GRINNELL-IN-LONDON Student Handbook Fall 2015 1 Grinnell-in-London Contact Information In Grinnell: For general questions, please contact the Assistant Director of Off-Campus Study, Jonathan Larson, who functions as a coordinator for the program. If you cannot reach him, please contact the Director of Off- Campus Study, and then the office of the Associate Dean. Jonathan Larson, Ph.D. Assistant Director of Off-Campus Study Grinnell College Phone: 641 269 4640 1205 Park Street, Room 107 Fax: 641 269 4718 Grinnell, IA 50112 E-mail: [email protected] Richard Bright Terri Phipps Director of Off-Campus Study Administrative Assistant to the Assoc. Dean of Phone: 641 269 4850 the College E-mail: [email protected] Phone : 641 269 3460 Email : [email protected] In London: For instructions on phoning to and from the UK, see appendix D. Prof. Donna Vinter, Grinnell-in-London Resident Director Office and teaching site: Home: Grinnell-in-London 75 Stile Hall Gardens 99-103 Great Russell Street London W4 3BT England London WC1B 3LA England Phone: +44 20 7813 3265 (office) Phone: +44 20 8995 0049 (home) Phone: +44 (0)7754 182 389 (mobile) E-mail: [email protected] (mobile is for emergency use only) Florida State University (FSU) London Study Centre 99-103 Great Russell Street Head Receptionist: Janice Moody London WC1B 3LA England Phone: +44 20 7813 3223 Fax: +44 20 7813 3266 Students may receive faxes and mail, both letters and packages, at this address. Be sure to include “Grinnell-in-London” or “Grinnell College” as part of the address. Note that FSU does not sign for or take delivery of student packages sent via FedEx. The reason for this is that there is often a customs or waybill charge to be paid, which FedEx does not disclose at the time of delivery. FSU has received many requests from FedEx for payment after the student has left London. Students should therefore have their packages sent via UPS, DHL, or Parcelforce. Emergency Number in London: To call for the police, fire brigade, or an ambulance immediately, dial 999, the general telephone emergency number. 2 GRINNELL-IN-LONDON Student Handbook Fall 2015 Revised March 2015 Please note that the information in this handbook is current at the time of writing and is provided in good faith. However, Grinnell College takes no legal responsibility for any omissions or errors. This is a living document; please send comments or corrections to Jonathan Larson, the Asst. Director of Off- Campus Study. 3 GRINNELL-IN-LONDON CONTACT INFORMATION ....................................................... 2 PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2015 .............................................................................. 7 The Grinnell-in-London Program Site ...................................................................................................................... 9 Directions to the Grinnell-in-London Site .............................................................................................................. 10 Student Responsibilities and Regulations ............................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER 2: ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS ............................................................................ 12 Program Letter ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Passport ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 UK Immigration ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Health Insurance Card ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Student Accident & Health Insurance through Grinnell College ............................................................................ 15 CHAPTER 3: FINANCIAL MATTERS .................................................................................. 16 Grinnell Financial Aid ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Program Fees .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Costs incurred when a student withdraws from the program .................................................................................. 17 Grinnell-in-London Program subsidies ................................................................................................................... 17 Subsidies are provided for Grinnell-in-London students as follows: ...................................................................... 17 Estimating the Cost of Living in London ................................................................................................................ 18 Banking ................................................................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER 4: HOUSING ........................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 5: PREPARING FOR LONDON .......................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 6: ARRIVAL IN LONDON .................................................................................. 32 Passing through Immigration at the Airport............................................................................................................ 32 Travelling into London from the Airport ................................................................................................................ 32 Travel from Heathrow Airport ................................................................................................................................ 33 Travel from Gatwick Airport .................................................................................................................................. 34 Arriving at Your Accommodation .......................................................................................................................... 34 Arriving at the Grinnell-in-London Program Site ................................................................................................... 34 Welcome Tea .......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Orientation Meeting in London .............................................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 7: STUDYING IN LONDON................................................................................ 36 The city as your classroom ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Grinnell-in-London field trips ................................................................................................................................. 36 Computers and wireless access ............................................................................................................................... 37 Libraries .................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Other quiet places to study ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Bookstores .............................................................................................................................................................. 38 Exams for Graduate School .................................................................................................................................... 39 4 CHAPTER 8: SAFETY AND SECURITY ............................................................................. 40 Security Emergencies ............................................................................................................................................. 40 General precautions for staying safe in the city ...................................................................................................... 41 Stay Safe: advice from the Metropolitan Police ..................................................................................................... 42 Safety on the London Underground and buses ....................................................................................................... 44 Before you go ......................................................................................................................................................... 44 Around the station & on the platform ..................................................................................................................... 44 On the train ............................................................................................................................................................. 45 If something should happen ...................................................................................................................................