visit the What’s On page to see what skill sessions are coming up, and if you don’t see a course you are interested in, contact the SU and they’ll do their best to organise a relevant session.

Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy is available to all students and entirely bespoke to the individual. The SU will create a development programme based on your goals for the year and beyond. Whether you’re in your first or third year a programme can be created for you. We’ll offer you training courses specific to your needs, funding for recognised, certified qualifications and networking opportunities to give you the best possible chance for success - all free of charge courtesy of The Big Deal.

Student Ambassador Scheme

The Student Ambassador Scheme sits with our Marketing and Student Recruitment department offering a range of different roles for our students. From supporting at Open Days, leading campus tours, helping at UCAS fairs or assisting with interviews and applicant visit days. We will give you full training and you will have the flexibility to work when you want and to try out roles that might suit your skill set. View our dedicated page for further information.

The local area:

Eden Shopping Centre – Over 106 shops

- Swan Theatre - Hotels & Restaurants

Conditions of your visa

Make sure you are aware of the conditions attached to your Student Visa. It is important that you comply with these conditions throughout your time in the UK.

Contact details

We need to be able to contact you while you are studying at BNU. We will need:

- your address in the UK

- your UK mobile number

- your email address that you check regularly

It is your responsibility to update this information if any of these details change. You must report any change of address to the Home Office – you can do so by updating your infor mation online

It is also important to update your CAS shield with these details to ensure a smooth enrolment when you arrive in the UK.

Attendance

As a Student Visa holder, your leave to remain in the UK depends on your continued engagement with your course of study. Your attendance at all timetabled classes, lectures and workshops is absolutely mandatory. This means you must attend all timetabled classes on-campus.

The University will monitor your attendance during term time and report back on students who are not attending on a regular basis. If you miss your classes without prior agreement from the University then you can be reported to the Home Office. This would result in the cancellation of your visa and removal from your course.

Succeeding in your studies

Moving to a new country to study is an exciting experience. You may have some questions and worries. It’s not going to be the same as at home; but you know that this is going to be a life changing experience.

Academic Culture

Studying in the UK may be different to your home country. There are some general things that you may notice in the UK:

- Students often work independently, studying on their own for significant periods of time

- Students are expected to develop critical thinking, which means an ability to assess whether an argument is coherent and well supported by evidence

- Learning large amounts of factual data is important in some subject areas, but in many cases a critical approach is considered more important

You are not alone. Many UK students will also be going through the process of adapting to university.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an important skill needed for university study in the UK. On your course you will be expected to learn new information about your subject but you will also be expected to reflect in a careful and critical way about what you are learning. Reflecting critically involves skills such as identifying implications to an argument. It also involves being able to evaluate how true or useful certain information might be.

NO CHEATING

The Language Challenge

Top tip: If you always and only socialise with people from your own country, you risk not improving your English. It will be challenging but we encourage you to challenge yourself with opportunities that give you the chance to practice your English as much as possible.

International students often struggle with language when they first arrive in the UK. This is not surprising as, for many of you, this may be your first stay in an English-speaking country. The higher level of studies that you are about to start will probably demand a lot more in terms of your English language skills than what you are used to.

We advise you to work on improving your English as much as you can before arriving in the UK. A few suggestions are:

- Develop a reading habit

- Use a dictionary often

- Practice writing and speaking in English everyday

- Have fun while learning!

Completing your enrolment

What is enrolment?

Enrolment is a two-stage process to register as an official BNU student. Enrolling at the right time is important as it unlocks things like your course timetable and access to BNU systems. You must enrol for each year of study on your course, and you will be invited to enrol when your enrolment record is ready.

- Stage 1: Online enrolment (before you arrive)

- Stage 2: Document Checks, when you arrive in the UK.

Please note: if you have a conditional offer, you will only be sent instructions to enrol once all conditions have been met and your deposit has been received.

Stage 1 (Online enrolment)

Online enrolment will open a month before your course start date and you will receive an email with full instructions on how to enrol through BNU Connect.

You will need to complete the following:

- Confirm/update your enrolment record details

- Upload a copy of your valid passport – the page of your passport that contains your photograph, full name, date of birth, issue/ expiry date (often referred to as the ‘biometric page’). The following formats are accepted – JPEG, Adobe PDF or Microsoft documents saved as a .docx or .xlsx format.

- Pay your Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – ensure this has been completed as part of your visa application process.

Stage 2: In-person document checking

You will need to present the following original documents when you come for your document check on campus:

- Passport (that you uploaded a copy as part of the online enrolment process)

- UKVI Decision Letter

- Original Qualification Documents

- Evidence of your Secure English Language Test (e.g. IELTS)

- Entry clearance visa

- Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) to be shown by continuing International students

As a new International student, you will be able to collect your Biometric Residence Permits along with your BNU ID card when you attend the document check during welcome week.

Why you need to enrol?

When you enrol online you will get access to your IT account and MyBNU where your timetable will be available.

Completing your online enrolment and your in-person document check when you arrive for welcome week means:

- You will be able to collect your Biometric Residence Permit

- You will receive your BNU ID card which is your library card and swipe-access card to get around the University. This also allows you to travel on the campuslink bus for FREE.

- If you are living in private accommodation, you can apply for a council tax exemption certificate

You will not be fully enrolled until you have arrived in the UK and reported to the Compliance Team on campus with the required documentation. Please ensure you have:

- Submitted online enrolment

- Shown Original Documents to Compliance Team

- Started classes within the first two weeks of teaching.

If you are going to arrive late, you must contact the Compliance Team on  compliance-admin@ bnu.ac.uk . You may not be allowed to enrol or continue your studies with BNU if you do not meet these requirements.

If you have any questions about your enrolment, please email  enrol@bnu.ac.uk . Please ensure you quote your BNU 8 Digit ID number in any correspondence to the University. What to expect when you arrive

Arriving at the airport

Your airline will give you a landing card - fill this in before you arrive at border control. Be prepared for an immigration interview with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) staff. You must be able to answer some questions in English and have a basic conversation without the assistance of an interpreter – failure to do so may result in you being denied access to the UK, at which point you will have to return home. The UK border control can be very busy, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait in a queue.

You will need to show a valid passport and visa on arrival to the UK but you may also need to show the following so please make sure you keep these in your hand luggage:

- evidence of funding

- a recent medical report including x-ray results (if required)

- notification of CAS e-mail

Be prepared to answer questions about where you are staying, and why you have come to the UK. The Border Force Officer must also be satisfied that you speak English at the required level without the need for an interpreter. You may also be fingerprinted if you supplied biometrics for your visa application.

After collecting your luggage and making your way through customs, you will reach the Arrivals Hall.

Please note if you require a Student Route visa or Visit visa you should not use the ePassport gates on arrival to the UK. You will need to see a Border Force Officer who will be able to stamp your passport giving you the appropriate leave or validation of your vignette.

Your journey to your campus

There are a number of ways to travel to the campus, Taxi, Uber, National Express coach or by train. The quickest route and most convenient option is to take a taxi, let us know on CAS shield when you are planning to travel and we can help arrange your transport and even put you in touch with students arriving at a similar time to share transport.

National Express

£10 – £25 – (35 minutes) Heathrow Airport to High Wycombe Coachway, Handy Cross (plus 6 minute taxi or 20 minute shuttle bus)

£20 – (2 hours) Gatwick Airport to High Wycombe Coachway, Handy Cross (plus 6 minute taxi or 20 minute shuttle bus)

£33.60 – (3 hours) Stansted Airport to High Wycombe Coachway, Handy Cross (plus 6 minute taxi or 20 minute shuttle bus)

Train

- £30.40/£44.50 – (1.5 hours) Heathrow Airport > London Paddington > London

Paddington > London Marylebone

> High Wycombe

- £38.20 – (2 hours) Gatwick Airport > London Bridge > London Marylebone

> High Wycombe

- £35.40 (2 hours) Luton Airport Parkway

> London St Pancras International > London Marylebone > High Wycombe

- £43.20

> London Liverpool Street > London Marylebone > High Wycombe

Taxi or Uber

The fastest route to your campus is to arrange a taxi to collect you or book an Uber when you arrive at the airport. There are a number of taxi companies you can book with in the UK, but Arrow Taxis (+44 1494 474 764) are a local taxi company in High Wycombe if you are unsure. Taxi is the best option as they can meet you on arrival.

Heathrow Airport – (30-45 minutes) £45 – £55

Gatwick Airport – (1.5-2 hours) £80 - £95

Stansted Airport – (1.5-2 hours) £92 – £100

Luton Airport – (1 – 1.5 hours) £60 - £65

High Wycombe

From Heathrow

From Gatwick

From Luton

From Stansted

Uxbridge

From Heathrow

From Gatwick

From Luton

From Stansted

Select the destination to access accurate navigation to our High Wycombe and Uxbridge campuses via Google Maps.

High Wycombe Campus Queen Alexandra Road

High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2JZ

Aylesbury Campus

59 Walton Street

Aylesbury

Buckinghamshire HP21 7QG

Uxbridge Campus

106 Oxford Road

Uxbridge

Middlesex UB8 1NA

BNU based at Pinewood Studios

Pinewood Studios

Pinewood Road

Iver Heath

Buckinghamshire SL1 0NH

Missenden Abbey

London Road

Great Missenden

Buckinghamshire HP16 0BD

This publication was produced by Buckinghamshire New University. © Buckinghamshire New University.

BF2272 - Digital Pt.2