ISOP 2017

Living in London

Student Support and Wellbeing Blog

• Weekly articles by professionals, staff and students supporting a healthy, happy and balanced student life

• Tips and advice for looking after your mind and body• Mindfulness – UCL’s “10 Minute Mind” audio resource • www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/support/ssw-blog

Healthcare• If programme is less than 6 months, cannot register with a GP

but can visit as a temporary patient if required for advice and basic treatment

• EU/EEA students – if you have one, take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access NHS services

• Non-EU/EEA students – should have private medical insurance in place to ensure you are covered for any medical treatment

Health contactsIn an emergency: 999 – ask for the appropriate serviceNHS direct: 111 (for urgent medical help which is not life-threatening or signposting to correct service)

Healthcare• If you meet the eligibility criteria on the previous slide, you

should register with a doctor as soon as possible• If you live near the main UCL campus, you may be able to

register at the UCL Health Centre (Ridgmount Practice)www.ridgmountpractice.nhs.uk• If you live further away, you can find your closest GP surgery on

this NHS website: www.nhs.uk/service-searchHealth contactsIn an emergency: 999 – ask for the appropriate serviceNHS direct: 111 (for urgent medical help which is not life-threatening or signposting to correct service)

Public Transport• TubeComprehensive network, including Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Overground – connected to tram services – extends from Zone 1 to Zone 9!• BusLondon has over 700 bus routes, including night services – all bus journeys are a fixed rate of £1.50 with Oyster – no need to tap off! • TrainSuburban train services can sometimes be easier than the Tube – closest stations to UCL are Euston and King’s Cross-St Pancras

Public Transport• TaxiIconic black cabs can be expensive for longer journeys – make sure any minicab is booked in advance and licensed• BoatRiver Bus services run the length of the Thames, are a much cheaper alternative to tourist ribver cruises, and you can even use your Oyster!• BikeSantander Cycles scheme allows you to hire a bike cheaply for a short period of time – some journeys might even be free!• Walk Many Tube stations are closer together than they look on the map!

Travel Planning• Choose the best route and service for your journey using

TfL information online or other apps

• Tube and Train Maps• TFL Journey Planner• Live travel updates:

www.tfl.gov.uk/livetravelnews/Twitter: @tflofficial and moreLive bus updates at countdown.tfl.gov.uk/

• Apps such as Citymapper – free journey planner for all transport

Oyster Cards• Oyster card

• Pay-as-you-go• Weekly or monthly travel card• Buy from a tube station (£5 deposit)

• Student Oyster card• 30% discount on travel cards • Full time student• Minimum course length – 14 weeks• Apply online (£20 administration fee)

• www.tfl.gov.uk/photocard

Travelling outside London

• 16-25 Railcard

• Eligibility criteria– Anyone aged 16-25, or over 25 and in full-time study – Apply online or at train station: www.16-25railcard.co.uk – Costs £30 and you save up to 1/3 on rail travel (can also link with Student

Oyster photocard)

• Book rail tickets in advance as much cheaper (up to 12 weeks before travel)

• National Express coaches are another option

Travel safely at night

• Plan your journey in advance• There are many Night Bus routes with

CCTV – look for ‘N’ on front of the bus• The last Tubes leave central London

around 00.30 Monday to Saturday nights. • Night Tube – 24-hour service on Friday

and Saturday on Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines

• You can hail black taxis but must use booked minicabs – can book through Cabwise app

• Can use other apps such as Uber

Student Discounts

• Full-time students are eligible for a student discount card

• NUS Extra card• Costs £32 for three years or £12

for a year • Gives over 200 UK discounts for

a wide range of products and services

• Comes with a one-year free ISIC

• An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) allows you to prove your student status worldwide, as well as gain access to over 150,000 discounts and benefits

Student DiscountsOther ideas for discounts:

• Unidayswww.myunidays.com

• Student Beanswww.studentbeans.com

• itsu – reduced prices on food late in the day

www.itsu.com • Paperchase (Tottenham Court

Road) – free or reduced price coffee with a membership card

www.paperchase.co.uk • Spotify

www.spotify.com

• National Theatre – Entry Pass scheme

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/entry-pass• You may be able to use

your UCL student card to get student discounts

Opening a bank account• If you are on a programme of 6 months or less, you may

not be able to open a UK bank account - Santander has a branch on campus and should consider your application

• If you are on a programme of more than 6 months, you will have more options

• Full details available at: www.ucl.ac.uk/iss/when-you-arrive/bank-account

Important:• Ensure you have updated your term-

time address on Portico to your UK address before enrolment

Budgeting and managing money• International Student Calculator:

international.studentcalculator.org/ • Save money on your phone bill with a SIM-only or pay-as-you-go

deal• The UK has many affordable clothing retailers and supermarkets• Publications such as Time Out recommend low cost and free

activities in London www.timeout.com/london

• UCL Student Funding can offer advice for students experiencing financial difficulties studentfunding@ucl.ac.uk

Safety and security • London is a safe city but be aware of your surroundings to

avoid being a victim of petty crime • Keep your belongings with you – moped phone theft • Register your electronics for free with Immobilise, the

police database www.immobilise.com • Look after important documents and take copies• Consider taking out insurance for your possessions

Emergency contactsUCL Security Services: 020 7679 2108 or in an emergency call 222.Off-campus emergency services: 999 - ask for the appropriate servicePolice non-emergency number: 101

Personal safety• Don’t be too trusting of others• On a night out…

…keep an eye on your drinks…save money to get home…stay with friends

• Make sure you lock your door!

Emergency contactsUCL Security Services: 020 7679 2108 or in an emergency call 222.Off-campus emergency services: 999 - ask for the appropriate servicePolice non-emergency number: 101

Entertainment and culture

• Events, things to do and top tips TimeOut London (website, app and free magazine) Visit London www.visitlondon.com

• Museums Many are free! Late opening times on some days

• Theatre www.ticketmaster.co.uk www.ticketweb.co.uk www.lastminute.com Theatre box office Leicester Square ticket offices

Entertainment and culture

• Eating out Multicultural – food from all over the world! Discount vouchers and 2-for-1 deals

Cinema Cheap tickets on certain days Student discount Leicester Square cinemas

Sport Galleries Parks Sightseeing

• Enjoy London’s green spaces!• Detour – an audio guide app www.detour.com• Go to markets! Portobello Road market for antiques and

vintage, Borough Market for food, and many others

Global Ambassadors’ top tips!

UCL EXCHANGE STUDENT SOCIETY

Living in LondonAlice Miller, Lizzy Metcalf 04.01.17

WHO ARE THE UCL EXCHANGE STUDENT SOCIETY (ESS)? We are a society for all those interested in or currently on exchange. We hope to create a community of affiliates, outgoing exchange students and any other students interested

We aim to help exchange students to meet each other, settle in and integrate into life in London

Our Events Socials Sightseeing Trips around London Day Trips

OUR STORY?

Inspired by our Canadian adventures abroad we founded this society in September 2016

Many of the committee studied abroad, so we understand what you need

Do you want to

be a part of ESS

?

UPCOMING SOCIALS,SAVE THE DATES ESS Welcome to (or

back to) London! Thursday 12th January 7-10pm TCR Lounge Bar, 183

Tottenham Court Road ESS Pub Night at The

Court Thursday 19th January 8-11pm The Court, 108a

Tottenham Court Road

Potluck and End of Term Dinners

UPCOMING

FESTIVE EVENTS

Pancake Day Social Easter Special End of term social

Sightseeing Trips• Science Museum Lates, 25th January

SIGHTSEEING

TRIPS On 25th January we have a trip to the

Science Museum Lates Get your tickets on Eventbrite online,

details on the FB event

DAY TRIPS

Cambridge day trip after reading week Details and Eventbrite to buy tickets will be

up soon

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? Come along to our events Join the committee as an ‘Exchange Representative’

Design our logo Connect with us on Facebook for updates: Like our FB page: @UCLExchange Join our FB Group: UCL Exchange

Student Society Contact us: uclexchangestudentsociety@gmail.com

ISOP FAIR TOMORROWWe have a stand

at the ISOP Fair tomorrow

Come along to ask any questions, say hi and sign up for our mailing list

Membership fee is £5 for the whole year

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING Hopefully See You

Soon!