Welcome to your new home A guide for students preparing to join us at Liverpool John Moores University International Study Centre ljmu.ac.uk/isc Welcome to your new home Liverpool is a fantastic place to live and study. This friendly and welcoming city will be your new, exciting home away from home, a place where you will create new memories that you’ll treasure for life. We want to help you settle into your new home quickly and easily, so that you can concentrate on your studies and start enjoying student life in Liverpool. This guide provides all of the important information you need to prepare for travelling to the UK as well as living and studying at Liverpool John Moores University International Study Centre (ISC). For up-to-date information before your arrival, visit: ljmuisc.com/about/pre-arrival-information Contact details Address: Telephone number: Contents International Study Centre +44 (0) 151 231 3253 Rodney House Get ready to join us 1 70 Mount Pleasant Emergency telephone number: Liverpool +44 (0) 7825 274 571 What to bring with you to the UK 3 Merseyside Arriving in the UK 5 L3 5UX Getting to LJMU International 7 Study Centre Your induction programme 9 Useful websites: ljmu.ac.uk/isc Your campus 11 ukcisa.org.uk Campus map 13 educationuk.org/global/main/living-and-studying gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas Your checklist 15 Get ready to join us at the International About the Biometric Residence Permit If your Tier 4 visa application is successful, you will Study Centre have a 30 day entry vignette in your passport (entitling you to enter the UK within the 30 day period Before you join us, there are five things indicated) and a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decision letter outlining the details of your Biometric you need to do first. Residence Permit (BRP). See page 9 for information on how to collect this once you arrive in the UK. 1 Apply for your visa 2 Book your accommodation 4 Complete our pre-arrival form To study in the UK, most non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals require a visa. The most common study During your time at the International Study Centre At around one month before term starts, we will visas are Tier 4 and the Short-term student visas. Our Admissions Centre will advise and issue the relevant you can choose to either live in allocated student email you with a link to an online form. You will need documents based on the type of visa you will be applying for. accommodation or arrange your own private to complete this with your travel information - so we accommodation. know when to expect you - and your visa details. Tier 4 visa Before you apply, make sure you have: ✓ For a Tier 4 visa you will need a Confirmation of sufficient funds in an acceptable account maintained If you have requested accommodation on your If you would like us to arrange your taxi from the Acceptance of Studies (CAS) number which will be for at least 28 consecutive days application form, our Central Student Support airport, please let us know by ticking the box on issued to you by our Admissions Centre. You can only ✓ paid the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS Team will contact you directly regarding the the form. apply for your Tier 4 visa once you have received your health care treatment options available. Ensure that you have provided CAS number and the application must be made no your contact details to avoid any delay in processing more than three months before your course start date. As part of your visa application you may be asked to your request. attend a visa interview either face to face, by video Step 1: Our Admissions Centre will issue a CAS conference or on the telephone. You may be asked You may prefer to arrange your own 5 Ensure you are insured preview by email usually within three months of the questions about the reasons for studying in the UK, In our experience, it is essential that international course start date, provided you: accommodation. Make sure that you have why you have chosen to study at your chosen destination secured your accommodation before arriving in students have the protection of personal insurance 1. Have met all academic, English language and other and why you will study your chosen course. You should for the duration of their time in the UK. conditions in your offer letter the UK and let us know where you will be staying know about your chosen study destination and course to ensure that there are no difficulties on arrival. 2. Have completed, signed and returned your and how it relates to your overall career plans as well When you applied to the International Study Centre, Email [email protected] Acceptance and Indemnity Form to the as how you intend to fund your studies in the UK. you will have had the option of taking insurance Admissions Centre You must answer all questions truthfully and accurately. cover with StudyCare Plus. This insurance policy 3. Are up-to-date with your payments as stated in covers loss of personal possessions as well as your offer letter and payment plan. Short-term study visa providing health and medical insurance. If you have For the Short-term study visa, you will be issued a visa 3 Book your travel not taken this option, please make sure you have Step 2: Carefully check all the details on the CAS letter that will outline all the necessary details about Once you receive your visa, you can book your secured your own policy. preview and return the signed CAS Declaration your course (duration, fees etc.). travel. You should arrive ready for the first day of term to get a good start to your studies. If you have document. Once we have received your CAS For full information on StudyCare Plus, As part of the application you will need to submit: booked your accommodation with us, it will usually Declaration, we will issue you with your CAS statement visit: ljmuisc.com/fees/ ✓ Evidence that you can financially support yourself be available two days prior to the start of term. that will include your CAS number. student-insurance during your studies e.g. bank statements for the last Step 3: Before you submit your Tier 4 visa application 6 months You should book any flights home after the official make sure you understand and meet all the ✓ Proof of the course you intend to study end of term date, which can be found in your requirements to avoid a visa refusal. offer letter. ✓ You may also need to submit additional supporting documents depending on your circumstances. Please see page 7 for your suggested arrival airport. If you need help and advice, your local representative For both types of visa, depending on the country you live in, you may need to have a tuberculosis (TB) test before you apply. or your student enrolment Please visit: gov.uk/tb-test-visa/overview for more information adviser can help you. You can read the full visa guidance at: gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas 1 2 What to Top Tips Check with your airline on what you bring with can bring in terms of size and weight for hand and checked luggage. Calling from the UK? Once you’re in you to the UK and calling from a UK phone, you don’t need to include the ‘+44’ just replace it with an ‘0’. For example, the UK a number that internationally is +44 51 231 3253 becomes 051 231 3253. You’ll need to pack some important items, such as your passport and visa, in your hand luggage for easy access, while other non-essential items can be packed away in your suitcase. Things to pack in your hand luggage We recommend that you bring: UK Socket Passport and visa Essential toiletries and medications (please • Comfortable clothing such as trainers, UKVI decision letter check with your airline what’s permitted) jeans, t-shirts, jumpers and a warm coat. The dress code at the International Study Your offer letter If you are under the age of 18, a copy of your Adaptor UK Guardian details Centre is informal. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies • Study supplies e.g. pens and paper notepads Enough money to live on in the first few weeks. (CAS) statement – these may be less expensive in your country. We advise using traveller’s cheques and not IELTS certificate or other original Secure bringing large amounts of cash. • Laptop computer and charger – you can set English Language Test result English as the main language choice. This will Evidence of funding for your tuition fees Things to pack in your suitcase help you to improve your English and assist you and living costs, including sponsor letter with everyday aspects of your life in the UK. Liverpool has a variety of shops so you’ll be able (if you are being sponsored) to buy everything you need to live comfortably. • Mobile phone and charger Non-UK Plug Accommodation documents, including your Many of the personal items you wish to bring with • At least one travel adaptor plug – 240v with a signed tenancy agreement you, such as clothes, accessories and books can three-pin plug (like the one pictured opposite). Four passport-sized photographs go in your suitcase. Your accommodation may provide a bedding and catering pack. Any insurance documents Check the accommodation section at: Medical certificates including vaccination ljmuisc.com/accommodation records If you have booked private accommodation, you will need to check what is supplied.