Pre-departure Briefing Talk Advice about travelling to the

Pre-departure Briefing Talk Advice about travelling to the UK

UK Experience Benefits of studying in the UK • Language fluency • Confidence • Communication skills • Cultural awareness • Adaptability, flexibility and independence

Part 1 – Planning for the UK. What to bring… • Adaptor plugs for electrical appliances – UK plugs are 3 pin and square type. • • University transcripts • • Medicines if you use them regularly • • Shoes are very heavy! • • At least 8 passport photos Offer (CAS) letter from university Clothes (not too many heavy ones). £ 500 - £ 1000 in cash and / or international ATM card Any items that you will really miss if you leave them behind!

What to leave behind… • • Bedding – waste of your luggage space Cooking equipment– it is cheap in the UK • • Food – you can buy it in the UK (even Chinese food!) • • Lots of toiletries (shampoo etc)…similar prices to the UK • Not too many winter clothes – they are very heavy and can be bought quite cheaply in the UK Breakable items Very expensive items you would not want to lose • Books – also very heavy • Fake designer goods, software or DVDs

Packing • Max 46 kg (depends on airline) • Put ANY liquids and sharp objects in the check-in luggage. (Liquids needed on flights can be put in see-through plastic wallets) • Put lithium battery (锂电池 /充电宝 ) in the hand luggage • 6 kg hand luggage including a laptop • No meat products, no fruits • Max 200 cigarettes. • Don’t over pack

Setting Off • Bring a plastic document wallet which includes: passport with a couple of photocopies, offer (CAS) letter, health check booklets, transcripts. Keep those somewhere safe. • Meet at the airport three hours before departure.

Travelling by air • ONE. You have to find the correct airline check-in desk to check in (give your luggage in, show your passport and receive your boarding pass). The boarding pass will have your seat number. You can ask for a window or aisle seat if you want to. Do NOT lose the boarding pass. • TWO. You go through passport control. Queue and show your passport. • THREE. You go through security. You will be asked to put all your hand luggage and coat or jacket through the scanner. You will also have to take all metal objects out of your pockets and put them in one of the plastic trays provided. If you have a laptop, you will have to take this out and put it through the scanner. • FOUR. Go to the correct gate and wait for your flight to board.

Travelling by air Boarding pass – don’t LOSE this!

At the airport • After checking-in and security, relax and enjoy the shopping etc. Prices are high for food and drinks in the airport. So try to eat before you leave! • There is free wireless Internet in the airport in HK, Beijing and Shanghai • Remember: International airports are often VERY big, so make sure you know where your gate is and can get there easily when it’s time to board.

On the plane • Food and drinks are free on the plane. You can ask for a drink at any time. • Try to walk around a little during the flight. • There are free movies that you can watch (sometimes in the console on the back of the seat in front of you). • You cannot use the toilet until take-off is completed (this can be up an hour after boarding), so make sure you do so before boarding. • Don’t worry if there is turbulence on the flight, this is very normal.

Entry to the UK “UK Border Agency Officers will be able to refuse a migrant who cannot speak without an interpreter. ”

Interview • Don’t Worry! • Interview will be in English • Do ask the officer to repeat the question if you did not understand it. • Be honest • Basic questions about your study plan • Perhaps a couple of simple questions about you

What to do in the first week? - Enrol at university and get student card - register with police and doctor - find a place to live for term time - open a bank account • Learn how to use the library and learning resources • Meet other new international and local students • Meet students who are already studying at UCLan • Learn not only English language skills but also study skills • Be shown around the campus and introduced to Preston • Find out where all resources are to help you have a good year!

Part two – In the UK UCLan Calendar 2015 -16 Orientation • 7 th September 2015 – 11 th September 2015 Please make sure you attend the Orientation Week! Semester 1 • 14 th September 2015 – 13 th December 2015 • Christmas Holiday Semester 2 • 4 th January 2016 – 20 th March 2016 • Easter Holiday • 4 th April 2016– 27 th May 2016 Graduation • 11 th -15 th July 2016

Communications • Land line and mobile phones: Monthly line rental for land lines. Pay as you go or contract for mobiles (e. g. O 2, Vodafone, EE, 3 G, Lebara etc. ) Mobiles bought in China can be used in the UK Only outbound calls are charged in the UK. • Calls to China Saver’s cards can be used to make calls of up to 1000 minutes. Lebara is also cheap. • Wireless network in Preston Free to all UCLan students and available in all the University buildings. Use Skype, QQ or MSN to communicate with family and friends in China. • Private Internet suppliers (BT, Virgin, Sky, phones 4 U etc. )

Library • Undergraduate students can borrow up to 12 books in their account • Help from staff on site • Silent Zones • Private rooms and study pods • 24 -hour operation (except holidays) • Laptop rental Scheme • Inter-library loans • Restricted loans • Free Safety Bus

Student Support Page

Careers

Careers Centre On Campus Foster Building (just inside the main doors) Email: Careers@uclan. ac. uk Tel: 01772 895858

As a Final Year student… • Maximum 20 hours/week in class • Lots of free time • New to the environment --culture shock --bored • Have to think about job hunting • Have to make decision by yourself

The ‘Flower’ Learning about other cultures Work Experience Volunteer Work Interests You Study

What is Work Experience? • Paid work (full or part time, temporary or casual) • Vacation placements • Placements, projects and electives as part of your course • Voluntary work • Work shadowing

Looking for part-time job in the UK… • Law守法—每周最多 20小时等 • Protect yourself自我权益的意识 —最低资(minimum wage)等 • Prepare for a CV准备简历 • About the job了解作—职位, 作地点, 资, 作时间和跨度, 申请截止日期, 限制等 • 作性质--part-time job? Voluntary work? Placement? Internship? • Tax税收

Why Volunteering? • • Have fun Gain new skills or work experience Gain an award and improve your CV Give something back to the community Improve confidence Meet new people Try something new Get valuable training

Volunteering Opportunities • • • Animal Welfare Arts and Music Community Action Administration Crime Prevention ICT Peer Support Education Sports Working with Children Working with Elderly Youth Work Health & Social Welfare Culture & Heritage Drama Health & Social Welfare Housing PR & Fundraising Youth lead project (individual/group) Conservation& Environment work

1 Bars, restaurants, entertainments, societies and clubs(activities held in source and concerts in 53 degrees) SU advisors provide information on a wide range of issues such as academic, disciplinary, and monetary, etc. The Opportunities Centre Offers students friendly part time job opportunities (e. g Buddies)

What is Culture Shock? • culture shock n. a state of distress or disorientation brought about by sudden immersion in or subjection to an unfamiliar culture. Oxford English Dictionary (online), 2008.

What is Culture Shock? • Homesickness and more • Disassociation (lack of connection to new environment) • Unfamiliarity (climate, traffic, food, surroundings) • Misunderstanding (new routines, study methods) • Isolation • Prejudice?

Remember… ‘The processes of culture shock are simultaneously universal (everyone who relocates experiences them) and individual (everyone experiences them in their own way). ’ Conti-Bekkers and Dawson, 2002 Remember too…. it is not only international students who experience culture shock!

Arriving in the UK-Culture Shock Honeymoon Acceptance Negotiation Shock

Dealing with Culture Shock Make British friends – use the STUDENTS’ UNION. Read about the UK to understand the culture and history Do community activities Travel – PRESTON is NOT the UK Continue to try and improve your English Keep busy Get a part-time job Do some volunteering work Keep in touch with your family and friends in China Remember the UK is a large and diverse society with many social classes Try to make your room “homely” BE POSITIVE and PATIENT

The UK -There are big differences between different parts of the UK. -North and south of England -Scotland -Wales -Northern Ireland -Cornwall -Town and country

Roads and Safety • In the UK the traffic is on the other side of the road (THE LEFT). This means when you cross, you MUST look the opposite way from in China (RIGHT). • Find a safe place to cross i. e. zebra crossing / traffic lights. • In the UK drivers do NOT expect to meet pedestrians on the road and so wandering in the road is VERY dangerous.

Crossing the road Find a safe place to cross look RIGHT.

Cycling • You must have lights on your bike. If you don’t use lights, the police may well stop you and you will have to pay a fine. • If possible, wear bright clothes (UK streets can be very dark at night with little traffic) and a helmet. • Ride on the correct side of the road, not on the footpath and not in the gutter.

Ways to Stay Safe… • Don’t be out alone late at night • Keep to main streets and roads, avoid lonely short cuts • Be careful whom you trust with your belongings • Use the free university bus service in the evenings • Always lock your door and your windows • Carry a personal alarm with you • Don’t leave your belongings alone • Ensure that your home is secure • Don’t put your expensive items on display • Call 999 on your mobile (free) if you are very worried Insure your belongings!!! This is not expensive!

Personal Safety for the Students • Things that might not be a crime in China may be a crime in the UK • Ensure that what you are doing is legal! • You can prevent crime and prevent crime happening to you • Don’t be less careful in the UK than you are in China • The University Campus has 24 hour security to protect your safety

Think before Graduation • Is UK the place you can explore your potential? • Do you like staying in the UK? • To do Masters OR Look for a job? ---Stay with UCLan or choose another university? MUST start to think of the above when you finish half of your study!

Visa Policy after Graduation Current Situation Find Correct Information • Student visa shall be valid till 3 -4 months after graduation • No PSW visa for you • Can apply for work visa if you get a contract from an employer, annual income above £ 20, 000 • International Student Adviser • the ‘I’ • Careers • UKBA official website

Useful web-sites www. gov. uk/ www. lancashire. police. uk/ www. britishcouncil. org/ www. britainexpress. com/ www. culturelab-uk. com www. prepareforsuccess. org. uk/ www. endsleigh. co. uk www. visitbritain. com/ www. bbc. co. uk

Any questions? Have a good trip!