INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL STUDENTS’ GUIDEBOOK

Photo Credits: Haley JONES Photo Credits: Witiwat THITASIRI Best Contents Introduction 4 Introducing the MSC 5 Pre-Departure Information 6 Visa Things to Bring Accommodation Arriving in 11 Settling in 13 Moving into University Accommodation GP Registration Banking Phone Registration Blood Test Money Saving Tips Entertainment 20 Advice 23 Contacts 26

Photo Credits: CAI Baiyi Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH

Introduction

Congratulations on your offer to study Medicine at the . This guide for International Students is written by the Medical Student Council (MSC), and will help you to prepare for your new journey – what to do before you arrive, things to expect, recommendations, and we will even give you some money saving tips. Moving to a new country is both daunting and exciting, and we hope that through this guide, you will be better prepared and more at ease.

4 Introducing the MSC

The MSC consists of a committee, elected in March of each year, and year representatives, elected at the beginning of the academic year. The council is the coordinated voice of the students and acts as a bridge between them and the faculty. Through your year reps, we feedback to the medical staff the aspects of the course you have liked, the aspects that you would like to change and any concerns you may have. We also a provide a route for staff to communicate their plans and ideas to body.

We have a notice board outside the Anatomy Lecture Theatre with our contact details and the details of your year reps. This board will also have a copy of the minutes of our latest meeting and details of the next meeting to which you are all invited, whether you are a year representative or not. We are your voice, but in order to do that effectively, we need to hear what you have to say. Edinburgh is one of the best medical schools in the UK, but to make it even better, we need your help and your opinions.

We host and organise a variety of events, namely the Medical Students’ Ball, Electives Evening, the 4th Year Careers Fair and the Scottish and Northern Irish Medical School sports weekend (SNIMS). The Medical Students’ Ball in March is a great opportunity to dress up, spend time with friends and get to know medics in other years, while SNIMS is the most exciting weekend of the medical sports calendar.

You can find us on EEMeC under ‘My Community’ on My EEMeC. We have a page on Facebook (Edinburgh Medical Students Council), which has all the Medical School’s latest news and events. Furthermore, if you would like to meet other international medics, you are more than welcome to join the ‘MSC International Medics’ Facebook group.

5 Photo Credits: Witiwat THITASIRI Best Pre-Departure Information Visa You will usually need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, depending on your nationality, programme of study, and length of stay.

You must apply for your Tier 4 visa in your home country or country of residence, and you cannot apply more than 3 months before the start of your programme.

It will take about 3 weeks for your application to be processed, depending on where you are applying from; express services may be available in certain countries.

You can find the online visa application form at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk.

6 You will need to complete the online form, pay the application fee, and book an appointment to attend nearest visa application centre. Remember to book your appointment well in advance, as there may be a long wait especially during peak periods.

If your visa duration will be 6 months or longer, you will also need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application.

The documents required for your visa application will vary from person to person, but generally you will need the following documents:

• Valid Passport • Passport Photograph • Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) • Academic evidence • Financial evidence • Visa Appointment Confirmation • Visa Fees Receipt • Printout of Online Application Form

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to provide additional documents such as:

• English language certificate • ATAS certificate (check your offer if unsure) • Tuberculosis screening certificate

Please be reminded that visa requirements depend largely on personal circumstances, as such, you should not solely rely on the information above. Please check requirements with your local UK visa office.

The University of Edinburgh has provided a detailed immigration guide which explains all of the above in more detail. It is important to read this carefully, as the UK Home Office has very specific rules about the documents which can be used in a Tier 4 visa application.

7 www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/international-office/immigration/ downloads/immigration-guide

The following websites may also be of use:

UK Visas & Immigration: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa UK Council for International Student Affairs: www.ukcisa.org.uk

Things to Bring Documents Remember to bring both originals and certified true copies of any documents used in your application (e.g. Birth certificate, previous academic records, passport and visa). You will require these documents for registration with the University. Remember to carry these documents in you hand luggage as you might be asked for them at airport immigration.

Textbooks If you find yourself lucky enough to have extra luggage space, you should consider buying your textbooks from your country as they are usually a lot cheaper; they can be up to 50% cheaper than getting them from Edinburgh.

If you are coming from: Singapore NUS Co-op @ LT27 Lim Seng Tjoe Lecture Theatre (Lecture Theatre 27) Science Drive 1 Singapore 117541

8 If you have friends studying at NUS, make sure you go with them, as they will receive further discount with their NUS student card.

Malaysia Kamal Medical Book Supplies sdn bhd 34 Jalan Pahang (Next to Hotel Grand Season, opposite GH-HKL main entrance, ground floor) Kuala Lumpur 53000 Alternatively, if can order your medical books online at www.emomedical.com.

Though you might be tempted to buy most of the books on the recommended list, we recommend that you just get the essentials, as this will save you money. The University stocks many of the books in the library and you will have access to the e-book version for majority of the textbooks required.

Personal Items Edinburgh’s weather is generally cold and wet, so make sure you pack plenty of warm clothes. Many of the items that you might need can be bought in the UK, whether online or in stores, so there is no need for you to bring over your whole room. is the main shopping street in Edinburgh with popular shops and department stores such as H&M, Tophop and Primark as well as John Lewis, Debenhams and M&S. Parallel to Princes Street is George Street where more upmarket shops and some banks are located. Sale periods in UK are from Boxing Day to mid-January and late June to mid-July.

Some international students get a bit homesick the first couple of weeks, so bring some small items that will remind you of home to make the transition easier; snacks are often a good idea. However, do check www.hmrc.gov.uk/

9 customs/ to make sure that you are not bringing in restricted goods – there is nothing worse than getting your goodies confiscated at the airport.

You might also want to check out the following shops in Edinburgh as they import a lot of snacks and produce:

Asian Food Stores: Starlight: 25-29 Clerk Street, EH8 9JH Aihua: 36 W Crosscauseway, EH8 9JP Hing Sing: 310 Walk, EH6 5BU

Halal Food Store: Bismillah Food Store: 3 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BH

Polish Food Store: Bona Deli: 66 South Clerk Street, EH8 9PT

Accommodation If your family is coming along, remind them to book their accommodation in advance, as rooms are difficult to find during this period.

If you are staying in Pollock Halls, there are some rooms available within the compound itself that they will be able to stay in. Check out www.edinburghfirst.co.uk for more details. The Salisbury Hotel is about a 3- minute walk away, and is another good option: www.the-salisbury.co.uk.

Short-term accommodation is a good cheaper option if they are staying for a week or more. www.airbnb.co.uk should give you some options.

10 Arriving in Edinburgh

Make sure that you have the documents that you used for your visa application in your hand luggage as you may be asked for them at immigration.

If you are arriving on the weekend before fresher’s week, there will be a welcome team at the airport arrival hall between 8am-10pm. The welcome team will be able to help you with transport to the city and will be able to give you information about key collection (for university accommodation).

Photo Credits: Melike SENTURK

11 Getting into the city

There are many ways of getting into the city other than driving.

Taxi Just like in most cities, it is very easy to catch a Taxi from the airport. Head to the taxi stand and you will have a choice of either private hire or black cab. It is generally about the same price, so as a general rule, take the one with a shorter queue. It is about £25 to get from the airport to the University area.

Bus Airlink 100 This is a 24 hour service. You have to get tickets from the stand, which is right outside the arrival hall. It costs £4 for an adult single ticket, and £9 for an open return ticket. This will take you to in about 25 minutes.

Lothian Bus Service 35 This is a local bus service that runs from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre and on to Ocean Terminal in Leith. It costs £1.50 for a single ticket and £4 for a day ticket, which can then be used on all Lothian Bus Services. Tickets are bought on board the bus and no change is given.

Tram The tram service runs from Edinburgh Airport to the centre centre. Tickets are bought from the machines at the tram station. It costs £5 for an adult single and £8 for a return.

12 Settling In Moving into University Accommodation Once you have fully accepted your accommodation offer, you will be notified of the move-in dates. Keys can be collected from the site office upon arrival. Please visit www.accom.ed.ac.uk/new-and-prospective-students/arrival-information/ for more details.

Photo Credits: Witiwat THITASIRI Best

13 GP Registration You should register with a GP as soon as you arrive in Edinburgh. You can register with The University Health Service.

The University Health Service, Richard Verney Health Centre 6 Bristo Square EH8 9AL Tel: 0131 6502777

The University Health Service normally registers new patients Monday – Friday (1030 – 1430). However, during Freshers’ Week registration hours are extended to 0900 – 1600. You will need your matriculation card for registration. You will receive more information about this via email or in the university accommodation welcome pack. Alternatively, you can find more information at www.health-service.ed.ac.uk.

In some cases, the University practice may become oversubscribed. If that is the case, you will be able to register in any of the various other GP practices in the area. A quick Internet search will help you find the most convenient one.

If you are staying in Edinburgh for less than 3 months you will not be allowed to register, however in an emergency you can be seen by the GP as a temporary resident.

14 Banking If you are staying in the UK for more than a year, it is advisable that you open a bank account as soon as you arrive in Edinburgh.

You will require the following documents when opening a bank account: • Confirmation of UK Address • Passport/ EU Identity Card • Visa • Tuition Fee Receipt • Proof of Home Address (only if you are applying to HSBC)

If you are staying in university accommodation, you will be able to print your bank letter from your MyEd portal as confirmation of you UK address. Please note that you can only do this after you have fully checked into your accommodation. More information can be found at www.accom.ed.ac.uk/new- and-prospective-students/arrival-information/opening-a-bank-account.

Photo Credits:15 Peter STUBBS If you are not staying in university accommodation, you can order your bank letter from the Student Administration Department (Registry) at www.ed.ac.uk/ schools-departments/student-administration/order-documents/bank-letter.

The bank letter can only be used at the following bank branches:

Barclays Bank 1 St Andrew Square, EH2 2BD 72-74 George Street, EH2 3BX Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00; Sat 10:00 - 14:00 Central Tel: 0345 734 5345

Bank of Scotland 4 Bristo Square, EH1 1JB, Tel: 0131 4652313 300 Lawnmarket, EH1 2PH, Tel: 0131 4702007 91 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AU, Tel: 0131 4562515 Mon - Fri 09:30 - 14:00

HSBC Bank (If your parents’ have a HSBC Premier account, you may be able to open an account before arriving in Edinburgh) 118 Princes Street, EH4 2AA 76 Hanover Street, EH2 1HQ Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00; Sat 09:00 - 17:00 Tel: 03456 040 626

Lloyds TSB 9-11 Clerk St, EH8 8JH Mon - Fri 09:30 - 17:00 Tel: 03459 758 758

16 Royal Bank of Scotland 61 Forrest Road, EH1 2QP, Tel: 0131 226 6061 30 Nicholson Street, EH8 9D, Tel: 0131 668 3351 31 North Bridge, EH1 15F, Tel: 0131 556 2499 Mon - Fri 09:15 - 16:45; Sat 09:00 - 13:00 (Nicholson St only)

Santander (University Branch) Potterow, 5/2 Bristo Square, EH8 9AL Mon - Fri 10:00 - 18:00 Tel: 0845 972 4724

You may visit other bank branches, however, they may not accept your bank letter as proof of address. You should call the respective bank branches before going to make an appointment and to ensure that they accept the bank letter.

Phone Plan Many of the providers offer special promotions during Freshers’ Week, which you can take advantage of. You should walk around to see what promotions are being offered if you are not looking for anything specific.

If you are looking for a simple pay as you go plan, you can consider Giffgaff. They offer various pay as you go packages, which you can choose from and change monthly. As you choose them monthly, you will not have to pay for months where you are not in UK. This can also be a good option for your family and friends coming for short visits. However, you will need to order a SIM card, which would take about a week to arrive. For more information, look at www.giffgaff.com.

17 Registration You will be required to register with the University of Edinburgh at the start of each academic year. You will receive an email from the university, during the first couple of weeks, about where and when you can register.

For the first registration, you will require: • Passport • Birth Certificate • Academic Records (A Level Results or Equivalent, English Language Qualification) Please check your email for more information about this.

Blood Test In the first couple of months, you will be advised to go for a blood test to check your immunisation and vaccination history. If you have your vaccination records, it is recommended that you bring it along with you.

Money Saving Tips If you are planning to travel within UK, you should consider applying for a 16-25 Railcard. It costs £30 for 1-year, or £70 for 3-years. Though it may seem expensive, you will “get” you money back if you are planning to travel frequently, or if you are travelling to London as you get 1/3 off your rail fare with the card. There may sometimes be promotions, check www. 16-25railcard.co.uk for more details.

18 Sign up with UNIDAYS to get discounts for many UK shops when you shop online, including Asos, Topshop and Apple. It is free to sign-up, all you need is your university portal login. More details at www.myunidays.com.

It is also a good idea to get SnapFax, which gives you discounts for takeaways and other services, but wait till a couple of weeks past Freshers’ Week before getting it, as they will give it out for free then.

Like Student Money Saver on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ studentmoneysaver as they some times have exclusive student promotions and discounts.

Photo Credits: Witiwat THITASIRI Best

19 Entertainment

Photo Credits: Andrei DUMITRIU

There is always something going on in Edinburgh, and it is home to some of the best events in the UK. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world, happens annually in August and is definitely one of the biggest highlights of the year.

You will very quickly get to know where the popular student hangouts are, where to go and where not to. Just to start you off, we have come up with a list of places you might want to check out.

20 Big Cheese: One of THE student nights out in Edinburgh. Cheesy pop music every Saturday. 5/2 Bristo Square, Potterrow, EH8 9AL. WhyNot Nightclub: Famous for it’s Flare Monday nights. Very popular with students. 14 George Street, EH2 2PF Castle Clvb: Especially good on Fridays. Occasionally has international nights, which are good fun. 3 Queensferry Lane, EH2 4PF. Black Medicine Coffee Co.: They have board games and pretty good coffee; a good hangout after lectures. 2 Nicolson Street, EH8 9DH. Brass Monkey: They have a room that is filled with cushions and they often do film screenings. 14 Drummond Street, EH8 9TU. Clerk’s Bar: Interesting selection of Craft Beers that changes every week. Serves pretty good food as well. 74-78 South Clerk Street, EH8 9PT. Earthy: If healthy organic food is your thing, this place serves lots of it. 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace, EH9 1SX. Mimi’s Bakehouse: Serves fantastic breakfasts and cakes. 63 Shore,EH6 6RA. The Greenmantle: Cozy little pub with amazing curly fries and burgers. Make sure you make a reservation as it is often packed. Discounts with some societies and Snapflax. 133 Nicolcon Street, EH8 9JP. Lian Pu: Convenient with wide variety of Asian food. Decently price and frequented by most Asian students. 14 Mashall Street, EH8 9BU. Kitchen and Café: Decent selection of curries to choose from. Reasonable priced with big portions. 50 Potterrow, EH8 9BT (accessible through Edinburgh Central Mosque). The Pine Tree Bakery: Polish Bakery serving beautifully made pastries - the smell alone will be sure to remind you of Poland. 64 Home Street, EH3 9NA. Tang’s: Probably the best ramen in Edinburgh, however on the pricey side. 44 Candlemaker Row, EH1 2QE. Ting Thai Caravan: Really good thai food cooked by thai chefs. Reasonably priced; much cheaper for lunch than dinner. Teviot Place, EH1 2RA.

21 10 to 10 in Dehli: Limited selection of choices, but the food is good. With mains averaging £4 (even cheaper with some society and student discounts), who can complain. 67 Nicolson St, Edinburgh EH8 9BZ.

One of the ‘must-do’ things in Edinburgh is to walk up Arthur’s Seat. From the top, you will be able to get fantastic views of the city, so make sure you go on a clear day.

It is also a good idea to join the society of your respective country, as you often get discount cards for many pubs and restaurants. Details can be found at www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/getinvolved/societies/findasociety/ under the “International and Multicultural” tab.

Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH

22 Words of Advice

Etieene Chew, Year 1 Transitioning into university is tough, especially when you are coming from a faraway country. Becoming a minority may be alarming, you will mature through the process with time. Meanwhile, here are some tips to get you sorted:

1. Speak in your most neutral accent and do so slowly, and consider picking up local expressions. Don’t try to fake an accent either - this may sometimes backfire and confuse your peers even more. 2. Don’t be alarmed if you notice people looking at you more when you speak up during tutorials because sometimes they are just trying to lip-read you. Speak slowly and loudly to train your communication skills. 3. Try to participate as much as possible in tutorials - even if it seems like too much effort - it is beneficial to your learning! 4. Don’t always cling to the people from your hometown - big groups scare away other students - but also don’t go about avoiding them either. These are the people that you would most likely identify with, but step out of your comfort zone, make new friends and experience the culture! 5. Speak English. Don’t exclude people. You’re not going to make any British friends if you are not speaking English!

23 Chin Yoxin, Year 2 Going to university is terrifying. You have to do almost everything by yourself. It’s even worse if you are travelling hundreds or thousands of miles to get to university, especially if you are alone.

My advice? Make friends on your first day of arriving in university. Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid. Almost everyone is in the same position as you. Trust me, people are already forming friendship groups on the first day, and it would be much harder to join in at a later stage. You might not stick with the group of friends you make during Fresher’s Week, but at least you have someone you can explore the town with, or even just to adjust to living away from home.

Go out of your comfort zone and try new sports or join societies that seem interesting to you. Figure out what you actually enjoy early on then you can commit more time to them.

Don’t stress out either if nothing seems to be going your way. My motto in life is: Everything WILL (eventually) be alright. Just work hard AND play hard. But if you feel like you are struggling with homesickness or with making friends, or with anything really, you can always approach your friendly MSC International Reps at [email protected]!

24 Sophia Lee, Year 2 Here are some of the questions I had when I was in first year and so I hope these few pointers will be of good use to you!

What textbooks do I need to buy? • Most of the textbooks are available in the library but make sure you have a personal copy of the following because you will be using them very often. Davidson’s Principles & Practice of Medicine MacLeod’s Clinical Examination A good anatomy textbook (I recommend Gray’s) and/or an anatomy atlas • BMA Library now posts textbooks to you for free! You can borrow up to 15 books and renew them up to 3 times .

Where to get your medical supplies (e.g. stethoscope)? • BMA Medical Supplies Direct. Do remember to sign up for BMA membership during the academic fair which takes place in the first few weeks of school. It is free for the first year!

How much do I need to study? • Do your revision everyday if possible and do not leave it till the last minute! Make sure you get the main concepts right, and don’t be afraid to ask the lecturers and tutors! • Try to complete all your work before the weekends so that you have time to enjoy and have fun as well!

25 Relevant Contacts

Year Coordinators Should you have any other questions, you can contact your relevant year coordinators: Year 1 Hedwig Ponjee [email protected] 0131 242 6410 Year 2 Claire Johnston [email protected] 0131 242 6787 Year 3 Linda Pollock [email protected] Year 4 Judith Bryce [email protected] Year 5 Jennifer Hill [email protected]

International Office 33 Buccleuch Place, EH8 9JS Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 4296 Email: [email protected]

Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact one of us: Ed Tulloch (Convenor): [email protected] Andrew Li and Min Kim (International Student Reps): [email protected] Joanna Wilson (Electives Rep): [email protected]

26 We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their contribution towards the production of this guide:

Photographs Cai Baiyi Andrei Dumitriu Haley Jones Eugene Konstantinovsky Sebastian Kuah Melike Senturk Witiwat Thitasiri Best Peter Stubbs

Advice Etienne Chew Chin Yoxin Sophia Lee

This guide was adapted from the ‘MSC Student’s Guide’ and was written by Sarah Mok and edited by Andrew Li on behalf of the MSC.

27 Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH

Photo Credits: Eugene KONSTANTINOVSKY

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Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH Photo Credits: Sebastian KUAH