New students FAQs 2013

Questions from new students Welcome 2013-14

Arrival times When should I arrive?

Colchester Campus arrivals day is Sunday 29 September 2013* Southend Campus arrivals days are Sunday 15, 22 and 29 September 2013* Loughton Campus arrivals day is Monday 23 September 2013 However if you can’t arrive on time you can complete late registration starting from the second week of term. If this is the case then please contact registry@essex.ac.uk. *For School of Health and Human Sciences students at our Southend and Colchester Campuses, this depends on your degree course, and the School will notify you. Other students will arrive at different times through the academic year, especially during January or later in the spring term, such as for pre-sessional courses, or if you are coming to Essex as part of your home university overseas programme of study.

I'm arriving before the 30 September – any recommended hotels or inns where I can stay?

It is best to contact accommodation and they might be able to help you: accom@essex.ac.uk .

Pre-registration, IT, usernames and logging-in It might be a silly question but which is my Essex username and password? How can I access to my timetable?

Once you have been through the applicant portal at http://www.essex.ac.uk/apply, you can then obtain your Essex username and password from mid-late August at http://www.essex.ac.uk/it/getaccount(access will not be permitted before then). You can view your timetable at https://www.essex.ac.uk/timetables (you will be prompted to login using your Essex username and password). Once you have chosen all your modules and received confirmation they will appear on your personal timetable. You may find that the first week of your timetable is blank if you do not have any course commitments in Welcome Week. You can also access your timetable on most smart phones and mobile devices.

I need help in completing the pre-registration. I need to put in a contact number in the local contact details but I'm coming from Malaysia and do not have a local mobile phone number yet. What

should I do?

You can put your current mobile phone number and then once you have got UK number you can update it on your myEssex page https://www.essex.ac.uk/myessex/.

I have pre- registered and I was given my log-in information including my e-mail address – but while I copied my log-in information, I forgot to copy my Essex e-mail address – how can I find out what my e-mail address is?

Your e-mail address is actually your Essex username followed by @essex.ac.uk. You can log in here https://email.essex.ac.uk/ with your login username and password.

How do I get onto Essex e-mail?

You can access the University’s web-based e-mail system at https://email.essex.ac.uk (you will be prompted to login using your Essex username and password). E-mail is also available on a range of mobile devices including smart phones and tablets. You can find out more at http://www2.essex.ac.uk/cs/services/email/configuration/.

I am doing my pre-registration but I don't have an accommodation yet. How can I complete it?

You can put your home address and then update it on myEssex: https://www.essex.ac.uk/myessex/ or when you complete your registration.

I can’t remember my username or password to log in to look at my timetable, how can I find this out?

If you have forgotten both your username and password, at our Colchester Campus you can contact the IT help desk for assistance at desk@essex.ac.uk or telephone: 01206 872345. For Southend Campus: email: isssouth@essex.ac.ukor telephone: 01702 328341 and for Loughton e-mail esmithb@essex.ac.uk or telephone 0208 508 5983 extension 49. If you have forgotten your password you can change it using our online change password service at https://www.essex.ac.uk/password.

What phone number should I put on my pre-reg as I don’t know the phone number in my accommodation?

You can put your mobile number and you can update it any time.

I’m also having problems pre-registering, and I don’t know my Essex username or password. Also, I can’t log-in to my student portal – can someone help me reset my passphrase?

Once you have been through the applicant portal at http://www.essex.ac.uk/apply, you can then obtain your Essex username and password from mid-late August at http://www.essex.ac.uk/it/getaccount (access will not be permitted before then). If you have already completed the above, but have forgotten your details, please contact the IT Helpdesk at desk@essex.ac.uk at our Colchester Campus or call them on 01206 872 345.For Southend Campus: e-mail: isssouth@essex.ac.uk or telephone: 01702 328341 and for Loughton e-mail esmithb@essex.ac.uk or telephone 0208 508 5983 extension 49. If you know your username you can reset your password here: https://www.essex.ac.uk/password/login.aspx.

Last time I tried to pre-register I got stuck at the picture stage, and since then can't find how to get back onto it, please help!

If this happens, you need to go back to the beginning of the pre-registration process – all the details you have logged to that point will have been saved, and you can therefore continue to the photo page and try the upload again. It would be helpful if you do get stuck at this stage if you let the Registration Office know what the error was, so we can fix it – please e-mail: regoff@essex.ac.uk. Thank you.

Can anyone tell me where I can find PRID (personal identifier)?

Your PRID number is in your pre-arrival information pack, on the Student Details and Fee Statement. It should look something like this eg: SMITH12345. If you are already a registered student then it is on your registration card.

Information or ‘Welcome’ pack What is included in the information pack? I don't know if I've got it already.

In the information pack, or ‘Welcome’ pack that will be sent to you by post, you will find all the information you need before you arrive at University of Essex, including two booklets called Your First Week and Your Campus Guide, as well as information about your Departmental welcome event, fee information, privacy policy, a medical card, and information from our Students’ Union. If you don’t receive this by post, don’t worry. Most of the information will be available as PDF downloads at: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome.

Timetable information How do I find out my timetable?

You can view your timetable at https://www.essex.ac.uk/timetables (you will be prompted to login using your Essex username and password). Once you have chosen all your modules and received confirmation, they will appear on your personal timetable. You may find that the first week of your timetable is blank if you do not have any course commitments in Welcome Week. You can also access your timetable on most mobile devices including smart phones and tablets.

Books and reading Where can I buy books for my required reading?

Your lecturers and class teachers will recommend you buying certain books, which you can buy in the campus bookshop, online or at a used books sale. The book sale is at the beginning of the academic year so keep an eye on the main University Facebook page or your Essex e-

mail account for more information. You can find other reading materials in your campus’ library. Some of our departments also offer course readers with all the essential reading for the modules.

Where do I find my reading list?

You can find the reading lists for your modules, whichever campus you are studying at, at the Albert Sloman Library website at: http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/reading_lists.htm and for East 15 students at: http://libwww.essex.ac.uk/Users/east15.htm

Welcome talks, induction and events Is the department induction event (compulsory) the same as the one we have to arrive and register for assessment?

The events are not the same. We strongly encourage you to attend because you will get important information related to your studies and you will get to meet some of the staff members and lecturers from your department.

What is the talk for students not living on campus about? What will actually be happening there?

This is an official welcome event for all new students living off our Colchester Campus or at home. This is your chance to meet other students living off-campus, and find out how our University and Students’ Union can help you get the most out of your time at Essex.

Modules and Enrol I pre-registered, but I don’t know what Enrol is. Some of the modules that appear as options to select aren't even part of my course… Can I just leave this for when I arrive?

Enrol is the system for choosing your optional modules, if you have any.

You can find detailed information here http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/ug/schemes.html . It might be the case that you don’t have any optional modules this year. If you have you can change them until the end of week 3 of the Autumn Term (the second week of teaching).

Two of my modules clash and I have already reported the clash and informed the department – but haven’t yet received an answer. Who else can help me fix my problem?

Which department are you studying within? It is probably best to wait a bit more for an answer. It usually takes around 48 hours for the office to reply. If you don’t get an answer within the next few days try contacting the department and the Central Timetable Office cto@essex.ac.uk again.

Your accommodation, address and postcodes I remember reading something about writing your term time address on boxes and suitcases when moving in – but I can’t seem to find it anywhere now. It would be great if you could let me know!

It is always a good idea to write your address on your suitcase in case you lose it or forget it somewhere.

You can find your term time address on your accommodation agreement if you are moving to Universityprovided accommodation, or in your myEssex account at: https://www.essex.ac.uk/myessex/. If you will be living on our Colchester Campus your address is your hall’s name, flat and room numbers followed by University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ. However, postcodes are different for the Quays and The Meadows. The best way to find your postal address is to visit: http://www.essex.ac.uk/accommodation/residences/default.aspx and click on the accommodation where you are living to find the full postal address for your accommodation at the bottom of the page. For Southend students living at University’s Square, the postal address is: University Square, Queens Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BF

What is my address for my accommodation?

See above answer.

I've got too many things to bring here. Can I mail some of them to my room before I leave my country so that I can receive them as soon as I arrive?

If you mail them, the packages will be stored in the University of Essex post room at our Colchester Campus and you will be able to pick them up once you arrive – but please note the Post Room will not be open on the main arrivals day, and normal opening times are Monday to Friday, from 10am – 12.30 and 1.30pm to 5pm. Further details are at: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/estates/Pages/PostRoom.htm. The Post Room is located in Room 4N.3.0 on Level 3, access via the lift or stairs near to the Campus Shop.

In pre-registration while filling in local contact details I might have filled in the wrong postal-code (it is locked now) and it also requires me to give a number, so is it OK if I give the number of someone I know there?

You can put your current mobile phone number and once you have a UK mobile number you can update it together with your address on your myEssex page https://www.essex.ac.uk/myessex/.

Fee payment I'm new student. I'm starting this October but still very confused about how to pay my tuition and accommodation fees online. Who should I e-mail about my concern?

You can find more information how to pay your tuition fees here https://www.essex.ac.uk/timetables/timetable.aspx and you

accommodation here http://www.essex.ac.uk/accommodation/payments/ .

How can I pay the tuition fee?

You can find more information on the different options here: http://www.essex.ac.uk/finance/for_students/fees.aspx .

Do I need to generate a receipt at the end of pre-registration in order to pay my fees or can I pay it directly into the university's bank account?

You can find more information on how to pay here: http://www.essex.ac.uk/finance/for_students/fees.aspx.

Banks, money and identification How long does it take to open a bank account and what are the requirements for international students?

You can find all the information you need here http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/intstuds/bank.shtm . The time usually depends on the bank’s own policies. There are branches of three UK banks in our Colchester Campus and you can choose between any of them. Southend and Loughton Campuses are both very close to branches of many major UK banks.

I am a European student. Could you please tell me if I need to bring with me a passport? Or if I am OK with my European ID and birth certificate?

If you only have your European ID, that is fine. If you also have a passport you might want to bring it as well just in case.

www.essex.ac.uk/welcome