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Pre-Arrival Information
Settling in to life in a new country can be daunting, but there
are staffs on hand at the KCL to help you find your feet. Below is
some brief advice on some commonly encountered issues.
Things to do before your Arrival
1. Carefully choose the course you would like to study on. You
must meet the entry requirements, such as age, level of English,
previous qualifications, etc. You may find this information on our
website or in the prospectus which can be downloaded from the
website or ordered from the college. You may always contact the
college for more information by email or +44 (0)207 404 7381,
2. Fill in the enrolment form and book the course.
3. Apply for accommodation
4. Book airport pick-up if required
5. Pay the fees. You can do it by:
a. Bank Transfer
b. Cheque (payable to 'KC London Limited' and posted to the
college)
c. Credit/Debit Card
d. Cash
6. If you need one, apply for a Student Visa. (Details in our
Visas Section)
7. Order travel cheques, check that your Credit/Debit Cards are
valid in the UK.
8. Inform the college about the exact date of your arrival.
9. Pack suitable clothes
UK Immigration Requirements
It is very important for anyone entering the UK as a student to
comply with UK immigration requirements.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals
Students from the European Economic Area (the EU plus Norway,
Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland, who have been accepted
onto a course of study and have sufficient resources for the
duration of their stay without claiming public funds (benefits),
are entitled to enter the UK freely upon production of a valid
passport or national identity card and have the right of residence
for the duration of their course. No visa/entry clearance is
needed.
All Other Nationals
Non-EEA/non-Swiss nationals must apply for permission to enter the
UK. This will be either entry clearance or a visa.
Non-EEA/non-Swiss nationals are split into two categories:
1. VISA NATIONALS:
Visa Nationals must get a Student Visa before arriving in the UK.
2. NON-VISA NATIONALS:
Non-visa nationals who wish to study for less than 6 months do not
need a visa to enter the UK but they must get entry clearance as a
"student visitor" at the UK Port of Entry. A "student visitor"
visa will prohibit you from any work (unpaid or paid) and you will
also not be able to extend your student visa in the UK. If you
plan to work while studying during your stay in the UK or if there
is a possibility you would want to extend your student visa, you
are strongly advised to apply for a student visa in your home
country before entering the UK.
To apply for a student visa or entry clearance as a student
visitor you must meet all of the following conditions:
• You must have been accepted for a course of study at Kingsway
College London;
• You must be able and intend to follow a full-time degree course,
or a weekday full-time course involving at least 15 hours per week
of organized, daytime study;
• You must be able to meet the costs of your course and
maintenance (living expenses, including accommodation) and the
maintenance of your dependants without working in the UK or
claiming public funds;
• You must not intend to work in the UK except part-time (20 hours
per week maximum) or vacation work;
• You must intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies.
Applying for a Visa/Entry Clearance
You should apply at a British Mission (Embassy, Consulate or High
Commission) in the country of your nationality or the country in
which you are living. You should apply early so there's no risk of
you missing the start of your course.
In some countries the visa application process is very long. Check
the processing time. You will need to apply using application form
VAF1, which is available from your nearest British mission.
From 2009, all applicants will also be required to supply 10-digit fingerscans and a digital photograph when applying for a UK visa.
Please enquire at your nearest British Embassy.
Submit your form VAF1 to the British Mission with the following:
1. Your valid passport;
2. Two recent passport-sized photographs;
3. The fee. This is £99 for single-entry clearance which is
payable in local currency. Cash should not be sent through the
post, but bank drafts, payable to the Mission, may be enclosed;
4. Letter of acceptance onto your course; get this from the
college.
5. Evidence that you can pay the course fees and support yourself
(and your family if they are coming with you). If you have an
official sponsor, you will need a letter from them. If you have a
private sponsor, such as a family member, you will need a letter
from them confirming that they can support you, together with
evidence that they can do this (eg. bank statements or salary
details from their employer). If you plan to support yourself you
will need to submit personal bank statements.
Remember that all documents must be originals.
Please note that the production of the above documentation does
not guarantee that you will be granted a visa/entry clearance. You
may be asked to provide other documents and attend an interview in
person. If you do experience any difficulties obtaining entry
clearance in your home country, contact us for assistance as soon
as possible.
If you are granted a visa/entry clearance, you will still have to
pass through UK immigration control on arrival. You should
therefore carry the documents listed above, along with your valid
passport, in your hand luggage.
UK Immigration Control
EU/EEA Swiss Students
Show your passport or national identity card. Carry in your hand
luggage a letter from the college accepting you for a full-time
course and evidence that you will be able to support yourself
financially during your course (bank statements, banker's draft,
letter of sponsorship etc.) Even if you already have a visa/ entry
clearance, the Immigration Officer may still ask you questions to
prove that you are a genuine student and that you intend to leave
the UK when you have finished your course.
If you got entry clearance before your arrival in the UK, and you
are coming to study a course lasting more than six months, you
have the right to remain in the UK while you appeal against that
decision.
Customs Control
Exit the green channel if you are traveling from outside the
European Union and have nothing to declare. Exit the red channel
if you have goods to declare. Exit the blue channel if you are
traveling from the European Economic Area, where luggage has
already been cleared through customs control.
What to Declare?
The notices in the customs area will tell you if you need to
declare anything you have brought into the country. You can also
check with one of the customs officers before passing through
customs control. Never carry anything into the UK for somebody
else!
Airport Information Desk
Once you have passed through customs, you have officially arrived
in the UK. If you are not sure what to do next, head straight for
Airport Information for advice on transport, changing money, etc.
Academic Issues
Methods of teaching and the way the course is assessed at the KCL,
and in the UK in general, may differ from the way you have
previously studied. For example, marking schemes may vary greatly
to your previous studies: in the UK a 65% can be considered a good
mark, whereas elsewhere this would be a cause for concern! For
further guidance on studying practices in the UK, please visit the UKCISA website.
Throughout your studies at the KCL you will have access to
academic and welfare support. Our Students Welfare Officer
provides assistance throughout the academic year on revision and
study techniques, and this help is also available for one-to-one
basis.
Opening a UK Bank Account
The process of opening a bank account in the UK can take several
weeks, so it is important that you bring enough funds to cover
your expenses for this time. The safest way to do this is by using
travellers cheques. To open a bank account, you will need to
provide
• Your valid passport (containing your student visa)
• A letter from the KCL confirming your course and UK and overseas
address
• An ‘overseas reference’ from your bank at home would also be
useful
• Your previous six months statements from your bank at home
Healthcare in the UK
International students in the UK are entitled to free healthcare
on the National Health Service (NHS), provided you are studying
for a course over six months in length. You should register with a
local doctor as soon as possible after your arrival, as in some
cases local surgeries operate waiting lists. Listings of doctors
and dentists in the UK are available at
www.nhs.uk . If you plan on
bringing your spouse and/or children, they will also qualify for
free healthcare. There is however a small charge for
prescriptions, currently about £7.
Bringing your family to the UK
If you are considering bringing your spouse or children to the UK
with you, you will have additional arrangements to consider. If
you have been granted permission to remain in the UK for over 12
months, your spouse should be eligible to work or study in the UK.
From the age of 5 children can attend a state school in the UK.
UKCISA provide detailed information on bringing your family to the
UK in their Guidance Note ‘Your Family’.
If you are bringing your family to the UK it may be useful to talk
to current KCL students with families about their experiences.
Please contact our Student Welfare Officer, Ibad Khan, who
can put you in contact with a current student. Email
info@kingswaycollege.co.uk for further information.
Orientation at the KCL
All new students at the KCL attend a programme of events in
Induction Week, the first week of term. There is also an afternoon
of talks aimed specifically at international students on
Wednessday of Iduction Week, providing financial guidance and
information on support services, as well as an opportunity to meet
current international students. These events are all free and it
is highly recommended that you attend.
Finance
It is important that overseas fees payers make provision for both
fee and living costs prior to entering the UK. Prospective
students could look into the possibility of obtaining scholarships
or bursary awards. Such opportunities are limited. For further
information:
• www.britishcouncil.org
• www.ukcisa.org.uk
• www.nusonline.co.uk
Overseas students who enter UK on a student visa will also
need to demonstrate that they have the means to maintain
themselves whilst studying. More information on visas can be found
at www.ukvisas.gov.uk
The KCL can only offer very limited support to students who are
facing hardship.
Tuition Fees
Fees will be subject to annual inflationary rises of
approximately 5%. Please be aware of this when making your
calculations and planning how much money you will require.
Living Expenses
It is estimated that in London you could need up to £600-£750
per month to live on. This will cover where you live, your
food, clothes, travel and basic needs.
How much you can expect to pay for your main needs is detailed
below:
Living in a hostel, lodgings or a bedsit £380-£500 per month
Living in a shared flat or house with other students £260-£450 per
month
Gas and Electric bills (if not included) £30-£50 per month
In addition to these basic costs don’t forget to budget for food,
travel, telephone, laundry, clothing and entertainment. The
following figures will give you a very rough guide to how much you
might spend.
| Items |
Weekly |
Monthly |
| Travel |
£15 |
£65 |
| Telephone |
£5 |
£25 |
| Entertainment |
£20 |
£85 |
| Laundry |
£4 |
£17 |
| Food |
£25 |
£108 |
| Total |
£69 |
£300 |
The London Student Housing Guide offers advice and guidance. It
can be can be downloaded from
www.studylondon.ac.uk
The London Conference on Overseas Students (www.lcos.org.uk
) gives details of hostels for students in addition to publishing
an annual A-Z Guide for International Students in London. Further
advice can also be found on
www.nusonline.co.uk
Course related costs
In addition to the routine expenses, it is also important to
budget for course-related expenditure. This includes books and
equipment. The type of equipment, clothing and books that you will
require will depend on the course you are studying. A reasonable
estimate to cover these items is £250 - £500 in your first
year.
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Student Support Services
Airport Collection
We can arrange transport to and from the airport of your choice.
Prices may vary depending on the airport of choice, and time of
day. Typically, the cost is between £40 to £60.
When booking please let us know the following details:
Airport & Terminal you arrive at
Date & Time of Arrival
Flight Number
Accommodation
Kingsway College London is happy to arrange accommodation on your
behalf and take full responsibility to make sure that everything
is ready for you before you arrive in the UK.
There is a £50 charge per person for accommodation arrangement.
Please note that in case you change your mind about accommodation,
or you cancel your booking then the £50 arrangement fee that is
paid to the college is non-refundable.
UK Banking
We will help you to open a bank account by issuing a request
letter on your behalf. Most of our students open bank accounts in
the following banks: Lloyds, Natwest, Barclays or Abbey.
To open a UK bank account you will need:
Passport
Letter of acceptance or Certificate of Registration from the
College
Proof of your UK address, proof of your overseas address
In some cases banks will accept your Student Status (registration
letter) as proof of your two addresses. It's a good idea to have
proof of your bank account at home.
Visa Extension
You may need to extend your visa/leave to remain (LTR) in the UK
when you are here. You can do this through the college.
You will need:
1. Achievement Letter for the previous course of study,
2. Attendance Letter,
3. New Enrolment Letter,
4. Valid Passport,
5. Two Photos,
6. Bank statement/or a letter from your sponsor and his/her bank
statement,
7. You will also need to fill in the application form (available
in the office).
Home Office charges for extending your visa in the UK:
• Posted Applications: £295
• Personal Applications: £500 (by appointment with the Home Office
only,
Telephone:
020 7404 7381)
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