University of Lincoln International Handbook 2013 (PDF)

International StudentHandbook 2013A pre-departure & arrival guide for international studentsDiscover your future...

ContentsWelcome to the University of Lincoln 2When to arrive 3Step 1 Accept and confirm your offer 5Accept your offer 5Pay your deposit 5Receive your CAS 6Step 2 Before you leave 7Apply for your visa 7Pay your fees 9Calculate your living costs 9Arrange your accommodation 10Organise your travel 11Prepare for your journey 13Prepare for your studies 15Step 3 Final checklist prior to departure 16Step 4 When you arrive 17Immigration 17Travel to Lincoln 17International Arrivals Lounge 18Enrolment 18Police registration 19International Advice Team 19Step 5 Welcome to Lincoln 20Orientation workshops 20International welcome events 20English Language Centre 21Faculty and course Inductions 21Social activities 21Maps 22International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk

Welcome to theUniversity of LincolnCongratulations on choosing to study on a course at the University of Lincoln.You are about to begin one of the most exciting times of your life but we realise thatleaving home and moving to an unfamiliar country can be both exciting and difficult.The University of Lincoln welcomes international students from all around the worldand through studying here you will gain a truly international education and diversestudent experience.The University of Lincoln is located in the historic heartof England with a proud heritage and excellent academiccredentials. We provide a challenging and supportiveenvironment, combined with a safe and welcoming atmosphereto help you settle easily into life in the UK.This guide is intended for all international students who haveaccepted an unconditional offer with the University of Lincoln tostudy from September 2013.This information aims to help you prepare to leave home andwill guide you, step by step, on your journey to Lincoln. Werealise that there is lots for you to read and that you may havequestions along the way.If you need to get in touch with us at any point, please contactus at our dedicated email address below and we will answeryour questions as soon as we can.The email address for all enquiries relating to your arrival is:internationalwelcome@lincoln.ac.ukLook out for these boxes throughoutthe guide. They contain importantadvice.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk2

When to arriveIt is very important that you arrive for thestart of the course that you are going tostudy. You will need a few days to adjust toyour surroundings and to ensure that youhave completed everything that you need todo before you begin studying.Arriving and enrolling on your course is all part of yourexperience here in Lincoln and we have organised this sothat the process is made as easy as possible for you.If you are going to be studying on one of our Pre-sessionalEnglish and Academic Study Skills (PEASS) courses thenyou will be sent enrolment information and dates separately.Arrival FormAs part of the registration process at the University, it iscompulsory to provide us with some information about yourtravel arrangements. This information will help us to ensurethat your arrival and enrolment at the University is made aseasy as possible.Please ensure that you complete and return your Arrival Formso that we know when to expect you:The Arrival Form is available on our website.Welcome Week dates for 2013Monday 23rd September toFriday 27th September 2013It is very important that you inform us when you are arriving soplease fill in the Arrival Form provided on our website.International Arrivals LoungeTo ensure that your arrival goes well and that we are here tomeet you, we have set up an ‘International Arrivals Lounge’for you. This will be open on the main Brayford campus from:Thursday 19th September to Friday4th October, 9.00am to 6.00pm.(11.00am to 2.00pm at weekends).If you are arriving outside of these hours, please let us know sothat we can make sure support is available to you.Please keep in touch. We will besending you important informationright up to the time you travel to theUK. Please send us your updatedcontact details.You should aim to arrive in Lincoln either before or during thesedates.The academic year calendar is available on our website.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk3

Your step by step guideThe information on the following pages is a step by step guideto prepare you for arrival to the UK. Please ensure that youread each step carefully and complete all the checklists wehave provided.If, at any step, you need help or advice then you can emailus at:internationalwelcome@lincoln.ac.ukStep 1Accept and confirm your offerStep 2Before you leaveStep 3Final checklist prior to departureStep 4When you arriveStep 5Welcome to LincolnInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk4

Step 1Accept and confirm your offerAccepting and confirming your offer is a very important stageof your application to the University of Lincoln, so it is importantthat you read this information very carefully and follow theguidelines below. This section contains information on how to:■■■■■■accept your offerpay your depositreceive your CAS (Certificate of Acceptance on Studies)Accept your offer■■■■■■■■By now you should have received an unconditional offerfor your course.Once you have received your unconditional offer you mustconfirm that you want to accept this offer with us as soonas possible.If you are not sure if you have accepted your offer; thenplease contact us as soon as possible and we can adviseyou what to do.If you still have a conditional offer and are waiting fordocumentation e.g. results or transcripts, then you shouldcontact us and send any outstanding documentation assoon as you can.Pay your DepositIf you are an international student you may be required to paya deposit of £2000. Your offer letter will inform you if a depositpayment is required.You can make this payment using a number of differentmethods which are all explained on the ‘How to Pay’ pageon our website:Visit the ‘How to Pay’ pageIf you pay online, remember to keep arecord of all the payments you make.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk5

Receive your Certificate of Acceptanceof Studies (CAS)The University of Lincoln is on the Tier 4 Highly Trusted Registerof sponsors. If you are from a visa national country then youmust apply for a visa from the British High Commission orEmbassy in your country of residence. In order to apply for yourTier 4 Student visa you will require a CAS.CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. We willonly issue a CAS to successful applicants once they have metall conditions of their offer (if applicable) as follows:■■■■■■Undergraduate students - your CAS is issued when youhave accepted your unconditional offer with us.Postgraduate Taught Masters students - your CAS is issuedwhen you have accepted your unconditional offer and paidthe required international deposit.Postgraduate Research students - your CAS is normallyissued when you have formally accepted your unconditionaloffer and paid the required international deposit.Please remember that we can only issue a CAS to you3 months before the start of your course.A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is a ‘virtualdocument’ similar to a database record. You will receive yourCAS number in a statement, which we will send to you as aPDF attachment in an email to the correspondence addresswhich you have supplied to us. Please note that we do notsend the CAS to you in the post.The statement will contain your specific CAS number whichyou will be asked to provide to the UKBA as part of yourvisa application. The Home Office will have received all theinformation we have about you (name, address, course,fees of your course, start date, what fees you have paid tothe University already etc) and will access this informationabout you through your CAS number.The student visa you gain is specific to the institution andcourse stated on the CAS.Visit our visa pageInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk6

Step 2Before you leaveBefore you leave your home country there are many thingswhich you will need to do to prepare for your journey.This section includes information on:■■■■■■■■■■■■■■how to apply for your visahow to pay your feeshow to work out your living costshow to arrange your accommodationhow to organise your travelhow to prepare for your journeyhow to prepare for your studiesApply for your visaThe information below is divided into two sections■■■■Information for students from outside the EuropeanEconomic Area (EEA) and SwitzerlandInformation for students from within the EEA and SwissNationalsIf you are unsure if you require a visa then you should visitthe Home Office website and the UK Council for InternationalStudent Affairs (UKCISA) websites for further information. Bothof these will provide you with up to date information on how toapply for your visa.Visit the ‘Adult Students’ page on the Home Officewebsite.Visit the UKCISA websitePre-entry tuberculosis (TB)screening programmeYou may be required to undertakescreening for TB before you travel to theUK for a stay of more than six months.Please check this before you travel.Information for students from outsidethe European Economic Area (EEA)and SwitzerlandThe Points Based System (PBS) is the UK system for managingmigration for non European Economic Area (EEA) nationalswho want to enter the UK for the purpose of work or study. Itconsists of five tiers, and Tier 4 (General) is the main immigrationcategory for students.If you are a national of a non-EEA country and you want tocome to the UK to study for six months or more, you must havepermission to come to the UK before you travel. This is called‘Entry Clearance’ or a ‘visa’. Most students will need to apply fora Tier 4 (General) student visa before they travel to the UK.When you are granted entry clearance, the entry clearanceofficer in your country will put a sticker in your passport whichwill have your name and the start and end dates of your visa.If you do not have the correct entry clearance, you will berefused entry to the UK.How to applyTo help you through the process, we have outlined some basicinformation on how to apply for your visa. It is also importantthat you read the Home Office and UKCISA websites for moredetailed information on how to apply.To gain entry clearance you will need to contact the UK Visaoffice in your home country. This will either be a UK embassy,consulate, high commission or a visa application centre.There are different ways to apply, for example on-line, by postor by appointment.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk7

If you are coming to Lincoln to study certain coursesor through another route then your visa applicationprocess may be slightly different. The followinginformation provides details of these routes andwhat you need to do.Pre-sessional studentsIf you are planning to study on one of the University of LincolnPre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills (PEASS)courses, then we recommend that you apply for a Tier 4(General) Student Visa prior to arrival in the UK. When youhave successfully completed your PEASS course and have anunconditional offer for your main programme of study, ourVisa Advice Team can help you to apply for an extension ofyour Tier 4 visa from within the UK.Please note that if you study for your PEASS course with astudent visitor visa you will not be able to apply for a visafor your main programme of study from within the UK. You willhave to return to your home country to make an application.If there are delays with your visa it may mean that you areunable to start your main programme of study on time, oryou may miss the induction.If you have any queries regarding your immigration statusplease contact us as soon as possible.Students coming to Lincoln from anotherUK universityIf you already have a Tier 4 visa to study at another UKuniversity and have decided that you would like to study atLincoln you may be required to apply for a new visa.Under the new rules, if your visa was issued after the 5thOctober 2009, you can enrol on your programme at theUniversity of Lincoln provided you can prove that you havesubmitted an application under Tier 4 (General) to study here.Because we have Highly Trusted Sponsor Status it is no longernecessary for this visa to have been issued before you can startstudying with us.If your visa was issued before the 5th October 2009 you mustapply to the Home Office to change your sponsor, or makeanother application under Tier 4. To apply for permission tochange sponsor (but not for additional time on your visa) youshould complete from T4PTS. The application fee is £160.Academic Technology ApprovalScheme (ATAS)If you are coming to Lincoln to study certain courses you willneed to apply for an ATAS certificate before you can apply foryour visa. Please check further details for courses which requirean ATAS certificate on their website:Visit the ATAS websiteThe application is an online process and is free of charge.When to applyYou should aim to apply as early as possible for your visa tomake sure that you arrive before your course begins. However,please remember that you cannot apply more than threemonths before your course starts.What you will need to apply for studententry clearanceYou will need to ensure that you have the correct informationand original documentation when you apply for your visa. Wehave listed the main documents below, but you should checkon the Home Office website that you have all the correctdocuments:■ ■ CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies)number from the University of Lincoln.If you have not received your CAS statement then pleasego back to Step 1 in this guide and make sure that youhave completed all the stages you need to prior toobtaining a CAS. Alternatively please contact us for advice.We will email you a CAS statement which will include yourCAS number, the University of Lincoln sponsor licencenumber and other information you will need.■ ■ Documents used to obtain your CASE.g. the original certificate(s) of qualification; or theoriginal transcript of results.■ ■ Documents to show you have enough money topay your tuition and living expenses (includingaccommodation) for yourself and any dependantstravelling with you.Please see the Tier 4 Policy Guidance on the Home Officewebsite for information on how much money you will needand what documents you should provide as evidence.■ ■ Your passport or travel documents■ ■ PhotographsPlease see the Home Office website for more photoguidance.■ ■ Any other documents which your UK embassy, highcommission, consulate or visa application centresays you need.Information for students from within theEEA and Swiss NationalsEEA and Swiss nationals can enter the UK just by showingyour passport or national identity card. Immigration officialswill not usually ask you about your stay in the UK, but if theythink something is wrong with your documents they can askyou questions.International Student Handbook 2013/14Please remember to check your immigration status beforeyou travel.www.lincoln.ac.uk8

Pay your feesThis section covers how to pay yourtuition fees, and also offers informationabout the range of scholarshipsavailable for international studentsintending to study in Lincoln.University of Lincoln International Fees 2013If you are enrolling onto a course at the University of Lincolnyou will be required to pay full tuition fees for each year of theircourse. Tuition fees will vary, depending on the course youwish to study.The cost of your tuition fees will be outlined in your offer letter.If you are not sure of your fees, or if you think the tuition feesare incorrect, then you should contact us as soon as possibleto check your tuition fee status.For information on international student fees, please see ourwebsite. You will need to search for the course you are planningto study on and the fees will be listed at the top of the page.Visit the ‘Fees and Funding’ page on our website.Lincoln International OfficeScholarships 2013At the University of Lincoln we understand the importance ofinvesting in your future and we want to ensure that we are ableto provide as much financial assistance as possible. That’s whywe have a wide number of scholarships available to help youstudy in our historic city.Visit the ‘Scholarships and Funding’ page on ourwebsite for further information on other scholarshipswhich may be availableWhen to payYou will be asked to pay your fees in three stages:Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3£2,000 deposit to be paid on receipt of aconditional offer (applies to postgraduateinternational students only).50% of the balance to be paid ON or BEFOREenrolment. Sponsorship letters will not be accepted.the remaining balance to be paid via a maximum of9 monthly instalments.How to payIt is important that you include your name and University IDnumber in all correspondence when you make any paymenttowards your fees. This will help us to track your paymentsfor you.Please note that all payments to the University need to be madein pounds sterling. You can pay using various methods such as:■■Online payment■■Bank transfer■■By chequeVisit the ‘How to Pay’ page on our website for fulldetails of how to pay.If you are paying your fees by chequeor banker’s draft, remember to make itpayable to ‘The University of Lincoln’.Calculate your living CostsAs part of your financial planning you will also need to consideryour living costs. This is the money that you will need to payfor things such as your accommodation, food, travel, socialactivities etc.Please do not arrange for your living expenses (otherthan University’s halls of residence fees) to be paid intothe University’s bank account as we do not provide a‘paying-on’ service.The Home Office recommended guidance for living costs forstudents on courses lasting 6 months or more, living outsideLondon is £800 per month (£7,200 for 9 months). This is theamount that you will need to ensure that you have in order tomeet the Home Office’s visa application criteria.Visit the International Student Calculator website forgeneral living costs you can find useful information on howto budget on.Please remember to reduce your fees by the correctamount if you have been awarded a scholarship bythe University.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk9

Arrange your AccommodationIt is important to decide which type ofaccommodation you want before youarrive in Lincoln. This section providesinformation on the different types ofaccomodation available.We recommend that you organise your accommodation assoon as you have accepted a place on a course.You can choose from a fantastic range of accommodationin Lincoln, most of which is situated around the attractivewaterside of the Brayford Pool Marina. There are alsooptions in the City Centre and in the Cathedral Quarter.The main University campus is centrally located and allaccommodation, whether on campus or off campus, iswithin short walking distance.The University’s Accommodation Service has a number oflandlords who have developed residential Partnership Hallsfor students. These sites have been developed in associationwith the Accommodation Service in respect of their location,statutory health and safety issues, facilities and provision ofservice to students.This means that students can find a safe, well-managed,place to live within a five-minute walk of the main campus.The University is also part of the City of Lincoln StudentAccreditation Scheme which provides a set of standards forlandlords to provide safe, secure, well-managed housing.You can find general virtual tours on our website which willgive you the opportunity to see the type of accommodationwe have in Lincoln.If you haven’t organised anyaccomodation, please contact us assoon as possible for advice.Applying for your accommodationApplying for accommodation at the University of Lincolnis simple. As long as you have accepted an offer of acourse, you can apply for accommodation using our on-lineAccommodation application form.The Accommodation application form is availableon our website.Every effort will be made to ensure that you have theaccommodation of your choice. We aim to find all internationalstudents a place in their preferred accommodation oraccommodation of a similar style and price, pending demand.Wherever you choose to live during your time here, you cancontact our Residential Services Team for support and adviceon any issue: +44 (0)1522 886231 or 886195 or emailaccommodation@lincoln.ac.uk.Allocation ProcessPlease note all offers of accommodation are sent by email to theaddress which you provide in your accommodation application.You should monitor that email address regularly to avoid missingany instructions. You can change your preferred email addressby logging into the system.Temporary AccommodationIf you are unable to arrange your accommodation in advancethen we can send you a list of local hotels and guest houses foryou to book in advance of your arrival. As long as you inform usof your plans we can arrange viewings for you.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk10

Organise your travelArriving in the UK is easy, but you mayneed our help to organise your travel fromthe airport. We organise FREE airportpick ups on certain dates from LondonHeathrow Airport and Manchester Airport.We will be there to meet you and bring yousafely back to Lincoln!When to arriveIt is important to ensure that you arrive with enough time tosettle into your accommodation and become familiar withyour surroundings before beginning your studies.Welcome Week dates for 2013 are:Monday 23rd September toFriday 27th September 2013You should aim to arrive either before or during these dates.If you think that you are going to be late for the start of yourcourse, then you should inform us as soon as possible.Where to arriveIf you are travelling by air, the UK has many different airportsand you should think about which one you want to arrive atbefore you book your ticket. The University of Lincoln hasarranged a FREE Airport pick–up service for studentsarriving in to London Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport.You should check our website for more details of dates andhow to book.If you would prefer to fly into a regional airport which iscloser to Lincoln then you can choose Humberside Airportor East Midlands Airport. These airports have internationalconnections through European airports such as Amsterdam,Paris or Frankfurt.FREE Airport pick-serviceThe University will run a FREE airport pick-up service forstudents arriving into London Heathrow Airport and ManchesterAirport on the following dates:Thursday 19th SeptemberThursday 26th SeptemberThis a free service for students but you will need to bookin advance and early to avoid disappointment.The Airport taxi pick-up ServiceIf you are unable to use our FREE airport pick-up service wecan organise a taxi for you from your airport of arrival to theUniversity. We have negotiated excellent discounted rateson your behalf with a local taxi company, so you will receivea warm welcome at a reasonable price.Your taxi driver will meet you as you come through the arrivalsgate at the airport and transport you to Lincoln.If you wish to use either the free airport pick up service orthe paid taxi pick-up service, then you must book in advancethrough our website:The International Student Arrival Form is available onour website.If we know when you are arriving,we can be here to meet you.Remember to fill in your Arrival Form.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk11

Arrival FormAs part of the registration process at the University, it iscompulsory to provide us with some information about yourtravel arrangements. This information will help us to ensure thatyour arrival and enrolment at the University is made as easy aspossible for you.Please ensure that you complete and return your Arrival Formso that the University knows when to expect you. This form isavailable on our website.Pre-Departure Checklist 1Have you…Accepted your offer?Paid your deposit (if applicable)?Received your CAS?Applied for the correct visa?Organised your accommodation?Booked your flight?Booked an airport pick-up or taxi pick-up serviceChecked if you need to have a TB screening before entering the UKCompleted yourUniversity of Lincoln Arrival FormInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk12

Prepare for your journeyBeing well prepared for your journey isvery important. You should make sureyou’ve got everything organised beforeyou leave home.In this section you will be able to think about what you will needto bring with you and how you can prepare for life in the UKand studying at Lincoln. There are several things outlined belowwhich you should consider before your journey.Find out what you are and are NOT allowed to bring into the UK,e.g. food items. Contact the British Embassy, High Commissionor Consulate in your country for more information.Documents required for your journeyBefore you travel to the UK, it is important that you keepyour passport, travel documents and tickets in a safe place.We advise that you take a photocopy of all the pages ofyour passport and keep it in a separate place in case ofemergencies.You will also need some important documents immediatelywhen you arrive at the UK airport or point of entry to the UK, asyou will be interviewed by immigration and health officials. A fulllist of these documents can be found in checklist 2.MoneyThe currency used in the UK is ‘Pounds Sterling’. Howeverthis is shortened to just ‘Pounds’ and the symbol ‘£’ is usedto denote this.Before you leave you will need to order British currency andtravellers’ cheques and bring enough money to cover yourimmediate needs on your arrival in the UK; including customscharges, rail fares and any emergency expenses. About£250 should be enough but, you will need more than this ifyou have any family travelling with you. If you are coming tothe UK from a country outside the EU and carrying morethan 10,000 Euros (approximately £8,500) you will need todeclare this to Customs.If you are planning to transfer extra money to the UK you shouldarrange this before you leave your home country.Also, check whether you need permission to transfer money tothe UK and whether your government has restrictions on theamount of money you can take out of the country. Opening abank account in the UK can take a few weeks.For further information and contact details, visit the HMRCwebsite. You should also check if there are limits imposedon foreign currency transactions by your home country.InsuranceBefore you leave you should also think about insurance foryour journey and for when you arrive. This may include:■■Travel insurance■■Personal belongings insurance■■UK health insurance (if applicable)PackingPacking can be a difficult task, especially if you areleaving home for a long period of time. The important thingto remember is that you should pack the essentials andtry not to bring too much. Remember that you can buyitems such as bedding and toiletries when you arrive.The UK has an enormous range of budget shops whichoffer good discounts.Make sure that you check your baggage allowance with theairline you are travelling with. If you go over your allowancethen you may get charged a lot of money at the airport.You will be arriving in the UK at a time of year when the weatherin the UK is changing from summer to autumn and it may takeyou some time to adjust to the climate. The weather in the UKis very unpredictable and it may be very cold one day and warmthe next, so make sure that you pack a variety of clothes whichwill keep you warm or cool appropriately.If you have arranged accommodation in advance you shouldcheck whether bedding will be available when you arrive,particularly for your first night.When you are ordering money, askfor a variety of bank notes. £50 notesare rarely seen in shops etc in the UKand you may have difficulty changingthem, so try to also order some £20and £10 notes.It can take a few days to open a bankaccount. Make sure you have enoughmoney with you for the first few weeks.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk13

Pre-Departure Checklist 2 - PackingItems to carry in your hand luggageYour valid passport, with visa or entry clearance if relevantYour travel tickets or E ticket detailsMoney - cash, travellers’ cheques, credit cardVaccination certificates and x-ray reports if required, any prescribed drugs or medicines you are taking, plus a letterfrom your doctor explaining what they areThe original letter of acceptance and CAS from The University of LincolnThe original documentary proof that you have money to pay your fees and meet your living costs (e.g. recent bankstatements, proof of scholarship, sponsor’s letter, reference letter from your bank in your own country)Originals documents of any degree certificates, transcripts or technical qualifications which have been used as part ofyour applicationConfirmation of any accommodation you have booked, including the full address and telephone numberDetails of your arrangements for onward travel within the UK e.g. maps, contact numbers etc.Insurance documentsWarm clothes/coat for when you arriveYour phone charger and a UK adapter plugItems to carry in your main luggageA photocopy of each page of your passport, including its number, the date and place of issue and any entryclearancesA note of the serial numbers of any travellers’ chequesBack-up photocopies of all essential documentsApproximately ten passport-size photos of yourself - you will need them for student identification cards, bus/railpasses and various other purposesClothing, toiletries, and any other main items which you will need during your stay.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk14

Prepare for your studiesThe teaching, learning and assessment stylein the UK may be different to what you havebeen used to in your own country and it cantake a few weeks to adjust to this change.Before you arrive in the UK, you can begin to develop new studyskills to prepare you for your academic life at the University ofLincoln with the Prepare for Success website:Visit the Prepare for Success website.The University of Lincoln English Language Centre (ELC) willbe an important service for you during your time in the UKand provides a range of support for international students.Our services are designed to help students to improve in allareas of their English language and develop their academicstudy skills. We are also here to help you to settle in andenjoy your new life in the UK.The well qualified and friendly ELC staff will guide youduring your learning, using a variety of methods, ensuringyou have every opportunity to reach your potential and tohelp you succeed on your course; whether you are studyingat undergraduate or postgraduate level.We offer a comfortable and relaxed environment for you tolearn in, with up to date facilities and have an ‘open door’policy all year round so whatever your problem we can helpyou with it.The ELC offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP)language support throughout the academic year in the formof workshops and one to one sessions. We also organise ina range of social activities throughout the year, such as tripsto see cities around the UK.Adapting to speaking English all thetime can be difficult. Practise asmuch as possible in the weeks beforeyou arrive.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk15

Step 3Final checklist prior to departureHave you applied for and received your UK entry clearance visa?Do you have your original documents with you?■■Passport■■VISA/CAS■■Offer letter■■Original certificates of education, bank statements etc■■References (if applicable)Have you checked if you need to have a TB screening before you travel?Have you made appropriate arrangements for any family members to come to the UK?Do you have enough money to cover both tuition fees and living costs?Do you have a copy of your unconditional offer letter and CAS statement?Have you checked whether there are any restrictions on the amount of money you can take out of the country?Have you checked whether you need permission to transfer money to the UK and how to do it?Do you have UK currency and/or travellers cheques for your immediate expenses on arrival in the UK?Have you organised travel to the UK?Have you booked your travel tickets and travel insurance and checked your baggage allowance?Have you packed adequate clothing which is suitable for the British climate?Have you arranged your accommodation or know where you are going to be staying?Have you planned how you are going to get to the University of Lincoln?Have you got a map of the UK and the location of the University?Do you know how long it takes to travel to Lincoln from your arrival airport?Do you know how to use public transport, e.g. the underground, buses and trains?Have you booked a University airport pick-up service?Have you completed and returned yourUniversity of Lincoln Arrival FormInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk16

Step 4When you arriveArriving in a new country for the first timecan be a challenging experience. You mayhave travelled a long distance and be verytired, so it is important that you prepare foryour arrival.This section contains information on:■■Immigration■■Travel to Lincoln■■International Arrivals Lounge■ ■ EnrolmentImmigrationYou will have to pass through immigration when you arrive inthe UK so it is important for you to know what to expect. Werecommend that you read the following guide which gives youfull details of what to expect when you arrive at your point ofentry to the UK.Visit the ‘Arriving in the UK’ page on theUKCISA website.The Airport taxi pick-up ServiceIf you are unable to use our FREE airport pick-up service wecan organise a taxi for you from your airport of arrival to theUniversity. We have negotiated excellent discounted rates onyour behalf with a local taxi company, so you will receive awarm welcome at a reasonable price.Your taxi driver will meet you as you come through thearrivals gate at the airport and transport you to Lincoln. Ifyou wish to use either the free airport pick-up service or thepaid taxi pick-up service, then you must book in advancethrough our website:The International Student Arrival Form is available onour website.FREE Airport pick-serviceThe University will run a FREE airport pick-up service forstudents arriving into either London Heathrow Airport orManchester Airport on the following dates:Thursday 19th SeptemberThursday 26th SeptemberThis a free service for students but you will need to bookin advance and early to avoid disappointment.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk17

International Arrivals LoungeThe International Arrivals Lounge is a welcoming andcomfortable area for new international students and provides:■■easy access to a range of support services■■guidance and assistance with your enrolment■■■■■■free internet and telephone access so that you cancontact family and friends as soon as you arrivea comfortable area to relax intransfer taxis to your accommodationThe International Arrivals Lounge opening hours are:If you are arriving outside of these hours, please let us know sothat we can make sure support is available to you.Thursday 19th September to Friday 4thOctober, 9.00am to 6.00pm(11.00am to 2.00pm at weekends).EnrolmentWhen you arrive at the University, one of your priorities will beto enrol onto your programme of study. All new internationalstudents should go to the International Arrival Lounge to enrol.It is very important that you bringthe original documents with you forenrolment. If you do not bring thecorrect documents then this willdelay your enrolment.Documents required for enrolment■■PassportThis must include all the passport pages showingall personal identity details (including biometricdetails), leave stamps, or immigration statusdocument including your period of leave to remain(permissions to stay) in the UK. This must showyour entitlement to study with a licensed sponsorin the United Kingdom■■A copy of your United KingdomBiometric Card■■Original documentationBring all documents listed in the ‘documents usedto obtain the offer’ section of your CAS Statemente.g. references, exam certificates and transcriptsetc. Please note that photocopies will not beaccepted■■ATAS certificate (if required)■■Evidence of any tuition paymentsyou have made■■Evidence of any Universityscholarships which you havebeen awarded.When you have enrolled you will receive a Student ID card whichwill allow you access to University of Lincoln facilities such asThe Library and the Sports Centre. You will also be able to useyour card to gain discounts in some shops and restaurants. Youshould keep your Student ID card with you at all times.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk18

Police RegistrationYour passport or identity card will state whether or not youhave to register with the police. If you are required to registerwith the police, you must do so within seven days of yourarrival in the UK. Your entry clearance stamp will probablytell you to register with the police. If your entry clearance tellsyou to register, your husband/wife and/or child are likely tobe given an entry clearance or stamp that tells them toregister too.When registering you will be charged a registration fee(currently £34) and must bring your passport and twophotographs of yourself.Further details of how to register with the police will beprovided to you when you enrol.International Advice TeamThe University’s Advice Service offers confidential, independentand non-judgmental advice on any financial matters.If you need help with visa queries once you have arrived andregistered, the University’s Advice Service offers a visa drop-inservice and workshops. They also operate the ‘Student BatchScheme’ which is a visa extension service for students.Check your visa in your passportto see if you need to register withthe police.Just go to the Student Support Centre to make an appointmentto speak to an advisor.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk19

Step 5 Welcome to LincolnYour first few weeks in the UK will be bothexciting and challenging. The University alsoarranges a variety of welcome events to helpyou to settle into life in the UK and your studies.It is important that you try to attend these events■■Orientation Workshops■■International Welcome Events■■Faculty and Course Inductions■■English Language Centre Workshops■■Social activitiesOrientation workshopsWe will be organising some Orientation Workshops for newinternational students during the first few weeks of term, whichwill provide advice on how to settle in to life in the UK. This willinclude sessions on:■■Dealing with culture shock■■Adjusting to student life in Lincoln■■An introduction to the English Language Centre■■Visa compliance adviceFurther details of these workshops will be given to youon arrival.International Welcome EventsInternational Student Services Welcome ReceptionYou are invited to attend our ‘International Student ServicesWelcome reception’ which will take place on:Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 5.00pmin the Atrium of the Main AcademicBuilding, Brayford campus.You will be welcomed to the University by the Vice-Chancellorand will receive important information on the support servicesavailable to you during your time with us. The evening will alsoinclude a buffet and an opportunity for you meet staff andstudents.Postgraduate International Sudent Tea PartyIf you are an international postgraduate student, you will beinvited to attend a tea party hosted by the Vice-Chancellorwhich will take place on:Wednesday 9th October from 4.00pm to6.00pm in the EMMTEC building on theBrayford campus.This will be an opportunity for you to meet other postgraduatestudents, as well as academic members of staff.International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk20

English Language CentreAll international students have free access to our EnglishLanguage Centre during their time here and you will beinvited to register with the centre as soon as you arrive.The services offered range from:■■Study skills workshops■■Academic Reading■■Academic Writing■■Active Listening■■Social Conversation■■One to one supportReligionWe’re here for everybody, of all faiths or none, offering personaland confidential guidance, volunteering opportunities, on siteprayer/worship, social justice campaigning faith and spiritualguidance.Access to Student Support servicesThe University has a variety of support services available for allstudents and these are accessible through our Student SupportCentre. They can provide advice on a range of areas.Faculty and course inductionWhether you are studying as an Undergraduate or aPostgraduate student, there will be a welcome and inductionprogramme in place to introduce you to your course and yourfellow students.You should ask for the timetable for your course on enrolmentor visit the Faculty or Department for further details.Social ActivitiesStudents’ UnionThe University of Lincoln Students’ Union (SU) is accessibleto all students and offers a variety of events and activitiesthroughout the year. During Welcome Week, the SU will beholding a ‘Freshers Fayre’ and you will have the opportunityto join some of the clubs and societies and collect usefulinformation on events taking place throughout the year.Sports and RecreationIf you are interested in keeping fit and active, the Universityof Lincoln Sports and Recreation Centre has some excellentfacilities. It is primarily used to accommodate the needs of bothstaff and students of the University of Lincoln and provides youwith the opportunity to participate in fitness classes and manysports based activities.Here at University of Lincoln we recognise the importance ofspiritual support and nurture as much as social and academicsupport. Our Chaplain and faith advisers from a variety of faithsare therefore available to all students at University of Lincoln,whether you have faith or not. They are here to help you thinkabout your spirituality. We offer you personal and confidentialsupport about any issue – it need not be faith related.To find out more about the range of activities offered by theChaplain at chaplaincy@lincoln.ac.uk or call us on+44 (0)1522 886079And finally…We know that your time in the UK and at the University ofLincoln will be a truly happy and rewarding experience. All youneed to do is to plan properly and read this guide and otherinformation we have provided for you carefully. If you need anyfurther help then please remember that you can contact uspersonally for advice.We look forward to meeting you!International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk21

MapsLocation of Lincoln in the UKGLASGOWEDINBURGHNEWCASTLEUPON TYNEBELFASTYORKLEEDSKINGSTONUPON HULLDUBLINMANCHESTERMANCHESTERSHEFFIELDDONCASTERNEWARKNOTTINGHAMBIRMINGHAMLEICESTERNORWICHPETERBOROUGHCARDIFFBRISTOLHEATHROWLONDONBRIGHTONInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk22

B1272Carline RoadA57CarholmeWayBrayfordRuston WayRdYarborough RoadThe LawnUnion RoadCastleEastgateLincolnCathedralC11827C CC17CCCC20 3C15CC21West ParadeCBrayford Wharf North1025511 C13 CCRopewalkThe Avenue29County HallNewlandCEntrance to car parkCBrayford PoolCampus way8C 12166C 19 267C 14BrayrdPoliceCity HallfoEastarfWh4St Mark StreetSpring HillWest ParadeFeeBeaumontWigford WayHigh StreetDrury LaneHungateMint StGuildhall StHigh StreetShops22lgateMichaeSteep HIllStraitClasketgateSaltergateGrantham StSilver StSt Mary's StreetTrain Station24MinsterDanesgateBroadgateYardUsherGalleryPottergateLindum RoadB130823Monks RoadBus StationA15Beevor StGreen LnRetail ParkTentercroft StCanwickB&QMorrisonsTritton RdLincoln City CentreBrayford (Main Campus)Key12Accommodation OfficeGraduate SchoolArchitecture Building1415Sparkhouse StudiosSports CentrePrimary RouteSecondary Route3 Bridge House16 Student Centre4 Business & Law17 Student VillagePedestrianisedUniversity of Lincoln5 EMMTEC18 Think TankUniversity ParkingBrayford PoolLincoln6 Engineering Building19 University LibraryLN6 7TSC Cycle ParkingUK7891011Enterprise@LincolnLSAD (coming 2013)Main Administrative BuildingMarina BuildingMedia, Humanities & Technology2021Village HallWitham House22 Chad Varah23Greestone Building /Tithe Barn24 Thomas Parker HousePermit/Pay and DisplayCar ParkingVisitor Car Parking(Must be booked)Public Car ParkingTel: 01522 882000Minicom: 01522 8860551213Lincoln School of Performing ArtsLPAC (Lincoln Performing Arts Centre)Science Centre252627Health Centre & Student ServicesEngine Shed, Students’ Union,SOAP Centre, Tower BarCollege of ScienceScience & Innovation ParkThe Cathedral Quarter is 12minutes walk from the BrayfordMain Campus.This map last updated11 Feb 2013International Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk23

Useful contactsFor all general enquiries about your arrivaland enrolment please use our dedicatedemail address to contact us:internationalwelcome@lincoln.ac.ukIf you have other queries you can also use thecontacts below:Student Support CentreTelephone: 01522 837080Email: studentsupport@lincoln.ac.ukEnglish Language CentreTelephone: 01522 886102Email: Englishlanguage@lincoln.ac.ukInternational OfficeTelephone: 01522 886040Email: international@lincoln.ac.ukAccommodation OfficeTelephone: 01522 886195Email: accommodation@lincoln.ac.ukUniversity Security Office(Emergency out of hours)Telephone: 01522 886062University of LincolnSwitchboardTelephone: 01522 882000The information in this guide is issued for the general guidance ofstudents entering the University in September 2013 and does notform part of any contract. Every effort has been made to ensurethe accuracy of information contained in this guide at the time ofgoing to print but some information may be subject to change.For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website atwww.lincoln.ac.ukInternational Student Handbook 2013/14www.lincoln.ac.uk24