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Pre-Departure Briefing

Miriam Brown, International Office, University of Sheffield

Preparing for Sheffield September 2013

Welcome

The University of Sheffield:

Number 1 in the Russell Group

for Student Experience

(Times Higher Student Experience Survey 2012)

01/08/2013 © The University of Sheffield


Today’s briefing • Key dates

• Preparing to come to Sheffield

• Meet & Greet scheme

• International Orientation Programme

• What to bring with you

• Accommodation

• Finances

• Visas

Brochures you will be receiving soon….


Key dates

What to expect and when

Key dates: Arrival

• Meet & Greet scheme 15th – 22nd September

• Arrive on 15th/16th September for residential orientation

• All other arrivals 21st – 22nd September

• Discovery Week: 16th – 21st September

• Intro Week: 23rd – 29th September

• Academic teaching begins on 30th September


Key dates: during the year

• Two semesters in one academic year

• Semester I: 30/09/13 – 08/02/14

• Semester II: 10/02/14 – 14/06/14

• Separated by vacations (Christmas, Easter)

• No formal teaching in vacations, some facilities open

• University closed during Christmas & New Year


Preparing to come to Sheffield

What to bring…..and what to leave behind

Before you leave home • Have you met the conditions of your offer?

• Have you accepted your offer ?

• Have you paid your deposit ?

• Have you obtained your CAS number?

• Have you obtained ATAS* clearance (if required) ? * Academic Technology Approval Scheme

• Have you received your Pre-Arrival Pack ?

(Information for New International Students 2013-14


Checklist before you leave

• Ensure you have all the documentation you need from the University

• Arrange accommodation

• Obtain study visa for the UK

• Health/immunisations

• Insurance for the journey

• Travel arrangements

• Book Meet & Greet service


Essentials for hand luggage

• All original documentation and letters from the University

• Accommodation confirmation letter (if you have one)

• Medical certificates / visa documents

• All your original mark sheets, transcripts and certificates

• Welcome pack

• Bank statements, a sponsor‟s letter or bank draft.

• Cash and/or travellers cheques for first few days

• Your passport

• Valuables, medicines

01/08/2013 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

What to Bring

The essentials you need to bring to Sheffield

What to bring with you

• Personal possessions (e.g. a family photo)

• Contact email addresses/telephone numbers

• Warm clothing

• Prescriptions for medication/glasses

• Laptop (if you have one) & adapter


Electricity • UK Mains Voltage is 230V

• Ensure you obtain an adaptor if you bring any electrical equipment.

• Most electrical equipment has a transformer (i.e. laptop power supplies) that can cope with 110-240V


What to leave behind….

• Remember….airlines charge for excess baggage!

• Books for studies

• Some foodstuffs cannot be imported

• Cooking equipment

• Bedding


Travelling to Sheffield

A warm welcome awaits

Please fly to Manchester Airport



Meet & Greet scheme

Meet & Greet scheme

• From Manchester Airport to Sheffield

• 15 – 22 September inclusive

• Buses operate from 08:00 – 18:00 each day

• Bookable online from mid-June 2013

• £20 for students & £25 for family and friends

• http://onlineshop.shef.ac.uk


International Orientation Programme

Supporting you from the start

Residential orientation

• Week long residential programme for new international students

• 16 – 21 September 2013

• Chance to adjust to new environment

• Varied programme of activities

• Bookable online from mid-June 20123

• £145/£175 includes accommodation and some meals


Intro Week

• Non-residential welcome

• 23rd – 29th September 2013 in Sheffield

• Introductory events for academic and non-academic departments and services

• Registration with the university and your department

• Departmental expectations of students

• Freshers Week & the Student Union

• Important to be in Sheffield at this time


Accommodation

Your home from home

Student Accommodation


Three types available:

University owned accommodation (booked via university) - Private bedrooms with en-suite rooms/shared facilities

- Catering facilities

Managed Partnership accommodation (booked via university) - City and Central Campus Halls of Residence

Private sector accommodation (booked privately without university help) - Privately owned Halls of Residence or student houses

Standard Accommodation Studio Apartment

En-suite Accommodation Deluxe Accommodation


Accommodation Guarantee UNDERGRADUATE

• Need to have selected Sheffield as CF/UF by 6th July

• Apply for accommodation by 31st August and complete form correctly, as soon as you have selected us as your Firm Choice.

• We will allocate a room when your offer is UA and student has Visa

POSTGRADUATE

• Accept conditional/unconditional offer by 6th August

• Apply for accommodation and return your confirmation slip by 11th August

The University will begin allocating accommodation in mid-July and will continue through August and September (for all students)


Accommodation Guarantee

• Check Accommodation website:

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation (Choose „Prospective Students‟ and then the „International Students‟ link on left.)

• Apply online: Check above webpage for link.

• Can‟t apply online? You can download paper forms from the above website as well

• Haven‟t applied or forgot to apply? Check out the PropertywithUS office in Students‟ Union for private sector options


Accommodation Deposit • After making your application, you will receive instructions via email

• A deposit of £150 is required to reserve your accommodation.

• Pay up to 7 days after receipt of your accommodation contract by:

- Credit card by phone or online

- Bank transfer

• The deposit is returned when you leave your room at the end of your contract.

• Collect keys and move into your accommodation on either 21st or 22nd September.

• If it is not possible to arrive by the 21st-22nd you MUST contact the Accommodation Office

• Any problems or missed your flight? You need to tell us - your room will be given to someone else and you lose your deposit.


Payment

• Rent is paid in 3 instalments.

• 42 week contract; 1st instalment 1st October 2013

2nd 22nd January 2013 and the

3rd 30th April 2014


Private Sector Accommodation

2 Types of private sector student accommodation

Halls of Residence (managed and owned by private developers)

• All city centre based (0.5 miles from campus)

• All Self-Catering

• Cluster of flats shared with approx 3-11 other students

• Single or mixed gender accommodation (as requested by you)

Student Houses (managed and owned by a private landlord/landlady)

• Based around the city, most notably the areas of Crookes and, Upperthorpe and Broomhill


Private Sector Student Accommodation • Good range and a lot of private accommodation available

• Contract with private landlord or lettings agency

• Monthly rent not including bills (electricity, water, gas), phone/internet and contents insurance.

• Help available from the University via the Students‟ Union PropertywithUS office

• Private sector accommodation cannot be organised in advance of your arrival in Sheffield.

• NEVER sign a contract or agree a deal before you arrive in Sheffield

www.accommodationforstudents.com/sheffield (Overview of privately owned student accommodation)


Temporary Accommodation For parents, relatives and friends:

• There are guest houses, B&B & hotels that your parents, relatives, and friends can stay at if they arrive with you in Sheffield: www.yorkshiresouth.com/stay

• You must arrange temporary accommodation if you have no other arrangements BEFORE you come to Sheffield

For students only:

• The University has a limited number of B&B rooms the week before the beginning of the term: http://onlineshop.shef.ac.uk


Finances

Making the most of your money

Living Expenses

UNDERGRADUATE

9 months = £7,200

POSTGRADUATE

12 months = £9,800

This covers all expenditure apart from tuition fees • Accommodation, books, food, local/UK travel, socialising


Tuition Fees: payment options • Fees are listed on your CAS information

• Part or full payment before visa application - Postgraduate students must pay a deposit (£1,000)

• You can pay your tuition fees in 2 or 4 instalments.

• Remainder of first instalment (50% or 25% of tuition fees, depending on instalment plan, minus deposit already paid) is payable during registration.

• Four instalments payable on: 01 Oct 2013 - 01 Dec 2013 - 01 Feb 20134 - 01 Apr 2014


Tuition Fees: method of payment

• All payments can be made by:

- Credit card

- Bank transfer

- Bank draft

• Payments can only be accepted in British Pound Sterling

• University bank details in pre-arrival guides


Part-time work

• International students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies

• We recommend no more than 10-12 hours paid employment per week

• Visit Student Union Job shop / Job Agencies

• University provides support to bring you into contact with potential employers, e.g. Graduate Recruitment Fairs and support from Careers Service is available throughout your studies and beyond.


Visas

How the University can help

Immigration Preparation • Checklists on page 2 of the “Essential Guide To Getting Here”

• Courses more than 6 months – you can apply for a Tier 4 Student visa.

• Before applying for your visa:

Ensure you are applying no more than three months but no less than one month before your course starts.

Apply for ATAS clearance as soon as possible if it applies to you (see page 9 of the “Essential Guide”)

Find out how to apply for your Entry Clearance visa (see page 12 of the “Essential Guide”)

Applying for your visa

Have you got your CAS number?

Hong Kong – Check wether you need to present a medical certificate to say you have been screened for Tuberculosis

Are the academic certificates listed on your CAS in English? If not, do you have an acceptable translation? (page 11 in “Essential Guide”)

Does the proof of funding that you are providing with your visa application meet the Tier 4 requirements? (pages 9,10 & 11 in “Essential Guide”)

Have you obtained ATAS clearance?

Do you have the other required documents? (page 11 in “Essential Guide”)

If your visa is Refused... Contact the University at [email protected] for advice on what to do next (page 13 in“Essential Guide”)


Before travelling to the UK Before travelling to the UK

Ensure you have an entry clearance visa to come to the UK

Have you got your full visa entitlement (p7 of the “Essential Guide” ) If you have your visa but you are no longer coming to Sheffield

You can only register at the University of Sheffield if you applied for your visa using a CAS from this University. If you wish to attend another institution, you will need to apply for a new visa for that institution.

You will need to inform the University if you are not going to register (p7 & 8 “Essential Guide”)

When you get to the UK

You must attend lectures and seminars regularly (p8 “Essential Guide”)

Your visa will state the hours of weekly employment you are able to work during term time. Do not come to the UK relying on paid employment for funding (p12 “Essential Guide”)

Hong Kong Students in Sheffield

An international community

International students in Sheffield

• International Students Committee and national student societies will have stalls during Intro Week

• Organises Intro Fiesta

• Social events throughout the year including World Food Festival and World Week

01/08/2013


Student Ambassadors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdSL2DWDOEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdSL2DWDOEE

Those you have gone before you

“The best three years of my life!” Sarah Cronin, Sheffield Graduate, Class of 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmOZtZUmfik 01/08/2013 © The University of Sheffield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmOZtZUmfik

01/08/2013 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications 01/08/2013 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

What to expect…

How well were you listening?

Listening, asking questions and taking notes in a UK study environment

What’s the answer? • When did the first recorded Hong Kong student

graduate from Sheffield?

• Name one item to carry in your hand luggage

• How many semesters are there in an academic year?

• What date does teaching start at the University?


See you soon in Sheffield

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