Welcome Guide: Birmingham campus 2020

CONTENTS Your to do list

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Student support 4 Building skills for your future career 5 Facilities 6 Entertainment 8 Fees and finance

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What to do before you arrive: Apply for your student loan, if applicable, at: www.gov.uk/student-finance If you require additional support contact: disablity@beds.ac.uk Find your reading lists at: readinglists.beds.ac.uk Download the MyBedsLife app from the Apple app store or Google Play Store Prepare the following documents to bring to registration: • Offer letter • Passport/Visa • Qualifications/certificates • Online registration document from e:Vision • Student loan/finance documents/method to pay remaining fees Please note: Registration will be fully remote/online. Please look out for an email from: joining@beds.ac.uk with further instructions Arriving on campus: Access BREO - log in at: pwd.beds.ac.uk to change your password. Once you’ve done this you will be able to access BREO anytime at: breo.beds.ac.uk/webapps/login Your timetable will be issued to you upon registration If you require any letters or support visit the Student Support team Once you have registered, sign in to the MyBedsLife app to access your personalised student dashboard

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The Birmingham Study Hub has two dedicated on-site University of Bedfordshire staff members to assist you throughout your time at University, offering a range of support services and advice for both personal and academic issues. You can book an appointment to see them at the front desk on floor 17 of the McLaren Building.

SiD You’ll also have access to SiD online where you can update and log enquiries, or search our FAQ’s.

Student Engagement and Mitigation (SEAM) Our advisers can provide confidential and impartial advice on academic, personal and health issues, and can support you if you have any mitigating circumstances throughout your studies.

Disability support Our disability support team can assist you if you are affected by a disability, a long-term medical condition, or a specific learning disability.

Student money advice Our money advice team are available to provide you with general advice on budgeting, and direct you to alternative sources of funding that may be available.

For more information about any of our support services visit: www.beds.ac.uk/studentsupport

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BUILDING SKILLS FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER We provide you with the support you need, alongside a range of opportunities to help you stand out from the crowd, and ensure that you are ready to enter the world of work when you graduate.

Careers and Employability Service The University’s Careers and Employability Service will unlock your potential and enable you to manage your future career by providing you with professional, high-quality information, advice and guidance including: • Specialist employability advisers • Access to a wealth of careers information and resources online • Coaching on CV writing, interview skills and assessment centres For more information about our Careers and Employability service visit: www.beds.ac.uk/careers Become a Course Representative Become a course representative and you’ll be responsible for taking your peers’ ideas, thoughts and feedback to course and faculty meetings, ensuring that the student voice is being heard and represented.

By acting as a course representive you’ll have the opportunity to develop various transferable skills, enhancing your CV and differentiating yourself from other graduates. It can also provide you with a greater understanding of the University and build upon your professionalism, as you attend and present your ideas to various faculty and staff members.

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FACILITIES Our facilities Nestled close to the classrooms at the Birmingham Study Hub, you will find our on-site library. The library provides students with a quiet place to study, with access to a variety of books relating to your course, alongside a number of computers.

Our dedicated librarian is also on hand to provide advice to students regarding book loans and online services.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the campus.

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How to find us The McLaren Building is easily accessible via train, bus or car transport: • Grand Central Station is located a 15 minute walk away • Buses servicing the surrounding towns and villages can be alighted at Old Square and Corporation Street; both only a few minutes’ walk away • NCP Car Park Birmingham High Street is located a 5 minute walk away and offers discounted parking for University students

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ENTERTAINMENT On Campus Located on the 17th floor with panoramic views of the Birmingham skyline, you will find the student common room. This is a valuable on-site area where students can socialise with one another in-between classes, complete University assignments, or grab a quick bite to eat from one of the two vending machines.

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Off campus The Birmingham Study Hub is situated in the heart of Birmingham city centre; one of the UK’s most lively hubs. Students have access to hundreds of shops, restaurants and services available just a matter of minutes away from the campus. For example, the famous Birmingham Bullring is only a 10 minute stroll away for students to enjoy, and the high street offers students a variety of food choices, ranging from popular cheap bites, all the way to Michelin star restaurants. Further afield, students will find a lively nighttime hotspot, Brindleyplace, packed with bars, restaurants and entertainment venues just a 10 minute bus ride away.

Banks such as Lloyds, Barclays and Santander are all accessible from the campus and there are a number of public gyms in the area.

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FEES AND FINANCE Here at the University of Bedfordshire we try to make financing your studies as simple and affordable as possible.

Tuition fee loan If you are a UK or EU student you can apply for a tuition fee loan through Student Finance England.

That’s why we offer a number or scholarships and bursaries to support you throughout your time with us. There’s also a range of student finance and loans available.

Part-time students who are studying a first degree are also able to apply for a tuition fee loan, providing they complete a minimum of 25 per cent of the full-time course content each year.

Course tuition fees The 2020 fee for full-time undergraduate courses is £9,250 per year (UK/EU students). For the most upto-date information please visit our website.

Student maintenance loan UK (and some EU) students can apply for the Student Maintenance Loan online.

Additional course costs When considering university it’s important to be aware of all of the costs; from tuition fees, to accommodation, to living costs. However, it’s also important to remember the other costs you may incur during your studies such as books, study resources and equipment. To find out more about course costs please see our course information online.

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The amount of maintenance loan you receive will depend partly upon your household income. All UK students on a full-time undergraduate course will be eligible for 47 per cent of the maintenance loan that is not income-assessed. The remaining 53 per cent is income assessed.

The maintenance loan is also available to new, parttime students. The amount of loan available will depend on the intensity of your studies.

Applying for Student Finance It is best to apply for student finance as soon as you have selected your first choice university with UCAS. That way you should receive your financial support at the start of term.

less than £25,000 per year payments will be suspended. All outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years.

For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance

Please note: The application is different for students Scholarships and bursaries on teacher training, social work and healthcare Here at the University of Bedfordshire we offer a courses. wide range of scholarships and bursaries to support your studies - that’s money that you don’t pay back.

Repaying your loans • Foundation Year Bursary - worth £2,000 over You do not have to start repaying your loan until four years you have graduated, meaning you will not have to pay back a penny whilst you are studying. You start • Disabled Students’ Allowance - dependent on individual needs repayments the tax year after you have graduated, • Access to Learning Fund - if you experience and only if you are earning more than £25,000 per year. These repayments are deducted automatically any unexpected financial difficulty whilst at from your salary, so you will not need to worry about university you may be able to receive financial aid sorting it out for yourself. Your repayments will be For full eligibility criteria and details on how to nine per cent of anything you earn over £25,000 apply visit: www.beds.ac.uk/money this is not the same as nine per cent of your total income.

If you decide to undertake a postgraduate degree, travel, do voluntary work, or start a job which pays

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The University of Bedfordshire London School of Commerce Floor 17, 46 The Priory Queensway Birmingham B4 7LR www.beds.ac.uk +44 (0)207 357 0077 or +44 (0)203 540 6600