www.brunel.ac.uk/international

DestinationBrunelWhere your journey starts...

We are delighted that you havechosen to study at Brunel Universityand are looking forward towelcoming you to London at thestart of the new academic year!

Brunel University has a very diversecommunity with students from more than110 countries. We would like to stronglyencourage you to take part in ourInternational Orientation as this is anexcellent way to become a part of thisthriving student community and settle intothe university. You can find out moreinformation on page 16.

The orientation programme is organised bythe International Student Services Team atBrunel International who are more thanhappy to help with all the challenges thatyou might encounter whilst living andstudying in the UK. Brunel Internationalalso has dedicated teams that can help youwith queries regarding:

• Immigration

• Finance

• Admissions

• Marketing and Recruitment

• English and Modern Foreign Languages

We are located in the Russell Building andare here to assist you through every stageof your studies at Brunel University.

This booklet will give you essentialpre-arrival information and guide youthrough the next steps. It also featuresuseful advice and tips from some of ourcurrent students.

If you would like any further informationabout the university, www.brunel.ac.uk isthe place to go. Alternatively, you cancontact our international team at any time.

We are very much looking forward tomeeting you soon!

The Brunel International Team

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Welcome to Brunel

Why Brunel?

Once you have arrived at Brunel University, you will notice that it has a great studentcommunity that is quite unique in London. A lot of London universities are scattered aroundthe city, whereas at Brunel you get the best of both worlds: close proximity to London and agreat modern campus that creates a real sense of belonging amongst the students.

The university is located in Uxbridge which is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon. Thetown centre is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute ride by bus. Here you will find many shopsincluding some big supermarkets and plenty of food outlets. Uxbridge is also at the end oftwo tube lines (the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines) serving as great transport links intoCentral London.

Hi, I’m Anas Darkaoui from Syriastudying MA Children Youth andInternational Development.Uxbridge is a safe and friendly residential areawith some beautiful green parks and lakesaround. The high street is 5 minutes by bus or ashort 15 minutes walk from campus with twoshopping malls, a library, supermarkets, manyrestaurants and bars to choose from, and amulti-screen cinema. Last Christmas we even hadan ice rink! Those who like swimming like me canenjoy an Olympic-sized pool at Hillingdon Sportcentre only 5 minutes from the high street. Theunderground station in Uxbridge takes you toCentral London in 40 minutes via two differentlines and there is a night bus for those who enjoya night out. Uxbridge is conveniently locatedclose to central London yet still distant enough toallow students to focus on their studies.

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Interesting Facts about Brunel

You are probably aware that BrunelUniversity is renowned for the quality ofteaching and research across manydifferent subject areas. You might alsohave heard of the famous Victorianengineer after whom the university isnamed. But did you know that he went bythe rather unusual first names of IsambardKingdom? Try to find the statue of himwhen you arrive on campus.

Did you know that Brunel University…

• has been used as a location for a numberof films and TV shows (including thefamous Stanley Kubrick film ‘ClockworkOrange’ and the BBC production ‘SilentWitness’).

• has an award-winning Placement andCareers Centre which has helped toensure that Brunel graduates enjoy the13th highest starting salaries in the UK(according to the recent Sunday TimesGood University Guide).

• has recently been visited by famous peoplesuch as Her Majesty the Queen and UsainBolt and will be hosting the South KoreanOlympic Team and the CanadianParalympics’ Team during the 2012 Olympics.

Academic Year2012/13

3-week Academic English course 15 August 2012 - 14 September 2012

International Student Orientation Programme20th – 22nd September 2012

Induction week, also known as Freshers’ Week starts on: Sunday 23rd September 2012

Autumn TermFirst day: 1st October 2012Last day: 21st December 2012

Spring TermFirst day: 7th January 2013Last day: 22nd March 2013

Summer TermFirst day: 15th April 2013Last day: 5th July 2013

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BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME 6

Admissions: Next Steps 6

Meet all the conditions of your offer (and tell us) 6

Get your CAS 6

Immigration requirements 6

Do I need a visa to study at Brunel? 6

What type of visa do I need? 6

Applying for a Student Visa 6

UK Health Services and Insurance 7

Pre-registration 8

Accommodation - Halls of Residence 8

Living on campus 8

Alternative Accommodation 9

3-week Academic English course 9

FINANCE AND BANKING 11

How to make payments to Brunel 11

Information for Sponsored Students 12

Financial Aid Information for US Students 12

Payment Information for PhD students 12

Cost of living in the UK 12

International Student Calculator 12

Top 3 Tips for Saving Money 13

ARRIVING IN THE UK 14

Going through Immigration and Customs 14

Safety in the Airport 14

Airport Welcome 15

Getting to the University on your own 15

ARRIVING AT BRUNEL 16

Accommodation – getting your keys 16

Welcome Lounge 16

Early Bird Events 16

International Student OrientationProgramme 17

Freshers’ Week 18

Registration 19

Registering with the Overseas Visitors Registration Office (OVRO) in London 19

EXPERIENCE BRUNEL 20

Making the Most of Your Stay 20

Be Part of a Community 20

International Student Newsletter 21

Your Students’ Union 22

Uxbridge, London and the UK – A short guide to living in the UK 23

A to Z of Services on Campus 25

Contents

Before you leave homeAdmissions: Next Steps

Please keep in touch. We will be sendingyou important information and possiblyqueries right up to the time of travel to theUK, so please tell us if your contact detailschange – and check your emails regularly.

Meet all the conditions of youroffer (and tell us)

Undergraduate students who have appliedthrough UCAS: The conditions your offer isbased on can be viewed on UCAS Trackwww.ucas.ac.uk/students/track/ (we donot issue offer letters unless requested).

All other students will receive a conditionaloffer letter which will list the conditionsrequired. As you meet the conditions ofyour offer, remember to let us know byemail, post or in person.

If you have problems meeting the conditionsof your offer, please do not hesitate tocontact our International Admissions Teamto discuss alternatives. Once you have metall the conditions of your offer, your offerbecomes unconditional.

Get your CAS

Brunel does not issue unconditional offerletters. Instead, you will receive aConfirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)statement via email which is required for visapurposes. The information in the CAS email isall you need for the visa application - you donot require a CAS letter.

Please notify Brunel InternationalAdmissions team if you do not need a CASand you will be issued with an updatedoffer email instead.

Email:International.Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1895 265519

Immigration requirements

Do I need a visa to study at Brunel?

If you are an international student thenyou will probably need a visa to study atBrunel University. If you are not sure thenyou can use the ‘Do I need a visa?’ serviceon the UKBA website:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/do-you-need-a-visa formore help. You should make sure that youapply for a visa that covers the full length ofyour course. If you need more help, theImmigration Office at BrunelInternational can provide advice via email.

What type of visa do I need?

For all Undergraduate, Postgraduate andmost English Language and Foundationcourses at Brunel you should apply for a Tier4 Student (General) Visa which covers thewhole duration of your course. The PointsBased System was introduced by thegovernment several years ago, and as a fairlynew system, it is often subject to change. Youshould make sure to consult the most up todate advice listed on the UKBA website.

Applying for a Student Visa

When should I apply for a student visa?As soon as possible (but not more than 3months before your course starts).

In order to apply for a Tier 4 General StudentVisa, you will need a Confirmation ofAcceptance to Study (CAS) number. This is aunique number that we can only send to youafter your offer has been madeunconditional. We will send your CASstatement by email only - you do not have torequest it separately. The first CAS we issueyou with is free. However, if you need adifferent CAS number issued (if, for example,you change your course after being made an

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unconditional offer) then a £13administration fee is charged. A CAS is onlyvalid for six months, so we will not issue oneuntil six months before your course starts.

Sponsor Licence Number: 0BT931EY6

This is Brunel’s Sponsor License Number (itbegins with a zero). Your Tier 4 Visa musthave been issued for Brunel (and for thecourse for which you obtained an offerwith us) to be able to register.

Please note that it is your responsibility toapply for the correct entry clearance (visa)

to study at Brunel University before leavinghome to start your studies.

If you are unsure whether you need a newstudent visa and to get any furtherinformation on how to apply, please visitour immigration website:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/applying-to-brunel/potential-students

You can learn more about the Points BasedSystem by visiting this website:

www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/

UK Health Services

If you are here on a student visa for morethan six months you will qualify forhealthcare from the UK’s National HealthService (NHS). The NHS is a free servicewhich you can use while you are in the UK.Please note that dental care is not includedand any dental treatment received in theUK has to be paid for privately. You willneed to register with a doctor (a “GeneralPractitioner”) to access NHS services. If youare living on campus, you can register withthe Brunel Medical Centre:www.brunel.ac.uk/life/welfare/med/

If you are living off campus and would liketo find the doctor closest to you, go towww.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx orspeak to the international team. There isfirst aid available on campus and

Hillingdon hospital is very close to thecampus and has an emergency serviceopen all hours.

Important: If you are on a course for lessthan six months, you will not be coveredby the NHS and should therefore arrangehealth insurance in your own countrybefore you travel to the UK.

Travel and other insurance

It is a good idea to take out travelinsurance for your journey to Brunel incase your flight is cancelled or yourluggage is lost.

Furthermore, you may also want to insureany valuables, such as cameras, luggageand MP3 players before you travel.Alternatively, you can arrange covercheaply in the UK.

Pre-registration

Before you arrive, make sure you areprovisionally registered with us.

Once you have met all the conditions,Brunel will send you details on how toregister online.

You need to complete the first stage online(this will give you ‘provisionally registered’status). It is important that this iscompleted before you arrive as this willspeed up and ensure a smoother processof the second part of registration whenyou arrive. To provisionally register, just logonto the University student portal at:https://evision.brunel.ac.uk/

Enter your username and login details (whichwill be included in the letter) and fill in theonline form. Once you have completed this,please print the registration summary letterand bring it with you to registration.

If you need help completing the task youcan contact our Student Centre:

Phone: +44 (0) 1895 268268

Email: Student.Centre@brunel.ac.uk

Accommodation - Halls of Residence

Once you have a conditional offer for acourse commencing in September you willreceive an email from the AccommodationOffice with details on how to apply foraccommodation on campus. If your coursecommences at any other time, pleasecontact the Accommodation Officedirectly. For further information onaccommodation please visit:www.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation.

Living on campus

With more than 4500 rooms on campusyou will be joining a vibrant campuscommunity. The facilities are very similaracross all our halls, and you can indicate inyour application for an on-campus room ifyou prefer a standard or en-suite. Allrooms have a free internet connection anda communal kitchen.

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Alternative AccommodationThere is plenty of private rentedaccommodation available close to theUniversity, including individual rooms,houses, flats and flat shares. If you wouldlike further information about off-campusaccommodation, please contact ourUniversity Housing Office, who will be ableto assist you in securing local off-campusaccommodation:www.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation/offcampus

3-week Academic Englishcourse If you have already met the Englishrequirements for your course but would liketo improve your Academic English beforeyou start your studies, you can join our3-week Academic English course from 15

August to 14 September 2012. This is agreat way of getting settled into theuniversity environment and brushing up onyour written and spoken English. Thecourse is full-time and you will studyacademic reading, writing, listening &note-taking, seminar and presentation skills,as well as research skills. The course willenable you to become accustomed to life atBrunel and to be well prepared for yourdegree course. A fun social programmetakes place weekly and includes a day tripat the end of the course.

Course fees are £800 and include all socialevents. Please note accommodation andmeals are not included in the cost. Forfurther information and the applicationform have a look at our website:

www.brunel.ac.uk/international/iplc/pre-sessional-english

What will I find in What will I find in the my room? communal kitchen?

Bed Cooker

Pillow and Cover Fridge

Duvet and Cover Freezer

Bedside table Sink

Wardrobe Kettle

Desk and chair Iron and ironing board

Shelves Kitchen table and seating

Notice board Food storage space

Mirror You will need to bring your own crockery and cooking utensils. You can buy them cheaply in Uxbridge town centre.

More details about the facilities and pictures of all the halls can be found here:www.brunel.ac.uk/0/Corporate%20Documents/135587LivingatBrunel20116.pdf

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Hi, I’m Vishal Kumar from Indiastudying MSc Business SystemsIntegration (SAP Technology).

If you would like to find out more about life oncampus or get a glimpse of the studentexperience before you start your course, youreally should join the Brunel Internationalfacebook page. Brunel University is very activewhen it comes to social media such as Facebook,Twitter and blogs. Some students, including me,write blogs about their time at the University andin London. Several people read my blog on theBrunel International page and understand howamazing it is to be at Brunel. As the President ofthe Six Degrees Society I am always involved ingreat events! Have a look here at all the blogs:www.brunel.ac.uk/international

How to make payments to Brunel

Credit/debit card, cheque, direct banktransfer or banker’s draft can be used tomake advance payments to Brunel. Wherepossible, we would suggest you pay bycredit/debit card, as the charges areconsiderably lower. Please do not sendcash through the mail under anycircumstances. Quote your Brunel studentnumber as reference in all correspondenceand transactions.

1. If you wish to pay by credit/debit cardplease ring +44 1895 265519 between10am and 4pm UK time or visit theBrunel International website. You willneed to quote your student number andcard details.

2. All students who wish to pay by directbank transfers are advised to completethe process by Monday 10th September2012; a delay could result in lateregistration for your course. It takesabout one week for internationaltransfers to be concluded.

3. Cheques and banker’s drafts drawn on aUK bank account (sterling) can be sentto:

Finance OfficeBrunel InternationalBrunel UniversityUxbridgeMiddlesexUB8 3PH

4. Payments may be made electronically bycredit/debit card through the Brunelwebsite: www.brunel.ac.uk/about/pay.From the main website go to‘International students’, then follow theinstructions.

5. If you have any queries about payment,please contact the Finance Office:

Email: international-finance@brunel.ac.uk

Telephone number: +44 (0) 1895 265519

Fax number: +44 (0) 1895 269700

Brunel University Bank Details

Bank name: HSBCBank address:PO Box 41, High Street,Uxbridge, Middlesex,UK, UB8 1BY

Sort code: 4Ø-45-Ø8Account number: Ø147823ØSwift code: MIDLGB21Ø9LIban number:GB16MIDL4Ø45Ø8Ø147823Ø

Cheques should be made payable to“Brunel University”. The student numbershould be written on the back of the cheque.

Preparing Funds for Your Arrival

When transferring funds to Brunel University,do not include your personal living expenses.Separate arrangements should be made totransfer your personal expenses.

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F inance & Banking

Information for Sponsored Students

The University understands a sponsor to bea company, organisation or charitable trust(including Brunel UniversityBursaries/Scholarships) who will meeteither the full or partial cost of your coursefees. Please ensure you review the sectionentitled “Sponsored Students” under theBrunel International Finance Policy forfurther informationwww.brunel.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/financial-sponsorship

Parents, guardians, family members orfriends are not acceptable as sponsors. Youshould check the terms of yoursponsorship carefully: it may be necessaryfor you to pay accommodation and otherdeposits should your sponsorshiparrangements not cover these.

Financial Aid Information for US Students

Applicants from the USA can access arange of federal loans from the USDepartment of Education to study atBrunel. Detailed and up-to-dateinformation can be found on our website.If you should have any questions, pleasefeel free to contact our Finance Office:Email: international.finance@brunel.ac.uk

Payment Information forPhD students

Students following a PhD programme canstart on the first day of any month. As theacademic year for PhD students at BrunelUniversity runs from October to September,the payment schedule varies according tothe start date of each student. For furtherinformation please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg/postgraduate-fees

Cash/travellers’ cheques

If you are planning to open a bank accountin the UK, be aware that this can take up to10 working days, and bank drafts will takeup to two weeks to clear. We recommendyou bring some cash for the first fewweeks. You should bring £150 in cash tocover your first few days (bus fares,refreshments, etc.) and a further £500 intravellers’ cheques (or a widely acceptedcredit card) to cover the first four weeks. For further information on bank accountshave a look at the website of the BritishBanker’s Association: www.bba.org.uk

Cost of living in the UK

Coming to the UK to study is an incredibleexperience and for many students a realadventure. However, we are sure you wantto avoid any big surprises when it comes toyour personal finances. While tuition feesand accommodation costs are clearly laidout and can be budgeted for relativelyeasily, general living costs can vary greatly.Costs may not only differ significantly fromthose in your home country, they alsolargely depend on your lifestyle.

International Student Calculator

The best way to get an idea of how muchyou will be likely to spend on living costs isto make use of the International StudentCalculator. It will also allow you to comeup with an approximate budget, whichcould prove to be a key factor in makingsure that your time at Brunel University is asuccess. The website is packed with advicefor International students, such as asample shopping list with price indications,current student profiles and theirexperiences as well as lots of useful tips onhow not to spend too much whensocialising. To use the calculator go to:www.studentcalculator.org.uk/international/

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Top 3 Tips for Saving Money

1. Always carry your student ID with you. Lots of high street shops and restaurantsgive students a 10% discount on production of a valid Student ID card. Don’tbe afraid to ask if you are unsure whether they give student discounts!

2. Products offered in supermarkets can vary greatly in price! However, allsupermarkets offer their own value ranges which are often significantly cheaperthan branded products. Look out for them when you go shopping!

3. Make the most of the internet! Websites such as www.studentbeans.com,www.moneysavingexpert.com and www.vouchercodes.co.uk oftenpublicise very good deals for shops and restaurants.

Going through Immigrationand Customs

During your flight to the UK the flight crewwill hand out Landing Cards. Theinformation you need for this card is:

Personal details such as:

• Name and date of birth

• Your address in the UK

• Occupation, in your case this wouldbe ‘student’

• Arrival flight details: you can findthese on your ticket

Once you arrive in the UK you will need to gothrough the UK Border Control, also knownas Immigration and Customs. Please makesure you have the following documentsready for the Immigration Officer:

�Completed Landing Card (if youforgot to do this on the plane youcan fill it in while you queue forimmigration)

�Admissions/Offer Letter

�Pre-Departure Clearance Certificate

Or

�Chinese Certificate of Health booklet

�Bank Statements/Evidence of funds

The Immigration Officers may ask you afew questions. Remember they are onlydoing their job and are in general veryfriendly and helpful. For further arrivalinformation please have a look at the UKBorder Agency website:http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

You will need to clear Immigration beforeyou reclaim your luggage, so pack yourpassport, visa, money and Universitydocuments in your hand luggage and keepthis safe at all times.

Safety on ArrivalAfter a long journey you may be tired. The UK is generally a friendly place, but ifyou have just arrived it is a good idea totake some extra care, especially around the airports.

• Keep a close eye on your bags and makesure you have them with you at all times

• Keep valuables such as wallets andphones out of sight

• Use only public transport, black cabs orour free Airport Welcome Service

For more information on personal safetyfor international students go to:www.educationuk.org/UK/Life-in-the-UK

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Arriving in the UK

Airport Welcome

On Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19thSeptember, we will be running a freeAirport Welcome Service at Heathrow fornew international students who areattending our International StudentOrientation Programme. We will then berunning an additional service on the 23rdSeptember for new international studentswho are not attending the InternationalStudent Orientation Programme.

The Airport Welcome Service will consistof our friendly Student Helpers meetingyou at Arrivals and accompanying you tothe campus using public transportbetween 7am and 7pm. Just look out forthe people in red Brunel UniversityT-Shirts! They will also be able to helpyou with your luggage. If a number ofinternational students are arriving inquick succession, we might wait a littlewhile so that you can all go together. Thebus ride itself will be short and travelexpenses will be covered.

To book this service, please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/whatnext

Getting to the University on your own

If you are arriving outside the hours of ourAirport Welcome Service, you will need tomake your own way to the campus. Werecommend you use buses where possible,as taxis can be expensive (approximately£25 to £30 from Heathrow to campus andmuch more from other airports).

From Heathrow Airport

Go to Heathrow Central Bus Station andtake the U3 bus directly to the campus. Thebus station is clearly signposted and is withinwalking distance of Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

If you arrive at Terminals 4 or 5 look for thesigns to the transit area or ask at theinformation desk.

From Stansted Airport

We recommend you take the Jetlink 737coach to Heathrow Airport’s Central BusStation and then follow the instructionsabove.

From Gatwick Airport

Take the Jetlink 797 coach from GatwickSouth Terminal to Heathrow Airport’sCentral Bus Station and then follow theinstructions above.

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International StudentOrientation ProgrammeMake sure not to miss one of the mostexciting events of the year: Brunel Internationalis hosting a 3-day Orientation programme forall international and EU students prior to thestart of the academic year.

The event starts on Thursday 20thSeptember and is free for international feepaying students and £95 for EU andexchange students. It will give you achance to familiarise yourself with thecampus and Uxbridge before starting yourcourse. Above all it is a great opportunityto make a lot of friends and enrol ontoyour course before all other studentsarrive. You will be able to attendinformation sessions on banking andimmigration and find out about the variousfree services offered on campus and by theUnion of Brunel Students.

Activities during these three days willinclude a day trip, a campus and Uxbridgewalking tour and lots of social events.Meals are also included which means youdon’t have to worry about cooking duringthe programme.

If you have been allocated a room oncampus please let our accommodation teamknow you will be arriving early, by going to:www.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation.There will be a small extra charge for youradditional nights’ stay.

To book your place on the orientationprogramme and to find out more about theevents please go to: www.brunel.ac.uk/international/applying-to-brunel/unconditional-offer/orientation

Welcome Lounge

Our International Student OrientationProgramme officially starts on Thursday20th September, but many students will bearriving one or two days before. Therefore,there will be a Welcome Lounge foreveryone who arrives on Tuesday 18th orWednesday 19th September.

No matter what country you are travellingfrom, getting to the UK can be a rathertiring experience. Once you have beengiven your room keys and have droppedyour luggage off in your accommodation,why not join us and your new fellow

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Arriving at Brunel

students in the Welcome Lounge whereyou will find some free drinks and snacks!This is a great opportunity to relax, get toknow some of the people who will beattending the International StudentOrientation Programme with you and askus any questions you might have.

Where: Newton Room (Hamilton Centre)- just ask one of our friendly StudentHelpers for directions!

When: Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19thfrom 10am to 5pm

Early Bird Events

Can’t wait for the International StudentOrientation Programme to start? Don’t miss our Early Bird events:

Movie Night

We are going to watch a comedy – come andjoin us if you are not feeling too jetlagged!

Where: The Academy, Hamilton Centre – our Student Helpers can direct you.

When: Tuesday 18th at 7pm17

Hi, my name is Neha Nunkoofrom Mauritius studyingMMath FinancialMathematics.On the first day of Orientation we werewelcomed by the Pro-Vice Chancellor. Hetold us that during our time at BrunelUniversity, we would not just make friendsbut friends for life. And this is exactly whathappened to me in the first three days. Imet two of my best friends; theorientation programme gives you theopportunity to mingle with everyone. Youhave the chance to explore the campusand the town centre which seem huge forthe first few days until you feel familiarwith the surroundings. Social eventsorganised are amazing and entertaining.The mentors are helpful and friendlythroughout the programme and the discoin the evening was a great way to relaxSo, enrol for the orientation and I canassure you that it will be just like a rollercoaster ride, full of joy, cheer and thrill!

British Tea Party

Tea, scones, jam and cream - Join us for thisquintessentially British tradition. This is agreat opportunity to try some British foodand meet some fellow orientation attendees!

Where: Brunel International (RussellBuilding) – ask our Student Helpers ifyou’re not sure where it is.

When: Wednesday 19th at 5pm

Accommodation – getting your keys

If you have a room on campus, pleaseemail our accommodation team in advanceto tell them the date and time you will bearriving on campus. Remember, it willprobably take you two hours to clearcustoms and make your way to campusafter you have landed at Heathrow Airport- allow an extra hour and a half fromGatwick or Stansted airports.

From 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, youcan get your keys from the appropriateResidence Office. If you are scheduled toarrive at any other time, we will leave yourkeys in our Security Office on campus.

Phone: +44 (0)1895 267900

Email: accom-uxb@brunel.ac.uk

Freshers’ Week

Freshers’ Week starts on Sunday 23rdSeptember 2012. This is an induction for allfirst year students and is designed to helpeverybody find their way around theuniversity and get settled in. You shouldcertainly plan to attend your School’sinduction events, as a lot of these will beabout your timetable, study facilities,meeting your lecturers and getting the rightstudy materials.

There will also be a fayre for all newstudents called Freshers’ Fayre which isorganised by the Union of Brunel Students’(UBS). Here you can meet people withsimilar interests, make new friends and joina sports team, a social club or aninternational students’ group.

Throughout the week in the evenings, theStudents’ Union organises parties, gigs, atrip to central London and much more. Bythe end of the week, you will know a lotmore about the University campus and willhave met a lot of new people!

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Registration

This is the last hurdle you have to takebefore you are a fully registered student. Ifyou sign up for the International StudentOrientation Programme, you will be able toregister on Friday 21st September as partof the programme. All other students areable to register from Sunday 23rdSeptember until Wednesday 26thSeptember in the Sports Hall. After thisdate you can go to the Student Centre inthe Bannerman Centre to complete yourregistration. Here are some of the thingsyou MUST bring to register successfully -we cannot enrol you otherwise:

• Passport.

• Visa: You should make sure that youhave a visa that covers the full length ofyour course.

• Your Brunel Offer Letter or anotherdocument containing your seven-digitStudent Number (usually starting 11).

• Your Registration Summary Letter (youcan print this once you have completedthe online registration task).

• Original Academic Certificates (unlesswe have already seen them). If in doubt,bring them along.

• Original English Language Certificates(unless we have already seen them). If in doubt, bring them along.

• Sponsorship Letters (applicable only tostudents receiving external sponsorship).

• Documents to complete CriminalRecords Bureau (CRB) check.(Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapyand Social Work students only- you willhave been sent details of what to bringif the check is not yet complete).

• Receipts of any payments made

If you are joining a Professional Course youmust also bring:

• ID documents to complete a CRB check.

• Your Criminal Conviction Disclaimer.

• Your Medical Questionnaire.

• Your Immunisation Card (forphysiotherapy and occupational therapystudents).

• Your GTC Suitability Questionnaire (forPGCert or teacher training courses).

Information about your enrolment will besent to you separately.

Registering with theOverseas VisitorsRegistration Office (OVRO) in London

Some nationalities will have to register withthe police within 7 days of arrival. Checkyour visa, if you are unsure please come toBrunel International - we can help you andgive you the information you needincluding a map and directions to OVRO.Please note that if you are required toregister with the police it is very importantthat you do so within 7 days of your arrival.

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Coming to Brunel is a great decision andwe are sure you are very keen toexperience life in the UK. The StudentServices team at Brunel International arehere to make sure you get lots ofopportunities to experience British cultureand also to share your own culture withyour fellow students. Throughout the year,the team organises many different socialevents. In the past these have includedLunar New Year celebrations, formaldinners, food fayres and much more. Read the newsletter for more information.

International StudentNewsletter

We know student life can get very busywith lots of lectures, assignments andexams. However, it is important to strike abalance between your work and social life.To ensure that you don’t miss out on what’shappening on and around campus as wellas in London, we will send you a regularnewsletter. In it we will also attempt toexplain the weird and wonderful traditionsof the British culture such as Pancake Day

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Experience Brunel

Hello, I’m MeganneTorkelson from the USA andI am studying MScCross-Cultural Psychology. I am the Vice President for the SixDegrees Society. The Society aims tobridge the gap between local andinternational students to create onelarge community. We run regular eventsand also participate in the culturalfestivities at Brunel. Joining Six Degreesis an excellent way to make newfriends, explore different cultures, andhave a lot of fun! Last year, the societyorganized a wide range of eventsincluding an intercultural Movie Night,a Wine and Cheese tasting event, BakeSales and participated in One WorldWeek. We also had a great time hostingcultural events including Holi – Thefestival of colours and St. Patricks Day.We’re always looking for new ideas foractivities and would love to see you atan event!

and why Brits talk so much about theweather. It’s definitely a must-read for allnew international students!

Be Part of a CommunityAs an international student you willautomatically be a member of ourinternational student society ‘Six Degrees’.

You will get the chance to apply for avoluntary post in the Six Degrees committeeand can get involved in shaping socialevents for the academic year.

You can find Six Degrees on facebook andcheck out what they have been up to sofar by typing ‘Six Degrees Society’ into thesearch box.

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Hi, my name is DaeunShim and I’m from SouthKorea studying MADesign Strategy andInnovation. Doing a Masters doesn’t necessarilymean that you have to study all thetime. If you want a little break fromthe library and would like toexperience British culture, stay tunedwith Brunel International activities.Joining their activities actuallyhelped me relax and adjust to mynew life in the UK. Brunel International also organises a number of exciting day tripsthroughout the year, which are notonly fun but also a great opportunityto make a lot of good friends fromall over the world. So make sure tosign up for the newsletter.

Your Students’ Union

The Students’ Union exists to represent theinterests of every Brunel University student.It has its own building on campus, theHamilton Centre, housing shops, bars,cafeterias and spaces for parties orperformances.

In addition, the Union provides studentwelfare services and advice on everythingfrom finance to housing. It also representsstudent interests to the University’s policymakers and managers. The Union is run bya president and management team. These

positions are elected by the University’sstudents and are mostly studentsthemselves, although there is a small teamof permanent staff.

You can get involved by either becoming aSchool Rep, joining the Brunel Media teamas a Radio DJ, writing for the studentsnewspaper Le Nurb (Brunel speltbackwards) or joining many of theactivities throughout the academic year.Union membership is free and you will beenrolled automatically unless you stateotherwise. For more information have alook at the UBS website:www.brunelstudents.com/

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Hi, I’m Paulina Lara Franco from Mexico studyingMA Contemporary Performance Making. I applied to have a show on Radio Brunel at the Students Union; as Ioffered a Rock in Spanish programme using a bilingual style, theysaid yes! It was fantastic to have the chance to share a bit aboutHispanic and Latin music with Brunel students. Also, I worked in oneof the restaurants of the UBS, combining my studies and earningsome experience in catering assistance. All these contributed to mydegree, where I met amazing people from different countries andbackgrounds. Coming to London was an amazing life decision.

Uxbridge, London and the UK– A Short Guide to Living inthe UK

When it comes to British people andcustoms, there are a few things tobear in mind:-

• British people are generally quitereserved, but this does not mean theyare unfriendly.

• You must wait in line when there is aqueue. British people will get quite upsetif you push to the front.

• Police officers in Britain are generallyfriendly and helpful, so do not be afraidto approach them if, for example, youare lost! Have a look on facebook andfind our very own Brunel Bobby whoworks on campus.

• You do not have to drink alcohol if youvisit a British pub. Many people do not.

• Smoking is forbidden in public places,including bars, shops and railwaystations.

• British people really do talk about theweather quite a lot!

The weather

It can rain at any time of year in the UKand it generally does! However, spring andsummer can also be warm and sunny,whilst winter can see some very coldtemperatures. Being an island climate, theweather can change quickly in the courseof a day.

British food

Fish and chips, roast dinners, Ploughman’slunches, great Full English breakfasts!These are some of the delicacies waitingfor you, but do not worry: there is plentymore on the menu. Most restaurants forexample will have vegetarian dishes on themenu and it is actually quite easy to findHalal or Kosher food in the London andUxbridge areas.

Uxbridge

Uxbridge town centre is a short walk fromcampus and has everything you need, frombanks to mobile phone shops; from Halalsupermarkets to departments stores. Withtwo shopping centres, and its very owncinema, lots of pubs and restaurants,Uxbridge is a charming place where you cango to relax, shop and socialise with friends.

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Central London

Central London is about 40 minutes away.It is an amazing place full of history, cultureand something new to discover every dayof the week. Virtually every nation, cultureand cuisine is represented in London, so ifyou ever miss home comforts, you won’tstruggle to find a taste of home. Of course,London also has excellent transport links,so exploring the rest of the UK or mainlandEurope is easy.

Getting around

Travelling by train or coach is good valuefor money, especially if you buy a studenttravel card. This gives you generous

discounts and is especially cheap if youtravel outside peak times. You can boardcoaches to many destinations from VictoriaCoach Station in London or more locallyhere in Uxbridge. For trains to differentregions of the UK, it is best to travel intoLondon. As in many cities, there aredifferent rail terminals serving differentparts of the country. Check before youtravel to see which terminal you will needby going to www.tfl.gov.uk

If you wish to travel a greater distance, sayto Europe or Scotland, there are someexcellent deals to be had from low costairlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet. Checktheir websites for details.

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Anything else?

If you should have any further questions or would like to find out more about yourarrival in the UK and life at Brunel University, please do not hesitate to contact usby emailing international.helpdesk@brunel.ac.uk.

Advice and RepresentationCentre (ARC)The ARC is part of the Brunel StudentUnion and thus independent from BrunelUniversity. The ARC team gives FREE adviceto all Brunel students regarding manydifferent issues such as money and debt,housing, and academic issues.

Academic Skills (ASK)Based in the library, ASK support you indeveloping essential skills for universitystudy. Courses range from how to makethe most of lectures, time managementand effective communication to how tothink critically, academic writing and using

maths, numeracy and statistics. They offerlots of study skills resources and manydifferent workshops as well as drop-inadvice sessions.

Brunel International Travel ClubBrunel International runs a Travel Club forall Brunel University students. We go tointeresting places such as Cambridge,Stonehenge and Bath. Tickets usuallyinclude travel and admission to one majorattraction and are very reasonably priced.Day trips are advertised in the InternationalStudent Newsletter and you can also bekept up-to-date by joining the ‘BrunelInternational Travel Club’ group on facebook.

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A to Z of Services on Campus

Hi, I’m Ane Ogbe from Nigeria andI am doing my PhD in BiologicalSciences Research.Studying at Brunel University is one of the mostexciting experiences I have ever had. Themulticultural nature of the student communitymakes university life even more interesting. Thefact that it is one central campus means that Iget to interact with students studying a widerange of courses which I must say is veryenlightening. Student life and living on campus isvery active and eventful with social events almostevery other week. The campus has also got anumber of places where students can relax aftera hard day of studying like Bar Zest, Loco’s, theAcademy, Café Rococo or the gym.

Brunel VolunteersBrunel Volunteers gives students and staffthe opportunity to give up some of theirfree time to do voluntary work in the localarea. They have an office on campus andalso advertise vacancies on their websitewww.brunelvolunteers.com. It’s anexcellent way to meet new people, giveback to society and improve your CV at thesame time.

ChaplaincyThe Multi-Faith Chaplaincy on campus is aplace for students to unwind and exploretheir faith and spirituality. A variety ofreligious services and social activities takeplace on a regular basis. The MeetingHouse strives to be a ‘home from home’for you, somewhere where you can meet,make a hot drink, chat to one of thechaplains (Christian, Muslim and Hindu) orplay the piano! The Chaplaincy hasinformation about and contacts with localChristian churches of differentdenominations, as well as places ofworship for other faith communities.

CounsellingAll students who come to university faceenormous changes. For international

students, the adjustment to university lifecan be even greater as there is also a newculture to absorb. Professionally qualifiedcounsellors offer both individual and groupcounselling services as well as workshops.The Brunel Counselling Service is entirelyconfidential.

Disability and Dyslexia ServiceThe Disability and Dyslexia Service providesconfidential advice to disabled studentsand those with specific learning difficultiesand mental health needs. The team isdedicated to offering information andassessments and also liaises with academicand service departments about the needsof individuals. They can assist withapplications for Disabled StudentsAllowances and organize additionalsupport for disabled students.

Families at Brunel If you are planning to come to the UK withyour family, there are a few things youhave to consider, such as immigration,childcare or local schools as well as thewelfare of your family while in the UK.

Immigration

In general, you can apply for a dependants’26

Hi my name is Xiaolei Guo, I’m from China studying Master of Business Administration. The MBA program is a very challenging and busyprogramme. Effective time management is mysecret weapon to keep the balance betweenuniversity and family life. I believe that studyingabroad is a wonderful experience and sharingthis with my wife and daughter makes it a realfamily adventure. The Brunel Family Cluborganises regular events including kids’ parties,Easter egg hunts and summer picnics. It wasgreat to meet other students with families andmy daughter got to see that my “workplace”can also be fun.

visa for your partner and children.However, for some short term courses thismay not be possible. For further details andguidance through the application process,please check the Home Office Website forthe latest information:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/dependants

Schools

Under British law all children between fiveand 16 years of age have to attend school.Once you have moved to the UK and have anew home address, you can go to the localcouncil to obtain a list of all schools nearyour home. You will then be able to contacteach school and choose the right one foryou and your family. For more informationon schools in the Hillingdon area please seethe Hillingdon council website:www.hillingdon.gov.uk

Family accommodation

Apart from the regular studentaccommodation, the University also offersaccommodation for couples. For furtherinformation please have a look at the linksbelow:www.brunel.ac.uk/services/accommodation

The University does not offer housing forstudents with children. Students withfamily will need to find their ownoff-campus accommodation. There isplenty of private rented accommodationavailable close to the University. If youwould like further information aboutoff-campus accommodation, pleasecontact our University Housing Office byemail (housing-uxb@brunel.ac.uk) ortelephone (+44 [0]1895 266187). Theywill be able to assist you in securing localoff-campus accommodation.

Brunel Family Club

If you are coming to Brunel with yourpartner or family, then make sure to join

the Brunel Family Club, which offerssupport and social events throughout theyear. This includes information sessions onfinding local nurseries and schools as wellas events for children. It is also a goodopportunity for parents to network, shareexperiences and to show your family thecampus. For more information email:filiz.mcnamara@brunel.ac.uk

Graduate SchoolThe Graduate School supports all BrunelPostgraduates and Early CareerResearchers through the provision of acomprehensive skills developmentprogramme, workshops and networkingevents, research prizes and 24/7 study andsocial facilities. They also run CoffeeMornings which are great for networkingand provide special facilities such as aCommon Room that only postgraduatestudents have access to.

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International Pathways andLanguage Centre (IPLC)IPLC is located in the Russell Building andoffers some very useful courses to Brunelstudents:

In-Sessional English Courses

Once you have started your degreeprogramme, to help you improve youracademic English as you study at Brunel,we provide free In-sessional Englishsupport. You have the opportunity toattend a variety of classes in presentationskills, writing, reading and listening, andEnglish pronunciation and grammar, all ofwhich should help make your studies atBrunel even more successful. You can alsobook one-to-one academic consultationswith a tutor to discuss your writing and togive you support when trying to structureyour academic work. For furtherinformation on In-sessional Englishsupport, please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/englishcourses/currentstudents

Modern Foreign Languages

Brunel International Pathways andLanguage Centre (IPLC) offers a range offree Modern Foreign Language courses ata variety of levels. The classes develop keylinguistic skills and are all taught byqualified, native speakers who promote afun and stimulating learning environment.Foreign language skills can enhance yourwork, study and travel experiences,improve your career prospects and developcultural awareness. You will make newfriends as you meet students from differentcountries with different native languages.We currently have courses in Arabic,French, German, Italian, Japanese,Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish.For further information on IPLC languagecourses, please go to:www.brunel.ac.uk/international/foreignlanguages

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Hi, I’m Xiaocan Wang from China studying MADesign and Branding Strategy.The in-sessional English courses helped me gain confidence in myacademic work and with all the assignments and the dissertation it wasgreat to get some extra help. The lecturers are friendly and veryknowledgeable and you can ask them any questions. In the class, you alsomeet students from other subject areas which is always a bonus. Makesure you get the timetable for the term in late September so that youdon’t miss out.

LibraryThe university library is an academic librarycontaining a large stock of books andjournals for your studies. It also has somevideos, DVDs and CDs, many of which canbe borrowed. Help is available when usingthe library – please feel free to ask at theEnquiry Desk. Weekdays during term timethe library is open 24 hours.

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Hi, I’m Andrew Chin ChuanChong from Malaysiastudying MA Design andBranding Strategy. I love to stay up late in the library, thetotal study environment is awesomeand I really got into ‘combat mode’while studying there. In addition, theGraduate School and Library provide anexclusive environment for post-graduate students, which really definedthe quality of the post graduate studyenvironment. A coffee from Rococo’skeeps me going.

Placement and Careers CentreThe Placement & Careers Centre supportsall Brunel students. If you visit early in yourprogramme of study, they can advise onwhat employers expect from graduatesand provide ideas for developing yourexperience and professional skills. Theirservices also include special events forInternational students, consultations with acareers advisor for your subject, regularworkshops, help with CV writing andpresentations by employers.

Student CentreThe Student Centre provides a range ofadministrative support services and dealswith enquiries and offers guidancethroughout your time at Brunel. The teamare able to help with a wide variety of issuesand associated administration including:

• Student enrolment & registration

• Student records and generaladministration enquiries

• Fees, finance and payment information

• Student Loan Funding enquiries andinformation

• Access to Learning Fund and EmergencyLoan enquiries

• Student letters (including Council tax,bank or student status letters)

• Visa ‘extension’ applications

• Transport for London discounts

• Student access ID cards

• Student eVision & VLE enquiries

For more information about the servicesavailable to students, please have a lookat: www.brunel.ac.uk/life

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We hope this booklet has helped you prepare for yourarrival at Brunel University and answered most of thequestions you might have had. Please do not hesitate toget in touch with us should you have any further queries(international.helpdesk@brunel.ac.uk).

Free Term PlannerTo make sure you are up-to-date with Brunel International’syear-round services such as day trips, social events, freeEnglish courses and immigration advice we have created aTerm Planner for you. Come to Brunel International inthe Russell Building during Freshers’ Week to collectyour free copy. The first 20 students to collect their termplanner will also receive a small surprise!

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you toBrunel University soon. Have a safe journey here!

The Team at Brunel International

www.brunel.ac.uk/international

Brunel InternationalRussell BuildingKingston Lane, UxbridgeMiddlesex UB8 3PH

Phone: +44 (0) 1895 265519Fax: +44 (0) 1895 269700

Email: international.helpdesk@brunel.ac.uk