International students’ Welcome Programme and Enrolment 2003 international students' welcome programme and enrolment 2003 Introduction We look forward to welcoming you to the University later this year. You may arrive on any day between Friday 26 September and Monday 29 September. There are a number of activities arranged for 26, 27 & 28 September including tours and social events. Further details can be found in this booklet. The Welcome Programme begins on Monday 29 September and gives you an opportunity to find your way around the University at a time when people are free to help you. You will be able to meet new international students and University staff. This booklet applies to Socrates-Erasmus, Junior Year Abroad, or EU study abroad students. 2 contents Travel..................................................... 4 Arrival................................................... 6 Accommodation................................ 8 Meals..................................................... 9 Finance and insurance................... 10 Registration and Enrolment.........13 Programme of events.....................16 How to find us............................... 24 3 travel Before you travel – Flight Details If you have special needs (e.g. disability) and would like assistance at the airport, please send in advance by fax or email the details of your flight number, date and time of arrival at London Heathrow or Gatwick airports, to the International & Study Abroad Office, The University of Reading, Whiteknights House, P.O. Box 217, Reading RG6 6AH, UK (Fax: 44 118 975 2252; e-mail: [email protected]). What to take Make sure you carry the following items in your hand luggage: • Passport • Student visa if required You should not enter with a Visitor visa as this will cause problems later. It is essential to check with the British Embassy or High Commission in the country of your nationality or the country in which you are living whether you need a visa to enter the UK. • Letter from the University confirming your admission • Address of your accommodation in Reading (if known) • Money, at least £100 (UK sterling) in cash for your immediate needs (meals, bus & taxi fares etc). Avoid carrying any more cash in case it gets lost or stolen. Most shops and hotels will accept credit cards. 4 when you arrive at the airport in the UK Walk directly from the plane into the terminal building and follow signs for: ARRIVALS You will need to show your: • Passport PASSPORT • Student Visa " (if required) PASSPORT CONTROL • Letter from university UK or EU All other confirming admission Passports Passports Look for your flight number display BAGGAGE above the baggage carousel. Trolleys RECLAIM are free CUSTOMS Goods to Nothing declare to declare ARRIVAL HALL Staff from Arrivals and Departures UK (A&D UK) will be on duty at the Arrivals Hall at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports from Friday 26th September to Monday 29th September, 0600 hours until 1600 hours. If you have any problems, please make contact with them. They will be wearing a badge and carrying an A & D UK sign. If necessary go to the Information Desk and ask for the Reading Representative from Arrivals & Departures UK. 5 how to get to reading FROM HEATHROW (You do NOT need to go to Central London. Buy a single ticket on the RailAir Link bus to Reading. They run every 30 minutes and it takes about 1 hour, FROM single ticket - £9.50, cash only) LUTON Look for the correct bus stop as shown below Terminal 1 RailAir Bus Stop 11 Free shuttle bus between Terminal 2 RailAir Bus Stop 4 the airport and Luton Terminal 3 RailAir Bus Stop 6 Parkway Station. 8 trains Terminal 4 RailAir Take free shuttle bus or per hour during peak times Heathrow Express Train to Terminal 3 & go to Bus Stop 6 (www.thameslink.co.uk) to to meet RailAir Link bus King’s Cross. Underground to Paddington Station where trains run frequently to Reading. FROM FROM STANSTED READING GATWICK The Stansted Express runs (Trains run to Reading every 15-30 minutes from from Gatwick Airport Monday to Saturday. The every hour and take about journey is 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes – Liverpool Street Station single ticket - £14.30) (www.stanstedexpress.com) FROM - a replacement bus service CENTRAL operates on Sundays until LONDON Spring 2004. Underground to Paddington Station (Trains run frequently to where trains run frequently Reading from Paddington to Reading. Station and take about 30 minutes, single ticket £12) Problems and delays If you are in difficulty or arrive late, for example if your flight is delayed Telephone +44 (0) 118 987 5123 Ask for the International & Study Abroad Office 6 arrival at reading • Taxis run from Reading railway station to Halls of Residence and will cost about £7. You should go directly to your Hall of Residence or Reading address (if known). • If you have very little luggage you may travel by bus. Bus numbers 9,12 & 20 run from Reading railway station to the University. Representatives of the University will be at Reading railway station near the Heathrow RailAir bus terminus to greet you and assist you with your luggage - • between 0900 and 1400 hours from Friday 26 September to Sunday 28 September • between 0800 and 1700 hours on Monday 29 September. Luggage trolleys are available at the station (you will need a £1 coin which is returnable). Transport may be provided from Whiteknights campus to the Halls of Residence. Please note that University offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday. The Halls of Residence and a Welcome Desk will be open (see section on Registration and Enrolment on page 13 for details of Welcome Desk). Accommodation for students WITHOUT A HALL PLACE: • If you have no accommodation already organised, you should go to the Accommodation Service in Whiteknights House Annexe (See Map Page 27/ Building 18 ) • If you arrive when the Accommodation Office is closed go to the Security Office on the ground floor of Whiteknights House, at the entrance near the car park, where you will be given emergency accommodation (See Map Page 27/ Building 14) 7 accommodation • Students who have been allocated a place in University accommodation will be able to stay there during the Welcome Programme. There will be an extra cost. • You may arrive at your University accommodation from 26 September up to 29 September, but you must inform your Hall at least four days in advance of the date and time of your arrival. It is important that you occupy your room not later than Monday 29 September unless you have given four days' notice to your Hall of your delayed arrival. If you have not arrived by 17.00 on Tuesday 30 September your room will be re-allocated to another student unless you have told your Hall that you will be delayed. Bed linen is provided in the Halls, but you are asked to bring your own towels. If you have not been allocated a place in a Hall of Residence, you are advised to arrive early during the week beginning Monday 22 September. Arrange to stay in a bed and breakfast establishment or hotel or in temporary accommodation (see below) while you look for somewhere permanent. You should start by consulting the lists in the Accommodation Office. Arrangements will not be made for you but you will be offered advice and support. Most students find somewhere to live within a week or two. We have some temporary rooms in a Hall of Residence for those students without accommodation. These are available from Tuesday 23 September until Friday 3 October at a cost of £16 per person per night (includes meals); minimum stay is 3 nights. Please fax the booking form provided in your private accommodation information pack, to the International & Study Abroad Office + 44 118 975 0046. 8 meals Normal arrangements: • If you are resident in a fully catered Hall you will be able to eat meals there from lunch on Friday 26 September. You should consult your Hall notice board for detailed arrangements and meal times. • If you are resident in self-catering accommodation you will be responsible for buying and cooking your own food. • You can buy lunch or snacks from Monday to Friday in the Cedar Room, Blue Room or the Students' Union on Whiteknights campus or at Bulmershe. Special arrangements: On Monday evening, 29 September you will be invited to the Pro- Vice-Chancellor's Reception. Please bring the invitation card which will be given to you at the Welcome Programme Registration and Enrolment, otherwise you will have difficulty gaining admission. Please note: Most Halls will not be providing a meal on this evening. On Sunday 5 October coach excursions have been arranged to Oxford. Students in Halls which provide meals, wishing to have packed lunches on this day should order them from their Hall office at the beginning of the week (not later than Wednesday 1 October) 9 finance Payment of Hall Fees (if you are staying in a Hall of Residence) • The cost of your Hall accommodation after Tuesday 30 September will be included in your bill (the request for payment) for your Autumn Term accommodation. This bill is normally sent to students a few weeks after the start of the Autumn Term in October. The bill you receive a few weeks after the start of the Autumn term will be for fees for your permanent Hall place, charged for the period specified in your contract. Bank Accounts Most students find it necessary to have a British bank account. You may open an account with the bank of your choice. Lloyds TSB Bank has a small office (sub-branch) in Black Horse House near the Students’ Union building on the Whiteknights Campus. There is also a NatWest Bank on Christchurch Road just off the main University campus and there are other banks in the town centre.