STUDY ABROAD – WELCOME! Sarah Batchelor & Debby Wright International Student Adviser
What is this session about? • Welcoming you to the University, the UK & Cornwall • A look at what’s on this week • Introduction from key support teams & where to find help
Where has everyone come from? • You are joining a small but
diverse campus, with nearly 500 international students from 99 different countries
• You won’t find one large group
of a certain nationality on campus, and this means you get a really internationally diverse experience, and also plenty of friends based here in the UK!
• You are also sharing a campus
with students from Falmouth University, with their own mix of students from across the world to add to the figures above.
How we can help you • Visa/immigration advice • International Student Support – based in Exeter
and here in Penryn • Qualified immigration advisers • Approx. 800 visa applications+ per year!
• We are here to help students ...
... but you need to ask before it’s too late A quick word on Brexit- don’t panic! Things are changing almost daily. We will update online, via email, or you can always contact us. Contact us: Penryn Info Point (PIP), Peter Lanyon Building Drop by for quick enquiries: Monday – Friday, 9am –
5pm Email: internationalcornwall@exeter.ac.uk or Log an
enquiry at sid.exeter.ac.uk
KEY SUPPORT SERVICES
Where to get help - Academic • Penryn Info Point, Peter Lanyon Building •
Open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm • Email info.penryn@Exeter.ac.uk
• SID •
Log an enquiry online via iExeter
• Cornwall Education Support Services
• Global Opportunities Support Officer – Rachel Scofield
• Ask: Academic Skills •
English Language Support, English for Academic Purposes, social English
• Library
Where to get help – Pastoral/Wellbeing • Welfare Team •
Alex Lewis & Fiona Williams : Welfare.penryn@exeter.ac.uk
• The Compass •
A good place to start if you’re not sure where to go: compass@fxplus.ac.uk
• Student Services: •
Living Support • Accessibility • Chaplaincy • Wellbeing • IT services
• The SU – your union •
Join societies and sports groups • Also get advice and support on a range of issues
Confidentiality •
In the UK, visits to the Doctor or other health professionals are kept confidential
•
This means your information will not be shared with anyone unless you specifically give your permission
•
The University and Student Services will keep your information confidential, unless they ask your permission to share this. Any support needs you disclose will not be part of your final transcript, or form part of your final grade
LIVING IN THE UK Tips & tricks
The basics •
Punctuality •
•
Queuing •
•
We love to queue, and get very cross if you ‘skip’ the queue
Polite conversation •
•
Brits hate being late, but the Cornish are more relaxed!
Especially in Cornwall, people will strike up conversation with a total stranger!
Reserved, or uninterested? •
British awkwardness!
Tips & tricks •
Bus System • •
•
Pub etiquette •
•
Put your hand out to stop a bus (just standing at the stop is not enough!) Press the STOP button in plenty of time A staple part of life in the UK, but you don’t need to drink alcohol if you don’t want to!
Tipping • •
10% is standard when being served food to the table No expectation to tip staff behind the bar
WHAT’S ON An introduction to the International Welcome Programme
International Welcome Programme Tuesday 17 September
• •
Welcome English course starts, 5:30pm @ Exchange Seminar rooms
Wednesday 18 September
• • •
Police Registration: for some Tier 4 visa holders, 10am-2pm @ Exchange Blue Falmouth town tour, 1pm @ the bus stops
Thursday 19 September
• • •
Police Registration: for some Tier 4 visa holders, 10am-2pm @ Exchange Blue Tier 4: Stay Safe, Stay Legal repeated session, 4pm @ PL Sem 10
Sunday 22 September
• •
The SU Freshers’ Fayre, 12noon-4pm @ The Stannary, Sports Centre & DDM
Wednesday 25 September
• •
International day trip to St Ives, 12:30pm. Must pre-book thesu.org.uk/stives
WHAT’S NEXT? Rachel Scofield, Global Opportunities Support Officer, will introduce herself