the General Course newsletter 2014 orientation edition
WELCOME TO
LSE
The View from
Welcome to LSE! We’re delighted you’ve chosen to spend the forthcoming year with us and look forward to making you feel at home, both in London and at the School.
THE DEANERY My name is Mark Hoffman and I am the Dean for the General Course. This means that I have overall responsibility for ensuring your academic success and pastoral well-being during your time at LSE. Over the next few weeks you will encounter many new experiences as you settle into London and LSE – navigating your way round an unfamiliar physical and cultural landscape, making sense of the peculiarities of a different educational system, forming new friendships in your dorm and classes. And these are likely to engender a range of competing emotions – excitement, amusement, bafflement and trepidation.
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This newsletter – is produced solely for you, our General Course students. Its purpose is to help you to enjoy a thoroughly rewarding year at LSE, both academically and socially. Issued weekly throughout term time, editions will include columns from the Dean for the General Course, Mark Hoffman, together with articles on aspects of studying and living in London that are of particular interest to GC students. In addition, there will be features on famous General Course alumni and details of the subsidised GC Social Calendar. We also hope that the Students’ Union General Course Representative will contribute, once they are elected! If you have anything to tell or ask your fellow GC students, be it tips on studying at LSE, a restaurant review or an advert for something
Key events
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you want to sell – it’s entirely up to you – contact us at gc@lse.ac.uk. I’ll leave you now with some advice for your first days at LSE: throw yourself into everything you can. Your initial week on campus will be chock-full of competing demands for your attention. Feedback from past GC students suggests that attending the numerous orientation meetings and welcome parties; joining myriad clubs and societies; participating in the many GC Social Calendar events, and generally getting fully involved is the very best way to ensure your assimilation as an LSE student (and a Londoner!) is both swift and enjoyable. n
A little over 30 years ago I was going through the same things as I started my Junior year abroad. The best advice I can offer you for managing all this is to approach it with an open and enquiring mind allowing you to make the most of the experiences and people you will encounter over the next nine months. And it is the people, particularly your fellow students – smart, cosmopolitan, intellectually curious, hardworking and sociable – who will make the year special. With this in mind, it will be a great pleasure to meet you in the coming days. I look forward to getting to know you and to helping ensure that your time at the School is enjoyable and successful. n
Will Breare-Hall
Mark Hoffman
Study Abroad Manager
Dean for the General Course
Beginners’ guide to London
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Upcoming Proscenium Events
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KEY EVENTS for ORIENTATION WEEK MONDAY
Undergraduate Student Services Welcome Showcase Houghton Street, Presentations
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WEDNESDAY
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OCTOBER
THURSDA Y
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11am – 2pm
Peacock Theatre
TUESDA Y
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APR
Clare Market and Sheffield Street
Attendance by departmental assignment
ER SEPTEMB
SEPTEM
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GC Welcome Presentation
GC Welcome Boat Party
3:30 – 5pm
Meet at Tower Hill Station at 6pm
Old Theatre
Boat departs at 7pm
LSE CAMPUS TOURS
Departmental Inductions
Treasure Hunt
Wednesday and Thursday
6:30 – 9pm
Proscenium Event
Book online
ALL WEEK Every 20 mins 11am – 3.30pm
Freshers’ Fair 11am – 5pm Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, Thursday and Friday
OCTOBE
General Course Southbank Registration Walk with 3:30 – 4:30pm London Eye Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House
Proscenium Event
6:30 – 10:30pm
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FRIDAY
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General Course Coach Tour Outside Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych
9:30am – 12pm
OCTOBER
Cumberland Lodge Visit For those who have booked for the Cumberland Lodge Visit (3-5 October) there will be a brief meeting at 1pm on Wednesday 1 October in the New Academic Building (NAB 2.06). Please ensure that you attend this meeting as it will contain important details about the weekend. If you are unable to make it please contact Yohei at y.guy@lse.ac.uk.
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The Students’ Union also offer a range of education and welfare provisions. For further information, contact the Education and Welfare Officer su.advice@lse.ac.uk or at lsesu.com/support
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The Student Counselling Service aims to enable students to cope more effectively with any personal or study difficulties that may be affecting them. Information is at lse.ac.uk/counselling
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What other support services are available at LSE?
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Arriving at a foreign institution can be a daunting experience. However, the answers to these frequently asked questions should help ease any fears you may have.
The National Health Service (NHS) provides health treatment for UK residents. As a student studying in the UK for more than six months, you are automatically entitled to make full use of the NHS. Medical care received from the NHS is free, but a charge is made for dental and optometric check-ups. In order to access the full range of NHS medical services, it is necessary to register with an NHS doctor, known as a General Practitioner (GP). For information on how to register with a GP visit the LSE medical centre. If it is likely that you will be travelling outside the UK during your time at LSE, we recommend that you retain any existing health insurance you have to cover these periods.
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Finding your feet at LSE
What should I do if I fall ill?
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every 20 minutes between 11am – 4pm from Monday 29 September – Friday 3 October, departing from the St Clement’s Building Help Points
How do I set up a bank account? British banks have strict regulations, meaning that opening an account can take time and patience, particularly for international students. Here’s how to go about it: 1 Visit lse.ac.uk/bankAccounts This page lists the names and addresses of bank branches close to LSE and important details regarding the documents they require. 2 Research the best bank account for you You may want to consider how easy it is to open an account when making a decision about which bank is right for you. 3 Know which documents you need to open an account This is the most important step! Each bank requires different documentation to open accounts and they are very specific about the format of the documentation they will accept. Usually, you need to obtain a bank letter from the Student Services Centre. All banks require current address information, so you must update your contact details in LSE for You before requesting a bank letter. Visit lse.ac.uk/bankAccounts for details of how to obtain a letter. 4 Make an appointment Some branches allow you to drop in at any time to open an account, while others require that you book an appointment. Check this with the bank as early as possible.
I have a disability. Will I receive any support?
Where can I eat on campus? Where can I observe my religious faith? The Faith Centre is the new home for LSE’s diverse religious activities, the interfaith programme, and a reflective space for all staff and students. You can visit the Faith Centre on the second floor of the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre.
How can I find my way around campus? The LSE campus is relatively small and easy to navigate. You can take a self-guided tour which you can pick up from the Student Services Centre to familiarise yourself with the campus. The Students’ Union are also running tours
LSE’s catering facilities offer a great choice of affordable food and drink. All facilities have vegetarian, eat-in and take away options. Prices vary, but a bowl of pasta and a soda will typically cost about £4-5.
Does LSE have any language facilities? The Language Centre, in the Clare Market Building, provides modern foreign language tuition to LSE students. Visit their website at lse.ac.uk/language
Do I need insurance? It is important to check that you have adequate insurance cover in case of loss or theft of your personal possessions. For advice visit lse.ac.uk/ intranet/students/moneyMatters
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COMPETITIO ” e lfi e S n o d n o “L GC
The General Course team are proud to announce details of the first competition of the year, bringing you the GC “London Selfie” Challenge! Entry is easy; simply take a “Selfie” alongside a recognisable aspect of the city (which you’ll no doubt be doing anyway in your first few weeks) and submit it to gc@lse.ac.uk by midnight Sunday 12 October! Entries will be posted online with the office favourite awarded £25 of Amazon vouchers!
The School has an active Disability and Well-being Office which can be found at lse.ac.uk/disability
Only one entry per General Course Student with the winner announced in Tembo the following week.
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General Course Advice Sessions Mark Hoffman, the Dean for the General Course, would like to meet each General Course student at least once during your first few weeks at the School. Accordingly, he will be holding “drop-in” office hours during Weeks 1 and 2 of the Michaelmas Term. You are encouraged to see him to ask any questions or share any initial problems you may have. There is no need to make an appointment to see Mark during this period. Just come to his office in room OLD 1.09 (Old Building). To the right is a provisional list of dates and times when he will be available.
Monday 29 September
10.30am-5pm
Tuesday 30 September
10.30am-3pm
Wednesday 1 October
10.30am-5pm
Thursday 2 October
Unavailable
Friday 3 October
10.30am-2pm
Monday 6 October
10.30am-5pm
Tuesday 7 October
10.30am-4pm
Wednesday 8 October
10.30am-1.30pm
Thursday 9 October
10.30am-5pm
Friday 10 October
10.30am-5pm
BEGINNERS GUIDE TO LONDON Getting around London The most convenient way to travel around London is on foot. You should always remember that distances on Tube maps can be deceptive and most places in Zone 1 should be within easy walking distance. However, if you need to use public transport, then an 18 + Oyster card is a must. Visit tfl.gov.uk for information on travelling around London. An Oyster card is the cheapest way to make journeys throughout the capital. Oyster stores up credit (which can be topped up at any Tube station) and can be used on bus, Tube, trams, DLR, and some National Rail services. Students are eligible for discounts and application forms will be available during Orientation.
Mobile phones Most mobile phone networks in the UK use GSM 900, so if you already own a dual/triple band phone you can just buy a new sim card. If you do not have a phone, there are a variety of shops that sell good handset and contract packages. Make sure you shop around as there are lots of different packages available (e.g. pay-as-you-go, paymonthly) and some are cheaper than others. Shops that sell mobile phones and services include: The Carphone Warehouse, 02, EE, Phones 4 U, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
Emergency services
ATMs
Emergency services in the UK are provided by three main organisations: Ambulance, Fire and Police. If you are in an emergency situation, dial 999 (calling this number is free of charge).
Food shopping Although most ATMs don’t charge customers, there are a growing number of machines in locations such as garages, nightclubs and other venues that do charge transaction fees (usually £1.50). Fortunately, the ATM will inform you if you are going to be charged for a withdrawal prior to your transaction. Whilst the most convenient supermarket will undoubtedly be the one nearest your residence, the main supermarkets in London are Tesco and Sainsbury’s. You should be able to find all the goods you need in these reasonably priced stores. Both chains also have smaller and slightly more expensive shops located throughout the capital, namely Tesco Metro and Sainsbury’s Local.
Power supply The power supply in the UK is different to many used overseas so you may need to purchase an international travel adaptor for electrical items to work.
Part-time work in London A number of General Course students have expressed in interest in undertaking part-time work whilst studying at LSE. Fortunately, most students coming to the UK on a ‘student visa’ are eligible to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and for any number of hours during vacations. However, LSE suggests that you limit this to no more than 15 hours a week and that you don’t commit to anything until you have settled in and determined how demanding your academic schedule will be. For further information about part-time work visit lse.ac.uk/careers
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UPCOMING PROSCENIUM EVENTS! Saturday 4 October A perfect day in London
Widening Participation Interested in being a Mentor, Tutor or Student Ambassador? Make a difference to the aspirations, motivation and attainment of young people from backgrounds that would not traditionally go on to Higher Education whilst improving your own transferable skills.
What is Widening Participation? Widening Participation aims to raise the aspirations and attainment of young people from London state schools. We deliver a number of key projects encouraging young people from under-represented backgrounds to aim for a university education. Our projects need enthusiastic LSE students to be inspiring role models and help contribute to the success of our programme:
Thursday 9 October Jack the Ripper Walking Tour with Dinner Saturday 11 October Stonehenge and Bath For more information, and to book for these events, visit the weblink below http://bookings.prosceniumtours.com/lsegc/
London Discounts
What opportunities are there?
www.timeout.com/london/deals
Student Ambassadors:
www.Londondailydeals.co.uk
Visit this website for specials on events in London Daily deals and bargains available in London
Paid opportunities on a flexible basis both on campus and around London
Student Tutors: Assisting pupils in the classroom environment on a 1:1 or small group basis in the Lent Term
Internships
Student Mentors:
Internships are readily available in the UK and General Course students are eligible to apply for them. Although the content, length and structure varies, the placement will often include a training period and involve work that provides a real insight into the job role. Internships can be found in media, NGOs, public policy, blue chips and advertising, but are particularly popular in finance and management consulting.
1:1 sessions developing pupils’ personal, social and academic development in the Lent Term
How do I get involved? For further details visit our website: lse.ac.uk/wideningparticipation or email us on: widening.participation@lse.ac.uk
LSE General Course Bloggers needed! Do you love writing and blogging? We’re looking for all sorts of students for the LSE Student Blog! Bloggers are free to write about their social and academic life while at LSE and in London. In the past this has ranged from choosing courses and making the most of career opportunities, to going to musicals and finding the best pubs! Bloggers will be given full training, covering content as well as how to use the blogging tool WordPress. Every month we award a prize for the best blogger, as well as an overall prize at the end of the year. Please contact Hannah Lawrence (ard.studentblogs@lse.ac.uk) if you would like to get involved!
lse.ac.uk/generalCourse
twitter.com/LSE_GC 5
Well targeted work experience will greatly enhance employability. However, competition for places, particularly in banking, can be fierce and poor academic performance as a result of spending too much time obtaining an internship will greatly detract from the advantages gained. Consequently, General Course students are advised to limit themselves to a small number of well researched applications, thus minimising any detrimental effect on their academic performance. Further information is available at lse.ac.uk/careers
Tembo
WEEKLY!
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The next edition of will be sent in HTML format straight to your LSE mailbox so be sure to check every week for the latest GC news!
facebook.com/LSE-General-Course