Guildhall School - Before you Leave Home Handbook 2020

2020/21

Before You

Leave Home

Handbook

2

3

Checklist

All students

Have you contacted us if you are unsure

of anything or have any problems?

We are here to help! Go to page 72 for

Useful contacts

If you are self-funded, have you paid

your tuition fee deposit? (Deadline:

Wednesday 15 July 2020)

If you are not self-funded, have you

applied for your loan?

If you are expecting a loan, do you have

enough money to cover your tuition

fees and living costs for at least the first

month? (Just in case)

If you are expecting a Guildhall School

maintenance scholarship, have you

entered your UK bank account details

on eGo?

If you do not already have one, have you

researched opening a UK bank account?

Have you arranged your travel to

London and researched how to find

the School?

Have you arranged accommodation

in London?

If you are living in Sundial Court,

have you paid your deposit and signed

your contract?

Have you arranged insurance

(belongings and travel)?

Have you met all of the conditions listed

in your offer letter?

If a DBS check is a condition of your

offer, have you contacted Registry to

make an appointment to go over your

application and documents?

Do you have your original education

certificates (with certified translations)

ready for enrolment?

Have you got an acceptable, valid form

of identification for Enrolment?

Have you completed all of the online

Pre-Enrolment tasks on eGo?

Have you completed all actions listed

in the ‘Actions’ page on eGo? These are

specific to you and all very important.

Have you read your department-specific

information on eGo and MyGuildhall?

Check regularly for updates.

Have you uploaded a photo for your

student ID card? For more info go to

page 15

Have you accessed your School IT

account? For more info go to page 16

Have you made a detailed list of what

you need to pack?

Have you got documentation or

reports you might need relating to

any disability?

Have you looked at the sources listed

in the Further Information section

of this handbook? (page 69)

Have you been in touch with the

Students’ Union or made contact with

your buddy? For more info go to page 44

If you will be travelling to the School

each day, have you applied for the

18+ Student Photocard? (full-time

students only)

Important Dates

Payment deadlines:

Tuition fee deposit

Wednesday 15th July 2020

Tuition fee (1st instalment)

Monday 14 September 2020

Tuition fee (2nd instalment)

Monday 4 January 2021

Tuition fee (3rd instalment)

Monday 19 April 2021

International students

Have you got your passport?

Make sure it is valid.

If you are applying for a Tier 4 visa,

have you requested a CAS?

Has your entry clearance/leave

to remain been granted?

If you have applied for your visa from

outside of the UK, do you know where

you will need to go to collect your

Biometric Residence Permit shortly

after arriving in the country?

Have you checked if you need to register

with the Police at the OVRO shortly

after arrival in the UK?

Have you booked your place at the

International Students’ Orientation on

Friday 18 September 2020 (Deadline to

book is Monday 31 August 2020)

If a DBS check is a condition of your

offer, have you requested a Certificate of

Good Conduct from your home country?

More information on how to apply for a

Certificate of Good Conduct is available

on the Home Office website.

Do you have your CAS, offer letter, a

note of important phone numbers and

addresses in your hand luggage?

International Students: please look

for sections in red, as these contain extra

information which applies specifically

to you!

6

Contents

Introduction

11 Equal opportunities statement

1 Before you

leave home

Preparing to enrol

14 What is eGo?

14 Pre-Enrolment tasks

14 Conditions of your offer

15 eGo Actions

15 Student ID card photo

16 Accessing your IT account

17 What to pack?

Preparing for life at Guildhall School

18 Buddy programmes

19 Get in touch with the Students’ Union

19 Language skills

19 Culture shock

Money

20 Applying for funding

20 Budgeting

20 Expenses when you arrive

21 Opening a bank account

21 Banking advice for non-UK students

Insurance

24 Travel insurance

24 Personal possessions insurance

24 Health insurance

Health & Disability

25 Declaration of Health form

25 What do I do if I have a long-term

medical condition and/or disability?

25 Health, Disability and Learning

Support Services

26 National Health Service (NHS)

26 Information for students who do not

require immigration permission

27 Information for Non-EEA/

Swiss Nationals

27 Registering with a doctor/GP

28 Dental and prescription charges

28 Vaccinations

Immigration information

29 Entering the UK

29 Making a Tier 4 Student application

29 Conditions of entry and attendance

monitoring

30 Work restrictions

30 Seeking advice

2 Arrival

Travelling to Guildhall School

34 Find us

34 Public transport

Travelling to London

35 From Heathrow Airport

35 From Gatwick Airport

35 From Stansted Airport

35 From Luton Airport

Arriving at the UK border

36 Registration with the police

37 Personal safety in London

Accommodation

38 Sundial Court Halls of Residence

7

3 Enrolment and the

start of term

42 What do I do on the first day

of term?

When and where do I enrol?

42 Music students

42 All other students

What do I need to bring with me?

43 Enrolment Day Checklist

44 What happens if I don’t have everything?

What do I do in the first week of term?

44 Programme inductions

44 Handbooks and policies

45 Student Affairs Welcome Desk

45 Freshers’ Fair

45 International Students’ Orientation

How do I prove I’m a student once

I’ve enrolled?

46 Student ID card

46 How do I get a student discount

for travel?

4 Fees and funding

Tuition fees

50 If you have a UK undergraduate tuition

fee loan

50 If you have a Guildhall School

scholarship

50 If you (or relatives/friends are paying

your tuition fees)

51 Tuition fee instalment plan

Maintenance (living costs)

52 If you are expecting a student

maintenance loan (UK undergraduate

students only)

52 If you are expecting a postgraduate loan

52 If you are expecting a Scholarship for

maintenance from Guildhall School

5 Life at the

Guildhall School

57 Student Charter

62 Student Handbook

62 Student Support

Student Communication

63 Email & MyGuildhall

63 Student News

63 Student smart phone ‘app’

63 Information sessions and workshops

63 Money Management Advice

Getting involved

64 Enjoy the Students’ Union Freshers’

Week activities

64 Join a student club or society

64 Volunteer to help organise special events

64 Sustainability

On-line learning

65 Induction

65 Equipment

8

6 Further

information

69 Useful Links

7 Useful contacts for

the summer period

72 Music

72 Acting, Production Arts

and Creative Learning

72 Research

72 Enquiries regarding enrolment,

fees, visas and student funding

73 Enquiries regarding accommodation,

health, disability and student life

73 Sundial Court

73 Students’ Union

9

Introduction

We look forward to welcoming you to Guildhall

School of Music & Drama.

Before you arrive, there are many things you need

to think about and prepare so that you can make

the most of your time here.

This Before You Leave Home Handbook highlights

the things you need to organise before you arrive.

We hope that you will find all the information you

need to ensure you enjoy your first few days at the

School and in London.

You will receive many more helpful tools upon

your arrival to help you adapt to life in a new

environment. The information in this handbook

is for all students joining a new programme.

We are pleased that you will be studying here

and we look forward to meeting you!

Stuart Brooking

Assistant Registrar (Admissions & Enrolment)

Julia Oliver

Student Life Officer

10

Equal Opportunities Statement

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

is a department of the City of London

Corporation and has a comprehensive

equal opportunities policy to which

the School is fully committed. Its aim

is to ensure that everyone receives fair

treatment regardless of:

• age

• disability

• sex

• gender reassignment

• marriage and civil partnership

• pregnancy and maternity

• sexual orientation

• race

• religion and beliefs

More Information

To find out more about what every student

can expect whilst at Guildhall School,

please go to Section 5: Life at Guildhall

School where you will find the Student

Charter.

To read more about the School’s

commitment to equality and diversity,

please visit the website.

Student Affairs

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7219

student.affairs@gsmd.ac.uk

The School is committed to fostering

an environment for students and staff

free from discrimination, prejudice and

harassment and to pursuing equality of

opportunity in the delivery of its services

and facilities.

11

12

Before you leave home

There are many things to think about before

you arrive at the School. We’ve tried to provide

you with information in this handbook to help

you prepare. Start as early as possible and do

ask for assistance if you need help.

Guildhall School website and eGo portal

will provide you with lots of useful information.

13

Preparing to enrol

Registry Team

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7181

registry@gsmd.ac.uk

– signing up to the Terms of Enrolment

– paying fees in advance

– filling in the Declaration of Health Form

What is eGo?

eGo stands for electronic Guildhall

operations. It is a portal that enables you

to view and update the live information

the School holds about you on its student

records system. You are probably already

familiar with the eGo Applications page, as

it is here you would have seen details of your

audition/ interview and accepted your offer.

You will now have access to the Student

pages: Home, Absence, and Enrolment. Fees &

Funding pages will become available when

Pre-Enrolment opens.

eGo also allows you to perform some tasks

online such as:

– requesting letters that confirm your

student status (Home page)

– updating your personal and contact

details (Home page)

– requesting approval for a leave of absence

(Absence page)

– paying for tuition fees, or making an

ad hoc payment (i.e. for a lost ID card)

(Fees & Funding page)

– completing Pre-Enrolment tasks

(Enrolment page)

Pre-Enrolment tasks

Before completing full enrolment, you

will be required to complete some ‘Pre-

Enrolment’ tasks on the eGo Enrolment page:

– confirming personal and contact details

14

Important note

The purpose of enrolment is to register

formally with Guildhall School, which

in turn defines your student status and

associated rights and responsibilities.

Your online enrolment confirms your

acceptance to abide by the School’s

Student Code of Conduct (Academic

Regulatory Framework, section 5) and

other policies. If you are under 18, you

will need to get the permission of your

parent/guardian to agree to the Terms

of Enrolment. The School’s contract

with you is explained in detail on the

website.

Conditions of your offer

The conditions of your offer and the

deadlines by which you must meet them

are listed in your official offer letter. Some

condition deadlines are listed as Monday

14 September 2020 – that means you do

not need to fulfil this condition until

Enrolment.

Some conditions require a lot of preparation,

for example:

– requesting a replacement certificate or

official transcript if you have lost your

qualification certificate(s)

– if your qualifications were not

undertaken in the UK, arranging to have

your documents translated into English by

a certified translator

– if you are a non-UK student with a DBS

check condition, requesting a Certificate

of Good Character from the authorities in

your home country

If you have not met all of the conditions

of your offer by Enrolment, you will not be

able to fully enrol. For more information,

please see ‘What happens if I don’t have

everything?’ on page 44.

If you are unsure of the conditions of your

offer, please contact your Admissions

Coordinator. Their direct contact details are on

your offer letter, on eGo Applications and in

the Useful Contacts section of this handbook.

Can I get an unconditional offer letter?

It is strongly recommended that new

students wait until Enrolment in September

to bring their original qualification

certificates or transcripts for verification.

However, if you wish to obtain an

unconditional offer letter before this (and

you have met all other conditions of your

offer), you will need to provide certified

copies of your qualifications.

It is worth bearing in mind that most banks

and organisations will only accept proof of

enrolment letters when opening student

accounts. You will receive a confirmation of

enrolment letter once you have fully enrolled

so an unconditional offer letter might not

benefit you if you need it for this purpose. If

you have any questions, please contact Registry.

Even if you have an unconditional offer, you

will still need to complete an identification

process either online or if this is not possible,

in person.

eGo Actions

The Actions page on eGo is very important.

It can be found on eGo > Applications > More

Details > Actions

It has a list of actions that are tailored to

you. Actions include (but are not limited to):

– choosing electives (Music students only)

– uploading your ID photo

– paying your tuition fees/tuition fee deposit

– requesting a CAS

– applying for a DBS check

– and more…

Student ID card photo

Even if you have previously been enrolled

on a Guildhall School programme, you must

upload a suitable photo of yourself on eGo

Applications by Friday 21 August 2020. Your

photo must be passport style:

– in colour

– taken against a plain, light background

– taken within the last 6 months

– clear and in focus

– unaltered by computer software

(including filters)

- a close up of your head & shoulders facing

forward, with no other people/objects

in view.

15

You must save your photo as a .jpg file with

a file size between 500 KB and 1 MB before

uploading it.

If you have not uploaded your photo by

this date or if it not in an acceptable format,

you may face a considerable wait for your

ID card.

Accessing your IT account

You will be emailed when your Guildhall

School IT account is ready. As soon as you

receive this notification, you must log in to

eGo and click the Account heading to access

your new account login details. Make a

note of them – you should use these new IT

account details to access eGo.

Important note

Accessing your new account for the first

time must be done remotely, so please

ensure you log in before you arrive at

the School, otherwise you will not be

able to access the School IT services.

16

What to pack

You will no doubt have lots of things you want

to bring with you, and we suggest you start to

write a list to ensure you don’t forget anything

useful. We’ve listed some items to start you off.

Items for identification

You will often need to produce identification.

This will be for many reasons, including

opening bank accounts. Below is a list of

frequently requested forms of identification

- Passport

– UK Driving Licence

– Offer letter from Guildhall School

– Passport

– NUS ID card (if already a student)

– National Insurance Number card

– Visa or Biometric Residence Permit and

decision letter from Home Office (if

applicable)

– National ID card (if applicable)

– Recent non-UK bank statement

Additional items for Enrolment

– Original qualification certificates or

academic transcripts (and accompanying

certified translation into English) or digital

certified copies.

– English Language certificate such as IELTS

or TOEFL

– Documents related to any other condition

of your offer

– Confirmation of funding (from Guildhall

School, Student Finance, EU Team, etc.)

– NHS number and current GP name and

address (UK students)

Other important items

– Debit/credit cards, cheque book

– Approximately £1,200 worth of traveller’s

cheques or funds in a bank account and

some cash

– Specific equipment/clothes for your

programme of study. Please note,

BA Production Arts students will receive

detailed equipment lists, and

BA & MA Acting students will receive a

clothing and book list.

– Suitable IT equipment to access on-line

learning (see section 5)

– Medical prescription information

– Photocopies of all important documents

(e.g. passport) kept separately

– Tenancy agreement or Student

Accommodation contract

Items for your accommodation

It is important that students who have been

offered a place at Sundial Court carefully

read through the Sundial Court A-Z

(available on eGo > Sundial Court page) as

this provides information about what is,

and what is not, provided. It includes sample

inventories that list items that are provided

in the bedrooms and communal areas of flats.

If you are not living in Sundial Court,

you should check with your landlord or

accommodation provider what will be

included in the inventory. You can also refer

to online resources like these for useful ideas

on what to bring with you:

– Save the Student

– Student Room

17

Preparing for life at Guildhall School

Leaving home and moving to university

can be an exciting but also daunting time

for many students. Our Student Affairs

team is available to offer support and can

be reached on:

Student Affairs


There are also a number of resources to

provide general advice and tips for students:

– The National Union of Students (NUS)

has a range of articles on topics like

studying, revision, budgeting and looking

for part-time work

– The Student Room has wide-ranging

advice and tips on student success,

including dedicated advice on health and

relationships. It also has a ‘Learn Together’

study skills section which includes

downloadable tools such as study planners.

The Student Room houses very active

forums and lots of peer-to-peer advice.

– The advice from Save the Student

emphasises money issues, including lots

of money-saving and making tips, as well

as downloadable guides.

– Prepare for Success is an interactive web

learning tool for international students

who are getting ready to come to the UK.

Don’t miss out on this great resource!

– Prepare by finding out as much as you can

about the United Kingdom and London.

Why not purchase a travel guide to the UK?

Buddy programmes

If you are in one of the following categories,

you will be put in touch with a ‘buddy’ at

the School before you arrive. Buddies are

current students who volunteer to make

contact with new students in order to

answer any questions they may have with

regard to the programme, the School or

student life in London. You will be able to

see the contact details and/or a message

from your buddy on eGo > Applications

over the summer – do get in touch with

them – this can be a great way to find out

more about what’s to come.

International students

New international students are assigned a

buddy, sometimes from the same country. The

scheme aims to provide international students

with more information about the different

aspects of living and studying in London.

BA Production Arts students

BA Video Design for Live Performance

students

BA and MA Acting students

BA Acting Studies students

New students are assigned a buddy who is

a current student on the programme. Your

buddy’s contact details will be available

on your eGo portal over the summer. We

encourage you to contact them.

BMus students directly entering

Year 2 or 3

Students who are entering directly into

years 2 or 3 of the Bachelor of Music

18

programme are assigned a buddy who is

usually a current student in the same year

of study as the new student.

Get in touch with the Students’ Union

The Students’ Union will be providing

you with information about its plans

for Freshers’ week and how you can get

involved in its activities.

You can find out information about the

Union on its Facebook profile here.

You can post questions and comments

before you arrive in London and find out

about life at the School. This is a great way

to meet and chat with other students and

you can start to make friends before

you arrive.

Language skills

Studying in London is a great way of

improving your English, but don’t wait

until you get here to start working on it.

Try meeting English-speaking people

in your home country before you leave,

watch films in English and read English

newspapers and magazines. Think about

relevant words you’ll need to use such

as musical or technical terms on your

programme, accommodation terms when

searching for a flat, and work-related terms

when searching for a job. If you want to

improve your language skills, why not

take a preparation course in English? The

British Council offers advice on how to find

language courses in your home country.

Culture shock

Living in a new country and in a new

culture can be a stressful experience at

first. There will be a period of adjustment,

and you might be surprised at how this

change of environment affects you. The

UK Council for International Student

Affairs (UKCISA) provides some very useful

information about what can cause culture

shock and how to handle the effects.

19

Money

Applying for funding

Information about funding was enclosed

with your offer letter and is also available

on our website. You should hopefully have

already applied for funding or sponsorship

and have funds secured to cover your tuition

fees and ‘maintenance’ (living costs), but if

you have any questions, please contact our

Student Funding Officer:

Student Funding Officer

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7181

studentfundingofficer@gsmd.ac.uk

Please also see the Fees & Funding section

on page 48.

Budgeting

Budgeting is an essential skill for students

and there are many online tools and tips

to make this easier. If you manage your

finances appropriately, we estimate that

you will need at least £1,200 per month for

maintenance.

To help you plan and manage your money,

use online resources such as:

– the Costs of Living Guide on eGo >

Applications > More Details > General

Information page

– the Money Mentors Budget Planner

on eGo > Applications > More Details >

General Information page

– the National Students’ Union

– the Money Advice Service

– the Student Budgeting tips from UCAS

– Which? Student Budget Calculator

– the Ultimate Student Budget Planner

When budgeting, make sure you think

about costs such as:

– course costs – this includes items like

instruments, books, special clothing and

equipment, stationery and photocopying

– maintenance or living costs – this

includes rent, food, household goods,

insurance, and personal items such as

clothes, travel and leisure activities (such

as sports and nights out)

Living in London is more expensive than

in other UK cities but you may be able to

save money in the wide variety of facilities

available. For example, many local markets are

cheaper than the big supermarkets. Plus, the

benefit of living in such a big cultural city is

that there are lots of things to do for free! Try

Time Out’s Free London guide for getting

the most out of London whilst on a budget.

Expenses when you arrive

Make sure you have enough money before

you arrive in London to live for at least one

month (even if you are expecting a grant or

loan, since these can occasionally take some

weeks to arrive). Please note that Guildhall

School maintenance scholarships and

UK maintenance loans/grants will not be

available for 1–2 weeks after you fully enrol.

There are no immediate or automatic funds

available to students so you must be sure you

can cover the cost of this period yourself.

If you are funding yourself, you should also

20

ensure you have enough money in your bank

account to pay for your tuition fees.

Additionally, public transport, taxis, food

and drinks are all expenses that can quickly

add up. Bring some cash (GBP – pounds

sterling) with you to cover any costs on your

journey. We suggest that you bring £150–

£300 with you for this. Please be vigilant

and keep your wallet or purse in a safe place.

Opening a bank account

All students will need a UK bank account

before or shortly after they arrive in

London. This will allow you to pay fees,

receive loans, grants or bursaries by BACS

or electronic transfer.

– Most high street banks have branches

within a five minute walk from the School.

– Check that the account offers a basic debit

card, and don’t forget to look carefully at

the fine print on overdraft rates and bank

charges.

– Most banks offer a special student account

which may include benefits such as

interest-free overdrafts or incentives like

free travel cards or cinema passes. You

can sometimes open a student account

with your offer letter but some banks will

require a special letter addressed to them.

You can request this on eGo once you are

fully enrolled.

– If you require an unconditional offer

letter to open a bank account prior to

enrolling, you will need to have met all

conditions of your offer first (including

providing original education certificates).

Please see page 15 or contact Registry.

Banking advice for non-UK students

It can be more complicated for non-UK

students to open a bank account.

– Please be aware that most shops and

restaurants use ‘Chip and PIN’ and

‘Contactless’ card payment systems.

– Ask your bank if they can issue you a

bank card or credit card with a chip, so

that you can use this in the UK while

you wait for your UK bank account to be

set up. This is not essential, but it would

make payments faster and easier.

– Make sure you have an open bank account

in your home country and bring the

details of that bank account with you:

· account number

· sort code

· address of your branch head office

This information should be on your bank

statements. If not, please contact your

bank, and ask for this information.

– You will need your passport, proof of

London address (e.g. tenancy agreement),

your current bank details, and a letter

from Guildhall School addressed to the

bank you wish to open an account with.

Once you have fully enrolled, you can

request this letter on eGo.

– The UK bank may need to contact your

bank in your home country, so it can

take a few weeks for your bank account

to be opened.

– Try to avoid carrying large amounts of

cash with you. Traveller’s cheques can

be a safer way to have access to cash for

your first few weeks in London. Check

with your bank in your home country

21

to see if a cash card from home can be

used to withdraw money from UK bank

machines, but be aware there may be an

additional charge for this facility.

It is important for international students

to know that it is considered safe to

deposit funds into a UK bank or building

society account. The Financial Services

Compensation Scheme (FSCS) covers all such

deposits up to a maximum of £85,000 per

person per banking institution in the event

that the institution goes into administration.

In the event that you wish to deposit more

than £85,000, you should seek further

financial advice. We advise all students to

open a bank account in the UK shortly after

their arrival in London. In the UK, large

sums of cash must be kept in a bank account

and never in your bedroom or flat.

Students who are not ordinarily resident in

the UK may be able to reclaim tax deducted

from their interest - download the form

from the Government Website.

22

23

Insurance

Travel insurance

It is advisable to take out travel insurance to

cover your luggage and belongings especially

during transit to the UK. Arrange this in

your home country before you travel.

Personal possessions insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out

personal insurance to cover yourself against

theft, loss or damage to your personal

belongings. There are many insurance

companies in the UK; the National Union

of Students recommends Endsleigh

Insurance. You can also use comparison

websites such as: Money Supermarket and

Compare the Market.

Some students also take out specific insurance

on their musical instruments with insurance

companies such as Allianz Insurance.

Health insurance

Please see the National Health Service (NHS)

section on page 26.

24

Health, Disability and

Learning Support Services

Student Affairs Team

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7219


Declaration of Health form

The Declaration of Health form must be filled

in as part of the Pre-Enrolment tasks on eGo

> Enrolment. This is to ensure that we offer

you relevant support if you have any medical

conditions. This information is received under

strict confidentiality by our Senior Health

and Welfare Advisor (Registered Nurse) and

does not affect your position at Guildhall.

What do I do if I have a long-term

medical condition and/or disability?

Please ensure any information about a

long-term medical condition or disability

that may affect your studies is disclosed to

both the Senior Health and Welfare Advisor

and the Learning Support and Disability

Coordinator by contacting Student Affairs.

This is to ensure we can support you during

your studies in the most appropriate way

and to enable us to guide you as you prepare

to come to the School.

UK students may be eligible for Disabled

Students Allowance (DSA), but you will

need to be formally assessed to receive this

funding. You should get in touch with

Student Affairs as soon as possible after

accepting your place to study, to obtain advice

on applying for DSA. Otherwise it may

not be available in your first term of study.

Student Affairs will also contact all students

who disclose information about a longterm

medical condition and/or disability

before the start of term so that they can

understand each student’s specific needs and

provide individual advice. Early disclosure

assists students and academic staff to prepare

optimally and means that in many cases

appropriate support and adjustments can be

organised in advance.

You can obtain further information from

your local DSA funding body here:

– England

– Northern Ireland

– Scotland

– Wales

You may also wish to look up the following

helpful guides for prospective students:

– Disability Rights UK information on

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA’s)

– Into HE 2020 A guide to additional

support in higher education (Disability

Rights UK)

– Advice for International Students

Learning Support and Disability Services

The Learning Support & Disability

Coordinator deals with all aspects of

disability and learning support. They are

based in Student Affairs at Sundial Court,

and can offer advice on funding and other

practical issues for students who declare

a disability and/or long-term medical

condition or for those who think they

may have a disability. This includes mental

illness, long-term physical health conditions,

neurodiversities (such as Dyslexia,

Dyspraxia, ADHD and Autism), and sensory

impairments.

25

We have specialist tutors available who

provide Study and Practice support to

assist students with both the academic and

practical aspects of their learning. We also

have Counsellors and Specialist Mentors

available to support students.

Please note that support for English as

a foreign language is provided by the

Academic Departments.

If you are neurodiverse (Dyslexia,

Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum

Condition) etc please contact us so we

can advise you accessing on support and

applying for Disabled Students Allowance

(DSA). We can then have the appropriate

support in place for when your studies

commence. The sooner you do this, the more

likely it will be that support can be set up

for you before your course begins. Please

contact us if you require advice on this.

For all other disabilities and

long-term health conditions, you will

need medical evidence or a report from a

suitably qualified specialist to support your

funding application. Please bring copies of

your assessment report and DSA /funding

correspondence with you at the start of term.

We would encourage you to contact Student

Affairs as early as possible prior to starting

your course, so we can offer you an informal

discussion regarding your needs and your

studies at Guildhall School.

Health and Welfare Advice Service

The Senior Health and Welfare Advisor

who is a Qualified Nurse can offer

advice, guidance, support and assist with

navigating around The NHS for all health

and welfare issues, including physical,

mental and emotional health. Based in

Sundial Court, this service runs confidential

well being clinics, monthly sexual health

clinics and mindful based practices

such as yoga. The Health and Welfare

Advisor works closely with our in-house

physiotherapist and external practitioners to

ensure and promote a holistic approach to

health sustainability.

National Health Service (NHS)

Information for students who do not

require immigration permission

Free medical treatment via the UK National

Health Service (NHS) is available to full-time

students studying in the UK on programmes

lasting at least six months. There is no fee to

use the NHS doctor service, but students aged

over 19 have to pay for certain services;

however, students can apply to the Low

Income Scheme, using the online HC1

form, to see if they qualify for help. Visit

the NHS website for more information and

to see the eligibility.

If you are an EEA or Swiss National on

a programme lasting less than six months,

you need to fill out the relevant paperwork

in your country of residence to ensure your

treatment is covered.

26

Please bring a record of prescriptions for

medication, glasses and/or contact lenses

with you.

EU students should ensure they have

a European Health Insurance Card.

Information about this is available from

the European Commission.

Information for Non-EEA/Swiss

Nationals

If you need to make an immigration

application in order to study in the UK,

you may need to pay a healthcare surcharge

(called the ‘immigration health surcharge’)

as part of the application process. There are

some exemptions to the charge, so to find out

whether you need to pay what it will cost,

please see the IHS overview.

As a guide, you (and your dependents) can

expect to pay approximately £400 per year as

a Tier 4 student.

You will be given an IHS reference number

which you will need to include in your

immigration application. You will then

be able to use the National Health Service

(NHS) but please note that certain types

of services are not free, e.g. prescriptions,

dental treatment and eye tests.

Registering with a doctor/GP

When you arrive in London, you will

need to register with a doctor located in

close proximity to your residence. When

registering with a doctor, you will need to

show some photographic ID and formal

proof of address. You must also make a note

of your GP’s name and address as you will

need to give this information to the School

(in case of an emergency).

All full-time students studying in the UK

on programmes lasting at least six months

are entitled to medical treatment via the

National Health Service (NHS) including

appointments with NHS doctors.

– Students who have accommodation in

Sundial Court Halls of Residence must

register with the Neaman Practice. If

you are a UK resident, you must have your

NHS number to register.

– If you do not live in Sundial Court, you can

obtain a list of GP practices in your area by

going online to the NHS Choices website

and entering the postcode of your UK

residential address. Telephone one of the

GP practices listed and inform the practice

that you need to register with a doctor.

If you are registered for a programme that

lasts less than six months, you must make

sure you take out adequate medical insurance

before leaving your home country.

27

Dental and prescription charges

As a full-time student, you may be entitled

to a reduction in price for dental treatment

and prescription charges. To take advantage

of this, you need to complete the online HC1

form. The Senior Health & Welfare Advisor

can also advise you of NHS prescription and

dental charges.

You can contact Student Affairs on

+44 (0) 20 7382 7219 for further

information.

It is advised that you bring an adequate

supply of your regular medication with

you, as well as copies of any prescriptions

you may have as it can take a long time to

register with a doctor and organise new

prescriptions.

If you have any long-term health conditions

for which you may need to see a specialist in

London, please bring as much information

as possible (for example, regarding

appointments and treatments) so that this

can be passed to the doctor who will be in

charge of your care.

Vaccinations

It is highly recommended that you have

some vaccinations before you arrive; this

is indicated in the Declaration of Health

form. If you are unable to obtain screening

vaccinations in your home country, the

doctor with whom you register in London

can administer the vaccinations.

New university students aged 19-25 are

28

strongly advised to get the Men ACWY

vaccination to protect against strains of

meningitis. You can get the vaccination at

your local GP surgery. More information

and advice on protecting yourself against

meningitis whilst at university is available

from Meningitis Now.

There have been nationwide outbreaks of

Mumps and Measles, as a number of young

adults are not protected against this disease.

The vaccination (MMR) can be obtained

through your General Practitioner or

doctor. If you have a record that you have

had two mumps vaccinations, you do not

need further injections. If you have had one

or no MMR vaccinations then it would be

a good idea to get this vaccination before

you start your studies at the School, either

in your home country or through your new

doctor in London.

Due to the increase of Tuberculosis (TB) in

the UK in recent years, it is important that

all students are screened for TB antibodies

and where appropriate have the subsequent

vaccination (BCG).

Some visa applicants may be required to take

a Tuberculosis (TB) test as part of the visa

application process. To find out if this applies

to you, please see the gov.uk website.

Immigration Information

Entering the UK

If you are a national of the EEA or

Switzerland, you do not need to obtain

‘entry clearance’ before arriving in the

UK. This means you will not need a visa.

However, you may be asked to show

evidence that you have been accepted onto a

programme of study (your offer letter) and

you will need your passport or identity card.

If you are not a national of the EEA or

Switzerland, you will need to ensure you have

the proper immigration permission to study

in the UK. Most international students need to

apply for the Tier 4 (General) Student visa.

The following information is only a general

guide, and we strongly recommend all non-

UK students to read the following guidance:

– the Tier 4 guidance documents on

eGo > Applications > More Details > Actions

page

– UK Visas & Immigration: UKVI

– UK Council for International Student

Affairs: UKCISA

Making a Tier 4 Student application

If you have not already made contact with

the Visa Coordinator, please do so as soon as

you have read through the Tier 4 guidance

documents on eGo:

– Tier 4: A Guide for Students – 2020/21

– Tier 4 CAS Request Form

– Applying from Outside the UK

(Entry Clearance): Guide to the Online

Tier 4 Application Form

– Applying from Within the UK

(Leave to Remain): Guide to the Online

Tier 4 Application Form

Conditions of entry and attendance

monitoring

On a Tier 4 (General) student visa you

are eligible to stay in the country for the

duration of your visa provided you remain

a student at Guildhall School. If you stop

attending your programme for more than

a short period of time, for any reason, you

must return to your home country or apply

for a new type of visa to remain in the UK.

Guildhall School operates an electronic

swipe-in attendance monitoring system

for all students. In addition to swiping in

regularly, Tier 4 students must:

– provide an electronic copy of your Tier

4 BRP to confirm no changes to your

immigration permissions

– keep an Academic Contact Log (taught

postgraduate Music students only), which

will be given to you at Enrolment; you must

keep it safe and regularly have it signed

29

– read, understand and sign a Tier 4

Enrolment Declaration at Enrolment

– engage with any other attendance

monitoring activities introduced during

the year

The School will have to notify the Home

Office of any students with a Tier 4 visa

who do not enrol within 10 days of the start

of each term, or who leave the programme.

Work restrictions

Unless your visa has a work prohibition,

you can work part-time for up to 20 hours

a week during term-time and may work

full- time during holiday periods; however

you must always be able to satisfy the

demands of your programme. BA Acting

students in particular are requested not to

work during term-time.

If you have a Tier 4 student visa, you:

– must not fill a full-time permanent

vacancy

– must not be a self-employed or

freelance worker

– must not undertake work as an

‘entertainer’ (whether paid or unpaid)

– must not engage in ‘business activity’

If you have previously held another type

of visa and have worked as an entertainer

professionally in the UK, these regulations

will apply once you hold a Tier 4 student

visa and this work must cease.

Some Tier 4 student visa holders may

be eligible to undertake employment in

professional performances subject to control

by the School’s Outside Engagement service;

full details and Professional Performance

Guidance are available from the

Music Office.

Tier 4 doctoral students

Except in identifying the start of each new

academic year, term dates do not apply

to the doctoral programme. Therefore,

for Doctoral students on a Tier 4 visa,

any employment (paid or unpaid) is

limited to 20 hours a week except in

those weeks where annual leave has been

officially booked via eGo and approved

by the Programme Leader in advance (on

enrolment you will be given a Tier 4 Visa

Student Handbook as a point of reference).

A maximum of 7 weeks of annual leave per

academic year is permitted.

Seeking advice

Immigration@gsmd.ac.uk will be happy to

help with any queries.

UKCISA also have a student advice line

(Monday to Friday 1pm-4pm, UK time):

Outside the UK +44 20 7788 9214

Inside the UK 020 7788 9214

30

31

32

Arrival

We would like to make your arrival here as easy

and enjoyable as possible. Many of you will be

arriving the weekend before start of term on

Monday 14 September. This means that you will

have time to settle in and participate in some

of the social events organised by the Students’

Union and Student Affairs.

33

Travelling to Guildhall School

Find us

Guildhall School would like to encourage

all visitors to choose the most efficient and

environmentally-friendly travel options

where possible. How to find us.

Free tube, bus and train maps are available

at most stations. You might find it useful to

purchase a ‘London A–Z’ map. Alternatively,

you can plan your route using:

– Citymapper

– Google maps

– Streetmap

Public Transport

If you are going to be using public transport,

check the Transport for London website for

information about different ticket types and

payment methods. Please note:

– cash payments are no longer accepted

on buses

– it is always cheaper to use an oystercard/

contactless to ‘pay as you go’ than to

pay with cash. You can also get further

discounted travel with an 18+ Student

Oyster photo card, saving you 30% on

adult rate travel cards and season tickets.

To check your eligibility and how to apply

visit the Transport for London website.

The closest London Underground (‘tube’)

stations to Guildhall School are:

Moorgate, which is on the Bank branch of

the Northern Line, and the Metropolitan,

Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines.

– At Moorgate, get out at any exit and

follow signs for Guildhall School of

Music & Drama. The School and Sundial

Court are a 5 minute walk from the

station. Map.

Barbican, which is on the Metropolitan,

Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines.

– At Barbican, exit the station, cross the street

and walk down Beech Street (tunnel)

– At the end of the tunnel, turn right on

Silk Street for Guildhall School, or keep

straight on Chiswell Street for Sundial

Court (on the left). Map.

34

Travelling to London

From Heathrow Airport to Central London

From Heathrow Airport, you can travel

to central London by:

– the Heathrow Express – the fastest option

– the Piccadilly line on the London

Underground (‘tube’) – the cheapest option

– or by bus/ coach

From Gatwick Airport to Central London

From Gatwick Airport, you can travel to

central London by:

– Southern trains (to Victoria) and

Thameslink trains (to Farringdon); these

are cheaper, and do not take

that much longer

– the coach or easyBus into Central London

If you are travelling into central London

from Heathrow or Gatwick by train, you

can complete your journey by taking the

underground to Moorgate. Note: there are

two branches to the Northern Line, and

Moorgate is on the Bank branch, not the

Charing Cross branch.

From Luton Airport to Central London

From Luton Airport, you can travel by

Thameslink trains to Farringdon or

by easyBus to Baker Street.

If you are arriving at Farringdon from

Luton, you can walk to the School in

approx. 15 minutes. Exit the station onto

Cowcross Street and head east (towards a

large pub on the corner, called The Castle).

Continue along Cowcross Street until

you reach Charterhouse Street. Turn left

onto Charterhouse Street and walk along

here until you reach the end of the road.

Turn right onto Aldersgate. You have now

reached the Barbican underground station

(map). Alternatively, you could get the

underground from Farringdon to Barbican.

From Stansted Airport to Central London

From Stansted Airport, you can travel to

Liverpool Street via the Stansted Express

or by coach.

If you are arriving at Liverpool Street

from Stansted, you can walk to the School

in approx. 10 minutes. Map.

35

Arriving at the UK border

Keep information about your course in

your hand luggage. This must be a paper

copy (not an electronic copy on a tablet or

phone). This includes your Confirmation

of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number

and your offer letter. Make sure you also

have your UK address and important phone

numbers to hand.

Expect Border Force officers to ask simple

questions about your stay in the UK when

you arrive at passport control.

The UK Border Force has produced a

‘10 Top Tips’ information leaflet providing

guidance on getting through the UK

border controls as efficiently as possible.

In addition to the information outlined in

this leaflet, you are advised to carry your

visa application decision letter in your

hand-luggage. The decision letter will have

been issued to you to confirm your visa

application was successful.

If you have any trouble at the border,

please contact:

Immigration team

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7183

Registry@gsmd.ac.uk

UKCISA Student Advice Line

Outside the UK +44 20 7788 9214

Inside the UK 020 7788 9214

Registration with the police

Some visa holders are required to register

with the police within seven days of arrival.

If it is necessary to do this, the requirement

will either be written on your visa, or you

will receive written confirmation from

the Home Office. A fee (currently £34) is

charged for each registration certificate.

Information on how to register is

available in:

– The Overseas Visitor Records

Office website

– Tier 4 (General) Student Visa:

A Guide for Students – 2020/21

on the eGo portal

Collecting your Biometric Residence

Permit (BRP)

When your visa application is approved, you

will receive a temporary visa (vignette) in

your passport. This will be valid for 30 days

from your planned date of arrival to the

UK. You will get a ‘decision letter’ from the

Home Office which will tell you:

· when your BRP will be available

· which Post Office branch you can collect

it from

When your BRP is available (shortly after

your arrival in the UK) you must go to the

designated Post Office to collect it. You must

bring your passport with your temporary

vignette and your decision letter when you

collect your BRP.

36

Personal safety in London

Please read:

– information and advice from the City

of London Police about staying safe and

protecting your possessions,

– information about travel safety, including

how to use taxis and minicabs safely

– advice from the National Union of

Students and Suzy Lamplugh Trust

Information and advice is also available on

MyGuildhall. Please contact the Student

Life Officer if you require any further

advice on personal safety issues.

37

Accommodation

Students who applied to Sundial Court by

the deadline (15 July) will be notified of

the outcome of their application in late

July. If we are not able to offer you a place

in Sundial Court, we will provide you with

additional information to help you find

alternative accommodation in London.

Resources to help students find suitable

accommodation include:

– a list of adverts from landlords seeking

student tenants;

– a list of new and current Guildhall

School students looking to share a flat

with other students;

– an Accommodation Handbook (available

on eGo > Applications) with information

about different types of accommodation,

including private halls and homestay,

lists of useful websites and recommended

estate agents, and information from

student surveys about where students

usually live, what they think of the area,

how much they pay in rent and when

they found their accommodation

– The London Student Housing Guide

is also available online and on

eGo > Applications > More details > General

Information page

guidance in your search for external

accommodation.

Sundial Court Halls of Residence

If you have a place at Sundial Court, you

must submit your Student Signatory Form

and pay your security deposit on eGo >

Sundial Court. You should also pay your first

rent instalment by 1 September, or provide

proof that you will be receiving a loan/

bursary that will enable you to pay.

In exchange for the keys to your room,

you will be asked to provide a receipt for

the payment of the first term hall fees and

deposit or a copy of your Student Support

Notification letter (undergraduate students

only). You will receive more details about

this in the Sundial Court Information Pack

which will be sent to you with your offer.

If you have submitted your photo in advance

you can collect your School ID card when

you check in to Sundial Court. You must

have valid ID with you and have met the

above criteria to get your flat keys.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Student Life Officer

accommodation@gsmd.ac.uk

You can also contact the Student Life Officer

if you have not applied to live at Sundial

Court, and would like to have your name

included on the list of students looking

for flatmates or if you require any further

38

39

40

Enrolment and start of term

Welcome to Guildhall School of Music & Drama!

There will be a variety of formal and informal

online activities to get new students involved

in both the academic and social sides of the

School. Information will be provided for new

and returning students to find out about services

offered by the Library, IT, Student Affairs,

and other internal departments and external

organisations.

The Students’ Union will organise activities

and events around the School and Sundial

Court. Many will be included in the programme

timetables you’ll get when you start.

Before enrolment, you must have completed all

‘Pre-Enrolment’ tasks on eGo.

41

What do I do on the

first day of term?

When and where do

I enrol?

Have you completed your

Pre-Enrolment tasks?

Each programme will have an individual

timetable.

Information about enrolment will be

emailed to you by 21 August 2020. Please

check your emails regularly.

Once you have fully enrolled you will

be entitled to receive a Guildhall School

student ID card, use the School’s facilities,

and receive the other advantages of being

a student (e.g. Council Tax exemption and

travel discounts).

Enrolment involves completing preenrolment

tasks (see Pre-Enrolment

section), filling in forms, verifying ID and

qualifications and paying fees. As each

student must be enrolled individually this

may take some time and depends on your

individual circumstances.

42

What documentation do I need to enrol?

Enrolment Checklist

You must provide the following documents

or you will not be able to enrol:

Valid ID: Passport/UK birth certificate/

UK photo driving licence/EU National

Identity Card

Students with a visa must bring their

passport and Biometric Residence

Permit (if applicable). Please also bring

your Home Office decision letter if you

have one.

Education certificates or official

academic transcripts. Please note:

– All certificates/transcripts that are not

in English must be accompanied by a

certified English translation and bear

the stamp and details of the certified

translator

– ‘Statement of Results’ slips are only

acceptable if you took your exams

in summer 2020 and have not yet

received your certificate(s)

– Please provide your highest

qualifications only (i.e. if you have a

Bachelors degree you do not need to

bring your secondary/high school

certificates)

Any documents related to other

conditions of your offer letter, (e.g.

IELTS English language certificate or

English GCSE certificate, etc.)

A note of the dates and grades of any

Music or Drama graded exams you

have taken (we do not need to see

certificates)

Your tuition fee payment; or

– if you have already paid the first

instalment of your tuition fees,

your receipt or bank transfer

confirmation; or

– if you have a student loan, your

Student Support Notification letter

(the Finance department may need to

see this) (more information)

A note of your full term-time UK

address (including postcode)

43

What do I do in the

first week of term?

What happens if I don’t have

everything?

Enrolment: If you do not provide all

documents required, you will not be able

to enrol at all.

If you do not provide one or more of the

necessary documents, or do not pay your fees,

then you will be ‘temporarily enrolled.’

If you are temporarily enrolled, you cannot get:

– Your maintenance loan

– Other grants or bursaries you may be

expecting

– Your student oystercard

– Your Council Tax exemption letter

– Your proof of student status letter

Please note: It will take about a week for

funds to be disbursed once you have fully

enrolled. Student loans are disbursed 3-5

days following confirmation of enrolment.

Scholarship awards are disbursed 2 weeks

after enrolment.

Week 3: If you still have not fully enrolled

after three weeks, your access to all School

facilities will be removed.

Week 6: If you are not fully enrolled after

six weeks, you will be excluded from the

School. It is therefore very important that you

provide rather than bring everything listed

on the previous page.

If you have any issues about your enrolment

please contact Registry as soon as possible.

Programme inductions

Each department will guide you through

the information specific to your programme

once you arrive. You will be given an

induction timetable; it is important that

you participate in all activities. The

departments have an administrative office

which will support you throughout the

programme, so if you have any questions that

haven’t been answered please do contact them:

Music

music_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Acting

acting_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Production Arts

pa_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Creative Learning

pace_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Research

research_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Handbooks and policies

You will be provided with a lot of written

and verbal information at the start of term

about what the School expects of you, and

what you can expect from the School. This

includes programme-specific information,

regulations and general information about

the School’s services and facilities. Keep all

documents somewhere safe so that you can

refer to them in the future. You are advised

to read these documents thoroughly as soon

as you can. All information will also be

available on the MyGuildhall.

44

Support from Student Affairs

The Student Affairs team will be available

to provide information and guidance on a

wide range of topics including international

student life, health and well-being, learning

support, and accommodation. We will also

be arranging a programme of information

and advice sessions to help new students get

settled into life at the School.

Welcome from the Students’ Union

International Students’ Orientation

Prior to the start of term, all international

students will be invited to participate

in a special orientation. A programme

of presentations and discussion groups

will provide helpful information about

international student life, learning

support, immigration and visas, money

management, and health and well-being to

enable you to get the most out of your time

in London.

The SU will arrange a variety of

opportunities for you to ask questions,

find out more about student life, and make

friends. More information will be available

later in the summer.

45

How do I prove I’m a student

once I’ve enrolled?

When you have fully enrolled, you will be

entitled to:

– A Confirmation of Student Status letter

– A Council Tax exemption letter (not

applicable to part-time students or those

staying in Sundial Court)

– Pre-printed Student ID card (if you

uploaded your ID photo to eGo before

Friday 21 August 2020).

Student ID card

When you receive your ID card you must

keep it with you at all times. You will need it

for access, booking rooms and borrowing

library books. The School has an electronic

swipe-in attendance monitoring system

which requires you to swipe in every day

that you are in School.

There are five swipe-in touch points around

the School.

– Silk Street building – opposite the music

office

– Silk Street building – at the end of the

foyer

– John Hosier Annexe

– Milton Court – at the stage door

– Milton Court – on Level 2

How do I get a student discount

for travel?

Transport for London

You may be eligible to apply for the 18+

Student Oyster photocard, which offers

a 30% discount for students who live in

London. You can usually apply from the

start of September but we will not be able

to authorise your application until you have

fully enrolled.

If you won’t use public transport regularly

(e.g. if you live in Sundial Court), the 18+

Oyster photocard may not be worthwhile.

In these cases, a contactless payment card or

a standard Oystercard with ‘pay as you go’

credit will still be cheaper than paying cash

fares. Applications are available online

and at all stations. Please note, cash

payments are no longer accepted on buses;

passengers will need to pay using Oyster, a

contactless payment card, or show a paper

Travelcard.

16+ Zip Oyster Cards are also available

if you are not yet 18.

National Rail

National Rail offers the 16-25 Railcard,

which gives a discount on travel to anyone

aged 16 to 25, or 26+ and in full-time study.

If you are over 25 and need the School to

confirm you are studying for over 15 hours

per week, at least 20 weeks a year, please

come to Registry with your application

form. You must be fully enrolled to qualify.

46

47

48

Fees and Funding

The information in this section should answer all

your questions about fees and funding. If you are

still unsure about anything please contact:

– the Finance Office for payment information

– the Student Funding Officer for funding

information

49

Tuition fees

The 2020/21 tuition fee list can be found

on Guildhall School website. To confirm

the total amount of tuition fees you will be

charged, log onto eGo > Fees & Funding.

If the School has received notification that

your fees are being covered by a student loan

or funding award, this will be indicated.

NB: Please note that students on the Short-

Term Study Music programme are not

eligible for Guildhall funding (scholarship

or bursary) or financial support from

the UK government (tuition fee loans /

maintenance loans).

If you have a UK/EU undergraduate

tuition fee loan

If you are eligible for a tuition fee loan

from the UK government you should

already have applied for this by now. If you

haven’t done so, please find out how here.

Applications take 8-10 weeks to process. If

you do not receive notification regarding

your loan, please contact your relevant

customer service to enquire about the status

of your application. The Student Funding

Officer will assist you if you find you are

not able to resolve any issues. Once your

loan is confirmed you will receive a ‘Student

Support Notification’ letter. Please bring

this to enrolment as the Finance department

may ask to see it.

If you have a Guildhall School

scholarship

If you have been awarded a scholarship

from the School to cover some or all of your

tuition fees, we should have automatically

credited this to your account. Please note

that unless you have been awarded a full

scholarship you will be required to pay fees

on the first day of term.

If you (or relatives/friends) are paying

your tuition fees

You can pay your tuition fees on or before

the first day of term by one of the following

methods:

Online: You can pay online using a credit

card, debit card or PayPal account on eGo >

Fees & Funding

By phone: You can pay by Visa or Mastercard

by calling +44 (0)20 7382 7208 before the

start of term.

Cheque: Cheques must be drawn on a UK

bank and made payable to Guildhall School

of Music & Drama.

Bank Transfer: You may arrange a direct

bank transfer to Guildhall School’s account,

and we advise you to do so at least a week

before the start of term since it can take a few

days to clear. Please ensure your name and 7

digit Student ID Number are clearly stated

so that the payment can be identified, and

that you have accounted for any additional

transaction charges. Bring a copy of the

bank transfer notification to your enrolment

session.

50

Guildhall School’s bank details

are as follows:

Bank Name: Lloyds TSB Bank

Sort Code: 30 00 02

Account Number: 0194 9360

Account Name:

Guildhall School of Music & Drama –

Collection Account

International Bank Transfers:

IBAN: GB38 LOYD 3000 0201 9493 60

BIC Number: LOYDGB2LCTY

Payment deadlines

Tuition fee deposit

Wednesday 15 July 2020

Tuition fee (1st instalment)

Monday 14 September 2020

Tuition fee (2nd instalment)

Monday 4 January 2021

Tuition fee (3rd instalment)

Monday 19 April 2021

Tuition fee instalment plan

If you are paying all or part of your tuition

fees yourself, you may pay in three termly

instalments. Please read the Tuition Fee and

Debt Policy on eGo > Fees & Funding to

calculate instalment amounts.

If requested on your offer letter, you should

have already paid 15% of the tuition fees due

as a deposit. The remaining balance can be

paid in full on the first day of term or in

three instalments of 25%, 30%, 30%.

NB: For students on the Short Term Study

Music programme, 15% of the tuition fees

must be paid as a non-refundable deposit by

15 July 2020. The balance of the fees is due

on 14 September 2020.

If you don’t need to pay a deposit, the

tuition fees due can be paid in full on the

first day of term or in three instalments of

40%, 30%, 30%.

51

Maintenance (living costs)

If you are expecting a student

maintenance loan (UK undergraduate

students only)

Your student maintenance loan from the

UK government should be transferred to

your account about a week after you fully

enrol. It will not be issued until you are

fully enrolled so any delays to enrolment

will delay your funding. Please note that

Student Finance will not release your

maintenance if they have not received your

online declaration.

If you are expecting a postgraduate loan

You will need to pay your deposit by 15

July 2020. You will then need to provide

documentation that you have an approved

Student Finance loan at enrolment. Provided

all other enrolment tasks are complete,

except the payment of fees, we will confirm

your attendance for your loan. Once we

have sent confirmation, the first instalment

of your loan (SFE or SFW) should be

transferred to your bank account within 3-5

working days. Once you have received the

first instalment of your loan, you will need

to pay the fees due for Term 1. Students are

responsible for paying their termly fees as

soon as their loan is received. (Other rules

may apply for SFNI and SAAS so please

contact the Student Funding Officer for

more information).

If you are expecting a scholarship for

maintenance from Guildhall School

If you are awarded a Guildhall School

Maintenance Scholarship this will be

disbursed in three equal instalments to a UK

Bank account from the end of week 2 of

each term.

We will contact you with instructions on

how to provide your bank details before

Enrolment, so please do this as soon as you

are prompted. Please refer to the terms

and conditions of your scholarship for full

details. Please also see the Money section.

52

53

54

Life at Guildhall School

55

56

Student Charter

Guildhall School’s vision is to be an

international centre of excellence and a

global leader of creative and professional

practice in music and drama. The School’s

mission is to train and educate musicians,

actors and theatre technicians to the

highest international standards; to support

creativity, innovation and risk; to excite and

inspire as many people as it can reach.

Guildhall School is committed to providing

an environment that prepares its students

for careers in their respective professions

by providing high quality learning and

teaching, support and services. A positive

student experience is achieved by a shared

commitment between staff and students,

and the Student Charter has been jointly

created by the School’s staff and students to

continue enhancing this shared partnership.

Collective responsibility

The School values its friendly and welcoming

environment. As part of the City of London,

it has a comprehensive equal opportunities

policy and encourages both staff and

students to foster an environment free from

discrimination, prejudice or harassment.

Guildhall School undertakes

to provide:

• High standards of teaching, support,

advice and guidance;

• A programme of study that is relevant,

student centred, fulfils specified aims,

is fairly and consistently assessed, and

structured towards a named award;

• Access to facilities, equipment and

accommodation necessary to undertake a

programme of study and that meet health

and safety requirements;

• Access to performance opportunities

within the School that will enhance

personal development;

• Professional accreditation of programmes

(where appropriate);

• Access to counselling and advice on:

health and welfare, accommodation,

finance etc;

• Clearly defined access to library and IT

facilities;

• Sustained contact with the professions as a

fundamental feature of all its programmes

of study, supported by embedded, proactive

and discipline-specific careers guidance;

• Formal opportunities and relevant training

for student representation at School and

Department boards, committees, subgroups

and working parties;

• Regular continuing professional

development for its staff;

57

• Training and ongoing support for Student

Union Officers;

• Clear timetables of teaching activity in

advance and assistance to students to

resolve any complexities arising from

unavoidable changes or clashes.

Guildhall School undertakes to provide

students with the following information:

• A programme handbook, supplemented

by other departmental handbooks,

that details the mode of delivery of the

programme, contact hours, academic

support, the examination arrangements

and regulations, assessment criteria, clear

deadlines and timeframes for feedback

on submitted work, and professional

requirements (where appropriate);

• An annual student handbook that

provides signposts to the academic

guidance and learning support services

available in the School, appeals and

complaints procedures, and School policy

and procedures;

• Accurate information regarding tuition

fees, payment options and deadlines, and

an estimate of necessary additional costs;

• Guidance and support in dealing with

Student Finance England and other

funding agencies;

• Regular reports on the School’s response to

student feedback gathered via national and

internal surveys, student representation at

boards and meetings, and other channels.

Each Student undertakes to:

• Familiarise themselves, and abide by, all

the School’s policies and regulations;

• Conduct themselves in a professional

manner at all times;

• Take advantage of the varied opportunities

available by attending induction sessions,

participating in timetabled classes,

attending meetings with tutors etc;

• Keep informed by:

a) checking their School e-mail

account daily

b) reading the student and programme

handbooks

c) reading the monthly Student News

email and consulting School noticeboards

and MyGuildhall

• Take responsibility for managing their

own learning: actively engaging in

the programme; spending sufficient,

regular time in private study and practice,

informing the departmental office of

timetable clashes, illness, changes to

address or other changes of circumstance;

• Follow and attend the approved programme

of study as specified for the year and obtain

agreement from the Department, in

advance, for any essential absences;

• Attend all scheduled assessment events

and submit course work by the stated

deadlines, and actively engage with the

resulting feedback;

• Assist in improving the quality of

programmes, facilities and services by

giving full and constructive feedback

58

on their experience via the internal

Whole School Survey and the National

Student Survey (undergraduate finalists

only), and by engaging with the student

representative system;

• Support the student representatives and

participate in processes to nominate or

elect student representatives and ensure

that representatives are made aware of

student views and the issues that they

should raise on behalf of the student body;

• Talk to a member of staff if they are

experiencing problems;

• Familiarise themselves with support

services available; students are strongly

encouraged to disclose any disability at

the earliest opportunity, to enable them to

get appropriate support and fully access

their course;

• Take responsibility for being proactive

in attending sessions organised with

study skills tutors, mentors, etc. and

other support staff;

• Respect the physical environment of the

institution, including accommodation

and respect the rights, privacy and

property of others;

• Take responsibility for the prompt and

timely payment of tuition fees and other

charges made by the School and their

finances, making use of the resources

provided by the Student Funding Officer

and Student Affairs.

The Students’ Union undertakes to:

• Engage with all students to ensure they

receive equal access to services and

support and are aware of their rights and

responsibilities;

• Facilitate active student/community

engagement, including student

participation in quality enhancement

activities – especially through the election,

development and training of student

representatives;

• Foster cross-School co-operation and help

maintain the School’s interdisciplinary/

collaborative ethos;

• Represent the interests of students at the

local and national level;

• Provide regular reports to the student body

on the work the Union has undertaken

on its behalf and be proactive in seeking

student feedback;

• Provide a communication link between

staff and students.

The student charter does not constitute a

legal document and is not a legally binding

contract. It is not intended either to define

or limit the legal rights and responsibilities

of Guildhall School, the Students’ Union

and each student. The charter is intended to

act as a signpost to key information which

is likely to be relevant to students and help

to establish consistent expectations across

the School. If you have any queries about this

charter please contact the Students’ Union

President or the Secretary and Dean of

Students.

59

60

61

Student Handbook

Student Support

Guildhall School Student Handbook will be

published at the start of the academic year.

This document provides an easy reference

guide to help you find your way around the

School’s services, facilities, current policies

and regulations. An electronic copy will

be posted on MyGuildhall on the Registry

home page (see under Professional Support

Services). Hard copies will also be available

for reference in the Library and Student

Common Rooms, where a small number

of copies will also be available to students

to keep on a first-come-first-served basis.

Please contact Registry if you would like a

hard copy and cannot find one.

Student Affairs is the advice and support

service available to all students at the

School. Our friendly and experienced team

is dedicated to promoting student wellbeing

and helping individuals make the

most of their time at the School. Our free,

confidential services include counselling,

health advice, physiotherapy, financial

hardship advice, study skills and disability

support, accommodation advice and support

for international students.

Students can also access support via the

Students’ Union, contact the Students’

Union President for more information.

The Student Life Officer will be running a

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) session

at the start of term to help answer some vital

questions. Further details will be posted on

eGo closer to the start of term.

62

Student Communication

Email & MyGuildhall

You should access your School IT account

via eGo > Account before arriving; you

won’t be able to log in without these

account details once in School and you will

need to know them when you attend an IT

Induction; to connect to School Wifi; and to

setup your Printing and Photocopying. Once

you have accessed your IT account details, you

will be able to use them to remotely access:

– MyGuildhall

– Student email account

This gives you a chance to familiarise

yourself with this information at leisure

before arriving when there will be other

activities taking up your time.

Student news & Facebook page

The Student News is emailed to all students

every month to keep you informed about

School news and student successes, and

to provide advice on topics ranging from

accommodation to study skills to healthy

living. It also includes information about

events, offers and competitions.

If you would like to contribute an article

on any aspect of student life- for example, a

review of a School performance/production,

news of recent successes, or tips for stretching

your student loan as far as possible – we want

to hear from you! Please contact studentlife@

gsmd.ac.uk for more information. You can

also keep up to date with School news, events

and the health and welfare support services we

offer via the Student Affairs Facebook page.

Information sessions and workshops

Student Affairs will offer a series of

awareness-raising events and workshops

throughout the year to provide students with

ongoing information and support to help you

make the most of your time at the School.

Recent workshops have focused on ‘Sleep

Wellbeing’ and ‘Developing Resilience, Self-

Care & Creativity in the Performing Arts.’

Money Management Advice

The Student Funding Officer provides advice

and information on money management.

They hold an introduction event at the start

of term on key Money Management topics,

which will be open to all students (but 1st

year students and students new to the UK

may find this particularly useful/relevant).

The Student Funding Officer is also available

to discuss and provide information on

sources of funding for higher education.

There are a selection of Money Management

resources available on of MyGuildhall. If

you require additional information about

a particular topic or would like to arrange

a one-to-one meeting, please contact the

Student Funding Officer.

63

Getting involved

Join a student club or society

Student societies include the Christian

Union, Guildhall Pride, Football Club, and

Guildhall Pops Orchestra – the Students’

Union can provide you with information

about these societies and how to join

them. And if there is not a society for your

particular interest – whether that be sports,

religion, politics, knitting, cooking, board

games – there are likely to be other students

at the School who share the same interest, so

why not start your own society!

If you are interested in starting a student

club or society, please contact:

Harry Plant

Students’ Union President

union@gsmd.ac.uk

You can also contact the Student Life

Officer to discuss your ideas.

Volunteer to help organise

special events

A very rewarding part of the student

experience is getting involved in

extracurricular activities – for example

helping out at special events like the SU

Winter Festival, or coming up with ideas

for new events that aren’t already offered –

whether that’s a food festival, charity drive

or daytrip. If you are interested in helping

to coordinate these types of events, please

contact either the Student Life Officer or

the Students’ Union President.

Sustainability

The School and the Students’ Union are

committed to promoting and rewarding

sustainable and environmentally friendly

behaviour. The Sustainability Steering Group

is open to all interested staff and students,

and meets twice a term to review progress

and initiate new projects – students can get

involved in a range of ways, from helping

to organize an annual Go Green Week, to

signing up for an allotment on the School’s

rooftop garden!

64

Online learning

Some teaching will be offered online

during 2020/21 to reduce student and staff

numbers in the building and maximise space

available for practical activities with social

distancing measures in place. You will need a

laptop or PC with webcam to optimise your

engagement with this online content. If

you have any difficulties please contact your

programme leader as soon as possible.

Induction

Induction sessions will be offered to ensure

you are familiar with all the mechanisms

for on-line delivery, including Moodle (an

online teaching platform), Zoom, MS Teams,

and Guildhall Stream.

Equipment

Students studying Electronic Music,

Composition, Theatre Technology and Video

Design in Live Performance will have been

given specific advice on the hardware that

they will need.

For all other students, if you do not already

have a laptop and are thinking of purchasing

a laptop, the following minimum

specification is recommended:

– Laptop with Win 10 above (or Mac

equivalent)

– 2.4ghz duel-core CPU

– 8Gb ram

– 128Gb storage

– 720p webcam

– Internal microphone

A HP ProBook 360 G6 or a HP 14-dk0020na

have this specification for instance.

Good quality headphones are also

recommended.

65

66

Further Information

67

68

Useful links

– Term Dates 2020/21

– How to find Guildhall School

– Quick links for current students

– National Union of Students (NUS)

Become part of the School’s online

community for the latest news on upcoming

performances:

– Facebook

– Twitter

– Instagram

‘Like’ our Student Services page for news

and advice from Student Affairs, Library

and Registry.

– Facebook (Student Services)

Find out about Freshers’ events and our

Students’ Union:

– Facebook (Students’ Union)

London travel information:

– Transport for London (TfL)

– National Rail

We strongly recommend the UK Council

for International Student Affairs. It is an

excellent resource for anything from visa

issues to advice about the British weather!

– UKCISA

Education UK has useful information about

living and studying in the UK

– Education UK

International Students’ House runs

activities and provides accommodation for

international students

– International Students’ House (ISH)

Interactive web learning tool for

international students

– Prepare for Success

Free online currency converter

– OANDA

69

70

Useful contacts – summer period

If you have a query over the summer

and the named contact is away, please

call +44 (0)20 7382 7181 and we will

find someone to help.

71

Useful Contacts

Music

Jen Pitkin

Admissions Coordinator for Music

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 6128

music_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Music Office

Silk Street Building

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7144

music@gsmd.ac.uk

Acting, Production Arts and Performance

& Creative Enterprise

Lynne Buckley

Admissions Coordinator for

Acting, Production Arts & PACE

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7149

acting_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

pa_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

pace_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Drama Office

Milton Court

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 2323

drama@gsmd.ac.uk

Research

Sarah Bell

Research Coordinator

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 5104

research_applications@gsmd.ac.uk

Dr Alex Mermikides

Doctoral Programme Leader

Alex.Mermikides@gsmd.ac.uk

Research Office

Milton Court

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 2571 ext. 5104

doctorate@gsmd.ac.uk

Enquiries regarding enrolment, fees,

visas and student funding

Stuart Brooking

The Assistant Registrar

(Admissions and Enrolment)

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7183

registry@gsmd.ac.uk

Eloise Peters

Student Funding Officer, Registry

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7181

studentfundingofficer@gsmd.ac.uk

Registry

Milton Court

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7181

registry@gsmd.ac.uk

Opening times: 09.30–17.00 (Mon–Fri)

Finance Office

Level 2 Barbican Centre

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7208

finance@gsmd.ac.uk

Opening times 09.30–16.30 (Mon-Fri)

Library

Silk Street

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 5280

library@gsmd.ac.uk

72

Enquiries regarding accommodation,

health, disability and student life

Student Affairs

Sundial Court


Sue Cowan

Head of Student Affairs

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7198

Sue.Cowan@gsmd.ac.uk

Julia Oliver

Student Life Officer, Student Affairs

Telephone +44 7856 889886

studentlife@gsmd.ac.uk

Sundial Court Hall of Residence

38-42 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SB

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7163

For general enquiries about Sundial Court,

please contact:

Facilities Office

Silk Street Building

Telephone +44 (0)20 7382 7192

sundial-accommodation@gsmd.ac.uk

Students’ Union

Harry Plant

Students’ Union President (2020/21)

union@gsmd.ac.uk

73

74

75

Guildhall School is provided by the

City of London as part of its contribution to the

cultural life of London and the nation.

Guildhall School - Before you Leave Home Handbook 2020

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?