uca.ac.uk
International Student Welcome Guide
International Welcome Guide 2020
Crystal Lyons
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Pre-departure
Arriving in the UK
Accommodation
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8–9
Online enrolment
Do not overpack your luggage
On Arrival
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International student arrival – checklist
Welcome and Induction Week / Biometric Residence Permit
Physical enrolment / Your student ID card
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Register with the police
Registering with a doctor / EU Settlement Scheme
Opening a bank account
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18 – 19
Study tips at UCA
Academic tutors / Gateway Services
International Student Support
20 – 21
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Campus Registry / Monitoring your attendance
Printing / MyUCA
IT Support / Useful Contacts
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Our libraries / Student Support Services
Student Union / International Student Buddy
Paying your tution fees
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30 – 31
32 – 33
Living in the UK
Connect with us
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Pre-departure
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Before you fly - checklist Please make sure that you have done the following before you fly out to the UK: To do
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Apply for a UK student visa (non-EU students) Make sure you have booked your accommodation and paid the relevant deposits Arriving in the UK Complete online enrolment Received timetable for Welcome and Induction week Do not over pack your luggage and check UK customs regulations DO NOT bring too much cash Arrange for your Comprehensive Sickness Insurance (CSI). If you are an EU student, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is acceptable evidence of CSI before 31 December 2020.
Documents you are required to bring to the UK – checklist Please bring the following original documents. You will need them to show to UK customs and to enrol fully with the University: To bring IELTS test certificate Highest academic qualification and transcripts – translated into English if required CAS letter (non-EU students) Other documents that you have used to apply to UCA, including bank statement, tuberculosis (TB) certificate Passport (don’t forget to check the expiry date)
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Arriving in the UK
For arrival meet and greet as well as transportation options from the airport, please check our website for updated information. uca.ac.uk/international/non-eu/study/airportpick-up Ways to get to campus If you would rather make your own way to the campus, trains and bus services that will take you to Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham or Rochester are available, this will probably take longer than travelling by taxi and may involve changing trains or buses, depending on your route. – C heck UK train schedules and prices online at www.thetrainline.com – C heck UK coach services at www.nationalexpress.com
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Accommodation Our Accommodation Services office provides support and advice on issues relating to University or private accommodation. Use the link below to check UCA halls of residence, how to apply for UCA accommodation, private accommodation, fees, terms and conditions. uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/accommodation We also offer out-of-hours support for residents in University accommodation (which may include Residential Student Wardens and/or a Security Officer). Residents should be aware that the Accommodation office’s main method of communication once you’ve moved in is by email to your UCA email address. Canterbury T: +44 (0) 1227 817380 E: canterburyaccommodation@uca.ac.uk Epsom T: +44 (0) 1372 202448 E: epsomaccommodation@uca.ac.uk Farnham T: +44 (0) 1252 892974 E: farnhamaccommodation@uca.ac.uk Rochester T: +44 (0) 1634 888723 E: rochesteraccommodation@uca.ac.uk
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How to pay for accommodation
In order to accept your offer of a room you must either pay a deposit of £300 or pay in full. Option 1 Pay online through the Accommodation Portal (UCA’s preferred method) Log in to the online accommodation system at accommodation.uca.ac.uk and accept your room offer. You will automatically be redirected to a payment page. Option 2 If you are unable to pay online, you can pay by the following methods: – Telephone the cashier on +44 1252 892683 – V ia Western Union Bank Transfer: student.globalpay.wu.com/geo-buyer/ unicreativearts#!
After you arrive: If you have only paid £300 before arrival you will need to pay the outstanding balance when you arrive. If you paid your £300 using Option 1, your payment will be taken automatically from your registered card. You do not need to do anything. Five days before payment is due the University will send you an email informing you how much will be taken and on what date. If you paid £300 using Option 2, you must pay the balance using either: – W estern Union Bank Transfer: student.globalpay.wu.com/geo-buyer/ unicreativearts#! – P ay the Cashier using your bank card either over the phone by calling +44 (0) 1252 892683 or by visiting the Farnham Accommodation Office in person during their opening hours (11am to 4pm Monday to Friday).
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Online Enrolment
Before beginning your studies, you’ll need to enrol with the University. The enrolment process is in two stages. The first stage is done via the Applicant Portal before you arrive. You need to confirm your course, check/provide general information about yourself (e.g. your contact details, your qualifications), confirm how you’ll pay your fees and read the University regulations. You should complete the online enrolment before you arrive at UCA.
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You can access the Applicant Portal here: registryonline.ucreative.ac.uk The second stage will be done when you have arrived on campus.
Do not overpack your luggage What type of clothes should I bring? Students tend to dress informally in the UK, in jeans, t-shirts and jumpers. Bring clothes suitable for four seasons, including warm winter clothing such as coats and boots, as well as lighter summer clothing. Rain showers can be expected at any time of the year, so waterproof clothes and shoes are recommended. What not to bring If you are travelling to the UK by aeroplane, or if you will cross a national border by other methods of transport, please note the following guidance: Do not bring the following in your luggage: – Prohibited food items – Large electrical items, such as rice cookers – Plants or seeds – Excessive amounts of alcohol or tobacco – M ore than €10,000 (or equivalent in Sterling) in cash. If you bring more than this amount, you will need to declare it at Customs
What you should bring We advise all international students to have the following items in their hand luggage when travelling to the UK: – A valid passport, with your visa or UK immigration permission (if non-EU) – F or non-EU students, all the documents you used to obtain your Tier 4 (General) student visa, including original documents to prove financial support for your tuition fees and maintenance, and a print-out of the CAS letter we provided you with. You should also include your TB screening certificate if one was required to obtain your visa – Y our travel insurance details, if you have travel insurance for your journey to UCA – D etails of the accommodation team and accommodation destination, including address and telephone number – At least two spare passport-size photographs – O riginal copies of your qualifications, transcripts and IELTS/English language certificatee – D etails of your airport transportation arrangement If you have all these items with you should not experience problems when passing through Immigration Control and Customs.
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On arrival International student arrival – checklist (when you arrive at UCA) Please make sure that you do the following as soon as you arrive at UCA: To do Collect your BRP card (non-EU) Physical Enrolment Police registration if applicable GP registration Health and Safety declaration form Request a bank letter from UCA (if you wish to open a UK bank account) British SIM card Set password for myUCA Know studio etiquette/rules Have a folder, sketchbook and map of the campus Young Person’s Railcard Know the key contacts at UCA Contact your family in your home country Get a TOTUM ID card
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Welcome and BRP (Biometric Induction Week Residence Permit) - Non-EU students
The first week of your study (or a few days for Pre-sessional students) will be Welcome and Induction Week. The timetable of the Induction will be sent to you via email, so make sure that you print a copy of this before you travel to the UK. During Welcome and Induction Week, the University will organize sessions and activites around all logistical matters for international students (BRP, police registration, opening a bank account and so on), inductions from your course leaders about your programme, how to use the library, online resources, subject workshops, UK education, how to be an international student in the UK and so on. Please make sure that you attend all sessions and feel free to ask if you have any questions. This year the induction is two weeks to allow for quarantine if required.
A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a document in the shape of a card issued by the Home Office to non-EU students (and their partners and children) as evidence of their immigration permission. During the Welcome and Induction week, we will give more information about your BRP collection. Please keep the letter from the Home Office that comes with your passport when you received your UK student visa since it will give more detailed information of when and where you can collect your BRP. Your BRP card is your important ID card in the UK. Please make sure that you keep it safe. Important to know: – You should check that your BRP states the correct information (name, length of your stay, working conditions and so on) – A ny mistakes? Contact visaadvice@uca.ac.uk immediately. We may not be able to get errors corrected if they are not reported within 10 days of you getting the card – S tolen or lost? Please inform visaadvice@uca.ac.uk immediately – I f you are aged under 18, please contact our Immigration Compliance Coordinator (visaadvice@uca.ac.uk) when you arrive – I f you want to know more about visas, visit uca.ac.uk/international/visas-and-immigration
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Physical Enrolment
Your Student ID Card & Email Address
The second part of the enrolment process takes place during your Welcome and Induction Week on campus. At your enrolment session, a member of the enrolment team will check your qualifications and identification, so you’ll need to bring the following with you:
An ‘ID photo upload’ task will be available on the Applicant Portal for you to upload a photograph for your Student ID Card.
– A ll your original exam certificates (transcripts, degree certificate and IELTS /English language test)
Please make sure you regularly check your UCA student email address, as the University staff and academics will send you emails for any official communications.
– Passport – I f you are from outside the UK, you must also bring details of your visa, if you have one – BRP card You’ll need to complete both stages of the enrolment process in order to be a fully enrolled student.
Your student ID card must be worn at all times when on campus.
Make sure that you learn how to use your UCA email. Set up your email on your mobile phone or tablet to make sure you are not missing any important information.
Please make sure you bring everything with you, if you do not have everything you will not be able to enroll fully. Need help with your enrolment? Visit: uca.ac.uk/enrolment
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Registering with the Police (non-EU students) Students from some countries will need to register with the police.To do this you will need to request a letter for police registration. To do this, you must complete online enrolment and physical enrolment first. When you have done this:
– I f you fail to attend the meeting or try to register without an appointment, you will not be able to register on-campus and will have to go to a designated police station to register by making an appointment on their website
– Log in to myUCA
For students in Canterbury and Rochester – For more information please attend the International Induction Event to find out about the procedure or speak with a member of staff in the Campus Registry or a Specialist Adviser in the Library to find out how to register with the police
– Click myRecords – F ind 'student letter request' and follow the instructions You can collect the letter from the Campus Registry, usually within five to six working days. If you do not register with the police, you could be fined £5,000 and put in prison for six months. Registering late can count against you the next time you apply for a visa. For more information please visit: gov.uk/register-with-the-police/who-needs-toregister You don’t need to register with the police if you have permission to live permanently in the UK, or are a family member of an EEA citizen. For students in Epsom and Farnham Unless you are part of the October intake you will need to make an appointment to register with the police by emailing PoliceRegistration@surrey.pnn. police.uk or call 01483 639516 The appointments are at Woking police station and students will need to take the completed form and all of the documents required as stated below. – F or October intake the local Police Registration Officer will be at the campus during induction week to help you to register – Y ou will need to book your place as soon as possible as we have limited spaces available (you will be told how to book during Induction Week – visit the Gateway desk in the Library if you need more information)
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Important to bring: – Two passport sized photographs – BRP – £34 (cash only) – T he Home Office visa acceptance letter or your visa sticker in your passport – P roof of your course and address (enrolment letter, CAS letter, accommodation letter) – P hotocopies of your passport, 30-day vignette and BRP Remember to change your address with the police if you move to a new campus or accommodation. Contact the Gateway desk or Specialist Adviser in the Library if you have questions regarding police registration.
Registering with a doctor It is important that you are registered with a GP (General Practitioner) near you. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK provides a comprehensive service to international and EU students, except for dental and optical services. If you need medical advice or services, please contact your GP directly, for minor issues you can also get treatment at a pharmacy. If you have not registered with a GP and you need urgent medical advice, please contact 111 for non-emergency or go to a walk-in clinic if you have one nearby. In an emergency call 999.
For students in Epsom and Farnham, you will be able to register with a local GP during Induction Week in October organized by the University or directly at the local surgery depending on where you live. You can speak to a Specialist Adviser on each campus to find out more information if you live off-campus. For students in Canterbury and Rochester, you will have to register with your local GP on an individual basis. For more information, please join our International Induction Event. You can speak to a Specialist Adviser on each campus to find out more information.
EU Settlement Scheme (EEA and Swiss nationals) The UK left the European Union at the end of January 2020 and entered a transition period until 31 December 2020. During the transition period free movement will continue. EEA and Swiss citizens moving to live in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 will not require a visa and, after arrival, will also be eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. If you are an EEA or Swiss National arriving in the UK before 31st December 2020, you will be required to apply for the EU settlement scheme.
EEA and Swiss nationals who have arrived to live in the UK prior to 31 December 2020 will have up until 30 June 2021 to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme. This is necessary if you wish to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021. ​​ The application is online and free of charge, and it can be accessed on the gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families Under current plans, those who arrive in the UK after 31 December 2020 will be subject to the immigration system in place at that time and EEA and Swiss students will require a visa to study.
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Opening a bank account UK banks include HSBC, Santander, NatWest, Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds and Nationwide. Requesting a letter for the bank: You need to have completed both online and physical enrolment to be able to do this. – Log in to myUCA – Click on myRecords – F ind 'student letter request' and follow the instructions You need to know which bank you want to open an account with and their address, before you request the letter. You can collect the letter from the Campus Registry once it is produced, usually within five working days. Please bring the following documents when you visit the bank: – Passport & Visa (BRP) – A letter confirming your studies (CAS or offer letter: a bank letter from the University) – Accommodation confirmation letter – D ifferent banks have different requirements so you may be asked for additional documentation Overseas bank Some international banks could also be an option if you want to open an account before you arrive. For example, Bank of China or HSBC might be able to open an account for you that you can use while you are in the UK, to get more information on these services, contact Bank of China or HSBC directly.
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Online bank account Another option is online banking, which you can set up before you arrive in the UK. However, there is no physical bank you can visit or person to speak to directly. Everything happens online, or over the telephone. These are a few examples of online banks you could try: 1. Revolut 2. Monzo 3. Aspire Bank We will not recommend any specific account for you, and we urge you to check their terms and conditions before you make any decisions. It is very important you make sure whatever bank you choose is regulated by a recognised regulatory body, like the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Please be aware that the examples above might not be available if you live outside the EU or EEA.
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Study tips at UCA 20
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Academic tutors Your academic tutors will be the most important contact for your study at UCA. They will usually give you their contact details during your Induction. So make sure that you contact them if you have any queries about your study. We encourage students to ask questions. Do not feel afraid to ask for help if you are having difficulties with your study.
Gateway The Gateway is the first point of contact for student support, answering enquires and providing support both in person and online. It’s also the ‘gateway’ to a range of services, including counselling, advice on finance and careers, academic support, disability services and dyslexia support. Our academic support teams can help you to develop your creative and academic practices, together with effective research skills for: – Understanding project briefs – Accessing online resources – Finding and evaluating research sources – Organisation and time management – Presenting your ideas Our Specialist Advisers are always helpful and are the best place to start with any queries about student services, or the library in general. Appointments with our Specialist Advisers can be booked through the Gateway located in the Library at each of our four main campuses.
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International student support
If you’re an international student, our Specialist Advisers from Gateway can help you with: – Adapting to life and the culture in the UK – Visa renewal – Visas to visit other countries
For more information on how the Gateway can support you, please visit: uca.ac.uk/library/academic-support Or visit: uca.ac.uk/student-services
– Police registration – Working in the UK during and after your studies – Getting a National Insurance number – R egistering with the National Health Service (NHS) – Getting English language support – M oney advice, including help with setting up a UK bank account – P roblems with landlords, accommodation issues and council tax demands – Personal and general problems – Supporting your health and wellbeing – Finances
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Campus Registry – Student Administration
If you need more information about your course and academic-related issues, including your grades, change of personal details, applying for special considerations for your assessment, taking a break between courses, term dates and other issues visit: uca.ac.uk/student-admin-help/students Term dates Pre-degree (Diploma and Foundation courses) uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/term-dates/pre-degree Undergraduate (BA and BSc Degree): uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/term-dates/undergraduateterm-dates Postgraduate (MA, MFA & GradCert) courses: uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/term-dates/postgraduateterm-dates
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If you have any questions about term dates or enrolment, please contact your Campus Registry: Farnham campusregistryfarnham@ucreative.ac.uk Rochester campusregistryrochester@ucreative.ac.uk Epsom campusregistryepsom@ucreative.ac.uk Canterbury campusregistrycanterbury@ucreative.ac.uk
Monitoring your attendance
The University is legally required to monitor the attendance of all Tier 4 (General) students. This includes all sessions scheduled as part of your course such as lectures, classes, tutorials and seminars, as well as attending exams and submitting coursework, and other commitments. If your engagement or attendance drops to an unsatisfactory level you may be withdrawn from the course and your visa cancelled. We have developed an attendance monitoring system to record your attendance on your course – this is one of the requirements of your visa. At ten different points during the year, your tutor will report your attendance, which will be recorded on your student record. Proof of this may be requested by the UKVI. More information about Tier 4 and attendance monitoring can be found at:
What if I am unable to attend? If you cannot attend, you must inform your tutor in advance of your expected absence by visiting Campus Registry. If you are ill, you should also contact Campus Registry to inform them that you will not be attending, and may require a medical certificate. Keep us updated if you are going to be absent from your studies for an extended period of time, any period of one week or more. You can do this by contacting our Immigration Compliance Coordinator: visaadvice@uca.ac.uk
uca.ac.uk/international-study/visas-andimmigration
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Printing
My UCA
– Log in to myUCA on the University’s website
myUCA is an online environment to support your learning at UCA.
– C lick into print credit (on the left side of the website page) – E nter payment login details (username – your student ID) – F ollow the instruction to top-up print credits on to your student card As for how to print, please ask staff in the print room (printers are in the library of each campus, and around each site at specific points to allow access for all buildings to printing resources) or check our website: uca.ac.uk/it-help-students/printing
Through myUCA you can view and share information and documents relevant to your course; access to library, learning and support resources, update your personal information, get important announcements, marks and access your UCA email. How to access myUCA: An introduction video on myUCA can be seen in https://vimeo.com/showcase/2578355/ video/71581547 Please make sure that you know how to use myUCA and if not, please ask for support through our ‘Gateway’.
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IT Support
Useful Contacts
IT problem? check our website: uca.ac.uk/it-help-students
Emergency: 999
MyUCA Support Canterbury: Telephone: +44 (0) 1227 817314 Email: gatewaycanterbury@uca.ac.uk Epsom: Telephone: +44 (0) 1372 202461 Email: gatewayepsom@uca.ac.uk Farnham: Telephone: +44 (0) 1252 892709 Email: gatewayfarnham@uca.ac.uk Rochester: Telephone: +44 (0) 1634 888734 Email: gatewayrochester@uca.ac.uk
Police (non-emergency): 101 Medical Help non-emergency: 111 Victim Support: 0808 168 9111 For specific questions regarding Tier 4 visas, email: visaadvice@uca.ac.uk International Student Support : international.support@uca.ac.uk UCA Accommodation: Accommodation@uca.ac.uk International Admission and Fees: International.admission@uca.ac.uk Scholarship: Internationalscholarship@uca.ac.uk Career and Employability: careers@uca.ac.uk 27
Our libraries The Library provides a range of resources and services to enable you to successfully complete your chosen course.
Opening times The library is open seven days a week during term time:
Pre-degree students can borrow up to 10 items at once, and undergraduate students can borrow up to 15 items. This number increases to 20 in the third or fourth year of your course.
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 8:00pm Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm Sunday: 1:00pm to 5:00pm
If you need any further information, please contact the library at: library@uca.ac.uk Library card Your student ID card is also your library card. You’ll be issued with this card at your enrolment session and you’ll need to have it with you if you want to borrow, print or photocopy material.
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There are also three weekends of extended opening hours per year: Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm Holiday opening times are 9:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays. Please check your campus library for specific opening times.
Student support services Personal Development Tutor Personal Development Tutors provide a structured process of supported learning, focused around your personal, professional and academic development which: – Promotes student self-belief and reflection – D evelops student responsibility for their own learning – P rovides students with a clear idea of their strengths and areas for development – E ncourages students to consider future plans and career development – H elps students to stay on track during their studies – W orks alongside specialist support services to get students the support that they require English language support If you would like to improve the quality of your English, we have free English classes two days a week on every campus. We offer small group classes and one-to-one tutorials, where you can practise your speaking or get help with your writing. It is essential that you can understand your tutor and understand what you have to do on your course, so if you are finding this difficult, please make sure to attend these extra English classes. For more information, please email EnglishSupport@uca.ac.uk
Disability If you have a diagnosed condition that could adversely affect your ability to learn, it could be defined as a disability. If you feel you need learning support because of your condition or disability, visit: uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/facilities-resources-andsupport/learning-support Or you can view our Disabled International Student Service Statement at: uca.ac.uk/student-services/internationalstudent-support/ Alternatively, if you have any questions about disability support, please email the disability team at disability@uca.ac.uk team or phone one of our campus numbers: Canterbury Phone: +44 (0)1227 817455 Epsom Phone: +44 (0)1372 202431 Farnham Phone: +44 (0)1252 892738 or +44 (0)1252 892926 Rochester Phone: +44 (0)1634 888714
International Support Assistants On each campus, there is an International Support Assistant who can help you find your way around UCA and settle into academic life in the UK. They are all recent UCA MA graduates, so they understand exactly what you need to do to succeed. They offer one-to-one tutorials and work with small groups from specific courses who need help. For more information, email: international.support@uca.ac.uk
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Student Union
Student Support The Student Union is here to make sure your time at UCA is amazing - we are led by and for students, and each year everyone gets to elect a President and Vice-President for Surrey and for Kent.
Become a Course Rep, find out more information here:
Part of what we do is to meet with students directly, to discuss the issues affecting you. This helps us to only work on things that you want, as well as provide support and information about personal or academic concerns.
Instagram.com/ucasu
We also know that sometimes things don’t go as planned, so we offer support around course and welfare issues. From academic appeals to help around resubmitting work, we can help simplify the process for you.
social.uca.ac.uk
You’ll get a warm welcome in the Student Union, where everyone will always do their best to help you with any issue that you have. Find a club or society for you: ucasu.com/clubs 30
ucasu.com/coursereps facebook.com/ucasu twitter.com/ucasu
Social Activities To find out more about our activities, please visit our website, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook:
Our Student Union has many clubs and activities, please visit: ucasu.com/club
International Student Buddy (Part-time work)
As a UCA International Student Buddy, you’ll be at the forefront of representing the University to our prospective students, parents/carers and teachers – talking positively about your own experience of studying at UCA, and encouraging others to come and join the UK's no.1 specialist creative university for employability. You will use your knowledge and experience as a UCA international student to inspire prospective students to join our creative community and you will get paid while representing your university while getting more work experience.
Please consider the following personal qualities before applying as they are very important in the selection process: – A bility to speak English to a good standard and additional language skills you may have – A positive, happy and mature attitude – E nthusiastic and passionate about representing UCA – D emonstrate the ability to show initiative in solving problems – W ork well individually and in a team with a diverse range of age and cultures – Able to follow instructions and keep to deadlines If you have any questions about becoming a UCA International Student Buddy or to apply, email international.support@uca.ac.uk
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Paying your tuition fees (Non-EU Students) Non EU students These options can be used to pay for both your deposit and for the balance of your tuition fees. Option 1 – Pay by bank transfer using the University’s partner Western Union Business Solutions: student.globalpay.wu.com/geo-buyer/ unicreativearts#!/ – T his is a dedicated payment site for students coming to UCA – it is not WU Retail – Y ou, your parents or sponsor can choose to pay in your own currency Option 2 – Pay online by debit or credit card: https://epay.ucreative.ac.uk/open – Y ou will need your UCA student number and your date of birth – E nter these details and accept the terms and conditions, then click continue – Y ou will be asked to select your payment option(s) – C hoose Tuition Fees and enter the amount – £2500 for a deposit or if paying other sums, enter the amount in GBP that you wish to pay – C lick continue to see a summary and check the details – C lick continue again and you will get to a payment screen; enter your card details. – Y ou will receive an email to confirm your successful payment See our financial support web pages for more information about the support available to international students: uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/fees/undergraduate/ucafinancial-support If you have any queries about International fees, please contact our admissions team: T: +44 (0) 1252 892838 E: internationaladmissions@uca.ac.uk 32
EU Students - SLC Tuition Fee Loans If you have successfully applied for the full tuition fee loan from the Student Loan Company (SLC), you will not have to pay your tuition fees yourself. We will collect the tuition fee direct from the SLC. You must apply for the tuition fee loan each year by the SLC’s deadline. If you haven't received confirmation of a Tuition Fee Loan before the end of September then please email finance.sl@ucreative.ac.uk to let us know that your application is in progress. More about tuition fee loans: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance Note: From 1 January 2021, the new UK immigration system will lead to many changes for EU/EEA nationals wishing to live, study and work in the UK. The UK government announced on 23 June 2020 that EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members will not retain their current entitlement to financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in the 2021-2022 academic year.
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Living in the UK Keeping safe – Do not carry valuable items with you every day such as passport, BRP, jewellery and cash, if you need to carry those, you have to keep them safe all the time – A lways tell somebody where you are going and what time you will be home – Be wary of strangers approaching you – Lock your windows and doors – T ake a photo copy of your BRP and passport (do not carry originals unless you are required to bring those documents for travel or if required by officials) – Carry cash and credit cards separately – D o not leave your belongings unattended anywhere – D o not give anyone money or your bank details, especially people who are calling pretending to be from the bank, immigration, home office or other places. Contact UCA Gateway services for advice before you do anything – I f you lose your BRP or passport, contact a Gateway adviser or email visaadvice@uca.ac.uk Cost of living The costs below are estimated to give you an idea of how much you might spend, and how much money you will need to live in the UK. The amount spent each week varies greatly from person to person, and also depends on which campus you will be living on. Typical student living costs per week: – Food £25 to 50 – Travel £20 to 25 – Laundry £10 – Toiletries £10 – Entertainment £20 to 50 – Mobile phone £10 – Course materials £10 to 30 Total £105 to 180
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Supermarkets The cost of food varies in the UK depending on which supermarket you buy your food from. There are a number of large supermarkets that are considered inexpensive, such as Lidl, Aldi, Asda and Morrisons. There are also some that are considered more expensive, such as Tesco, Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury’s. In the UK, supermarket opening hours are often: Monday to Saturday : 08.00 to 20.00 Sundays: 10.00 to 16.00 There are also small food shops known as a convenience stores - including Mace, Budgens, Premier and Spar - which have different opening hours and offer essential items like bread and milk. When you travel to the UK to study for the first time, please consider your arrival time and where you will be able to buy food from, as the supermarkets may not be open if you arrive late. Student discounts TOTUM card is accepted in many shops, restaurants, cinemas and other places. If you want to know more about TOTUM, please check their website: https://www.nus.org.uk Or sign up online for free with Unidays to get discounts online: https://www.myunidays.com
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Railcard With a Railcard you can get 1/3 off rail fares to travel across Britain. If you’re aged between 16 and 25 or 26 to 30 years old, you are eligible. You can buy your Railcard at a staffed railway station ticket office or online using a valid debit or credit card, a valid UK driving license or international passport, and a digital passportstyle photo for uploading. It will then be delivered for free within five working days. To be eligible as a mature student and buy a oneyear Railcard, you will need:
SIM card To get UK SIM cards you can go directly to the phone service provider’s shops on the high street or check out other stores such as pound shops for pay-as-you-go SIM cards. You can also order a SIM card online from mobile phone service providers*. There are two types cards: monthly pay (check websites for requirements) and pay as you go (prepaid card) *UK SIM card brands you can choose from include: Vodafone, O2-UK, Three, EE, Giffgaff, Lebara. Check websites directly for fees and offers.
– T o be attending a recognised college or university, for over 15 hours a week, at least 20 weeks a year. – T o have the mature student section of the 16-25 Railcard application form completed by your College or University. – H ave a TOTUM card or College/University photocard as proof of identity. – I f you want to know more about the Young Persons Railcard visit: www.railcard.co.uk
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Connect with us UCA social media pages @unicreativearts facebook.com/ucreativearts youtube.com/unicreativearts @UniCreativeArts l inkedin.com/school/ universityforthecreativearts @unicreativearts blog.uca.ac.uk #WeAreUCA UCA International Studies social media pages @ucainternationalstudies facebook.com/ucainternationalstudies Weibo #英国创意艺术大学# WeChat
Student blogs and vlogs Our talented team of student bloggers and vloggers can give you a taste of life as a UCA student, sharing their personal insights and experiences of studying, living and socialising on all of our campuses. These student-led pieces are published throughout the year and cover a huge range of topics – everything from vlogging, staging curated shows and getting the most out of Freshers’ Week, to experiences on overseas study trips and advice on entering your work into competitions.
Join us at #UCAlive We run live Q&A sessions where you can ask us anything you like about what it’s like to live and study here at UCA. Find out more on our website and follow us on social media to find out about our next #UCAlive session.
Our campuses UCA Canterbury New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3AN +44 (0) 1227 817302 UCA Epsom Ashley Road Epsom Surrey KT18 5BE +44 (0) 1372 728811 UCA Farnham Falkner Road Farnham Surrey GU9 7DS +44 (0) 1252 722441 UCA Rochester Fort Pitt Rochester Kent ME1 1DZ +44 (0) 1634 888702
Read more on our blog or watch on our YouTube channel.
Disclaimer The information in this brochure is believed to be correct at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal, relocation or restructuring of any programmes. The information in this brochure is subject to change and does not form part of any contract between UCA and the student and his/her sponsor. For up-to-date and more detailed information on any of our courses and studying at UCA, please visit uca.ac.uk 1265-0120
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Canterbury Epsom Farnham Rochester
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#WeAreUCA