I AM YOUR HANDY GUIDE Your guide and handy checklist for starting life at the University of Gloucestershire
Essentials checklist Don t forget to tick! UNIVERSITY ID CARD You can apply for your University of Gloucestershire ID card now. Log on to the Applicant Portal and upload your photograph, or visit www.glos.ac.uk/enrolment IMPORTANT: When you arrive, you will need to bring a form of ID (current passport, current UK or EEA photo-driving licence, birth certificate or EEA state Identity Card) to receive your ID card. What you need to do before you arrive Before you go through the checklist, just make sure you ve got the following things to hand: A photo of yourself. A passport-style head and shoulders photo of yourself, saved on your computer/phone and ready to upload. A head and shoulders selfie is fine, just ensure it s appropriate. Your seven digit student number. It starts with an s and can be found on the letter sent with this booklet. Your password. Your password is the one you created when you accessed our Applicant Portal to view your offer, upload documents or book onto an Applicant Day. If you did not do this then your initial password is your date of birth (DDMMYYYY). ENROL You can complete online enrolment from 5 September follow the link at www.glos.ac.uk/enrolment Please enrol as soon as possible a delay may impact on the release of any financial support you may be entitled to. FUNDING Sort appropriate funding for your tuition fees and living costs, and set up a student bank account (with an interest free overdraft if possible). Save up a small amount of money over the summer just in case your student loan is delayed by a few days - 200 should be about right. You can change currency when you arrive in the UK.
ACCOMMODATION If you are an international undergraduate or postgraduate student and have accepted your University of Gloucestershire offer, you are guaranteed a place in university halls if you apply by Friday 11 August 2017. If you are still looking for somewhere to live, email accommodation@glos.ac.uk for upcoming house-hunting events or visit www.glos.ac.uk/accommodation for more information. INSURANCE Before leaving home you should make sure that you have travel insurance (to cover your journey to the UK). You should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and carry this with you. For further information visit www.ec.europa.eu/social If you re living in halls of residence contents insurance is covered, however for all other accommodation you will need to buy contents insurance. Endsleigh offer student insurance at a reasonable price, and with flexible payment options www.endsleigh.co.uk COURSE INDUCTION Check your Course Welcome Meeting time and Course Induction Timetable at www.glos.ac.uk/myglos and pop it in your diary or phone. You may also want to: APPLY FOR AN NUS CARD Apply for an NUS (National Union of Students) Extra card, which enables you to access hundreds of discounts both online and in store: www.yourstudentsunion.com/nus DOUBLE CHECK Double-check if you need to buy any kit or do any course-specific reading. Some courses require a DBS check. HELPZONE Contact our Helpzone staff if you have any queries. Visit www.glos.ac.uk/support or call +44 (0)1242 714 444 CHECK OUT Check out the Students Union website www.yourstudentsunion.com for a taster of the events, clubs and societies you can get involved with and for details about Freshers Fortnight, which will take place between Friday 15 September and Friday 29 September.
A HOME FROM HOME TOP TIPS ON WHAT TO BUY WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVE To help start life at university we ve put together some top tips on what to bring, and what you ll need to buy when you first arrive. After all, you ll want to have all the essentials and make it your home. Essential Bed linen, towels and COAT hangers You don t need to worry about bringing this with you. You can buy all essential items when you arrive in the UK. There s plenty of supermarkets where you can pick up these items or head to favourite student high street stores such as Wilko (in Cheltenham and Gloucester). Plates, cutlery and kitchenware If you re planning to live in halls, you ll need to buy your own cooking utensils. There s no need to buy everything, just ensure you have the essentials such as pots, pans, crockery and cutlery. You can always see what your flatmates have and maybe buy communal shared items to save money.
Don t forget your toothbrush You can save on your luggage weight by buying all the essential toiletries when you arrive. There are plenty of supermarkets and high street stores where you can find these. If you take medication we advise you bring enough with you to last for 4-8 weeks. CLEANING ITEMS If you live in halls the communal areas will be cleaned weekly, although you ll need to also buy items such as washing up liquid, a kitchen cloth and a tea towel. You may want to check with your flatmates first, and maybe even suggest a joint fund for these items.
essential Identification You will not receive any loan or grant payments until you have enrolled with the university and completed your ID check, so the payment date will be at least three-five working days from the date published on your payment schedule from Student Finance. useful Laptop or mobile devices Bringing your own computer, laptop or tablet is useful as it ll probably become your portable study, administrative and entertainment centre all in one. However, it s not essential, as we operate a 24-hour computer suite on each campus during term time. STATIONERY You may want to buy some nice stationery to set you up for your first week of lectures. You can find a selection on the high street.
Extras Feel at home Bring your favourite personal possessions which remind you of home eg. posters, photos, and use these to decorate your new room. Food to share You may want to bring some local food from your home country with you such as sweets, chocolates. It s a nice idea to share these and make new friends with your housemates and classmates. You can buy food from different countries in supermarkets and there are often small, independent shops in Gloucester and Cheltenham. Ask us when you arrive and we can point you in the right direction. Games Bring a pack or cards with you or a game (that can easily fit in your suitcase) with you games nights are a fun and cheap night in. Door stop A handy and vital essential. It s always nice to have your room door open and meet new friends. Just remember to lock your door when you go out. You can buy door stops from a store such as Wilko. Extension lead A simple extension lead equals more sockets and the flexibility to have your room how you like it. But remember, don t overload them! But REMEMBER Check the luggage allowance with your airline. You don t want to get caught out and have to pay for extra luggage before you arrive. If you have forgotten items you can always get these shipped by companies such as DHL, or you can collect them on your next trip back home What do we provide? All new students living in halls of residence will get: All heating, electric, gas and water 24 hour wireless internet access Contents insurance Use of a vacuum cleaner, a mop and bucket and a dustpan and brush
Moving into halls of residence? You are invited to register for our International Arrival which takes place on Thursday 14 September. Visit www.glos.ac.uk/prearrival for more information and to register for International Arrival. If you have been allocated a room within our halls of residence you will then be able to move into these on on arrival. Please check your room offer or Halls Portal online for arrival dates and times. There will be plenty of students and staff to welcome you and make you feel at home. Our student volunteers are returning students who remember how it feels to move in and can answer your questions or direct you to someone who can. We have Facebook groups for our halls of residence. You might want to join the Facebook page to get to know people you ll be living with before you arrive: www.fb.com/myglos2017
There will be a welcome BBQ on the evening of Saturday 16 September, followed by evening activities in the Students Union bars on each campus. You will receive a halls induction talk over the weekend to introduce you to life in halls and there are other fun activities planned for the Sunday afternoon. You can find details about the moving-in day and your room in the Halls Portal where you accepted your room offer. If you have any questions regarding halls of residence accommodation please email accommodation@glos.ac.uk
Moving into private rented housing? If you re moving into a private rented house you are invited to a housing welcome talk at 4.30pm, Francis Close Hall campus on Saturday 16 September. On Saturday 16 September you will also have the opportunity to register with the medical centre, enjoy the welcome BBQ and Students Union events. You will be able to speak to student services staff and meet fellow students. If you have any questions about housing please email housingsupport@glos.ac.uk
Already living locally? If you are joining us but already live locally, you are also invited to the welcome talk in the marquee at Francis Close Hall campus on Saturday 16 September, where you will also have the chance to register with the medical centre. You will have the chance to meet other students, enjoy the welcome BBQ and Students Union events with further social activities on Sunday at all campuses. Students who are living in halls, in town, or living locally are all encouraged and welcome to attend. For details please visit www.glos.ac.uk/myglos or join the conversation on fb.com/myglos2017
Did you know? Our students consistently say the support they get here is outstanding. In fact, based on student reviews on What Uni? (2017) we are in the UK s top 10 universities for best courses and lecturers, student support and postgraduate. We are also ranked in the top 20 for University of the year (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2017). Money and Advice Finance advisers in our money advice team (they re award winning!) can help you with your student finance applications and ensure you are getting what you are entitled to. They can offer guidance on all aspects of student funding and advice on budgeting. Once you have collected your ID card from the library, the university can confirm your attendance to Student Finance. Remember: You will not receive any loan or grant payments until you have until you have your ID checked so the payment date will be at least three-five working days from the date published on your payment schedule from Student Finance. If you have any queries please email moneyadvice@glos.ac.uk or visit www.glos.ac.uk/money Our Student Helpzones Are here for you. Get in touch if you have any queries. All-year-round opening hours Monday to Friday: 9am 4.30pm Tel: +44 (0)1242 714444 For more information about student support, including Helpzone contact details for your home campus, visit: www.glos.ac.uk/support
TRAVELLING TO AND FROM CAMPUS Parking facilities at the university are extremely limited. If you re living in halls, you aren t allowed to bring cars as a condition of your tenancy (or any other motor vehicle). If you re not in halls, we d rather you didn t use a car for travelling to and from the university. The university bus and flat cycle routes make it easy to live locally without the need for a car.
NATIONAL SPORTS VENUES Home to the Cheltenham Racecourse and Gloucester Rugby s Kingsholm stadium, Gloucestershire s got a strong sporting heritage. You ll also find an exciting range of activities you can try out yourself, from snowboarding and water sports, to mountain biking and paintballing. Discover Gloucestershire Take a look beneath the stunning Cotswolds landscape and you ll soon discover a whole new side to Cheltenham and Gloucester. THE FESTIVAL COUNTY If it s events and festivals you re after you ll find no shortage here. In fact, we hold over 45 festivals every year that s nearly one every week! We also hold our very own University Festival, at the end of the academic year. There are plenty of clubs, bars and pubs in Cheltenham and Gloucester, along with a number of venues known for their live music or student nights - not forgetting your very own Students Union bars on each campus. Check out www.glos.ac.uk/gloucestershire for more information.
In the thick of it All of our campuses are within easy reach of local shops, supermarkets and cinemas. From quirky outlets and vintage boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants, to giants of the high street, Cheltenham and Gloucester have got it all. All information is correct at the time of going to print. For the latest updates visit glos.ac.uk/myglos and glos.ac.uk/prearrival
16 29 september to to 29 september Hello from your Students Union! We have a variety of incredible events planned for your first two weeks at University, making it the biggest and best Freshers Fortnight ever! Register on our website now; like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all things Freshers 2017! The home of Freshers Fortnight: yourstudentsunion.com/freshers @uogstudentsunion @uogstudentsunion @uogfreshers2017 (for all things freshers) @yoursu Make sure you re only signing up to official events. If it doesn t have the stamp it s not official! 8764 05/17PDF