Student Handbook 2016-2017 Welcome to Contents ONCAMPUS London & the surrounding area 2 Around campus 4 Teaching buildings 5 Enrolment and Induction 6 Attendance 10 Visas 12 Student Oyster Card 13 Student Support and Advice 14 Clubs & Societies 17 What’s going on in the City? 18 Student Representatives 19 Paying your fees 20 Term dates 23 A list of useful centre staff contacts are listed on the back page. ONCAMPUS London & the Surrounding Area 2 3 Around campus Police station Underground station 10 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3NR Russell Square (Piccadilly Line), (Urgent incidents can be reported with 5 minutes walk Birkbeck Reception or on 0207 631 6031) Mainline train stations Banks Euston (for Birmingham, Manchester & Barclays Bank plc Glasgow) 6 – 17 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 1BE King’s Cross (for Leeds, Cambridge & HSBC Bank plc Edinburgh) 1 Woburn Place, WC1H 0LQ (opposite Russell Square tube station) St Pancras (for international rail services to Paris & Brussels) Multi-faith prayer room Birkbeck, Main building, Room B06. Bus stops SOAS, Room L65 and B105 (women) – Gower Street (for bus services 10, 24, 29, main building, V220 – Vernon Square 73, 134) campus (You will need your Birkbeck Russell Square (for 7, 688, 168, 188) student card to enter). Tottenham Court Road (10, 24, 29, 73, 134) Library Supermarkets Birkbeck, ground floor. Main building. Waitrose, Brunswick Centre, WC1N 1BS (Opening hours: Mon – Sun (wide-range, a little expensive) 8.45am – 11.45pm) To access the library you will need your Tesco Express, 40 Bertrand Street, WC1N Birkbeck student card and a copy of your 1QJ opposite Russell Square tube station passport or BRP card. Restaurants Birkbeck computer facilities - main Fifth Floor Eatery @ Birkbeck, Birkbeck building Main building. There are a large number of computer Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (term time) rooms at Birkbeck you can use, most of University of London Union (ULU), Malet which are open 18 hours a day. They are Street, WC1E 7HY – cafe on the ground located in rooms 313 and 413. To access floor. Opening hours: 8.30am – 6.00pm these computers you will need your Birkbeck username and password. Post Office 33 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AP (near the Brunswick centre) 4 Teaching buildings Birkbeck Main Building, Library & 30 Russell Square Student Central, Birkbeck, University of Birkbeck, University of London London Bloomsbury, London Malet Street, Bloomsbury WC1B 5DP London WC1E 7HX 39 – 47 Gordon Square Birkbeck, University of London Clore Management Centre London Birkbeck, University of London WC1H 0PD 2 Malet Street, Bloomsbury London WC1E 7HX 25 – 26 Russell Square Birkbeck, University of London London WC1B 5D 5 Enrolment and induction Induction programme – enrolment plans for your progression degree. Enrolment is an essential part of your key dates for the upcoming term, to help induction. After you enrol, you are officially you plan your time at ONCAMPUS a student of ONCAMPUS London. London. You will need to bring the following documents Biometric Resident Permits when you attend enrolment All students on Tier 4 and planning to study for more than 6 months will have to collect a Your passport BRP card (Biometric Resident Permit) as Your visa soon as they arrive in the UK. You must not Your offer letter and wait until your course has started to collect Certificate/Confirmation of Acceptance for this card. The collection process will be Studies statement (CAS) explained in a Decision Letter given to you Your Original certificates/transcripts (for when you get your passport back following a example High School Certificate, AS-level successful visa application. The visa sticker results, IELTS Certificate, first degree in your passport will only permit you to travel certificates and other qualifications) as to the UK but is not the evidence permitting shown on your CAS statement you to stay in the UK for the full duration of Your UK address, telephone number and your course; only the BRP is. Our office is e-mail address open all year round (except public holidays) if Details of someone to contact in case of you need any support upon your arrival and emergency (next of kin). before the induction starts. Proof of payment or financial guarantee. ONCAMPUS London welcomes students Please remember: ONCAMPUS London will from across the world, many of whom only accept original documents. require a visa to study in the UK. Students who study under the Tier 4 Points-Based Failure to bring the above may result in a System (PBS) are expected to fulfil a range of delay to your starting the course, thus responsibilities via the college at which they damaging your academic progress. study. At ONCAMPUS London, these responsibilities apply to all students. During the induction programme, we will Registering with the Police give you: Certain international students that come to your timetable study in the UK will be required to register three copies of the Student Status with the police within 7 days of their arrival in Confirmation Letter – one of which you the UK. Please check your visa sticker (or can use to register with the police, one any Home Office letter showing the you can use to register with a doctor requirement to register and accompanying (GP), and one which you can use to open your BRP card) to determine whether you are a bank account. If you need additional required to register. In London, police letters please request these from the registration is completed at the Overseas office. Visitors Records Office. a meeting with a member of the academic team and your personal tutor Location and opening hours so that you can choose your academic The address of the Overseas Visitors Records modules for the semester and discuss Office (OVRO) 6 323 Borough High Street healthcare-immigration-application/ London, SE1 1JL overview for more information. Once you Tel: 0207 230 1208 have paid the surcharge and enrolled with Opening hours: Weekdays 9am – 4pm except us, you will have the same rights to health Thursdays care as a UK resident. This means that you can register with a GP (local doctor), receive Borough Tube station is the nearest hospital treatment, treatment for pre- underground station and is served by the existing conditions and full maternity Northern Line. services. You have to pay for dental (teeth) services. In addition, optical (eye) services What you need to know are not available on the NHS so you may To register, you must take the following with have to pay for them. you: a copy of the identity page of your International students who meet the £34 in cash (try to take the exact amount) following three conditions may be entitled to a copy of the Visa page from your passport a range of free healthcare services under the as well as A copy of both sides of your BRP NHS (the National Health Service): (if applicable) be registered on a full-time course two passport sized photographs be on a course delivered by a recognised completed OVRO Registration Proforma institution (a link to this electronic form will be be enrolled on a course for six months or provided by the centre) more in duration. Once you have registered, you will be given a Students who do not meet these conditions Police Registration Certificate ( You will are only entitled to emergency treatment need to bring your into the office for us from the NHS. to make a copy for our records. You should keep this throughout your time in the , as In order to access these free services, you will need it in the event you wish to students must register with a doctor (GP). extend your visa from the UK. The can You should register with a GP as soon as you also be used as an identity document in begin your studies in London. Do not wait certain circumstances. In the event you until you are unwell as it will prove to be change your address or obtain a new visa, difficult to receive immediate treatment. you must update your by reporting to your local police station (ie. you don’t You are advised to register with a GP close to necessarily need to go to Brandon House). your residential address in London. To find This must be done within 7 days of you your nearest GP, visit www.nhs.uk, click on moving GP in the ’services near you’ section and enter your postcode. Choose a GP that is Looking after your health open in the evenings and on Saturdays, so Under new regulations, you may need to pay you can arrange appointments around your a healthcare surcharge (called the timetable. ‘immigration health surcharge’) as part of your immigration application. You’ll then be To register: able to use the National Health Service visit your GP practice (NHS). You can visit https://www.gov.uk/ present your ONCAMPUS London 7 student status confirmation letter appear confident; it is one of the best ways complete registration forms of staying safe when out and about on foot. request a male or female doctor It’s a fact that confident people are less you will be sent a medical card with your likely to be mugged or assaulted, so when NHS number by post - Keep this card safe you’re walking alone try to look alert and apply to all students. walk tall. be aware of your surroundings; plan where Dentists near Birkbeck you’re going and how you’re going to get Dentist clinics are available everywhere. there. It’s also worth letting other people However, as a student you might be entitled know where you’re going and when you to a discount.