Welcome to the University of Sussex New international

Welcome to the University of Sussex New international (including EU) undergraduates Monday, 27 September, 2010 Sara Dyer, Head of International Students’ Support www. sussex. ac. uk/international/

Induction §‘Starting with us’ §Events for international students (pages 16 - 18) §Academic induction includes: • Head of School & Department Welcome • Library & IT induction • Departmental social welcome • Academic advisor meeting

Registration §Nothing to do with registering for classes! §Essential for access to courses and facilities §Register on-line at www. sussex. ac. uk/registration

Registration §In person registration (includes passport copying & ID card collection): Wednesday 29 September, Level 2, Bramber House: • 09. 15 -11. 15 Maths & Physical Sciences; Engineering & Design; Informatics; SPRU • 11: 15 -13: 15 Business, Management & Economics; Global Studies; Law Politics & Sociology • 13: 15 -15: 15 Media, Film & Music; English; History , Art History & Philosophy; Education & Social Work • 15: 15 -16: 30 Psychology; Lifesciences

Registration §ID card collection (registered students only) • EU & non Tier 4 visa holders – today & tomorrow • Tier 4 visa holders - tomorrow • Bramber House, Level 2, 10 am-3 pm §ID card also your Library and Student Union card §Must register before Friday 8 October – visa implications if you do not

Immigration & visas §New Points Based System §Two options for students from outside the European Economic Area: • General student • Student visitor (maximum six months stay; more restrictions) §If you entered the UK on a ‘general student’ visa the University must take a copy of your passport/visa for our records • Take with you to registration/ID card collection §As a licensed sponsor, Sussex required to report to UKBA any student who withdraws from their course after arriving; defers or suspends their studies or does not keep good attendance §Make a note of when your Leave to Remain expires. Do not overstay!

Immigration & visas §Make sure you keep: • photocopies of every page of every passport that you ever use to enter the UK (except blank pages). Remember to update the photocopy each time it shows a new journey • All the paperwork and documents you have that evidence each of your journeys to and from the UK. (You may need these for future immigration applications. ) §Police registration – sessions to be held on campus • Appointment booking session - Wednesday, 29 September, 9. 30 am – 12. 30 pm, Friston room 119 OR • Call the Nationality Unit on (01273) 404011

Immigration & visas §Register with Embassy (US students https: //travelregistration. state. gov/ibrs/ui/ §If you plan to travel around Europe, check website for the UK embassy of the country you want to visit to see if you need to apply for a visa: • List of embassies on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www. ukcisa. org. uk/student/immigration. php#travel_Europe

Immigration & visas §Further advice about immigration: • International & Study Abroad Office (drop-in advice sessions; www. sussex. ac. uk/International/admissions/uk_immigration. shtml • UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) www. ukcisa. org. uk/student/immigration. php

Can I work while I study in the UK? §European Economic Area (EEA) students can work without restriction §Others should check passport sticker (entry clearance or residence permit) or identity card §You may work during your studies if you have student immigration permission and: • Your identity card says ‘work, p/t term time, f/t vacations’ or; • Your passport sticker says ‘Work (and any changes) must be authorised or ‘Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State’

Can I work while I study in the UK? §Conditions: • Up to 20 hours per week during term-time • Can’t run own business, be self-employed, or work as professional sportsperson or entertainer §If your passport sticker or identity card says ‘No work’, you must not work (includes voluntary / unpaid work) §Not possible to change your immigration conditions to allow you to work if you are in the UK as a student visitor §Examples of stamps that prohibit and allow work www. ukcisa. org. uk/files/pdf/working/work_during_stamps. pdf

Can I work while I study in the UK? §Further information about working in the UK during your studies: • UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) http: //www. ukcisa. org. uk/student/working_during. php §Careers and Employability (Falmer House) §‘Working in the UK’ • Non EU students: Tuesday 28 September, 9. 30 – 10. 30 am & Thursday 30 September, 3. 30 – 4. 30 pm • EU students: Tuesday 28 September, 2 – 3 pm & Thursday 30 September, 2. 30 – 3. 30 pm (all in CAE seminar room 2, Falmer House)

Working in the UK after your studies §Post Study Work Scheme - Tier 1 • Allows you to work in the UK without work permit for two years after graduation (if successfully complete a UK degree or PGCE) • Need to hold £ 800 in your bank account for three months before applying • But the UK Border Agency plans to review the scheme later this year §Further information about working in the UK after your studies at: http: //www. ukcisa. org. uk/student/working_after. php

Finance & banking §Make secure arrangements for your money §If in UK for less than 6 months may be easier to keep account at home §Advantages of having a UK bank account: • Paying bills • Cash • Saves money • Often needed for employment • Necessary for visa extension (check bank will provide bank statements for this purpose)

Finance & banking §Options: • Studying for at least an academic year – international student account (usually monthly fee but includes debit card and other facilities) or basic account (usually cash card only, although Barclays & Lloyds TSB offer debit card) • Studying for less than an academic year – basic account only (needs to be at least three months remaining on visa)

Finance & banking §Banks with on campus branches – • Barclays (Sussex House) • HSBC (Bramber House) §Lloyds TSB opening accounts on campus • Wednesday 29 & Thursday 30 September, 9. 30 am-4. 30 pm, Friston room 120 • Need to complete form – collect from International & Study Abroad Office

Finance & banking §To open an account you will need to show confirmation of: • Who you are (eg a valid passport, or EU identity card) • Where you are living (eg housing tenancy agreement; recent utility bill) • Student status (eg your original offer letter or ‘letter of introduction’ from the Admissions Office or, for Lloyds TSB, completed form signed by International & Study Abroad Office)

Finance & banking §Budget carefully & keep records of what you pay in (‘deposit’) and money you take out (‘withdrawals’) §Check your records against each bank statement you receive §Deal with financial problems promptly §If you have problems opening a bank account, tell me!

Finance & banking – further information § ‘Opening and running a bank account in the UK’: • Tuesday 28 September, 11 am – 12 noon • Friday 2 October, 10 -11 am, both Arts A 103 § Other useful information: • Student Advice Centre – money advice www. sussexstudent. com/advice/content/433973/#Money • www. ukstudentlife. com/Life/Money. htm • www. studentcalculator. org. uk/international/

Health §Think about your health (new climate; unfamiliar food; coping with stresses of being away from home) §National Health Service (NHS) - free and subsidised treatment for people who live in UK & international students on courses lasting at least 6 months §EEA students here for less than 6 months eligible if have European Health Insurance Card §If not eligible, must take out medical insurance

Health §Endsleigh has policy specifically designed for international students https: //travel 1. endsleigh. co. uk/International. Student. aspx §Even if you are entitled to free NHS treatment, should consider taking out insurance to cover the additional possible costs resulting from illness §These can be substantial and can include: • Additional treatment and medical expenses not covered by NHS • Costs of returning home if relative taken ill • Costs of relative visiting you in UK if you fall ill • Returning to your home country for treatment

Health §University Health Centre; tel. 249049 (general enquiries & appointments) or email: admin. unimed@nhs. net §Website: www. unimed. co. uk/ §Register if you at studying at Sussex for 6 months or more (need to show Sussex ID card or visa) §Register online: www. studentreg. com (follow link to Sussex University. user name: sussex; password: student 10) §If at Sussex for less than 6 months, will be seen as a temporary patient §Opening hours: • Vacations: Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm • Term-time: Monday – Thursday 9 am – 8 pm & Friday 9 am – 5 pm

Health §For medical advice when the surgery is closed contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or www. nhsdirect. nhs. uk or phone 249049 for number of out of hours primary care centre §Alternative to campus surgery in central Brighton – www. brightonstationhealthcentre. co. uk (open 8 am-8 pm seven days a week) §Meningitis and mumps vaccines §Dentist & pharmacy on campus (charge even if you are entitled to National Health Service treatment) §Look after yourself! Eat well and take regular exercise

Sport §Facilities on campus include: • • Two large, multi-purpose sports halls Fitness room Dance studio Seven squash courts Four grass soccer & two rugby pitches Six hard tennis courts Floodlight artificial turf (for hockey and soccer) Lifestyle studio offering sports injury clinic, sports massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, etc

Sport §Specialist sports clubs organised through the Students’ Union - provide coaching and instruction and take part in British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) competitions as well as local Sussex leagues §www. sussexstudent. com/sport - list of sports clubs and how to join §Plenty of sporting opportunities in Brighton & Hove (two swimming pools, five golf courses, watersports, international-standard athletics track)

Shopping for food §Campus food services (also Tuesday fruit & veg market) §Asda – Hollingbury, Brighton, or Brighton Marina; www. asda. co. uk §Sainsburys – 93 Lewes Road, Brighton (bus service 25/25 A); www. sainsburystoyou. com/ §Tesco - Brooks Road, Lewes; www. tesco. com/ §Specialist food stores – www. sussex. ac. uk/International/admissions/food

Personal safety § UK safe country with low levels of violence and street crime § May be first time away from home in an unfamiliar country § Keep contact details and next-of-kin information up-to-date on Sussex Direct § Possessions insurance – www. endsleigh. co. uk § British Council brochure - ‘Creating confidence – Making sure that your time in the UK is safe and enjoyable’ § ‘Keeping safe in the UK’ – Wednesday 29 September, 11. 30 am and Thursday 30 September, 1. 30 pm, Arts A 103

Personal safety §Always lock bedroom door §Think ahead – don’t walk home alone late at night §Never leave drinks unattended § Don’t show off cash, mobile §Never leave car unlocked §Caution when crossing roads §Remember drugs illegal in UK §Don’t leave bags unattended §Remain alert and report anything phone, or laptop suspicious (bags / people) §Use cashpoint / ATM in daylight §Trust your instincts. If you feel §Don’t carry large amounts of cash something wrong, call the police §Report thefts immediately §In emergency, dial 999 (off §Don’t resist if threatened campus) 3333 (on campus)

Drinking and smoking §Alcohol • Over 18 • Socially accepted but don’t feel pressured • Remember (1) don’t drink and drive; (2) being drunk in public is an offence • Don’t leave drinks unattended § Smoking • Amost all enclosed public places and workplaces now smokefree.

Culture shock §Describes emotional upheaval many experience when moving from familiar to unfamiliar culture §Excitement ‘strangeness’ mood changes (feeling lost / disoriented) wish to be back home §Will probably still feel effects of culture shock if from country with same language / similar ways of life §Normal and will pass §Expect things to be different! §The weather!

What to do about it §Take part in induction events §Keep in touch with home §Spend time with other people §Remember your faith §Talk to ISAO or a counsellor §‘What’s up with culture’ - from your country www 3. uop. edu/sis/culture/ §Keep healthy and active §Remember culture shock is normal – and temporary

Where to find help on campus §International & Study Abroad Office (10 am – 4 pm term-time) §Academic Adviser / tutor §Student Life Centre §Mentors §Residential Advisers §The Chaplaincy §Psychological and Counselling Services §Student Support Unit §Student Union Advice Centre

Role of the ISAO §Support and advice §Specialist advisers (welcome meetings on Friday) §Trips and events §Coffee mornings §HOST (video and information session, Wednesday 30 September, 10. 3011. 30 am, Silverstone 121) §Alumni Friendship Programme www. sussex. ac. uk/alumni/gettinginv olved/student_questionnaire §www. susssex. ac. uk/International/

Keeping in touch with family & friends §International calls from UK mobiles • Free Nomi sim card from ISAO • Pay-monthly plans • Pre-paid plans • Pay-as-you-go plans §Long distance calls from UK • Every on campus bedroom has telephone • Pre-paid international phonecard (compare cards as rates differ)

Keeping in touch with family & friends §Skype – www. skype. com • if living on campus or off campus in King’s Road must set up and patch your computer correctly www. sussex. ac. uk/its/help/faq? faqid=1478 §UK internet services • Sussex provides free internet access and email account • Wi-fi access in many coffee shops and public places §International postage • Post office on campus • Stamps available from newsagents and supermarkets • www. royalmail. com

Out and about in Brighton & Hove §Exciting place to be a student §Holiday resort §Cosmopolitan §Lively social & arts scene §Excellent and varied shopping §Restaurants for all tastes

Beyond Brighton § 50 miles from London §Historic towns such as Lewes, Arundel, and Chichester §Picturesque villages, acres of farmland country walks (including South Downs Way) §Everything from abbeys and castles, to vineyards, cider farms, steam trains, lakes and rivers.

Getting around §Car-parking on campus • Living on campus – not permitted • Living off campus – must buy permit/ticket §Brighton & Hove buses (number 25) run to/from and past the University • One journey: £ 1. 80/£ 2 (£ 1. 60 in Centre. Fare area and some £ 1 ‘Short Hop’ fares) • City. Saver (all day ticket giving unlimited travel): £ 3. 70 from bus driver (or £ 3 from bus website or £ 3. 30 from shops and post offices)

Getting around §Other ticket options: • • One week student Super. SAVER - £ 10 Three month student Super. SAVER - £ 100 One year student Super. SAVER - £ 300 Student offers available from Student Union shop (weekly only), campus post office or 1 Stop Travel, with NUS card §Further information at www. buses. co. uk/ §www. thebiglemon. com – £ 1. 50 for single, £ 2 for a day ticket

Getting around §Trains to Brighton run four times per hour (daytime, weekday) – www. southernrailway. com/ §Train discounts – Unizone season tickets (seven day, one month, three month); 16 -25 Railcard §Information - 1 Stop Travel Shop, 16 Old Steine & Brighton Station §Cycle lane from Brighton to Falmer • Second hand bikes - www. friday-ad. co. uk/; ebay. co. uk

Travel Opportunities §Explore the rest of the UK §Contact British Tourist Authority www. visitbritain. com or www. visitscotland. com for Scotland §Public transport links most locations (cheap ticket options often available – book in advance to secure best deals) • Train travel: www. thetrainline. com • Coach travel: www. nationalexpress. com

Travel Opportunities §Relatively easy and inexpensive to get to other European countries (Gatwick, Newhaven and Channel Tunnel all close by) §Many cheap airlines (Ryan. Air, Easy Jet, BMI, Flybe etc) §Carbon-friendly route -- www. seat 61. com §International Student Identity Card (ISIC) internationally accepted proof of student status - www. isic. com or STA travel, 38/39 North Street §Travel tips – Friday, 1 October, 3 -4 pm, Arts A 103

ISAO organised trips & events (Welcome 2010) §Pub tour – tonight, 7 pm onwards §Boundary walk – Tuesday, 28 September & Tuesday 5 October, 12. 30 - 2 pm §Trivia and fish & chip night – Thursday 30 September, 6 pm start §Walking tour of Brighton & Royal Pavilion – Friday 1 October, 2 pm §International students’ welcome party – Sunday 3 October, 6. 309. 30 pm §London – Saturday 9 October, leaves at 8. 30 am

ISAO organised trips & events (Autumn term 2010) §Bath & Stonehenge – Saturday 16 October §International Food Party – Tuesday 19 October §Sussex Countryside Tour – Saturday 23 October §Brighton Ghost Walk – Thursday 28 October §Warwick Castle & the Cotswolds – Sunday 7 November §Oxford – Saturday 20 November

Residential Services §The Housing Office - For all tenancy-related matters including room allocation, waiting and swap lists and termination of tenancies etc: §Area Building Managers - For all residences related matters including, housekeeping & maintenance issues § Student Support – RAs & Residential Student Support Manager §Safety & Security within the residences University Security -York House 3333

Residential Services §General enquiries: the Housing Office, First Floor, Park Village Social Centre Tel: 01273 678220 Email Housing@sussex. ac. uk § Residential Welfare Support: Christopher Tucker, York House Tel: 01273 877250 Email: C. Tucker@sussex. ac. uk §Reference guide: Residences Handbook

Sussex Centre for Language Studies Academic Development: English Language and Study Skills §Alison Chisholm – EL&SS Officer – Arts A 143 §Rachel Cole – EL&SS Tutor – Arts A 43 §Laura Cheek - EL&SS Tutor – Arts A 69 §Susan Blaylock – EL&SS Administration – Arts A 66 Email: acadev@sussex. ac. uk

Sussex Centre for Language Studies §Are you a full-time international/overseas student with English as an additional language? §Are you completing your full degree at Sussex? If yes, §Then you are entitled to free in-sessional support This consists of: §Workshops on good academic practice, including sessions on note-taking, referencing, academic writing skills etc §One-to-one 30 -minutes tutorials §Sy. D question and answer forum §Drop-in sessions for quick questions and advice §Small group Writing Workshops

Sussex Centre for Language Studies §If you are interested, please complete the enrolment form on the Academic Development Study Direct Site: www. sussex. ac. uk/languages/acadevsyd §For general enquiries, email: acadev@sussex. ac. uk For further information on Academic Development, how to book workshops, tutorials, etc. please see the Study Direct Site.

With Cameron Tait (President) and Jo Goodman (Welfare Officer)

What we do for you We take pride in everything we do at the Students’ Union. We have broken down what we do into five key values that tell us how we should do things, who we are and what we aim for: • Friendliness • Responsibility • Fun • Democracy • Improvement Activities: Freshers’ Week, Sports, Societies, Campaigns, Volunteering Advice & Representation Centre: Professional advice on academic and nonacademic issues Commercial Services: Bars, Shops, Newsagents Media: The Badger, The Pulse, University Radio Falmer Democracy & Representation: Student Representatives, Full & Part. Time Elected Officers

Your Full-Time Elected Officers

Get Involved! o International Students Part-Time Officer - international@ussu. sussex. ac. uk o International Students’ Society - internationalstudents@ussu. sussex. ac. uk o Other societies – Mexican, Polish, Islamic, Bolly. Good, School Societies, Environmental… o Information about Welcome Week events at: www. sussexstudent. com/freshers Including Freshers’ Fair (Wednesday 29 th September, 11 am – 3 pm) & Freebies Fair (Thursday 30 th September, 10 am – 3 pm) o The Students’ Union welcome to International students: Thursday 30 th September, 1– 3 pm, CEC Room 1, Falmer House. o Volunteering opportunities – Project V www. sussexstudent. com/projectv Project V Introduction - Friday 30 th September, 3: 00 -4: 30 pm, Falmer House, CEC Room 1, Falmer House.

The Chaplaincy § Rev. Canon Dr. Gavin Ashenden, University Chaplain • Meeting House • Tel: 01273 677123 • G. Ashenden@sussex. ac. uk § Groups: • ‘Sceptics Anonymous’ A time to look into the dark corners of the Universe and its questions – not often available when sober.

The Chaplaincy §Sundays • Ecumenical Eucharist 11. 30 – 12. 30 followed by lunch (A service for anyone in the range of those who are irritated that the meaning of life is not immediately obvious, to those who already pray and worship and are looking for somewhere slightly different) • Roman Catholic Mass – 6 pm

My contact details Sara Dyer Head of International Students’ Support International & Study Abroad Office Friston building S. E. Dyer@sussex. ac. uk Tel: 01273 877489 (ext 7489) Mon, Tues, Weds & Fri: 9. 30 am – 2. 30 pm Thurs: 9. 30 am – 5. 30 pm www. sussex. ac. uk/International