Pre-arrival guide for new international students

PRE-ARRIVAL GUIDE For New international students

Welcome Weeks – 2011 September Wednesday 7th September

Halls open

Thursday 8th September

Early enrolment MX112/118

Friday 9th September

Welcome meetings MX004

Airport meet and greet for students at Birmingham 9:30 -3:30

Erasmus 9:30 – 10:30

International 10:30 -11:30

Erasmus Enrolment 10:30 -11:30 MX118 Icebreaker 11:30-12 MX020

Icebreaker 11:30-12 MX020

Lunch 12:15 – 1:15 MX020

Lunch 12:15 – 1:15 MX020

Info Fair 1-3:30 MX first floor landing

Info Fair 1-3:30 MX first floor landing

Erasmus academic counselling MX various rooms

Enrolment /ID check 1- 4 MX118/112

Saturday 10th September

University open – City campus

National Trust FREE open weekend – Wightwick Manor

Sunday 11th September

Various activities at halls of residence -

General move in day at halls

Saturday 17th September

Stratford-upon-Avon subsidised trip for International/EU students

£5 Tickets from International Centre

‘Best of British’ – Welcome to our new students hosted by the Student Union 7-10pm And afterwards at the City Bar for party

October Monday 10th October

Halls open

Airport Meet and greet for students at Birmingham

Tuesday 11th October

Welcome meeting International students

Meeting

11-11:30

Icebreaker

11:30-12:00

Lunch

12:15 – 1:15

Info Fair

1:00-3:00

ID check in/ enrolment

1:30 – 3:30

MX

School inductions start today

Wednesday 12th October

School inductions

Every student must attend their induction

Thursday 13th October

School inductions

Every student must attend their induction

Friday 14th October

School inductions

Every student must attend their induction

Saturday 15th October

Trip to Ironbridge

International/EU students subsidised trip

Tickets from International Centre, MB105

Sunday 16th October Monday 17th October

Teaching starts

Block 1

Find out all you need to know bef you come to study with us her the University of Wolverhampt

fore re at ton.

CoNtENts 2 3

New international students: pre-arrival information the University of wolverhampton the City of wolverhampton walsall telford

5

Visas: preparing to come to wolverhampton Visas for Non-EU/Non-EEA applicants Visas for EU/EEA applicants

11 Money matters tuition fees Money matters for international students 15 University accommodation Administration charges and reductions How to complete the accommodation process Late payments and non-payments Private accommodation student couple and family accommodation 21 Arrival in the UK By plane By coach By train travelling in London Getting to your campus from the train or coach station Arriving in Great Britain by car 25 on arrival Police registration Making phone calls support for deaf or disabled students welcome week 27 Useful contacts University of wolverhampton Regional offices 31 Contracted Educational Advisors 33 Useful websites

3 PRE-ARRIVAL INFoRMAtIoN

New international students: pre-arrival information

PRE-ARRIVAL INFoRMAtIoN 4

the University of wolverhampton a great place to start your journey to a bright and positive future.

We have a clear vision for our graduates and offer everything you need to succeed in a global economy. We aim to go beyond opening your mind and broadening your horizons – ensuring that as a graduate you’ll be digitally literate, knowledgeable and enterprising, and have a global outlook on life.

The University has campuses across three locations: Wolverhampton, Walsall and Telford. We’ve invested over £115m in our campuses during the past 10 years, resulting in many impressive new buildings including a multimillion pound technology centre and an advanced new performing arts centre, The Performance Hub.

The City of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton is a thriving cosmopolitan city with a population of around 250,000. With a history dating back to 985AD, it is most famous for its industrial heritage. It has interesting historic houses and listed buildings, an extensive leisure canal network and over 1,400 acres of parkland.

As well as being close to the beautiful Shropshire and Staffordshire countryside, Wolverhampton is conveniently located just a few miles from Birmingham – England’s second largest city.

Wolverhampton offers something for everyone, such as a shopping centre, numerous cafes, bars and restaurants, a theatre, art gallery, cinemas and the excellent Light House Media Centre. Sporting highlights include football, speedway, horse racing and dog racing.

City Campus is situated right in the heart of Wolverhampton. It is the largest of our sites and is divided into a North and South Campus within easy walking distance of each other.

Walsall

The town of Walsall dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and 2,000 years ago the settlement was well known to Roman legions marching along Watling Street to the northern outpost of the Empire at Chester and Shrewsbury.

Once nicknamed the ‘Town of a Hundred Trades’, it is now home to one of the oldest existing outdoor markets and has recently undergone a major redevelopment. The town has a wide range of museums, galleries and other attractions.

Walsall Campus is just outside Walsall’s bustling town centre. The campus has a multimillion pound sports centre and a Student Village.

Walsall

Academic quality and standards at the University have been highly commended by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), which reviews UK higher education teaching. The University was praised for its ‘regard for the student voice’ and QAA concluded that confidence could be placed in the management of academic standards and the high quality of learning experiences available to students.

5 VIsAs

Visas: preparing to come to Wolverhampton

PREPARING to CoME to woLVERHAMPtoN 6

The new Points Based System (PBS) of immigration, affects all Non-EU students.

The documents required to enter the UK are different depending on which country you come from.

You can refer to the ‘Do I need a visa?’ information on the UK Border Agency Visa Services website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa

Important!

Please keep a record of the date when you applied for your visa as this will determine which set of Immigration Rules apply to you. The Points Based System has been introduced in phases, with different Immigration Rules at each phase, so if you need any help with your visa we will need to know the date when you applied for it.

Visas for Non-EU/Non-EEA applicants

Students from overseas are welcome to attend universities in Britain to undertake courses of study and you should not experience difficulty obtaining entry clearance, providing you have the correct documentation.

All nationals from non-EEA states who wish to come to the UK for any purpose and any length of time are required to obtain a visa (entry clearance) before coming to the UK. It is important to do this as soon as possible upon receiving your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number (also known as a CAS statement) for a full-time degree course for study at the University. Do not leave it until shortly before you travel to apply for your visa as it may take time. Even if there are several weeks before you travel, you can always have the permission dated to take effect from your travel date.

Visa nationals

It is compulsory for visa nationals to apply for entry clearance/a visa before travelling to the UK. You can check whether you are a visa national on the UK Border Agency Visa Services website: www. ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals

Applying for entry clearance On 31 March 2009 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) launched new immigration rules for students. Students are now included in the UK’s Points Based System of immigration under Tier 4.

To apply for your student visa you will need to find your closest British Diplomatic Post (e.g. Embassy, Visa Application Centre, High Commission, or Consulate-general) and check with them what their procedure for visa applications is. Please follow the link to find your nearest British Diplomatic Post: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ howtoapply/wheretoapply You will also be able to download visa application forms and guidance from this website.

To qualify for a student visa you must be able to claim 40 points.

Points are awarded as follows • You must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number (this will be provided on a CAS statement, which is not a standard unconditional offer letter) from the University of Wolverhampton – 30 points • You must have enough money to cover one year of tuition fees and up to nine months of living expenses – 10 points

Visa letter

‘Visa letters’ have now been replaced by the new documentation called the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies number (CAS).

The Admissions department will issue your CAS number as soon as you have met the conditions of your offer and you have accepted our offer. The CAS number will be on a CAS statement, which will also include: • your personal details • the details of the course you intend to study • details of your previous qualifications you have used to apply for the course • tuition fees and how much of the fees you have paid • the University of Wolverhampton Sponsor Licence Number and address Please note: this letter will be in addition to any conditional or unconditional offer letter already issued to you.

7 VIsAs

Every drop of this experience has been truly rewarding Papa Yaw oppong-Frempong from Ghana Bsc (Hons) Mathematical Business Analysis

preparing to come to Wolverhampton 8

Bank Statements

You must provide a bank statement that covers 28 days that shows you have enough money to claim the 10 points for maintenance.

The money must be in your bank account or your parents’ bank account; it cannot be in any other relative or friend’s account.

The money must be constantly in your bank account for a minimum of 28 days and the date of the final balance cannot be more than 1 month before your application.

Please note • You can use your parents’ bank account, but if you do so you would also need to include your birth certificate and a letter of consent from your parents, confirming that they are your parents and will allow you to use the money for your studies.

• You cannot use any other relative or sponsor’s bank account unless they meet the requirements for an officially recognised sponsor.

• The amount of money needed will depend on how much you have already paid to the University of Wolverhampton and how long your course is.

The statement will need to show:

Other documents

As well as your CAS statement and bank statement you will need to provide: • your passport and recent passport photographs (usually two photographs) • ‘biometric’ information consisting of scans of your fingerprints and a full face digital photograph (carried out at the Visa Application Centre) • original copies of the qualifications you have used to apply for the course and which are listed on your CAS statement.

You may need to show the Entry Clearance Officer that you intend to leave the UK when you have completed the course and that you don’t intend to work in the UK (except for part-time or vacation work). The Visa Application Centre will be able to advise on this.

When you receive your visa, check that you have been given a Tier 4 student visa, not a ‘student visitor’ or any other category of visa. When you travel to the UK you should have the documents you used to apply for the visa with you, plus your passport and visa documents.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certification: for NON EU/EEA Postgraduate students only

• the outstanding balance for your tuition fees (the Entry Clearance Officer will check the CAS statement for the total fees and how much you have already paid)

It is now compulsory for some students of certain postgraduate courses to gain an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate before they make immigration applications to:

• living expenses in a lump sum of £5400 (calculated at £600 per month for a maximum of nine months)

• come to the UK as a student

or • if your course is less than nine months, you will need to show living expenses calculated at £600 for each month in one lump sum. For example if your course lasts for six months you should show living expenses of £3600 (plus the outstanding balance of your tuition fees). and • if you intend to live in University of Wolverhampton Halls of Residence you will also need to show you have enough money to cover the outstanding cost of the accommodation

• stay longer in the UK as a student.

Most of the courses at the University of Wolverhampton are ‘Taught’ courses that do not require an ATAS certificate.

Your CAS statement should state a ‘JACS code’ for your course and that it is ‘Taught’. When you apply for your visa this should be enough information for the Entry Clearance Officer to recognise that you do not need an ATAS certificate. If you have any further questions about this, please contact the Visa and Immigration Officer at the University of Wolverhampton or go to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at: www.fco.gov.uk If you are a research student you will receive further advice from the University Registry.

9 VIsAs

Visas for EU/EEA applicants

EU/EEA nationals are usually admitted to the UK with the minimum formalities and only need to show a valid passport or identity card.

EEA nationals have the right of residence during their course, provided that they have sufficient means to support themselves without recourse to public funds.

It is, however, advisable to carry a letter with you confirming that you have been offered a study place at the University of Wolverhampton.

This information applies to you if you come from one of the following countries:

• Austria

• Luxembourg

• Belgium

• Malta

• Bulgaria

• Netherlands

• Republic of Cyprus

• Poland

• Czech Republic

• Portugal

• Denmark

• Romania

• Estonia

• Slovakia

• Finland

• Slovenia

• France

• Spain

• Germany

• Sweden

• Greece

Plus the Signatory States of the European Economic Area (EEA):

• Hungary • Ireland • Italy • Latvia

• Iceland • Liechtenstein • Norway

• Lithuania Switzerland

An international treaty means that since 1 June 2002, Swiss nationals have a similar right to live in the UK as EEA nationals.

Please note: Students from Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are NOT part of the European Union.

PREPARING to CoME to woLVERHAMPtoN 10

11 MoNEY MAttERs

Money matters tuition fees

You should be aware of how much you will be charged for your course.

It will be indicated on your offer letter and fee information sheet.

mONEY MATTERS 12

How to pay fees and charges

There is a cashier’s office at each of the campuses. These are normally open during the hours 8.45am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The University accepts payment by cash, cheque (made payable to ‘University of Wolverhampton’) or specified credit/debit cards. The following credit cards are accepted: • MasterCard • Visa • Eurocard Also accepted are the following debit cards: • Maestro/Switch card • Visa/Delta card • Electron • Solo Payments may also be made by bank-to-bank transfer to: ‘The University of Wolverhampton General Account’ Barclays Bank Plc Queens Square, Wolverhampton Sortcode: 20-97-78 Account number: 80970905 IBAN: GB81BARC20977880970905 BIC: BARCGB22 (SWIFT) You should NOT send cash payments to the University by post, and should always keep a receipt for all payments made. Please quote your student number (a seven-digit number starting with 1 or 0) on all correspondence with the University, including when you make a payment.

If you have a query, the Cashier’s Office at Wolverhampton can be contacted on +44 (0)1902 32 12 30. Payments can be made over the telephone by means of most of the credit or debit cards previously mentioned.

We do not recommend you make payments by methods other than those referred to above, as this may result in you incurring additional bank charges. This will also be the case if you pay the University with a cheque drawn against an overseas bank account when the cheque is presented in the UK.

Information for EU undergraduate/HND/FdA/FdSc students ONLY

If you wish, you can apply for a loan to cover your fees which means you do not have to provide the money yourself when you start your course. The Student Loan Company will pay the money directly to the University.

The loan is interest-free, but index-linked (i.e. it increases in-line with inflation), and is only repayable after you graduate and after you are earning above a certain amount per year.

Students applying through UCAS will automatically receive an application form.

Students applying directly to the University will have to print the form themselves. Please log onto: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and select the ‘Not from England’ option.

Erasmus Exchange students are not liable to pay UK fees; they will, however, have to pay any fees due to their home institution.

Bursaries

From September 2011, students from the following EU countries on a full-time undergraduate programme will be entitled to a non-means tested bursary £1,400: • Bulgaria

• Lithuania

• Czech Republic

• Poland

• Estonia

• Romania

• Hungary

• Slovakia

• Latvia

Find out more www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance www.ukcisa.org.uk www.educationuk.org

Contact us

Contact Bal Chodda the University of Wolverhampton Finance Administrator on tel: +44 (0)1902 32 2063 fax: +44 (0)1902 32 2595 e-mail: b.chodda@wlv.ac.uk

13 mONEY MATTERS

Money matters for international students

Transferring currency

As a general rule, we recommend that students make provision for around £700 per month at the University. This estimate includes accommodation costs either at the University or renting privately.

• Telegraphic transfers

How much money you need depends on your own spending habits.

You will also need money for socialising for example, and if you are going to be involved in sporting activities. You will also need to consider the cost of your books and any extra academic equipment for your course.

See our budgeting tips for a guide to costs of living in Wolverhampton: www.wlv.ac.uk/moneymatters Further information about how much it will cost to live in Britain and help with budgeting can be obtained from the British Council’s Education UK website: www.educationuk.org

Bringing money into the UK

The British Treasury places no limit on the amount of money you can bring into Britain.

However, if you are carrying 10,000 Euros or more in cash, bankers draft or cheque of any kind, you will be required to declare this at customs control at the airport when you arrive. Please enquire about restrictions imposed by exchange control in your own country.

On arrival in Britain, you should have enough money to cover the cost of travelling from the airport to the University of Wolverhampton. You should be able to change travellers’ cheques at the airport, but it may be wise to bring some British currency with you to cover your first few days, perhaps £150-£300. Opening a bank account in the UK and transferring money can take a few weeks.

It is recommended that you do not bring large denomination English bank notes with you, e.g. £50, partly because of the risk of losing a high value note and partly because of the difficulty of changing such notes for purchases. We suggest a mixture of £20, £10 and £5 notes. On arrival in Britain, change some of the notes into coins to pay for small purchases such as bus fares etc.

You may find it useful to have an internationally recognised credit card in the UK (Visa/MasterCard). Please check with your bank at home what fees you will be charged for foreign transactions.

There are a number of ways of transferring money to the UK:

• Cheques • Money orders (through Post Office) • Bankers draft You should be able to obtain advice from your own bank on the best method.

Cash machines/ATMs

You should be able to withdraw cash from any of the cash machines/ATMs located outside the banks around the city/town using your bank card. If you are withdrawing cash from an account in your home country you may be charged a fee for the transaction.

If you have opened a bank account in the UK you should be able to make a withdrawal without any charges.

Please note that cash machines in shops such as newsagents may charge you to use them – only cash machines at the banks are usually free.

Opening a bank account

You will not be able to open a bank account in the UK until you are enrolled at the University, as you will need proof of your status as a student.

The UK’s main banks all have branches within walking distance of the University of Wolverhampton. We advise you to talk to as many of the banks as possible to find out what services they offer, and which bank is best for you.

Please be aware that you are only allowed to open one student bank account and that some of the banks charge a monthly rate for the length of time you have the account with them. It is therefore in your best interests to do some research before opening an account.

More information will be available during your University orientation.

MoNEY MAttERs 14

‘‘

I will cherish my memories of studying here forever Kayode temitope (Josephine) from Nigeria Master of Public Health

15 University ACCOMMODATION

What our students say

Mili Mohan, India “Wolverhampton is very beautiful and very tidy. Living in this city is peaceful and calm, and there are plenty of amenities available.”

Sadiq Adam Dahir, Norway “Coming to the UK was really exciting and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham just 20 minutes away, is a nice place to be settled.”

Wolverha m

in the cen

pton

tre of Eng

land

University accommodation www.wlv.ac.uk/international

University ACCOMMODATION 16

City Campus, Wolverhampton (1,056 rooms)

Compton Park Cam (140 rooms)*

Economy self-catered accommodation Standard self-catered accommodation En-suite self-catered accommodation

Approximately 10 minutes from Cit free shuttle bus service.

Standard self-catered accommoda

* Please note that there will be a l connecting this campus with oth

Once you have received an uncond will be able to apply online for a pl A deposit of ÂŁ250 is payable in adv

mpus, Wolverhampton

ty Campus via the University’s

ation

Walsall Campus, Walsall (453 rooms) Approximately 40 minutes from City Campus via the University’s free shuttle bus service.

Gorway Halls Standard self-catered accommodation Student Village En-suite self-catered accommodation

limited shuttle service her campuses.

ditional offer to start a course, you lace in University accommodation. vance when you book your room.

19 University ACCOMMODATION

Administration charges

An administration fee of £100 for the Residential Year, or £50 per semester or any other period of occupation will be payable by any customer that either does not pay in advance or does not pay in instalments by means of bank direct debit.

Further details on charges for the accommodation you have been allocated will be sent to you before arrival at University by e-mail if you provide an email address on your booking form.

The rent you pay for your University accommodation will vary depending on location and type of room, but all our accommodation is inclusive of utility bills, contents insurance, laundrette facilities and unlimited Internet access.

Please remember that you will sign an accommodation Licence Agreement. This is a legally binding document enforceable within the English Court of Law, and therefore any breaches of the agreement will be taken seriously. You cannot end your Licence Agreement early – even if you move out of your room you will have to pay rent until the end of the agreement. You will also be charged for your accommodation if you arrive earlier than your Agreement start date.

How to complete the accommodation process

If you are a Non-EU student you must hold an unconditional offer from the University of Wolverhampton before you can apply for accommodation. If you are an EU student you can apply for accommodation when you receive your conditional offer from the University.

If you will be under the age of 18 when you start your course, please contact Residential Services before completing this process.

Accommodation Services will automatically send out the Accommodation Application letter that explains how you begin applying for accommodation. You have the option of either applying online (on e:Vision) or manually. Please note that by applying online, you will be speeding up your accommodation application.

We have a range of accommodation available:

Late payments and non-payments

If you do not make payments by the due date (for tuition, accommodation or other), the University may withdraw all academic, social and other facilities, withhold examination results and/or awards, and prevent your enrolment for future academic periods.

In addition, if your University accommodation fee is not paid, you may be asked to leave University accommodation.

If you have difficulty paying your fees etc, you should notify the Finance Department immediately and seek advice from the Students’ Union or International Office.

University ACCOMMODATION 20

Private accommodation

The Midland Landlords Accreditation Scheme (MLAS) is a wellestablished scheme and is aimed at encouraging private landlords to improve the safety and general standards of their accommodation and to provide a better environment for students. Within the scheme, gas safety and electrical testing certifications are essential.

The scheme is run in conjunction with the Students’ Union, Accommodation Services and MLAS. Our participation in this scheme ensures that we will only advertise accredited accommodation within the private sector. For more information, visit: www.wolverhamptonstudentpad.co.uk Typical rent charges for private houses range from £40-£60 per week and your bills for gas, electricity, water, insurance etc will not be included.

Please do not book accommodation from overseas with a landlord not on the list. Further information can be obtained by telephoning: +44 (0)1902 32 1269

Student couple and family accommodation

Accommodation Services have a limited number of rooms for couples.

These range from £89 to £116 per week. Please contact Accommodation Services for more information.

Family accommodation is not provided on campus; therefore you will need to visit the Studentpad website at: www.wolverhamptonstudentpad.co.uk which has a list of suitable accommodation for families.

Alternatively, you could try contacting one of the many Estate Agents in the area who specialise in family accommodation. We must stress, however, that the University does not inspect these properties and the agent will normally charge a registration fee.

If you are planning to bring your family over after your studies with us have commenced, DO NOT book a single room in the University Accommodation. Your Licence Agreement is legally binding and you will be accountable for the room for the entire residential year and your partner/children will not be permitted to stay with you. This will also cause them problems when applying for their visa at the Embassy/High Commission, as they will need evidence from you that there is acceptable accommodation available for them while they are in the UK. Accommodation Services will do its best to put you in touch with reputable landlords who may have suitable accommodation, but it may be more expensive. Typically a two bedroom local house could cost you around £100 per week exclusive of bills.

You can email Accommodation Services at: accommodationservices@wlv.ac.uk for more information.

21 ARRIVAL IN tHE UK

Arrival in the UK

ARRIVAL IN tHE UK 22

By plane

If you are travelling to England via an airport in Europe, you should try and get a flight to Birmingham International Airport, which is closest to all University of Wolverhampton Campuses. It has a railway station with frequent, direct services to Wolverhampton and good connections to Walsall, Telford and Birmingham.

If you cannot get a flight to Birmingham, the other options are Manchester or London. For advice on how to make your way to the University, please read the information below or contact the International Centre.

There are connections from all airports to the West Midlands and Wolverhampton area.

By train

The best option for getting to the University of Wolverhampton from Birmingham International Airport is by train, as it is the cheapest and fastest route.

There are some direct trains to Wolverhampton from Birmingham International, although it may be faster to take the first train that goes to Birmingham New Street and change to a train that goes to Wolverhampton from there. Please ask at Birmingham International station for advice.

The journey to Wolverhampton or Walsall takes about 45 minutes, and about 60-80 minutes to Telford (including a change at Birmingham New Street Station).

We advise you to use the following transport methods depending on which airport you arrive into:

Single Train Fares (in June 2011):

By coach National Express or Flight Link

• to Telford approximately £10.00

• to Wolverhampton approximately £4.50

From Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, we recommend using the National Express coach as there are no direct trains to Wolverhampton from these airports. If you would prefer to get the train from these airports please contact the International Centre for advice.

• to Walsall approximately £4.50

Tickets for National Express or Flight Link coaches may be available at the airport on the day of your arrival. We do, however, recommend that you book them online prior to your arrival, as the coach services are very popular. The coaches run frequently from all airports throughout the day. Students based at Telford or Walsall can catch a train or bus from Wolverhampton to their campus.

The London Underground (the Tube)

The coach journey takes 4-5 hours from London and about 2-3 hours from Manchester. From Birmingham International it can take approximately 1 hour on the coach, so it is faster and cheaper to use the train.

For further information, please contact National Express on Tel: +44 (0)8717 81 81 81

Travelling in London

We do not advise students to travel into London by taxi, as taxi fares from the airports are around £50 or more.

If you need to use the Tube to travel into central London from Heathrow, you will use the ‘Piccadilly’ line. This is always shown on Tube maps (available at all Tube stations) as a dark blue line. Each Tube route is a different colour, which makes it easy to see which train you need to take to reach a particular stop such as London Euston.

You must buy your ticket before getting on the Tube. Tickets can be bought from machines or a ticket kiosk, where you will also be able to ask for advice about your journey. Ticket prices are worked out according to the number of zones you are travelling through – zones are shown on the Tube map. You may need to show the ticket to an inspector on the Tube and you will need it at the end of your journey to get out of the station.

The Tube is not an easy way to travel if you have a lot of heavy luggage, particularly if you have to change from one line to another.

For more information on London Transport, tel: +44 (0)20 7 222 1234 or visit: www.thetube.com

23 Arrival in the uk

Getting to your campus from the train or coach station Wolverhampton Campus and Compton Park Campus

Both the railway and coach station are situated in the centre of Wolverhampton and it is possible to walk to the University’s City Campus.

Randall Lines and Lomas Street/North Road accommodation is within 1 kilometre of the town centre, but if you have heavy luggage to carry, you may prefer to get a taxi.

Compton Park accommodation is about 3 kilometres to the west of Wolverhampton city centre, situated on the Compton Road. You can catch bus number 510 to Compton Park Campus. The fare is around £1.80 – make sure you have got coins to pay the correct fare, as most buses do not give change. A taxi to Compton Park Campus should cost around £4-£5.

Walsall Campus

If you are arriving by train and wish to use the bus to get to Walsall campus, you will have to make your way to Walsall Bus Station (at St Paul’s) and catch the number 51 bus at Stand

G. This bus goes towards Birmingham and it is only a short journey to the Campus (costs approximately £1.80). Get off the bus at Jesson Road (just before the Broadway traffic island) go down Jesson Road.

Take the first road on the right, Gorway Road. Alternatively, take a taxi from the station, which costs around £3-£5.

For more information about local buses in Wolverhampton and Walsall visit: www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk

Campus shuttle buses

During term-time, a free University shuttle bus service operates between all campuses from 0700hrs to 2200hrs, Monday-Friday. Check the times at your campus.

Unfortunately, bulky items or large pieces of luggage (such as suitcases) cannot be accommodated on our buses. This is for the health and safety of passengers. Only those items that can be held or placed on the passenger’s lap will be allowed. Please ensure therefore that you allow for additional travel time on public transport to get you to your campus on arrival in the UK.

Arrival in the uk 24

You will need to show the driver some student ID in order to use the campus shuttle buses. When you are enrolled this will be your ID card, but before you enrol you may be able to show your Unconditional offer letter.

Any vehicle registered in the UK that is more than 3 years old must be tested each year by the Department of Transport to ensure that it is safe to drive. Most garages will do this test for you (known as the M.O.T.) and will issue you with a certificate.

Find out more about the University’s shuttle bus service, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/campustravel

If you bring a car into the UK and remain longer than 12 months, you must register it with the DVLA in Swansea. After 12 months you may also need to swap your driving licence for a British Licence or even get a provisional British Licence and take a driving test in order to receive a British Licence.

Arriving in Great Britain by car

Remember at all times to drive on the left and to carry your driving licence, car ownership and insurance documents.

Please note that it is a criminal offence to drive without proper insurance.

It is compulsory to use seat belts. The speed limit on British Motorways is 70 mph (112kmh).

To drive any motor vehicle in the UK, you must hold a current licence.

Licences issued in EEA country are valid in Great Britain, so students holding them do not need to obtain a GB licence. You should exchange your licence for a GB licence if your EEA licence expires.

For further information about driving in Britain, please contact them on tel: +44 (0)870 240 0009 or visit: www.dft.gov.uk/dvla

25 oN ARRIVAL

On arrival

the International Centre organises induction and orientation programmes for all new arrivals. the events aim to give you an introduction to the University and its services. You will have the chance to meet staff informally and to make new friends.

on arrival 26

More information about our programme of events will be included in your joining instructions.

We recommend that you plan your journey to arrive in Wolverhampton in time for the orientation programme. Your joining instructions will provide details of the best date to arrive in the UK. Please be aware that there is no advantage to arriving in Wolverhampton earlier than the advertised date. If you arrive early, you may not be able to move into your accommodation until the official ‘moving in’ date and you will not be able to enrol before the University’s Welcome Week begins.

Making phone calls

You may find it helpful to use a mobile telephone from your home country for the first few days after arrival in the UK. Please contact your mobile phone company for details of costs etc.

For the medium and long-term, it is likely to be cheaper to buy a new mobile phone in the UK. There are many very competitive deals available, but as they change constantly, it is best to enquire once you have arrived in the UK. Alternatively, you can also purchase international phone cards from local shops that will allow you to call home at a reduced cost.

Non EU/EEA students – if you are from outside the EU, you will not be able to open a bank account, register with a doctor or look for employment until you have enrolled at the University.

University students have free access to the Internet, so you can easily keep in touch with family and friends via email.

Police registration

There is very limited funding available from the UK or the University to pay for disabled international students’ support needs.

The University will need to consider each student’s individual circumstances to determine how much support – if any – the University is able to provide.

Non-EU, non-EEA and non-Commonwealth students may have to register with the police on arrival.

Some students will receive a visa stating that they must register with the police within seven days of arrival in the UK. This does NOT affect students from Commonwealth or EEA/EU countries.

If you are required to register with the police it will say so in the visa stamp.

You should always check your visa to find out whether you need to register or not, as failure to register may result in prosecution and those found guilty may face imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to £5,000.

The West Midlands Overseas Visitors Registration Office has a list of the countries that may be affected. Visit: www.west-midlands. police.uk/help-advice/overseas-visitor-registration/index. asp The current charge for police registration is £34 and the certificate is valid for the length of your stay. If you change your address you should notify the police. If you extend your time in the UK you will need to renew your registration with the police. It is free to renew your registration.

Support for deaf or disabled students

We strongly urge you to seek assistance from your home country if you do not already have funding for this purpose.

Once you have funding available, the Student Enabling Centre can provide a comprehensive range of support services to enable D/deaf or disabled students to participate in university life on an equal basis with non-disabled students.

Welcome Week

For the first few weeks of Semester 1, the University will be very busy welcoming all our students from the UK as well as from around the world. While there will be activities provided just for international students, we hope you will participate in all the activities provided by the Students’ Union during Welcome Week. To find out more, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/welcome

27 useful contacts

Useful contacts International Centre For general enquiries:

International Centre University of Wolverhampton Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SB Tel: +44 (0)1902 32 27 35 Fax: +44 (0)1902 32 24 88 Email: international@wlv.ac.uk

International Admissions

To return ‘Acceptance Reply Forms’ and for general enquiries about your application contact: International Admissions University of Wolverhampton Room MB106 Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SB Tel: +44 (0)1902 32 34 73 Fax: +44 (0)1902 32 20 70 Email: internationaladmissions@wlv. ac.uk

International Support

For information about the orientation programme or travel to the University etc, contact: International Support University of Wolverhampton Room MB105 Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SB Tel: +44 (0)1902 32 27 22 Fax: +44 (0)1902 32 25 95 Email: j.dunn@wlv.ac.uk

Exchange students

Exchange students should contact the: International Student Support Office University of Wolverhampton Room MB105 Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1SB Tel: +44 (0)1902 32 24 74 or +44 (0)1902 32 27 22 Fax: +44 (0)1902 32 25 95 Email: exchanges@wlv.ac.uk

University of Wolverhampton Regional Offices

The University of Wolverhampton has several Regional Offices around the world that can help you before you come to Wolverhampton. The Regional Offices can assist with course and visa applications as well as giving you advice on academic and administrative matters and information about courses, bursaries and scholarships. These services are free.

Students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore South-East Asia Regional Office University of Wolverhampton Level 26 Menara IMC 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Contact: Bee Bee Gan Tel: +603 2039 4392 Fax: +603 2039 4792 Email: beebeegan@wlv.ac.uk

Students from China

China Regional Office University of Wolverhampton Room 21D Best-One International New City No. 359 Second Part, Middle of Furong Road Yuhua District Changsha Hunan 410007 China Contact: Jeffery Gao Tel: +86 (0)731 5510 661 Fax: +86 (0)731 5516 067 Email: info@wlvchina.com or j.gao@ wlv.ac.uk

useful contacts 28

29 useful contacts

useful Contacts 30

Students from India

South Asia Regional Office University of Wolverhampton 18-F Basant Lok 2nd Floor Vasant Vihar New Delhi 110 057 India Contact: Pragyat Singh Tel: +91 11 416 835 00 Fax: +91 11 416 835 02 Email: Wolverhampton@airtelbroadband.in

Students from Africa

West and Central Africa Regional Office (WACRO) University of Wolverhampton Febson Mall Former Russuel Centre Wuse Zone 5 By Maitama Junction Abuja Nigeria Contact Eze Osita Tel: +234 7031 292 627 Email: e.osita@wlv.ac.uk

Students from Central/Eastern Europe Central European Regional Office University of Wolverhampton Ul Podmurna 101/3 87-000 Torun Poland Contact: Anna Czuba Tel: +86 56 664 1086 Web: www.studiawanglii.info Email: studia@conversa.pl

Students from Cyprus

Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Office 23 1-3 Mboumboulinas Street 1060 Nicosia Cyprus Tel: +44 357 22 375736 Fax: +44 357 22 817301 Email: emro@wlv.ac.uk

31 CoNtRACtED EDUCAtIoNAL ADVIsoRs

Contracted Education

nal Advisors

CoNtRACtED EDUCAtIoNAL ADVIsoRs 32

As well as the Regional Offices, the University of Wolverhampton has several Contracted Educational Advisors to assist you with the application process in your home country.

They may charge you an “introductory fee” and they are located in: • Africa • Bangladesh • Bulgaria • Cyprus • Czech Rep. • Estonia • Germany • Greece • Hong Kong • Hungary • India • Indonesia • Japan • Latvia • Malaysia • Nepal • Norway • Pakistan • Poland • Russia • Slovakia • Sri Lanka • Taiwan • Trinidad • Turkey

33 useful websites

Airports General information: www.baa.com Birmingham Airport: www.birminghamairport.co.uk Manchester Airport: www.manchesterairport.co.uk Heathrow Airport (London): www.heathrowairport.com Gatwick Airport (London): www.gatwickairport.com

Useful websites Government and official bodies British Council: www.britishcouncil.org British Council Education Information Service: www.educationuk.org Department for Education: www.education.gov.uk Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: www.dft.gov.uk/dvla Foreign and Commonwealth Office: www.fco.gov.uk National Health Service: www.nhs.uk UK Border Agency: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities: www.skill.org.uk

English Language Qualification Information IELTS: www.ielts.org TOEFL: www.ets.org/toefl

Finance Student Finance: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

Transport Journey planner: www.transportdirect.info National Express Coaches: www.nationalexpress.com National Rail: www.nationalrail.co.uk Local Transport: www.networkwestmidlands.co.uk

useful websites 34

University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1LY United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1902 322222 Email: enquiries@wlv.ac.uk Fax: +44 (0)1902 322517 Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/international