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Pre-Arrival Information
Immigration and Visas You MUST obtain a visa before attempting to enter Britain if your period of study is for more than 6 months. Even if your period of study is for less than 6 months, you are still strongly advised to obtain a visa. This is because students without visas are not permitted to work and are not permitted to extend their stay in the UK under any circumstances. It is also possible that you would be denied entry by immigration officials, even though a visa is not strictly required for study of less than 6 months' duration for students from certain countries. Students from other countries require a visa regardless of the duration of their studies.
You will receive a statement providing proof of your place at the University which you will be asked to show to the Immigration Officer at your point of entry. Please keep this statement in your hand language to provide at the Immigration Desk before you reach Baggage Reclaim. You also must carry in your hand luggage an original transcript from your home university. If you have any difficulties on arrival, ask the Immigration authorities to contact the Study Abroad Office at the University (between 9.00 am – 5.00 pm); the telephone number is 01206 873978. Outside these hours you can ask the Immigration Officer to allow you to seek assistance from the Immigration Appeals Advisory Service (IAAS), which has offices at Heathrow and other major ports of entry or contact the University’s 24 hour emergency number 01206 922125.
You need to carry in your hand language: Passport Statement from Essex providing proof of your place at Essex Health certificates A means of proving that you can meet your fees/accommodation costs/etc. An original transcript from your home university
Heath Insurance
The University has a Health Centre run by a
group of doctors and nursing staff are in attendance daily. You should register
with this service on your arrival. If you will be in the UK for more than six
months you will be able to use the Health Services in the same way as anyone
permanently resident in Britain. However, pre-existing medical conditions
requiring long-term medication or hospital treatment may not be covered.
Repatriation is definitely not covered. It is therefore essential to take
out health insurance before you arrive. It is wise to bring about £90 in British money for incidental expenses on the way to Colchester, although you can change money at the airport. (The exchange rates at airports tend to be unfavourable, so you will generally be better off obtaining currency in advance from your bank.) Credit cards can be used for the purchase of rail tickets. Traveller’s cheques are also useful to have as a standby though please note that unlike in the USA, traveller’s cheques cannot be used to make payments at retail outlets (even if they are in pounds sterling). The cheques must be changed for cash at banks.
Accommodation The Study Abroad Office has arranged for you to be allocated university accommodation. Any preferences made on your confirmation statement will be met where possible.
Arrival at the University On arrival at the University, please go to the Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall on Square 5 (October arrivals) or the Accommodation Office (January arrivals) to sign for and collect your keys. If you arrive outside office hours of 9.00 am until 5.00 pm, go to the Information Centre on Square 3 which will be able to advise you about your accommodation and provide your keys. The Information Centre is open 24 hours per day.
Travel information (click here)
The Study Abroad Office – Room 5S.7.27 From arrival at the University, your programme will be arranged by the Study Abroad Office. Your contacts will be Angela Turton, (Assistant Registrar), Julie Andrews (Study Abroad Co-ordinator) or Jackie Fernandes (Administrative Assistant). Full information will be given to you during the Orientation Programme.
Study Abroad Office Orientation Attendance on this programme is compulsory. You must attend the events organised, which includes University Registration. The orientation programme starts in the morning on 5 October (venue to be confirmed) and sessions later in the week will cover course enrolment, teaching and assessment methods at the University, timetables, arrangements for the transfer of credits and grades, etc.
Statement of Financial Liability As mentioned in earlier correspondence, a financial guarantee is required. Please complete the form which should be returned to the Study Abroad Office. You must certify that you have sufficient funds to cover the costs you will incur whilst studying at Essex. Please note that if you are coming on an exchange or other arranged programme, you are only required to guarantee the costs which are not meet by your home university or agency.
Orientation
October Orientation 2009 (CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAMME)
January Orientation 2010 (CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAMME)
In late September/early October each year and in January, the Study Abroad Office runs an orientation programme specifically for students on study abroad schemes. In October there is also a full reception programme of events aimed at introducing all new students to life at Essex.
University registration
Autumn
arrivals:
Arrival day: 4 October 2009 Arrival day: 13 January 2010 Orientation begins: 14 January Classes begin: 18 January
Course enrolmentThe Study Abroad Office will arrange for your pre-registration for courses on the basis of your choices as indicated on your application form. However, some courses may have been full or not running, or you may have timetable clashes or other reasons to change your course choices. Thus there is always a considerable amount of changing of courses at the beginning of the term after students have had the opportunity to discuss their needs with academic staff. The procedure for changing courses will be explained during orientation.
Payment of tuition and accommodation chargesStudents who are responsible for paying their own tuition fees will receive invoices at Registration. For self-supporting students, the tuition fees can be paid termly, at the beginning of each term. The first payment must be made when you register. Accommodation costs may also be paid termly at the beginning of each term. The first payment will also include a key deposit and an insurance payment if required. There is a discount of £16 each term on accommodation fees paid in advance.
Food
Students are free to choose how they will eat;
there is no meal plan available. There is a large supermarket within 20
minutes walk from campus and students usually walk there and share a taxi or
catch a bus back from the bus stop opposite the supermarket. You will find it
much cheaper to cook for yourself rather than buying all your meals in
restaurants or bars. There is also a small grocery store on campus.
Books and library facilitiesIn the UK, students are not generally expected to purchase textbooks. Therefore buying books is best left until after discussion with teaching staff. There is a bookshop on campus which will order any books not in stock, whether specialised or general, together with a second-hand bookshop and the Albert Sloman Library. Use of the library is available after registration and tours of the library are provided during the orientation programme.
Employment
It is not always easy for students to
find part-time or vacation work and you are strongly advised not to rely on the
expectation of such work in order to supplement your income. Holders of student
visas are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week paid employment during
term-time (work hours are unlimited during the vacation). However, you must
check the conditions listed in the stamp in your passport because not all
students are permitted to work in the UK. If you are able to work, there is a
JobShop
on campus which advertises short-term jobs. | |
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