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Welcome Guide
2015
for Accelerated International Foundation Year
and Degree Programme Students
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
2
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Contents
Welcome from the Head of the Accelerated International Year .........................4
Welcome from the President of Keele Students’ Union
and President of the Keele Postgraduate Association..........................................6
Welcome ...................................................................................................................8
1. Preparing to leave home .................................................................................... 10
My Visa ............................................................................................................................................ 10
My Visa Application .....................................................................................................................12
My Finances ....................................................................................................................................13
My Accommodation .................................................................................................................... 14
Getting Connected .......................................................................................................................15
My work plans ................................................................................................................................17
Information for my family ..........................................................................................................17
2. Arriving in the UK ............................................................................................... 18
Packing your bag ..........................................................................................................................18
Immigration Information .......................................................................................................... 19
Health and Safety and Insurance .......................................................................................... 20
3. Meet & Greet Airport Collection Service ..........................................................22
Airport Collection Service ........................................................................................................22
Health and Safety when Travelling ........................................................................................22
4. Services at Keele ............................................................................................... 24
5. Welcome Week .................................................................................................. 30
About the Programme .............................................................................................................. 30
My Main Activities....................................................................................................................... 30
6. Check Lists ..........................................................................................................34
Quick Contacts........................................................................................................35
3
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Welcome to
Keele University
Coming to University is an exciting and challenging
time. It is a time when we meet new people, many of
whom will become life-long friends; it is also a time
of discovery as we begin the next stage in our
education.
In this pack you will find information about the
University and guidance on arranging visas and
travelling to the UK. More detailed information of the
AIFY programme and modules will be sent separately.
4
Most of this information can also be found on our
website, which contains additional advice for you so
it is well worth a visit. Further information will be sent
to you regarding the timetable for the Welcome Week.
The AIFY is an intensive course and so is taught in
small numbers in order to ensure you achieve the
support you need. You will have support for English
Language, either Foundation English or English for
Academic Purposes (depending on your level of English).
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
As part of the English language course you will take a
British Culture module. You will also study modules in
Academic Development and Communication Skills in
order to help prepare you for academic study at a UK
university. Remaining modules will be chosen to meet
your progression requirements to your chosen degree
subject (information on these is available online and as
a word document). Therefore, by the end of the course
it is expected that you will be a well-rounded academic
student with a high level of core skills as well as
enhanced subject specific knowledge for your chosen
degrees.
As the course is intensive you will need to be very
organised to meet the assignment deadlines and be
able to study for your exams. You will have a personal
tutor (me!) available to guide you through this process.
As well as the Foundation Year Centre there are many
support staff available, especially the International
Student Support and the Language Learning Unit
teams, who are there to offer you help and guidance.
Although you will be studying the majority of the course
over the summer months, when the campus is quiet as
the main student body is away, you will not be the only
students present. There are pre-sessional English
students on campus, as well as post-graduate students.
There will be a number of social and cultural visits
arranged over the time of your course in order to help
you mix with the other students and experience a little
more of the UK.
I look forward to meeting you and do hope you will have
a positive and rewarding experience as you commence
your UK educational experience. Email me anytime for
more information or advice.
Allison Gardner
Head of Accelerated International Foundation Year
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Welcome to Keele!
We’re sure that you’re
going to have a brilliant
time. Keele is a vibrant,
friendly, and unique
place to learn and
socialise
There’s never a dull moment with so much to get
involved with. Your Students’ Unions – KeeleSU
(including the Athletic Union) and the Keele
Postgraduate Association (KPA) – are part of
what makes Keele unique and special. You are
automatically a member of KeeleSU by being
a student, and also of the KPA if you are a
postgraduate student.
We are primarily here to represent you and
take action on your behalf. However, we also
provide you with the resources and opportunities
that will enable you to make the most of your
experience and time at Keele. KeeleSU has all you
could possibly need, such as support, activities,
volunteering, societies and sports clubs – with
everything that you would expect, to the more
surprising things like quidditch and belly dancing!
We’re sure to have something for you, and we
are more than happy to assist you in setting up
something new. Want somewhere to relax and chat
to your friends? Feel free to use our alcohol-free
ground floor special space. Want a great night out?
We’ve got so many fantastic events lined up you’ll
be spoilt for choice. Need advice and guidance?
Just ASK.
The KPA provides specialist representation to
postgraduates throughout the university. With the
KeeleSU team, we sit on many of the university’s
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support and information designed to assist you
with your studies and make your experience at
Keele exciting and rewarding. We also have our
very own Clubhouse based in Horwood which
serves a range of food and drinks and hosts a
variety of events throughout the year. Our events
give postgraduates the opportunity to discuss
their research and develop essential skills.
The Clubhouse provides a relaxed place to chill
out and meet with friends. In the evenings things
get a bit livelier with regular bands and festivals.
It’s also well-known locally for being open all year,
even outside of term time!
Whether you’re a full-time student, part-time
student, mature student, international student,
or commuting from home (or a combination!),
we have the resources and drive to make your
time at Keele the best it can be.
Your first few days at Keele will be a whirlwind;
you’ll be meeting new people and exploring your
surroundings. However, there’s no need to worry;
we’ve been at Keele for a long time and know the
university inside out – so be sure to say hello,
and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Bolu Oyewale, KeeleSU President
Jon Granger, KPA President
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Welcome
We are delighted that you have
accepted your place here at Keele
University and will soon be joining
us and so now you need to start
preparing for your travel to the
UK and your time with us.
This guide is for all new international students.
We understand that you may have more questions
than we can answer in this guide, so we have
created an online induction resource for new
Keele AIFY students, which you can find at:
www.keele.ac.uk/aify/aifynewandcurrentstudents/
Any changes to the programme will be updated
on these webpages so do bookmark the web
address and check it regularly both as you are
preparing to come to Keele and during your first
few days here. Additional information can also be
found at: www.keele.ac.uk/iss
You can see what is happening at Keele using
social networks – check out our updates, tweets
and comments by liking us at facebook.com/
KeeleUniversityFoundationYear and follow us on
Twitter @KeeleAIFY. For a list of all Social Networking
accounts at the University, including the Students’ Union
and several academic programmes and schools, go to:
www.keele.ac.uk/socnet
The free Keele University mobile app is designed
to help you make the most of your life at Keele.
You can top up your KeeleCard, find your way
around campus and follow personalised news
feeds to keep tabs on what interests you.
The Keele app can be downloaded for free from
the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Blackberry
App World. To view the features and to find out
more, go to:
www.keele.ac.uk/mobile-app
8
Please read both the guide and webpages carefully
as there are a lot of important things that you must
do and bring with you along with forms that must
be completed so be sure to use the checklists.
The guide and webpages for new international
students are divided into the following sections:
Section 1 – Preparing to leave home
Section 2 – Arriving in the UK
Section 3 – Meet & Greet Airport
Collection Service
Section 4 – Services at Keele
Section 5 – Welcome Week
Section 6 – Checklists
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
1
Preparing to
Leave Home
My Visa
International Students
It is essential that you have the correct status to come
to the UK. You are required to apply for entry
clearance (a visa) to come to the UK as a student and
your application will be assessed using the Points
Based System.
For the courses, you will need to apply as a Tier 4
(General) Student and gain 40 points.
30 points will be awarded for having a Confirmation
of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from Keele
University.
10 points will be given for proving that you have
enough money to meet the cost
of studying and living in the UK (known as
maintenance funds).
Please ensure that you fully understand the visa
application process and have all the relevant
documents before making your application. If your
visa application is refused you will not receive a
refund of the fee and you may not be able to get a
visa in time to start your course at Keele. If you
have any questions about applying for your visa,
please contact International Student Support at
support.international@keele.ac.uk for assistance.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
You will receive your CAS once you have accepted
your place at Keele University and paid your deposit
for your course. A CAS is an electronic document
providing you with the information you need to apply
to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for your Tier 4
Student Visa. The CAS statement will be sent to you
following your agreement to a CAS checklist. The
CAS number will identify you during your Visa
application and link to all the necessary information
that UKVI needs from the University to make a
decision upon your Visa application. Once you
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receive your CAS statement you should apply for
your Visa no earlier than 3 months prior to the start
of your course. Should you have any problems with
your CAS then please contact the Visa Compliance
Team at: cas@keele.ac.uk
If you have any questions about your current status,
then please email International Student Support:
support.international@keele.ac.uk
Maintenance funds
You will need to provide evidence showing that
you have access to the following amount of money:
COURSE LENGTH
FUNDS REQUIRED
9 months or less
(AIFY)
£820 living costs for each
month of your course
PLUS the full tuition fee.
You will need an additional
£460 per month available
to you for each of your
dependants if applying for
them also.
More than
9 months (AIDP)
£7,380 living costs for
the year PLUS the first
year’s tuition fee. You
will need an additional
£4,140 available to you for
the year for each of your
dependants.
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Evidence of funds
There are very specific rules on which documents
will be accepted and what each document must
show in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance, paragraphs
181-213.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/261401/
Tier4migrantguidance.pdf
What documents will I need to provide when I
apply for my visa?
• A completed application form (see Applying for
your visa for further information)
• The fee for your application
• Passport / Travel Documents
• CAS Number
• The original documents (listed on your CAS
statement) that Keele used to assess your
suitability for the course e.g. Certificate of
Higher Education, IELTS certificate
• Evidence that you have the correct amount of
maintenance funds available to you
• Your Biometric ID card or your biometric details
If your CAS Statement states that you require an
ATAS certificate, then you must apply for one as
soon as possible, as you cannot submit your visa
application without this document. The ATAS
certificate (www.gov.uk/academic-technologyapproval-scheme) can take several weeks to
arrive, so please make sure you apply for it in
plenty of time.
‘Low Risk’ Applicants
UKVI has determined that some students can be
considered as ‘low risk’ applicants. This means that
students who are nationals of the countries listed
below will not normally need to provide all the
supporting documents required as part of the Tier
4 (General) visa application process. To minimise
the risk of visa refusal, we strongly recommend
that all students provide the documentation
required, regardless of nationality. This is because
UKVI still retains the right to request all the
documents from you. An application from a ‘Low
Risk’ applicant can still be refused if any
documentation requested by UKVI is not submitted
to them by the date stated in the request.
To be considered ‘low risk’, you must be sponsored
by a Highly Trusted Sponsor such as Keele
University and you must be already in the UK or
applying for a Tier 4 visa in your country of
nationality.
Additionally, you must be a British national
(overseas) or a national of one of the countries
below (evidenced by your passport):
• Argentina
• Australia
• Barbados
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan (if you hold a passport issued by Taiwan
that includes the number of the identification
card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA
For further information on making an application
as a ‘Low Risk’ applicant, please contact
International Student Support at support.
international@keele.ac.uk
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
My Visa Application
From your Home Country
Details of your nearest Visa Application Centre can
be found here: (Visa Application Centres Overseas)
www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre
To apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, you
need to complete an online application form:
www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
If you are applying from Cuba or North Korea only,
you will need to complete a Points Based System
VAF 9 Form:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/
application-for-uk-visa-under-the-points-basedsystem-form-vaf9
AND
Tier 4 (General) Student Appendix 8 Form:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/
application-for-uk-visa-under-tier-4-generalform-vaf9-appendix-8 and apply in person.
Applying for your visa if you are already
here in the UK
To apply for a Tier 4 (General) student visa while
you are in the UK, you will need to register for a
UKVI account and complete the following online
application:
portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=confirmAndDow
nload&com.sun.faces.portlet.CLEAR_
STATE=true&_nfls=false&formId=Tier4&rpl=
formList
Guidance on the requirements of studying in the
UK and information on how to complete the
application form can be found here:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/261401/
Tier4migrantguidance.pdf
Please check the UKVI website at:
www.gov.uk/visas-immigration to make sure you
have the latest version of the application form and
guidance as they are frequently updated and
amended. If you have any questions at all about
applying for your visa, please email International
Student Support at:
support.international@keele.ac.uk
12
Checking your Visa
Once you have been granted your visa, you must
check it thoroughly to make sure that all the
information is correct. More information on this can
be found on the Welcome webpages.
If you think any of the information on your
visa is wrong, please contact International
Student Support within 7 days of arrival at
support.international@keele.ac.uk for
advice and assistance.
Medical Screening
You may be required to get a certificate to show
that you do not have infectious tuberculosis (TB).
The list of countries where a TB screening
certificate must be presented with a visa
application has recently expanded. Please check
the website listed below.
Please note that if you are bringing any
dependants with you, they will also be required
to produce a certificate.
There is a cost for this screening and it is your
responsibility to meet this cost.
Further information and how to apply can be found
on the following website:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/279479/
Immigration_Rules_-_Appendix_T.pdf
Attendance Monitoring
As a student of Keele University you are expected
to arrive and enrol for the start of your course. If
you hold a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa sponsored
by Keele University and fail to arrive and enrol on
time, withdraw from, defer, suspend your studies
or are absent from any part of your course (without
prior agreement) the University will have no choice
but to withdraw you from your course, resulting in
the cancellation of your Visa.
We will take a copy of your passport, Biometric
Residence Permit or UK immigration status
document when you arrive and you must keep us
informed of any changes to your information,
including your address in the UK, mobile phone
number and email.
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
My Finances
Scholarships and Bursaries
There are very few scholarships and bursaries for
obtain one.
The British Council in your home country has
information about any financial support that may
be available to you.
www.educationuk.org/UK/Applications/
Scholarships-for-UK-study
Student Scholarship. The Scholarship award for
undergraduate students is £2,000 towards the
cost of annual tuition fees for the duration of the
course. The Scholarship award for postgraduate
students (Masters Degree students only) is £3,000
towards the total tuition fees. Applications must be
Keele and before you commence your course. For
more information and conditions, plus details of
other scholarships available, visit:
www.keele.ac.uk/scholarships-international
If you do not receive a KISS scholarship, you will
automatically qualify for the Foundation Year
bursary of £1000 for each remaining year of your
degree at Keele University; if you are studying a
science then you will also receive a £1000 Faculty
of Natural Sciences Bursary for the first year afte
your Foundation Year.
Payment of Tuition Fees
Details of your tuition fees for 2015 were included
within your offer letter. All international students
will receive an invoice, which will be sent to their
Keele e-mail account.
If you are responsible for your own fees you can
pay either in full or in two instalments. More
information on payment methods and payment
dates is available on our website at:
www.keele.ac.uk/finance/income
Please note that all forms of payment must be
in British Pounds Sterling – the Euro is not a
currency accepted in the UK.
Bank Accounts
It is essential that you open a UK bank account
once you have arrived in the UK and have enrolled
at Keele, but it may take a few weeks before you
will be able to use this account. Because of this, we
recommend you bring around £300 in cash and a
further £300 in traveller’s cheques to cover your
general living expenses for the first few weeks you
are in the UK.
Advice on how to open a bank account is available
from International Student Support on arrival and
several banks will be present on campus during
Welcome Week.
Please remember that you must have all of your
funding in place BEFORE you arrive in the UK.
The Money, Advice and Guidance Team:
www.keele.ac.uk/studentfunding here at Keele
entitled to and how to apply.
Bringing money in to the country
It is very unsafe to travel with large amounts of
cash, so we recommend that you pay your tuition
fees online in advance. You MUST NOT bring your
tuition fees in cash to the UK.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2014
My Accommodation
University accommodation is only available for
full-time students. If you are eligible, you will
have been sent information about how to apply
to live in our Halls of Residence. Information
about who can apply for accommodation and
the order in which we allocate accommodation
can be found on our webpages at
www.keele.ac.uk/studyatkeele/accommodation/
newinternationalstudents/acceleratedinternational
foundationyearaify/
Undergraduate & Postgraduate students – you
should have received an email with a link to the
online accommodation application form. Once you
complete this you should receive an email
confirmation of your room choices. Your
you receive this you will have 5 days in which to
INSTALMENT
AMOUNT
DUE DATE
Advance
Payment
– Deposit and
part of first
instalment
£150 +
£300 =
£450
The date specified
on your offer of
accommodation
First
instalment
Total of
40% of your
room fee
minus £300
To be confirmed
Second
instalment
40% of your
room fee
To be confirmed
Third
instalment
20% of your
room fee
To be confirmed
need to make your advance payment by the
Making your advance payment
You can make this payment of £450:
We will also send an invoice to your Keele email
address detailing the amount and due dates of
each payment. Before arriving on campus you
must complete the online induction. At the end
• Online with a debit or credit card using your
eVision login and clicking on the “Finance
Details” menu option.
boarding pass which will allow you to collect your
keys when you arrive.
Accommodation Fees
If you will be living in university accommodation
you will need to pay your accommodation fees in
three instalments.
You will also need to make an advance payment of
£450 to secure your room before you arrive. This
£450 payment is split between a £150 room
deposit, which is refundable (less any damages or
outstanding debts) when you vacate your room
and £300 payable towards the first instalment of
your accommodation fees.
14
• by cheque, please make your cheque payable to
address below, quoting your student number on
the reverse.
• by Bank Transfer – the University bank details
are as follows, please remember to quote your
student number as a reference.
University Bankers:
National Westminster Bank
75 High Street,
Newcastle-under-Lyme,
ST5 1PP
UK
Account Name:
Sort Code:
Account No:
IBAN No:
BIC:
Keele University
54-10-27
05600456
GB68 NWBK 5410 2705 6004 56
NWBKGB2L
WELCOME GUIDE 2014
Getting Connected
Check the e-mail address that you gave us during
the application process; you should by now have
received an email providing details of your IT
account information.
Make a note of your user name and password and
then go to students.keele.ac.uk and log on. If you
have not received your IT account information, or
do not have an email address then please contact
studentrecords@keele.ac.uk who will arrange for
this information to be sent to you.
You will receive an email with instructions on how
to complete your Pre-Arrival Online Induction.
This will require you to complete tasks aimed
at introducing you to key areas and systems at
Keele University. Click on the Induction Portal
link either in this email or from:
www.keele.ac.uk/welcome. Working through
these tasks will help you familiarise yourself with
the range of IT services available to you.
Home is your own home page. You can add and
remove any of the panels (or portal modules) and
re-arrange them as you wish. Everything from the
important essay due dates to local cinema listings.
(Click the “Add Module” button to see the full list)
Learning is for your Courses (KLE) and contains
sub tabs to the Library and Student Support and
Development Services.
Co-curriculum tab has buttons for the main
activities as well as spaces for clubs and societies.
Keele is much more than your academic studies
and looks to support your activities outside your
normal academic studies.
contains the essential information you
need to be a student on a daily basis. There are sub
tabs for Timetable, Email and Docs (powered by
Google for Keele), Internal Telephone Directory
and Access for eVision. Our eVision system is for
student records, it’s where you will pre-enrol, pay
your fees, choose Elective subjects and check your
final grades as the year progresses.
Pebblepad
All Keele students have a PebblePad account.
This allows you to create an online portfolio of
your experiences and achievements mapping
your personal and professional development
which you can share with others. During your
online pre-arrival induction you will be shown
how to use Pebblepad and will be given further
instructions once you start your course. For more
information on Pebblepad, please visit:
www.pebblepad.co.uk/user.current.asp
Keele Email
Once you have received your Keele IT Account
username and password, you will be able to access
your Keele email. To access your email, log on at
Mail and Docs. Keele University use Google to
provide the email service, which also gives you
access to other Google services such as
Documents, Calendar, Sites and Chat. For more
information about Google Mail at Keele go to:
www.keele.ac.uk/it and click on the Email link
on the left.
Getting to know the Library
You are going to spend a lot of time in the Library
so it is really important that you learn how to get
the most out of it. You will find the Library
webpages and KLE resources invaluable. They
have lots of useful information such as which books
are located where and the floor plans of the
building, so you can get a head start and feel that
you know the place when you first walk through
the doors. During the first few weeks, there will be
any questions, point you in the right direction and
explain how things work.To find out more go to:
www.keele.ac.uk/library
Eduroam
Once you arrive at Keele you will need to access
our WiFi. Look out for ‘eduroam’ in your network
list and connect using your Keele email address
and password. For more help and advice go to
www.keele.ac.uk/IT or just tweet using the
#keeleIT14
15
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Getting Connected
Pre-enrolment process
The first thing that all new students need to do is
complete the pre-enrolment process. Log onto
the University’s eVision system to complete the
pre-enrolment process. Please do this as soon as
you can.
To complete the pre-enrolment process go to:
students.keele.ac.uk and log on with your user
name and password. Click on the green tab ‘The
the screen and then click on the ‘E-vision’ tab
located on the left side of the screen. From there
all you have to do is follow the on-screen
instructions which will guide you through the
process.
16
The pre-enrolment process will allow you to:
Provide a photograph of yourself so that we can
• produce your Keele Card (your identification
card whilst you are at the University) ready for
when you arrive at Keele
Supply us with details of a person who we could
• get in touch with in case of an emergency
Check and confirm other information we hold
• about you, which will save you time when you
arrive at Keele
If you do not complete the pre-enrolment process
before you arrive at Keele then your Keele Card will
not be ready when you arrive. Although we can
make a card on your arrival, there will be a delay.
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
My work plans
International Students
Unless your visa states any other restrictions or
prohibitions, then you can work:
• Part-time during the University semesters up to
a MAXIMUM of 20 hours per week.
• Full-time during University vacations or as part
course.
Information for
my family
In an emergency your family can contact you at
Keele as follows:
1. The contact number for incoming calls to rooms
in Halls is +44 (0)1782 73 plus the four digit
extension of the room.
2. From Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm
(GMT/+1) the Critical Incident Support Team can
be contacted on +44 (0)1782 733335
3. If you live in Halls, after 5pm weekdays or at the
weekend a Residence Support Assistant will be
on duty and can be contacted first on the
relevant Hall number (details are available on
your Room Information Card). When you arrive
at Keele, please give this number to your family
and friends back home.
4. After 5pm weekdays and at the weekend,
Security can be contacted on +44 (0)1782
733004 and they can pass a message to you
immediately.
we have a record of your address and contact
telephone numbers. You will be asked to confirm
these during the pre-enrolment process.
During the first day, we shall have computers
available to use in the Contact Cafe and also in
the Library, should you wish to send a quick
email or social website message to your family
or friends to confirm your safe arrival.
17
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
2
Arriving in
the UK
Packing your bag
If you are coming to the UK for the first time, we
know it is tempting to bring everything you own.
If you are going to be living in University
accommodation, you can check what you need to
bring and also what you don’t need to bring by
visiting the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
section of the Accommodation webpages at:
www.keele.ac.uk/studyatkeele/
accommodation/faqs
Remember that a Supermarket Shuttle service is
offered during Welcome Week. It is best to use
this service and to leave large or bulky items at
home and buy what you need once you are in
the UK.
Clothing
The British climate is unpredictable and very
changeable, which means that cold, windy and wet
weather can occur at any time of the year. Therefore,
you will need warm and waterproof clothing for your
stay in the UK. If possible you should bring some
warm clothing with you, but it may be cheaper and
save on luggage space to buy suitable clothes when
you get here.
It is advisable to dress in several thin layers such as
a t-shirt, shirt and jumper/sweater/pullover so that
you can adjust to the different temperatures inside
and outside. If you do have space for your National
Dress, please do bring it as you will have several
opportunities to wear this during your time at Keele.
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Electrical appliances
The standard electricity supply in the UK is 220 / 240
volts, 50 cycles AC and the standard outlet is a
13-amp square 3-pin plug. Each room on University
campus is equipped with one 13-amp socket.
If you are going to be living in university
accommodation, you must ensure any electrical
appliances you bring comply with UK and EU
Electrical Safety standards.
Luggage
Remember to clearly label any luggage you bring
with you. You should put your university address on
the labels of your luggage.
CERTAIN AIRLINES OFFER DIFFERENT
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES, SO PLEASE CHECK
BEFORE YOU FLY.
Please do not send any luggage in advance of
your arrival as we have no supervised storage space.
If any packages valued over £500 are being sent,
you should ask the freight service to hold these and
arrange to have them delivered after you arrive
at Keele.
More information on what to bring can be found on
the Welcome Pages for New Students.
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Immigration Information in the UK
Passport Control
Once you arrive in the UK and enter the airport
building, you will go through ‘Passport Control’.
You will have two options; you should choose the
route for ‘Other Nationalities’.
Delayed or lost luggage
If your luggage is lost, the important thing is not to
panic! Follow the steps below and inform the Help
Desk in the Chancellor’s Building Exhibition Suite
when you arrive on campus:
If you have valid entry clearance, and you are
refused entry to the UK, you are entitled to remain
here until your appeal has been heard. You should
• Wait at the baggage claim until all luggage from
the flight has come through. Check around the
area too as it could have already been unloaded if
your flight was delayed.
• Go to luggage enquiries / the help desk / the
assistance.
has not arrived. They will then ask you for:
If you are a non EU/EEA or Swiss National and are
refused entry to the UK and you have no entry
clearance, you may have to leave the UK immediately
or be given temporary admission to the UK for a
short period.
Customs
There will be three exits to choose from –
the RED exit, the GREEN exit and the BLUE exit.
RED EXIT – Use this exit if you are carrying any
prohibited or restricted goods, or have more than the
allowance of duty free goods. The HM Revenue &
Customs website has information about what you can
and cannot bring to the UK:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/banned-restricted.htm
If you are unsure about which exit to take, or any of
your luggage contents, you should choose the red exit.
GREEN EXIT – Use this exit if you have no prohibited
or restricted goods, and are within your allowance of
duty free goods.
BLUE EXIT – If your journey started in a country
within the European Union, and you are not carrying
any prohibited or restricted goods, then you should
use the Blue exit.
DO NOT AGREE TO CARRY ANYONE ELSE’S
LUGGAGE THROUGH CUSTOMS. A CUSTOMS
OFFICER MAY ASK TO SEARCH YOUR
BELONGINGS AT ANY OF THESE EXITS.
o
Your flight ticket with flight details and
attached luggage receipt
o
A description of your missing luggage
o
Your address in the UK (if you don’t yet know,
then give the following address; International
Student Support, Walter Moberly Building,
•
will explain the procedure of getting your luggage
back and also give you a reference number and a
telephone number or website address to contact
for any news.
•
luggage is at the moment, or they may ask you to
wait for this information.
• DO NOT leave the airport before completing this
procedure, as otherwise you will not receive your
luggage and you will not be able to apply for
compensation.
Police Registration
If you are required to register with the Police
(check on your entry clearance) you should usually
do this within 7 days of arriving in the UK. This
registration is a legal requirement and if you fail to
register, you will not be complying with the
conditions of your visa.
We have made special arrangements with the
so that you do not need to register within 7 days,
providing you attend our registration sessions
organised within the first month of your time in
the UK.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Health and Safety and Insurance
Health
If you are coming on to a course that lasts for less
then six months you must ensure, prior to arrival,
that you have adequate medical/health insurance to
cover your medical expenses in the UK.
If you are coming on to a course that lasts for more
than six months you can have free treatment under
the National Health Service. However, you will have to
pay for any medicines prescribed to you by your
doctor.
You should consider private medical insurance if you
wish to cover the cost of returning home or the cost
of a member of your family coming to the UK to look
after you if you become seriously ill.
Travel & Personal Insurance
It is essential that you obtain travel insurance to
cover you for your journey from your home country
to Keele University. This should cover delays and
medical emergencies, as well as the cost of replacing
any belongings that may be lost while you are
travelling. You should obtain travel insurance
before departure.
Please note: If you are living on campus, your
belongings will automatically be covered by
Endsleigh Insurance when you move in and the
cost for this is included in your accommodation fees.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
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3
Meet & Greet
Airport Collection
Service
Airport Collection
Service
Health and Safety
when Travelling
International Student Support operates a Meet
and Greet Airport Collection service for all new
students who are arriving in the UK for the first time.
Stoke-on-Trent is a friendly city, but, as with most
other cities you should be aware of your surroundings
when travelling and take precautions to ensure
your safety.
This service is available from Manchester
International Airport ONLY
www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf
On the day, our friendly University Represenatives
will be wearing black and gold polo shirts and will
have Meet & Greet service banners. Look out for
them at the designated areas within the airport and
they will welcome you to the UK and then ensure you
are safely transported to Keele campus.
How to Book:
To use this service you must complete an online
Meet & Greet Airport Collection Request Form.
This form can be requested directly at:
support.international@keele.ac.uk
Once your form has been checked we will email you
to confirm your registration for the airport collection.
The online request form will be available until
20 March 2015.
How to get to Keele University:
You can get an idea of the location of Keele
University from ‘How to find us’:
www.keele.ac.uk/aboutus/howtofindus
More detailed information on how to get to Keele
.
from the main UK points of entry can be found in
the Welcome Pages for New Students.
Airports do all they can to make sure their passengers
are safe. However, it is still your responsibility to look
after yourself and your belongings.
Do not bring drugs (apart from those prescribed by a
doctor and accompanied by a doctor’s note) into the
weapon such as knives, CS gas, guns or stun guns in
the UK. If you try to bring any of these into the UK
nearest British Consulate or High Commission will be
able to tell you about restricted goods and duty free
allowances or you can refer to HM Revenue and
Customs website:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/index.htm?_
nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_Home
Look after your possessions and never leave your
suitcase or bags unattended in a public place,
including shops and cafes, as they may be removed
for security reasons. Make sure all of your cases and
bags are clearly labelled so that they can be identified
and forwarded to you if they become lost.
If you need to leave your luggage anywhere, make
be found in airports and train stations. The attendant
will give you a receipt to present when collecting
your luggage later.
If you are travelling by train or underground (tube),
make sure your luggage is where you can see it. Try
to sit in a carriage with other people and not alone.
Take care of your passport, tickets and money and
make sure they are in a safe place such as an inside
pocket, money belt or zipped bag. We advise against
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
carrying large amounts of cash. A small amount of
cash in lower amounts (£5, £10 & £20 notes) together
with a credit card or travellers’ cheques is preferred.
If you are taking a taxi from the airport, make sure it
these are on the side or back of the taxi. Always sit in
the back of a taxi if you are on your own. Do not
accept lifts from any unknown person inside or
outside the terminal. It is preferred that you use the
Keele University Meet & Greet Airport Collection
service so that you can be met at the airport and
transferred easily to your accommodation.
If relatives or friends are meeting you upon your
arrival in the UK, make sure that all arrangements are
confirmed before you start to travel and ask for a
contact number in case you are delayed or cannot
find them.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
4
Services
at Keele
Students’ Union
You automatically become a member of KeeleSU
when you become a student at Keele University.
We are here to advise, support, represent, develop,
inspire and entertain our students, we are here
for you!
For many students, the SU will be a huge part of their
social life. Here, opportunities exist to volunteer; it’s
where free advice and guidance can be sought and
where societies and student groups are managed.
Many of these opportunities are not only great fun,
but will really complement your studies and help to
develop life and future employment skills. Try to take
some time this weekend to get to know Your Union
and/or Keele Postgraduate Association.
Public Transport
The local public bus services are very frequent,
departing every 10 minutes to Newcastle, Stoke
(station), Hanley and Longton operated by First Bus
and Wardles with another hourly service to Madeley
and Crewe operated by D & G buses. Both providers
an annual pass to Keele students at a cost of £315.
These are available from the Students’ Union
Reception and give unlimited use of all First Bus
more information see the company websites:
journey
www.dgbus.co.uk
www.wardletransport.co.uk
Cars on Campus
You must hold a valid driver’s licence, insurance and
vehicle test certificate, where applicable, and
produce them for checking when making an
application to bring a vehicle onto campus. This is to
ensure that our campus remains a safe place to walk
or drive and ensure that if the worst happens you can
be compensated.
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Registration of vehicles and purchase
of parking permits
Students living on campus are not automatically
eligible to obtain a parking permit. If you have a
car and wish to bring it onto campus regularly, you
need to apply and pay for a parking permit. This is
completed via an online system and can normally
be done during the weeks prior to the start of term.
Student parking is zoned with a maximum number
of permits issued for each zone. Charges vary with
cheaper parking available for car parks on the
perimeter of the campus.
More details can be found on the University website
in the Transport and Parking Management Policy.
The website to make an application is:
www.cpppermitsystem.co.uk and enter Keele
University in the first time applicants reference code.
Alternatively, if you visit only occasionally, you may
use the pay and display parking facilities on the
Horwood ‘E1’, Students’ Union ‘E2’ or Sports Centre
‘D’ (2 hours max) car parks only. Any car not
displaying a permit or a parking ticket or parked on
campus roads or unauthorized areas may lead to the
issue of a civil parking notice. If you are an
undergraduate medical student or attending
placements, please see the information contained in
the induction pack provided by the School. Please
note that for students living in campus
accommodation, car permits will not be permitted. If
you are registered with a disability and possess and
display a ‘Blue Badge’, you may use Any disable
space and do not need to display a permit. Students
with disabilities or exceptional medical circumstances
should contact Disability and Dyslexia Support for
guidance and assistance (see page 80 for contact
details). For more information about Car Parking
Permits go to:
www.keele.ac.uk/studyatkeele/accommodation/
studentlifeoncampus/carparking
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Cycles on Campus
opportunities to get out and about on your bike.
Throughout the Halls of Residence there are a
number of bicycle storage facilities for use by
students. You can register your bicycle and obtain
keys for individual storage units from the Student
showing your KeeleCard and on payment of a
refundable £10 deposit. You will be reimbursed for
the deposit upon return of the receipt and the key.
Cycles are left at your own risk, so make sure yours is
insured (it is not covered by your campus room
insurance). There are covered storage areas for cycles
at Hawthorns, Holly Cross/Oaks, Lindsay, Horwood,
and at Barnes. Most academic buildings on campus
have covered cycle racks and there is a flourishing
Keele Cycle Group for support, advice and arrange
occasional social cycle rides. Most local cycle shops
Safety Bus
KeeleSU Safety Bus is a free service operated by
Keele Students’ Union and supported by Keele
University. The Safety Bus ensures Keele students
return home safely to accommodation both on and
morning. The Union has seven Safety Buses, the
Safety Bus runs from the KeeleSU car park every
night of the week in semester time, from 9pm.
Disabled access to the Safety Bus is provided;
please call in to KeeleSU Security at the main
entrance to KeeleSU for assistance or information.
For more information on the Safety Bus service see:
www.keelesu.com/safetybus
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Child Care on Campus
We are really proud of our brand new, state-of-theart, purpose-built nursery. Situated on the campus, it
Community Users. Places cannot be guaranteed so
early booking is essential. Fees do apply, however
undergraduate students may be entitled to help with
their Fees. For further information contact the
To apply for a place please contact the Nursery
Manager on:
T: 01782 733394
E: nursery@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/nursery
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
The International Student Support Centre
The International Student Support Centre, based
in the Walter Moberly Building is your first stop.
If you need information about the range of
additinal support and activities available to
students at Keele. Whether it’s Academic Advice,
Electives information, Financial Support, Support
in Accommodation, International Student Support,
Personal Issues, i.e. Homesickness etc, we can
help. The team are experienced in dealing with
a wide range of issues and will work with you to
resolve any issues or concerns that you have at
any point during your time at Keele. We have
student groups including Care Leavers, Mature
students and LGBT students, so come along and
have a chat with us.
We also have information about the Keele Mentors
scheme and the range of Welcome Week events
organised at Keele.
With a broad range of support available, there will
always be an answer to your question – whatever it
might be. For more information about the services
provided by our team please come to our
reception in the Walter Moberly Building.
Come and talk to us:
Email us direct at:
internationalsupport@keele.ac.uk
Visit our website at:
www.keele.ac.uk/iss
You can follow us on Twitter:
@keelestudentsupport
Visit us:
The Student Support Centre,
Ground Floor,
Walter Moberly Building
We are open 9am-4.45pm Monday-Friday.
Telephone us on:
01782 734481
by phone, email or by coming to the Centre.
We also operate a drop-in service which runs
Monday to Friday.
You can book an appointment or come along to
our daily drop-in service. We’ll do what we can to
answer your query straight away, or we’ll work with
you to resolve an issue over the longer term or we
might refer you to an alternative but appropriate
service such as Disability and Dyslexia Support,
Careers and Employability or to our Counselling
and Emotional Wellbeing Service.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Support in Accommodation (Residence Support)
During out-of-hours periods there is a team of
Residence Support Assistants (RSAs) who can
be called on at any time if you need to talk to
someone or discuss any issues or concerns.
This team is made up of student volunteers who
live in the Halls that you reside in and have
experience of living in University accommodation
and are aware of the problems or concerns that you
may face. You will have regular contact with your
Residence Support Assistants, who can be
identified when on duty by their blue T-Shirt/
Hoody.
Accommodation Services
If you live on campus, domestic issues including
heating and repairs will be dealt with by the
Accommodation Services Manager for your Hall of
Residence. Information on how we manage repairs
is available at: www.keele.ac.uk/accommodation/
a-z/requestarepairpestcontrol
Residence Support is one of two (together with
the Campus Security) teams that operate 24/7
and throughout the year. Familiarise yourself with
the contact details for your specific Hall (contact
details are in lots of literature and on your
accommodation noticeboards) so that you can
get in touch if you need to speak to someone.
Make sure you keep a record of this, and when
the repairs are carried out. Your landlord should
respond within a reasonable time. If you are
Should you need to contact a member of the
Residence Support team at any time, please do
so on the following numbers:
Barnes: 33782
Hawthorns: 33783
Horwood: 33784
Lindsay: 33785
Holly Cross/Oaks: 33786
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To report a fault with your campus accommodation,
please go to the Accommodation tab on the KLE.
If you live in Liberty Court, you should follow the
instructions provided when you arrive.
carried out, contact the Student Accommodation
E: accommodation@keele.ac.uk
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Counselling and Emotional Wellbeing
Counselling and Emotional Wellbeing Service is
a multi-disciplinary team; we have counsellors,
a mental health advisor and specialist practitioners
who come onto campus. We can provide one-toone counselling, advice on emotional health or
facilitate assessments and referrals into local NHS
services.
year aimed at helping you develop personal skills
and get the best of your time here at Keele. You can
find out more about these from our webpages or via
regular emails to all students.
We are based at 41 or 42 The Covert, a house near
the road to the sports centre.
To make an appointment, you need to register via
our webpages and fill out our online form.
www.keele.ac.uk/studentcounselling
ASK (Advice & Support at Keele)
Located on the ground floor of KeeleSU, ASK
delivers independent advice on a whole range
of issues, including academic, health, family,
wellbeing, accommodation, finance, Legal,
international and employment. The advice and
non-judgemental and impartial. If you are unsure
whether to ASK us what you need information and
advice about, ask us anyway; if we aren’t the right
people to Help,
we probably know who is.
Open: Mon-Fri
10.00am to 12.30pm and
1.00pm to 4.00pm.
Get in touch…
T: 01782 734800
E: su.ask@keele.ac.uk
www.keelesu.com/ask
LiveChat: www.keelesu.com/ask
Or drop in and see us; we are on the ground floor
of KeeleSU.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
5
Welcome Week
About the Programme My main activities
Please arrive on Monday 30th March 2015 as this
is when the programme starts. It is a great
opportunity for you to meet new people, get to
know your new city and find your way around the
University. You can find information on the main
activities below but for details of all the events and
actiivities on offer, please don’t forget to check the
New Students webpages for the latest changes and
most up-to-date information.
Accommodation Key Collection
Students who are living in University accommodation
can collect their keys from Student Accommodation
Services. Special arrangements will be in place should
you arrive on campus after 8pm or at the weekend.
If you think you will not be able to arrive by
30th March, you must inform:
accommodation@keele.ac.uk and
international@keele.ac.uk
about your intentions.
Enrolment
Enrolment is compulsory for all new students. It will
take place during your first few days and should
take no more than 45 minutes.
The first five days are specifically designed for
International and Students to settle in to life at
Keele University. Along with lots of fun events and
activities, you will also complete all the necessary
University procedures to make your enrolment as
smooth as possible.
The Welcome Week will provide you with
opportunities to meet all the other new students and
attend meetings and sessions with your School(s)
or Programme Teams.
30
Don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your Halls of
Residence ‘Boarding Pass’ – we will need it before
we issue you with your key.
The enrolment team will guide you through this
process and you will need to show us your passport
and visa or Biometric Residence Permit, which we
will photocopy and keep for our records.
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
English Language Testing
All international students who do not speak English
as their first language are required to attend an
International Student Language Assessment Session.
The sessions will take place in your first week.
If you think you may be exempt from this language
assessment, or if you will need to miss this session for
any reason, please contact the English Language Unit
(ELU) at elu@keele.ac.uk as soon as possible.
International Student Support (ISS)
guidance to all international students. They provide
pre-arrival visa and immigration advice, organise
the Meet & Greet Airport Collection Service and
also the Welcome Week Programme.
The team can also be contacted by email at support.
international@keele.ac.uk or by telephone on
+44 (0)1782 734481.
For further information on all services provided by
ISS, please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/iss
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Welcome Week
first weeks at Keele or for as
long as you need their advice
and support.
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WELCOME GUIDE 2015
6
Checklists
Things to do before you come to Keele
Passport
Apply for ATAS Certificate (if stated on your
CAS Statement)
Travel documents (flight tickets)
Check you have the correct level of finances
Book your flight to either Manchester
International Airport or London
Heathrow Airport to arrive before
Monday 30th March 2015
Book your Meet & Greet Airport Collection by
20th March 2015 (Manchester International
Airport only)
Arrange travel insurance
Arrange accommodation
Upload a photograph
Log onto e-Vision and give emergency
contact details
Arrange medical insurance and vaccinations
Choose your electives and optional modules
(This does NOT apply to you if you are studying
a Postgraduate course or Medicine, Pharmacy,
Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Nursing, Midwifery,
Social Work or a Foundation Year)
Complete your online accommodation induction
and PRINT AND BRING YOUR HALLS OF
RESIDENCE ‘BOARDING PASS’
Arrange a small amount of British Sterling/
Travellers’ Cheques/Bank Card
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Hand Luggage Checklist
Apply for your Entry Clearance/Visa Extension
Evidence of your finances
British sterling currency/Travellers’ Cheques/
Bank Card
Keele University CAS Statement and/
Qualification documents as listed on
your CAS Statement
Meet & Greet Airport Collection
confirmation email
Halls of Residence printed ‘Boarding Pass’
if living on campus
Medication and letter from your doctor
(if required)
Health Certificates (if required)
Some passport-sized photographs
WELCOME GUIDE 2015
Quick Contacts
Accelerated International Foundation Year Office
T: +44(0)1782 733989
E: foundationyear.aify@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/aify
Allison Gardner
Head of Accelerated International Foundation Year
T: +44(0)1782 733989
E: a.gardner@keele.ac.uk
Dianne Foulkes
AIFY Course Administrator
T: +44(0)1782 733989
E: d.foulkes@keele.ac.uk
......................................................................................................
International Student Support
Walter Moberly Building Room WM0.17
T: +44(0)1782 733801
M: +44(0)7810 500510
E: support.centre@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/iss
......................................................................................................
For queries and assistance with CAS
The Visa Compliance Team
International Recruitment & Development,
Walter Moberly Building
T: +44(0)1782 734002
E: cas@keele.ac.uk
......................................................................................................
Student Accommodation Service
Darwin Building
T: +44(0)1782 734152
E: accommodation@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/studyatkeele/accommodation/
internationalstudents
......................................................................................................
For Tuition and Accommodation Fees Payments
Tawney Building
T: +44(0)1782 733152, 734324, 734323, 733469
E: income@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/finance
Keele General Enquiries (Switchboard)
T: +44(0)1782 732000
......................................................................................................
For queries about your academic course
(before you arrive)
International Admissions
International Recruitment & Development,
Walter Moberly Building
T: +44 (0)1782 733501
F: +44(0)1782 734238
E: international@keele.ac.uk
www.keele.ac.uk/international
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T +44 (0) 1782 733507
www.keele.ac.uk/foundationcourses