Introducing KentPre-departure briefing

International Development Office

A little bit about Kent

• Where are we?

• Academic reputation

• Student population

• Job prospects

• Student Life

• Accommodation

• Fees and costs

Did you know?

Kent is one of the Top 20 universities in the UK for student satisfaction.

The Times Online

Where you’ll be studying

Canterbury – one of the biggest and greenest university campuses in the UK

A safe, self-contained environment with everything you need for a good academic and social life

Within walking distance of the city centre, 1 hour to London by train, 2 hours to Paris and Brussels by Eurostar.

Medway – the campus is based near the historic naval town of Chatham, with purpose-built riverside student accommodation, 40 minutes by train from central London.

World-leading research informs your learning

• Award-winning, dedicated teaching informed by world leading research in Humanities, Sciences & Social Sciences

• 18 Schools recognised as conducting research of world-class standing (Governmental Research Assessment Exercise, 2008)

Excellent job prospects – get involved

• Kent students are consistently within the Top 20 graduate starting salaries (Sunday Times University Guide)

• Year in Industry and study abroad available around the world.

• 97.2% of our postgraduate students found a job or further study placement within 6 months of graduating

• Professional Careers Advice Service and contacts with companies and governments world-wide

• The Employability Points scheme rewards students for active engagement in extracurricular activities. http://www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/

• A pioneer university with Kent’s Law Clinic and Kent’s IT Centre

Did you know?

Canterbury was ranked as the safest university city in England in 2012

What our students say about us…!

Congratulations!

You have an offer to study at the University of Kent

• International atmosphere• Living costs and tuition fees• Planning ahead• Student life

International atmosphere

Did you know?

Kent’s largest international student groups are from France, China and the USA.

Total Number Students: 19,665

Undergraduates: 14,030

Postgraduates: 2,840

26% of students are international, 125 nationalities represented.

Living costs and tuition fees

Visit our cost calculator pages to manage and calculate your money whilst you are at university.

http://www.kent.ac.uk/finance-student/calculators/index.html

Other useful websites are:

http://www.uniaid.org.uk/

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

Tuition Fees 2012/2013

International Foundation Programme: £10,350

Undergraduate Non-laboratory: £11,625

Undergraduate Laboratory: £13,400

More information on fees can be found at: http://www.kent.ac.uk/finance-student/fees/postgraduate

Planning ahead – Key dates

Key dates:

15th – 16th September 2012 – Arrivals Weekend

17th – 21st September 2012 – Welcome Week

24th September 2012 – 14th December 2012 – Autumn Term

14th January 2013 – 5th April 2013 – Spring Term

6th May 2013 – 14th June 2013 – Summer Term

Planning ahead – Welcome Week

The University of Kent organises a welcome programme for the hundreds of international students arriving on our Canterbury and Medway campuses. The programme takes place during Welcome Week, before term commences. Although optional, we strongly recommend that you come along as it is a great opportunity to make new friends and get to know the University and the surrounding areas before the busy first week of term. To take part you need to register at:

www.kent.ac.uk/gettingstarted/international/events/index.html

The Welcome programme includes:

• Welcome meeting (including essential information about English language lessons, academic life, welfare, immigration advice, UK health service and opening bank accounts) • Visit to Leeds Castle • International students’ dinner

Student life

• Campus life – best of both worlds

• Over 100 student societies

• We offer a high level of support; Kent Student Union, Jobshop, Student Learning Advisory Service, English Language Unit, Medical Centre and Pharmacy and Sports Centre

• Multi-faith and multicultural

• Range of international cuisine on campus restaurants and snack bars, vegetarian, halal, etc

Planning ahead - What can you do from home?

• Accommodation – have you booked it? If coming to Kent via ‘Clearing’ we’ve requested this on your behalf

• Apply for visa - When you accept your offer, we will send you a CAS number by e-mail, which you will need when applying for a visa. If you email address have change, please contact us,

• Getting Started at Kent booklet; book onto orientation events; Airport pick up service

• Payment of fees in advance or on arrival at Kent (instalments possible)

• Register online (using ID number from final offer letter)

• Send us a photo (.jpeg preferred)

• Set up your computing account online

• Choose your modules online

www.kent.ac.uk/gettingstarted/

Planning ahead – Accommodation

• If you have not yet applied for accommodation, please do so as soon as possible at:

www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation

• All of our accommodation includes internet connections in the bedrooms, so you can use this to do your research, and also to stay in touch with friends and family

• Free contents insurance offered for those with a room on campus

• Students will be informed which accommodation they have been allocated at the end of August. Remember to accept the offer of accommodation when it is made. If arriving late, check arrangements on where and when to get your key for accommodation

• Chest X-rays

• Purchase adequate travel insurance to cover you before you arrive in the United Kingdom

• Students studying in the United Kingdom for a period of study longer than six months will be able to register with the National Health Service

• Students can register at the University Medical Centre to see a doctor or nurse free of charge. However, there will be a charge for prescriptions

• It is a good idea to consider any medications that you take and whether you can get medications in the UK and whether you can take some with you before you go.

• If you need any additional support while you are abroad for example extra time in exams please let us know as soon as possible.

Planning ahead – Health

Planning ahead – getting a bank account• There is a bank on the Canterbury campus, and many more in the city centre.

• Shop around for the best account – you shouldn’t have to pay fees on a standard student account, and many banks offer rewards for signing up.

• Bring some money with you for use while your account is being set up.

Planning ahead – What you should bring with you

• Baggage allowance: excess baggage charges can be expensive and you will have to carry what you bring.

• In your hand luggage make sure you have all your important documents including your passport, visa documents, qualifications and insurance documents.

• It is also a good idea to carry a photocopy of all your important documents with you in your hand luggage

• Do NOT carry any prohibited items. Do NOT bring too much clothing, food or stationery – this can be bought on arrival

Planning ahead – While you are abroad

Keep in touch with home

Tell your family your address while abroad. At Kent for example, parents and friends can register to receive news about the University of Kent:

hwww.kent.ac.uk/alumni/news/fprog.html

Check the different UK phone card discounts: these are phone cards which allow you to call home for special, very cheap rates. They are available in newsagents and some supermarkets.

Download Skype, MSN, Whatsapp, Viber and other programmes on your computer and mobile phone.

Culture Shock It is to be expected – don’t worry if it happens to you. It happens to many international students.

Challenging times at the start of the year and on national holidays and birthdays etc, but it gets easier

Getting over it is often a matter of time.

Make yourself aware of cultural differences and embrace them! Open your mind and learn from the host culture.

Use all resources to seek assistance.

One of the best ways to overcome it is to get involved in university life.

Contact us

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us as follows:

Email: international@kent.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1227 823871

We look forward to welcoming you to the University of Kent very soon!