The University PowerPoint Template/file/IndiaPre-Departure.pdf• CAS number after offer becomes UA (and deposits paid, if required) • Separate scholarship letters (if applicable)

Pre-Departure Briefing India 2012

10/08/2012

To discuss today • India & Sheffield

• Key dates

• Preparing to come to Sheffield

• Meet & Greet scheme

• International Orientation Programme

• What to bring with you

• Accommodation

• Finances

• Visas

Pre-arrival information

• You will receive:

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Key dates

What to expect and when

Key dates: Arrival

• Arrive on 10th September for residential orientation

• All other arrivals by 16th September

• Contact Accommodation Services if arriving earlier/later

• Intro Week: 17th – 23rd September

• Academic teaching begins on 24th September

Key dates: during the year

• Two semesters in one academic year

• Semester I: 24/09/12 – 02/02/13

• Semester II: 04/02/13 – 08/06/13

• Separated by vacations

• No formal teaching in vacations, some facilities open

• University closed during Christmas & New Year

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Preparing to come to Sheffield

What to bring…..and what to leave behind

Checklist before you leave

• Ensure you have all the documentation you need from the University

• Arrange accommodation

• Obtain study visa for the UK

• Health/immunisations

• Insurance for the journey

• Travel arrangements

• Book Meet & Greet service

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What to Bring

The essentials you need to bring to Sheffield

Essentials for hand luggage

• All original documentation and letters from the University

• Accommodation confirmation letter (if you have one)

• Medical certificates / visa documents

• All your original mark sheets, transcripts and certificates

• Black and green booklets (for last minute queries and contact numbers)

• Bank statements, a sponsor‟s letter or bank draft.

• Cash and/or travellers cheques for first few days

• Your passport

• Valuables, medicines 10/08/2012

10/08/2012 © The University of Sheffield / Department of Marketing and Communications

• Some clothes and toiletries in case your suitcase doesn‟t arrive

• Contact email addresses and phone numbers

• Personal possessions, i.e. family photos

• Warm jumpers/coat/good pair of shoes

• Indian traditional costume for festivals and international events that will be arranged throughout the year.

• Laptop (if you have one) and adaptor. Most of campus is Wifi enabled and CICS will set up your laptop for you.

Other Essentials

Electricity • UK Mains Voltage is 230V

• Ensure you obtain an adaptor if you bring any electrical equipment.

• Most electrical equipment has a transformer (i.e. laptop power supplies) that can cope with 110-240V but please check.

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What to leave behind….

• Remember….airlines charge for excess baggage!

• Books for studies

• Some foodstuffs cannot be imported

• Cooking equipment

• Bedding

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Travelling to Sheffield

A warm welcome awaits

Please fly to Manchester Airport

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Meet & Greet scheme

Meet & Greet scheme

• From Manchester Airport to Sheffield

• Sunday 9th – Sunday 16th September inclusive

• Flights arriving by 5pm each day

• Bookable online from July 2012

• £20 for students & £25 for family and friends

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International Orientation Programme

Supporting you from the start

Residential orientation

• Week long residential programme for new international students

• 10th – 15th September 2012

• Chance to adjust to new environment

• Varied programme of activities

• Bookable online from July 2012

• £140 includes accommodation and some meals

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Intro Week

• Non-residential welcome

• 17th – 23rd September 2012 in Sheffield

• Introductory events for academic and non-academic departments and services

• Registration with the university and your department

• Departmental expectations of students

• Freshers Week & the Student Union

• Important to be in Sheffield at this time

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Accommodation

Your home from home “Best Student Accommodation” Award.

Student Accommodation

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Three types of student accommodation available:

University owned accommodation (booked via university) - Private bedrooms with en-suite rooms/shared facilities

- Catering facilities

Managed Partnership accommodation (booked via university) - City and Central Campus Halls of Residence

Private sector accommodation (booked privately without university help) - Privately owned Halls of Residence or student houses

Standard Accommodation Studio Apartment

En-suite Accommodation Deluxe Accommodation

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Accommodation Guarantee UNDERGRADUATE

• Need to have selected Sheffield as CF/UF by 6th July

• Apply for accommodation by 31st August and complete form correctly, as soon as you have selected us as your Firm Choice.

• We will not allocate a room until offer is UA and student has Visa.

POSTGRADUATE

• Accept conditional/unconditional offer by 6th August

• Apply for accommodation by 31st August and complete form as soon as you have accepted your offer.

• Return your confirmation slip by 11th August

The University will begin allocating accommodation in mid-July and will continue through August and September (for all students)

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Accommodation Guarantee

• Check Accommodation website: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation (Choose „Prospective Students‟ and then the „International Students‟ link on left.)

• Apply online: http://www.shef.ac.uk/accommodation/prospective/apply

• Can‟t apply online? You can download paper forms from the above website as well

• Haven‟t applied or forgot to apply? Check out the PropertywithUS office in Students‟ Union for private sector options

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Accommodation Deposit • After making your application, you will receive instructions via email

• A deposit of £150 is required to reserve your accommodation.

• Pay up to 7 days after receipt of your accommodation contract by:

- Credit card by phone or online

- Bank transfer

• The deposit is returned when you leave your room at the end of your contract.

• Collect keys and move into your accommodation on either Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th September.

• If it is not possible to arrive by the 16th you MUST contact the Accommodation Office

• Any problems or missed your flight? If we don‟t hear from you, your room will be given to someone else and you lose your deposit.

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Private Sector Accommodation 2 Types of private sector student accommodation

Halls of Residence (managed and owned by private developers)

• All city centre based (0.5 miles from campus)

• Configuration same as University Halls of Residence

• All Self-Catering, no meals included

• Cluster of flats shared with approx 3-11 other students

• Single or mixed gender accommodation (as requested by you)

• Rent includes water, electricity but NOT contents insurance and internet.

Student Houses (managed and owned by a private landlord/landlady)

• Based around the city, most notably the areas of Crookes and, Upperthorpe and Broomhill

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Private Sector Student Accommodation • Good range and plenty of private accommodation available in Sheffield

• Contract with private landlord or lettings agency

• Monthly rent plus bills (electricity, water, gas), phone/internet and contents insurance.

• You have no say in who you live with unless you apply as a group

• Help available from the University via the Students‟ Union PropertywithUS office

• Private sector accommodation cannot be organised in advance of your arrival in Sheffield.

• NEVER sign a contract or agree a deal before you arrive in Sheffield

www.accommodationforstudents.com/sheffield (Overview of privately owned student accommodation)

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Temporary Accommodation For parents, relatives and friends

• There are guest houses, B&B & hotels that your parents, relatives, and friends can stay at if they arrive with you in Sheffield: www.yorkshiresouth.com/stay

• You must arrange temporary accommodation if you have no other arrangements BEFORE you come to Sheffield

• The University has a limited number of B&B rooms the week before the beginning of the term: http://onlineshop.shef.ac.uk - this can only be used by students (no family, relatives, or friends).

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Finances

Making the most of your money

Living Expenses

UNDERGRADUATE

9 months = £7,200 required for UKBA

POSTGRADUATE

12 months = £7,200 required for UKBA

This covers all expenditure apart from tuition fees • Accommodation, books, food, local/UK travel, socialising

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Tuition Fees: payment options • Fees are listed on your CAS information

• Part or full payment before visa application A receipt will be issued as soon as payment has gone into the University tuition fee bank account. Overseas students should pay a deposit as high as possible before they apply for their visa (min. £1,000), this will help with your visa application.

• You can pay your tuition fees in 2 or 4 instalments.

• Remainder of first instalment (50% or 25% of tuition fees, depending on instalment plan, minus deposit already paid) is payable during registration.

• Four instalments payable on: 01 Oct 2012 - 01 Dec 2012 - 01 Feb 2013 - 01 Apr 2013

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Tuition Fees: method of payment

• All payments can be made by:

- Credit card

- Bank transfer

- Bank draft

• Payments can only be accepted in British Pound Sterling

• University bank details in pre-arrival guides

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• Opening an account can take several weeks so bring enough funding for first few weeks and to pay tuition and accommodation fees.

• You can open an account at most high street banks in Sheffield (HSBC, Santandar, Natwest, Yorkshire Bank, Lloyds-TSB, Coop, Halifax, Barclays, RBS).

• Banks will promote their student account packages at our Fresher‟s Information Fair during Intro week.

• The University of Sheffield will provide you with letters for all of the major banks during Registration Week, to assist with your applications.

• Check if your current bank allows you online access to your funds while in the UK and/or allow access to cash via ATM machines in the UK.

Opening a Bankaccount


• When opening a UK account choose carefully (Current/Student Account, Debit Card)

• To open an account you need

- Passport

- Proof of address

- Proof of student status (certifying letter or letter issued by SSiD, also available during Residential Orientation Programme and Registration Week)

Opening a Bankaccount

Part-time work

• International students can work up to 20 hours per week during their studies

• We recommend no more than 10-12 hours paid employment per week

• Visit Student Union Job shop / Job Agencies

• University provides support to bring you into contact with potential employers, e.g. Graduate Recruitment Fairs

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Visas

How the University can help

Visas • PBS (Tier 4): You require 40 points (30 from CAS number, 10 from funds).

• ATAS (Required for some courses.)

• University provides:

• CAS number after offer becomes UA (and deposits paid, if required)

• Separate scholarship letters (if applicable)

• Deposit receipt (if deposit has been paid) – Having paid a fee deposit will help your visa application!

• Show financial documentation & other documents from the University.

• NEVER come to Sheffield without having sufficient funding to pay for your complete tuition fees and living expenses.

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Visas • CAS

• Once your status is UA (Unconditional – Accepted) and you have paid your deposit (if required) you will receive a CAS Application E-mail within 7 days.

• Follow the instructions and complete the online form, confirming information is correct and notifying us of any incorrect or missing information. Do this as soon as possible!

• We will submit your CAS Application Information to the UKBA (within 5 working days of you completing and submitting the online form).

• The UKBA will process your information and (if everything is correct) they will issue your CAS number (within 1 working day of receiving your CAS Application Information).

• We will send you your CAS Statement E-mail, with your CAS number (within 2 working days of us receiving your CAS number from the UKBA).

• You can now use this number to apply for your visa.

• Seek local help from British Council or a university representative (if required).

• For visa amendments while in Sheffield help is available from the University and the Students‟ Union

• The University employs a special visa officer to assist students.

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Sheffield Students Union

10/08/2012

http://youtu.be/oU3ziuAMBE0


Indian Students In Sheffield.


Indian Students In Sheffield

• Indian Student Society/Hindu Student Forum

(Both have a stall at the Societies Bazaar during Intro Week)

• The Indian Society is a very active, award winning society, that organises many events throughout the year.

• Indian Society Welcome Party (early October)

• Sheffield has many Indian restaurants and take-aways plus a variety of Asian shops selling authentic produce

• There are regular showing of Indian films in local cinemas (we also have a Bollywood Society in the Students‟ Union)

• The Hindu Student Forum organises annual Diwali celebrations which is the largest Diwali celebration in the UK


A Word Of Caution Academic Integrity


A Word Of Caution • Different educational systems offer different teaching methodologies

• Indian students tend to do well in the UK HE environment and may find it far more rewarding. However, sometimes Indian students get caught out by our different rules and regulations. One of those relates to plagiarism

• Plagiarism is “passing off others’ work as your own, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to your benefit. The work can include ideas, compositions, designs, images, computer code, and, of course, words.” • In Sheffield we want students to develop themselves as independently thinking, unique individuals and not simply recite other people‟s work. •All material used in written work must be attributed to its sources and non-compliance will lead to you being removed from the course. As one of very few UK universities featured in the „Global Top 100 of Best Universities in the World’ we have a reputation to uphold and we will allow no one to bring our reputation into disrepute. You ARE what makes the University of Sheffield.


University Medical Centre .


University Medical Centre

• Medical care covered as part of the NHS

• Ensure you submit the medical questionnaire before arrival in Sheffield

• During Intro Week you will attend a health interview/medial registration at the university Health Centre

• Ensure you bring name, address and contact details of your current doctor and next of kin.

• Bring details on any medical conditions, medicine

• Difficult (if not impossible) to find a NHS dentist, hence get a dental check-up before you arrive


And Finally …


Climate •The temperature in Sheffield can be 25 – 30 degrees Celsius (June to August) and below freezing in the winter months (November to March).

•In spring the temperature is about 12 degrees Celsius (April – May)

•You can expect snow at some stage during winter!

•You will have to get used to the UK weather but in the end you‟ll probably learn to appreciate it.


Where to download all the information discussed today?

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/welcome


Questions? • Carefully read the brown and green booklets which you should have received .

If you have any further questions please contact the India Team:

Mrs Katy Woodford

[email protected]

Miss Ruth Lauener

[email protected]

Mr. Rasshad Khan

[email protected]

How well were you listening?

Listening, asking questions and taking notes in a UK study environment

What’s the answer? • How much is the Meet & Greet service?

• When did the first recorded Indian student graduate from Sheffield?

• Name one item to carry in your hand luggage

• How many semesters are there in an academic year?

• What date does teaching start at the University?

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Student Union Lip-Dub Video

10/08/2012

http://youtu.be/ZL_yc_NKN5A

See you soon in Sheffield

Documents

The University PowerPoint Template/file/IndiaPre-Departure.pdf• CAS number after offer becomes UA (and deposits paid, if required) • Separate scholarship letters (if applicable)