Language Centre Pre-departure Guide 2018 1
Contents Before you leave home..3 Connect with us 5 Arrival in the UK 6 Accommodation What to Expect...7..8 How to find us 10 General Information. 11 Social Programme 12 What we expect from you 13 Emergency Contacts 14 Packing Checklist 14 2
What to do before you leave home. Your visa. If you are from a non-visa national country and are planning to enter the UK as a student visitor at the UK Border, you must present the Student Visitor Visa letter you have been provided with by the Language Centre along with your passport when passing through immigration. If you are NOT travelling to the UK on a passport issued by a country within the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland, then you must be granted a UK Visa that allows you to study before you travel to the UK. If you are unsure about this, then please contact the Language Centre or visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas for further information. Insurance. Insurance is an important item to have when you travel. Insurance is an agreement between yourself and a company to help cover any risks or accidents that may happen when you are away from your country. As a Language Centre student, you will automatically be covered by our insurance policy. More information can be found here: arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/language-centre/language-centre-courses/useful-information-forstudents/ If you are bringing valuable items, you may wish to get a separate insurance for them to cover the cost of replacing them if lost, damaged or stolen. Health cover. Studying for six months or longer? Make sure you register with a GP (General Practitioner Doctor) in your area in London. You must do this to be able to use your Language Centre insurance if you need to see a doctor. You can ask us for more information during your first week. Studying with us for less than six months? Please look closely at the Endsleigh policy and what it covers so that you can make an informed decision about whether to take out separate health insurance. If you have a long-standing health condition or diagnosis, then it is a good idea to get an insurance which will cover your specific needs whilst you are in the UK. 3
Please note if you have a serious medical condition or take regular medication, it is important that you provide the Language Centre with a letter in English from your doctor explaining your medical requirements in case of emergency. Money. Make sure you have some cash with you for your first day, you might need this when you arrive in London. Want to use your credit card while you are in London? Check with your bank first, to be sure you won t be charged a lot of money with the change in currency or for using your card abroad. We do not advise bringing only cash with you. However, if you do it is best to put this on to a cash passport. You can then use the same way as a debit card. You can also get a cash passport before you arrive. Find more information here: http://www.cashpassport.com/1/global-landing-page/ If you are studying at the Language Centre for over three months you may be able to open a bank account in London. Please ask the Language Centre Student Services Team for a letter to help you apply for a bank account. You can only do this after you have started your course. Have you told the Language Centre all your important information? The Language Centre has a dedicated Student Liaison and Welfare Manager, Ally Staddon, who supports our Language Centre students. You can contact her on a.staddon@arts.ac.uk if you need any support whilst you are studying with us. You should also contact your Student Liaison and Welfare Manager if you have any support requirements relating to a disability or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, or a longstanding health condition. By telling us about this in advance we can make sure you have everything you need to have a great time at the Language Centre, and in London. At University of the Arts London, we aim to provide equal opportunities for all our students. 272 High Holborn has step-free access and disabled toilets on most floors. Don t forget to send us a photograph (head and shoulders photograph in JPEG format) of yourself before you travel to the UK so that we can have your ID card ready for you to collect on your first day. You can email a JPEG of your photo to language-centre@arts.ac.uk 4
Connect with us and find out more! Follow us on Twitter (@languagecentre) This is regularly updated with news and events from the Language Centre. competition. Follow us on Instagram (@languagecentreual) Look out for photos of our classes and activities and the occasional photo Like us on Facebook Our Facebook page is a great way of keeping in contact both before and after your studies at the Language Centre. www.facebook.com/languagecentreual 5
Arrival in the UK If you are arriving in the UK by aeroplane, then most international flights arrive either at London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports. London also has Stansted, Luton, City and Southend airports. If you arrive to the UK by Eurostar you will arrive at St Pancras International station. This train station is in the heart of London and you can take a licensed Black Cab Taxi from outside the station or public transport from King s Cross station to your accommodation. If you are feeling adventurous and want to try using public transport from the airport, you are advised to visit your relevant airport s website for information about getting from the airport into London: Heathrow: http://www.heathrowairport.com/ Gatwick: http://www.gatwickairport.com/ Stansted: http://www.stanstedairport.com/ Luton: http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/airport/ Southend: http://www.southendairport.com/getting-to-and-from City: http://www.londoncityairport.com/visitingtheairport/gettinghere Want to take a taxi transfer to your accommodation? If you have not already arranged your airport transfer, we can book it for you to take you to your accommodation. This will be cheaper than a taxi service at the airport, but not as cheap as taking public transport. An airport transfer is a good idea if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning, as some of the public transport options will not be working at these times. If you have any questions about your arrival please contact us on language centre@arts.ac.uk where we will be happy to help you. London Transport The nearest underground (tube) station to the Language Centre is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly lines). There are a number of excellent bus connections near to Holborn station. Oyster cards are the best way to pay for your transport. We recommend getting a weekly or monthly travelcard, if you are here for 14 weeks or more, you can apply for a student Oyster card. You will receive more information about this on your first day. For information on how to get around London, visit the Transport for London website: www.tfl.gov.uk. The Journey Planner link is particularly useful. Citymapper mobile app is also a valuable tool for navigating the city. 6
Accommodation If you are staying in Homestay accommodation arranged by the Language Centre, then please contact your host via email before your stay in London. You can tell your host family about yourself and start to get to know them before you arrive. This will particularly help if you are feeling nervous about coming to London. If you have chosen not to arrange your accommodation through the Language Centre or University of the Arts London, then please be extra vigilant if looking for private property from a website advertising accommodation. Never, under any circumstances, wire money at the request of a landlord via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other money transfer service. Even if they tell you to wire the funds to a friend or relative s name to be safe, it may be a scam! Never send them a scan or original of your passport or other identity documents thieves could use your identity to cheat or steal from you or others. If you need more information on the safe way to rent private accommodation in London please visit our website arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/accommodation/private- accommodation/ 7
What to Expect On your first day, you will receive a handbook about life in London, but here is a brief idea of what to expect. If you are living in homestay or house share accommodation we will have sent you a document about what to expect in your accommodation as well. Cultural Aspects Living in a new city will give you both a cultural and life experience. You will find London is very different from the rest of the UK as it is far more diverse in terms of different languages and ethnicities. Due to the size of the city, you may find that the pace of life is quite fast. Women are considered equal in status and rights to men in the UK. Women can and do travel alone and there are few formalities about dress. People appreciate basic politeness and saying please and thank you is important. You will find people are generally friendlier if you are polite to them. Queuing is also an important British custom and it is considered very impolite not to wait in line. So, whether you are waiting to pay in a shop, or want to speak to a member of staff in an office, it is important to queue and wait patiently until your turn. Punctuality is also a very British trait. It is especially important in school, so you must be on time for your classes or the teacher will not permit you into the lesson. Outside of school and in social situations, it is important to phone even if you will be five minutes late for meeting someone. Electricity in the UK British electricity supply works on 240 Volts or 50 Hertz. If you bring any electrical items from home (such as a mobile phone charger, laptop or hair dryer) you will need to make sure you have a converter that will be safely compatible with the voltage here. Toilet Facilities UK toilets are flushing, pedestal toilets. Toilet paper is provided and should always be flushed away down the toilet after use. It is considered good manners to leave a toilet stall tidy, and hygienic to wash your hands after using a toilet. Do not flush female hygiene products down a toilet, please use the sanitary bin provided in the stall. London has public toilets located on some of the busier streets which usually cost a small fee to use. Traffic Safety In the UK we drive on the left pay attention when crossing the road. Choose a safe place to cross at traffic lights or a crossing. If you ride a bicycle, give large vehicles lots of space, especially at junctions. You should wear a helmet and highly visible clothing at all time, and if you are cycling at night you MUST have working lights, as this is a legal requirement. 8
General Safety in London London is not a dangerous city in which to live and study but, as in all large cities, you need to follow a few simple safety rules. Out and about Cross the road at the correct places: for example, at ordinary traffic lights, at a pelican crossing or at a zebra crossing. Remember we drive on the left in the UK. Do not assume that a driver will stop - look at the driver to make sure he/she has seen you and wait for the car to slow down before you cross. As well as cars, watch out for bicycles, motorcycles and buses. Do not cross if you can hear or see a police car or ambulance. Be careful when you are out late at night and if possible, do not travel home alone. Walk on well-lit roads and do not use headphones when in the street by yourself. It is safe to travel on public transport at night but remember that some Underground lines stop running at 12:30am and some bus routes do not operate 24 hours a day. Only take licensed taxis. Do not take unlicensed minicabs. To find licensed taxi companies text CAB to 60835. The service will use GPS to provide you with telephone numbers of licensed taxi companies nearest to you. London has Uber taxis which can be booked on your mobile phone by downloading the app and registering. Licensing Laws You must be over 18 to purchase alcohol in the UK. You will be asked for ID to prove your age (25 in a supermarket). Please drink responsibly. 9
How to find us Tottenham Court Road Tube Station (Central Line) Language Centre Chancery Lane Tube Station (Central Line) Oxford Street Covent Garden Tube Station (Piccadilly Line) Holborn Tube Station (Piccadilly Line and Central Line) Lincoln s Inn Fields Transport in Holborn Holborn has excellent transport links, with access to the Central line and Piccadilly line from Holborn tube station approximately 100 yards away from the Language Centre and access to the Central line from Chancery Lane equally close to the building. Bus route numbers 8, 25, 242, 17, 45, 46 stop nearby. There are also secure bicycle storage facilities for students who use bicycles. 10
General Information Important Dates The Language Centre is closed on public holidays and for two weeks in December. Please make a note of these dates 2 nd January 2018 Language Centre opens for 2018. 25 th March 2018 British Summer Time Clocks go forward 1 hour 30 th March 2018 Public Holiday Good Friday 2 nd April 2018 Public Holiday - Easter Monday 7 th May 2018 Public Holiday - Early May Bank Holiday 28 th May 2018 Public Holiday - Spring Bank Holiday 27 th August 2018 Public Holiday - Summer Bank Holiday 28 th October 2018 Greenwich Mean Time - Clocks go back 1 hour 14 th December 2018 Language Centre closes for Christmas break (we reopen on 2 nd January 2019) Language Centre Student Services Our Language Centre Student Services team are available Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and the staff will be happy to help you with any questions you have, such as information about accommodation or opening a bank account. Places of worship A private prayer room can be provided, please ask the Language Centre Student Liaison and Welfare Manager for the room number. The nearest places of worship are: Church: St George s Holborn, Queen Square, WC1N 3AH Mosque: 46 Goodge Street, London W1T 4LU Synagogue: The Central Synagogue, 36 Hallam Street W1W 6NW 11
Social Activities There are lots of ways to get involved in social activities and meet other students, not just from the Language Centre, but also students who are on other courses at UAL. Every month, UAL Social Programme has activities from theatre trips to the best West End shows, day trips to Oxford or other cities around the UK, as well as yoga and secret cinema events. All of these are either free or have a small cost. Some take place in the UAL halls of residence, but you can still go even if you don t live there! Have a look at what they have on offer here: http://hallslife.arts.ac.uk/events/ Check out the Language Centre Facebook page to know what is happening in London every weekend and during the week. We also have an email address where you can tell us your ideas for trips you would like. We also run some Language Centre only trips, these have included outings to the National Gallery, the British Museum and meals at different restaurants around London. The Language Centre also holds some special events here in our building for you to enjoy, such as Christmas and Halloween parties, and charity cake sales. 12
What we expect from you We want to ensure that your experience at the Language Centre is a positive one, so we have a set of guidelines that we expect all students to agree to. This is called the Student Code of Conduct. As a student of the Language Centre we expect you to: Read the Student Course Handbook and the Living in London Handbook(you will receive these on your first day) Arrive to class on time Attend class every day and have a minimum 80% attendance throughout your course Read the Authorised Absence procedure in the Student Handbook and inform the Language Centre if you cannot attend class Participate fully in class Speak only English in class Not use your mobile phone in class Treat your teachers, your classmates and all Language Centre staff with respect. Bullying and cyber-bullying (bullying by sending threatening messages via text messaging, email, instant messaging, blogging or any other social network communication) will not be tolerated. Take responsibility for your own learning Do your homework Follow school policies on class transfers, complaints and holidays UAL Student Charter In addition to the Language Centre s student code of conduct, the University has a Student Charter which you should also read and follow. The document has been developed by representatives of the University, students and the Student s Union and seeks to ensure the best possible experience for everyone studying and working at UAL. It sets out the responsibilities of the University, students studying at the University and The Student s Union. 13
Emergency Contacts Emergency telephone numbers If you have an emergency problem with your Homestay or House share accommodation or an airport transfer, please call Hosts International on: 07799 693566 If you have a medical emergency then you can contact our emergency assistance service who operate a 24/7 operation for medical emergencies. Contact the emergency assistance service on telephone number: +44 (0)1243 621058 which is part of your insurance policy with us. If you are sick and need health advice or information, call the National Health Service Direct Telephone Line on 111. You can ask to speak to someone in your own language if you prefer. If you need help from the emergency services (Police, Fire Brigade or an Ambulance), please call 999. The Language Centre office telephone number 0207 514 2309 is answered between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday. If you have had a private accommodation problem and need to find accommodation at short notice then Premier Inn has a large selection of affordable hotels throughout London. Please visit their website www.premierinn.com to make a booking or find locations or telephone 0871 527 9222 (lines are only open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 10pm on Sundays). 14
Your Packing Checklist! Try to pack lightly. You may want to buy some items when you are in the UK to take home with you, but be aware shipping costs or posting items back to your home country might be expensive. Before you leave home, make sure you have packed the below items! The temperature and weather in London changes very often, so bring clothes which you can put on top of each other and remove when it gets warmer, or are able to layer if it is colder. Bring at least one or two jumpers. We also recommend a light rain jacket which you can carry with you. In the winter, make sure you bring a coat and scarf. Comfortable shoes London is a great place to take long walks Mobile phone/laptop charger Plug adapter Umbrella for the rainy days Sunglasses for the sunny days Photos to make your room feel like home Medication (if needed, and make sure you are able to bring it in to the UK) Documents (put these in your hand luggage, it will be safer and easier when you arrive): Passport Visa Letter Accommodation information and details Print out of the airport transfer confirmation if you arranged one with the Language Centre. (If you cannot find the driver at the airport, please call the emergency number on your airport transfer confirmation +44 (0)7799 693566 and please do not leave the airport until you have spoken to someone and got advice) You can buy notebooks, pens and any art materials you might need when you are in the UK, but if you want to bring something special from your home, then pack that too. Finally... We look forward to meeting you on your first day at the Language Centre. Please be on time and arrive at the Language Centre at 8:45am with your passport for your enrolment, testing and induction morning. Have a safe trip and see you soon! 14