inform
Autumn term 2013
The student newsletter of the International Office at the University of Warwick
Away
days...
Norwich cathedral
How will you go global?
Look out for the Go Global Fair on Wednesday 13th
November which will be taking place between 12:30pm
and 3pm in Chancellor’s Suite, Rootes Building.
You will have the opportunity to hear
from fellow students about their recent
experiences and talk to staff from the
University and Students’ Union who can
support you in your mission to ‘Go Global’.
Would you like to study in another
country or undertake a work placement
overseas through Study Abroad? Would you
like to volunteer overseas? Or get involved in
activities with an international dimension
taking place here at Warwick?
Go Global is an initiative managed by
the International Office in collaboration
with the Students’ Union which aims
to highlight the opportunities available
to all Warwick students which could
internationalise your experience, either
here on campus or overseas. Whatever
your motivation for gaining international
experience, be it for studying in another
country, developing new skills to enhance
your employability, or simply broadening
your horizons and trying something new,
come along and find out how you can Go
Global this year.
If you have just returned from a year
abroad, or are currently studying at Warwick
as a Study Abroad student, and would like
to share your experiences with students
considering that country or institution as
a future study destination, please contact
Emily Lim in the International Office by
31 October via e.lim@warwick.ac.uk
The International Office offers several
coach trips to see different parts of the
UK and the five trips for the autumn
term are now on sale! Current Warwick
students and any family members who
live with them permanently while they
study here are welcome to attend.
There’s one happening each Saturday
in November. It’s not unusual for them
to sell out quickly so if you want to
find out more about the destinations
and buy a ticket you’ll need to go to
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/
international/events/uk as soon as
you can. You can also use this page
to sign up for a mailing list to stay
informed about these trips.
The five trips are to all corners of
England. The first trip is to Bristol on
November 2nd, a laid-back city with
some striking architecture, costing
£15. Then on November 9th we’re
going to Norwich, a cathedral city
with various things to see and do, for
the price of £16. On November 16th
the destination is the walled city of
Chester with tickets costing £14. After
that, on November 23rd you can go to
the justifiably popular tourist town of
York for £17. Finally on November 30th
you can do some Christmas Shopping
at the Bicester Village outlet shopping
centre for £13.
In this issue: How will you go global? + Away days + As safe as houses
+ Immigration update + Getting around campus + Experience the great British
Christmas + Moving home + “It won’t happen to me...” + Warwick’s Prizewinner
+ Nightline + Sensible banking
2 Inform Autumn 2013
As safe as
houses
Please be wise about keeping your house
or room secure and don’t make it an easy
target for burglars. Obviously you should
make sure that your door is closed and
locked when no-one’s in but you should
do this even when someone is at home.
You may need to discuss this with your
housemates to make sure everyone in your
house is taking these issues seriously.
If you leave your room, shut the window
– it only takes a minute for someone to
steal your laptop or money etc. You should
keep anything valuable like electronic goods
hidden from view so it can’t be seen through
the window. Drawing the curtains or blinds
when it gets dark will also help. It’s best to
keep separate back-ups of your work and
other important files just in case you do ever
lose your laptop.
Although property managed by Warwick
Accommodation has some personal
possessions insurance this is not the case
for private accommodation, so you should
take out insurance if you are renting
privately. Even if you do live in University
accommodation you may want to consider
extra insurance for your most valuable
possessions.
There are lots of other helpful safety tips
at www.britishcouncil.org/c361_creating_
confidence_final_web_only.pdf so it’s
worth having a look at that.
Immigration
update
Whether this is your first time studying in the
UK or you are a continuing Warwick student, the
Immigration Service is on hand to provide confidential
help and guidance.
Based in the International Office, our
friendly and professional team offer a
range of services including one-to-one
appointments and immigration workshops.
Should you need to extend your visa during
your studies we can even submit a Tier 4
visa application to the Home Office on your
behalf, at no additional cost.
Our website at www.warwick.ac.uk/
go/immigration provides information
on various immigration issues that may
interest you, including working in the UK
during and after your studies and travelling
overseas, amongst others.
If you are planning a trip during your
studies, perhaps during the Christmas
vacation, here are some helpful hints and
tips to ensure your safety:
• Check the visa requirements of your
destination country well in advance and
do not leave your visa application until
the last minute
• Check the travel advice on the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office website –
www.gov.uk/fco
• Take out comprehensive travel insurance
to cover both you and your belongings
• Make copies of your passport and visa/
BRP card and keep these separate from
the original documents
• Consider scanning your passport and
other important documents and saving
them to a portable USB drive
• Travel with a student status letter
• Keep a note of important contact
Getting around campus
If you need to go from one part of campus to another after it’s gone dark and you’re on
your own (or even during daylight hours when you have someone with you) you may
want to consider using the campus shuttle bus. It’s a free service that follows a route
round the University, so you could find it useful.
What’s more, the shuttle bus route has recently been extended so that it can take
you to and from Canley station in the mornings and evenings on weekdays.
For the timetable and more information see www.warwick.ac.uk/shuttlebus
telephone numbers, such as your credit
card provider
• Do not keep your passport, credit cards
and other valuables all in the same place.
• Beware of pickpockets in urban areas
and keep belongings close to you in
restaurants and bars
• Where possible use inside pockets with
zippers, and carry your bag across your
body rather than on your shoulder
• Be discreet when using mobile phones or
tablets in public spaces
If the worst happens and you lose your
passport while overseas you should report
the loss to your Embassy and apply for a
new passport as soon as possible. If your
passport also contained your visa, you will
need to get a new Entry Clearance visa
before you can re-enter the UK. For the
application you will need: a new passport,
completed VAF9 form, the application fee,
a supporting letter from the Immigration
Service, and a copy of your previous
visa (which the immigration service can
provide). You do not need a new CAS.
If you lose your BRP card overseas you
should complete a VAF9 form, select ‘Singleentry Visa’ in section 7, and pay the ‘Other
Visa Types – Single entry visa to replace
Biometric Residence’ fee. You will also need
a student status letter and copy of your
previous visa from the Immigration Service.
You must apply for a replacement BRP card
within a month of returning to the UK; the
Immigration Service can also help you do this.
Experience the great
British Christmas...
It may sound a bit early to
be thinking about Christmas
but here’s an opportunity
to stay in a British home.
If you’re interested it’s best
to apply as soon as possible
to have the most chance of
having a visit.
HOST UK arranges for international students
studying in the UK to spend a day, weekend,
Christmas or New Year in a British home.
You can learn about a new culture, make
new friends and spend some time away
from a University campus that can be rather
quiet at that time of year.
The volunteer hosts invite students to
visit their home for a short time (either
from Friday to Sunday on a weekend or for
three nights at Christmas) to experience
their home life. The holidays are an excellent
time to see other parts of the UK around
Christmastime and New Year and to see
how local British people celebrate this
favourite holiday.
HOST know all their hosts and have
been to their homes. So HOST visits are safe
and the hosts want you to feel welcome and
at home in this country. You can go alone,
or with an international student friend, or
with your partner and/or children if they
are living in the UK with you. There are
hosts in every part of Britain. You tell HOST
your travel budget, and they will choose a
suitable host for you within that budget.
See www.hostuk.org for more
information, and to apply online for an
invitation. The University will pay most
of the cost of your first application so you
will only have to pay £10. Christmas visits
are very popular, so please apply as soon as
possible to avoid disappointment.
Here’s one student’s report on their visit:
“I had the time of my life with my hosts. They gave me their full time and I
learned a lot from them about British culture and hospitality. We shared
Indian cookery lessons, played the piano, sang Christmas carols at Church
and visited more British families for a get-together. Overall, it was truly
amazing; I am so very happy!”
Anant, Imperial College London Student visiting Cornwall, 14 December 2012.
Inform Autumn 2013
3
Moving home?
A lot of new students arrived this term,
but there are also many of you who
have been at Warwick for longer. If
that’s you then you may have moved
to a new address for the new academic
year. You should inform various people
about this.
Your bank needs to know. You don’t
want them sending information about
your account to your old address.
If your visa required you to register
with the police you will need to let
the correct police team have your new
address. This page gives information on
how to do this: www.warwick.ac.uk/
policeregistration
And if you are a Tier 4 visa holder
the UKBA needs to know as well.
You can notify them by completing a
migrant change of circumstances form,
found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.
uk/visas-immigration/studying/
adult-students/changes
You should also let your doctor know,
so that they don’t withdraw you from
their practice. This is usually the Health
Centre, even for many students living
off campus. We strongly recommend
that all students register with a doctor
before they get ill. And if you get a cold or
flu it is usually better to see a chemist/
pharmacist than your doctor.
There may be other organisations
you might want to inform that you’ve
moved e.g. your mobile phone or
internet provider or if you paid any
utility bills like gas or electricity directly
at your old house. Please also let the
University have your new address
if it’s in private accommodation by
using start.warwick which you can
access from www.warwick.ac.uk/its/
servicessupport/web/start
“It won’t happen to me...”
On the vast majority of occasions, this is true, but are you sure you’re covered if you’re one of the few
unlucky individuals who needs help when travelling overseas?
The University provides complimentary Business Travel insurance for all employees and students who are
travelling on University business. Here are some key points of this insurance policy:
• It covers you for medical emergencies only. It is not a full-blown health insurance policy.
• Your personal possessions are covered (up to a certain limit).
• It allows for a period of personal holiday travel, if taken at the same time as your business trip.
• You are automatically covered. There is no need to tell the Insurance Office of your travel plans (unless
you’re travelling with a spouse/children).
• By travelling, you confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, you are fit to travel and have not been
advised against travel by a qualified medical practitioner.
In some instances, those students travelling to study at an overseas University may require additional
insurance as the Warwick policy might not provide enough cover. If you’re travelling overseas for this
purpose, please contact the Insurance Office before travelling so we can help you ensure everything
insurance-related is in place. If you travel for personal reasons you must arrange insurance elsewhere.
Further information, including details of what you’re covered for (and what you’re not covered
for) can be found on the Insurance Office section of the University’s website (www.warwick.ac.uk/
insurance/keypolicies/traveloverseas). Alternatively, please feel free to contact Ben Pithouse,
Insurance Services Manager (b.pithouse@warwick.ac.uk, 024 7615 0871) or Janet McErlane, Insurance
Services Co-ordinator (j.m.mcerlane@warwick.ac.uk, 024 7652 4222).
4 Inform Autumn 2013
Warwick’s Prizewinner
A student from The University of Warwick has
fought off stiff opposition to be awarded a prize at
a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competition during the UKTI’s
Entrepreneurs’ Festival in Manchester.
Yong De (Alfred) Lua at the Prize winning ceremony (far right)
The student, Yong De (Alfred) Lua, was part of the ‘FootyforFood’ team, which
boasted participants from six countries and five continents. The international enterprise competition was held to mark the launch of
The Sirius Programme. Spearheaded by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), The Sirius
Programme is a pioneering scheme to bring the world’s best entrepreneurial talent
to the UK. The 12-month start-up support and acceleration package is open to
students and recent graduates with an early-stage business idea or business plan.
Successful applicants receive a full range of support including investment, a place in
one of the world’s best business accelerator programmes, mentoring and logistical
help with relocating to the UK.
FootyforFood’s innovative concept is a social enterprise aspiring to use sport
as a way to turn a national passion into community action, by raising the amount
of food for food banks across the world. The team’s impressive skills secured them
the Social Entrepreneurship Pitch prize which includes desk space at The Bakery, a
business accelerator, to help them develop their own ideas.
The Sirius Programme is part of UKTI’s commitment to supporting global
graduate talent by helping young people from around the world develop and make
their business ideas a reality in the UK.
For more information and to apply visit www.siriusprogramme.com. Places
will be allocated each month between October 2013 and January 2014, and the
deadline for entries for November’s intake is 31 October 2013. Also, to find out more
about enterprise activities at Warwick or discuss a business idea please contact
Richard Groves (Enterprise Development Officer) on enterprise@warwick.ac.uk
The International Office
University House, University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 8UW
t+44 (0)24 7652 3706
wwww.warwick.ac.uk/go/international
einternationalsupport@warwick.ac.uk
fwww.facebook.com/warwickinternationaloffice
twww.twitter.com/warwickio
Nightline
Being an International Student isn’t always easy.
With friends and family hundreds or even thousands
of miles away, you might feel alone and lacking
support. Nightline is a student-run organisation that
can help you cope with any problems you might
have with life at Warwick – exam stress, relationship
issues, homesickness etc. Nightline is a phone line
you can call to talk about anything: they won’t judge
you or tell you what to do – but are just available to
listen. Their service is 100% confidential and open
to everyone. If you’re running out of credit they can
call you back, so it won’t cost you a thing. You can
also drop in to the Nightline block – located between
Old and New Rootes accommodation – for a chat.
They offer free condoms, pregnancy testing kits and
attack alarms and lots of other information like bus
timetables, taxi numbers and contact details for other
helpful organisations, as well as tea and biscuits.
They want you to be able to enjoy your time at
Warwick as much as possible, so you might want to
save their number to your phone now in case you ever
want to talk: 024 7641 7668 or you could email them
on nightline@warwick.ac.uk For more information
on what they do see www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/
socs/su222/
Sensible
banking
Probably most of you have managed to set up a UK
bank account by now. There are a few things you
should do to manage your account well:
• Don’t keep lots of money in your room, put it in
a bank account. Sadly burglaries do occasionally
happen, even on campus.
• If you can withdraw cash from cash machines or
pay for goods in shops etc. using a bank card with
a PIN number do not let anyone know your PIN
number, not even your closest friends.
• When the bank send you the letter with your PIN
number follow the instructions about how to read
the PIN number carefully.
• If you need to extend your visa while you are in the
UK make sure you receive bank statements through
the post: don’t get them emailed to you. And make
sure you keep them all.
• If you change address let the bank know so
that they do not send bank statements or other
important information to your old address.
• Make sure you have enough money in your account
for any direct debits or standing orders that you are
using to make payments.
For more information about banking please see
this website: www.go.warwick.ac.uk/international/
admissions/offerholders/preparing/bank