Information for new students coming to the ISC

If you are a new student coming to the University of Leicester International Study Centre, this information should answer some of your questions and help you before, during and after your arrival at the ISC.

If you have confirmed your place on a course starting in September 2011, you can find all the information about what to do before and after you arrive in the pre-arrival pack (PDF, 1.5 MB)

What to pack/bring

Essential items to bring with you include:

Your passport and visa
Your enrolment and accommodation documents
Passport sized photographs
Photographs of friends and family to brighten up your new room
A towel
Essential toiletries and medications
An alarm clock – for those early starts!

Useful websites

Visit Britain
UK Travel Directory
UK Maps (links to many other websites about the UK)
BBC weather forecast for Leicester
Leicester visitor information
ISC Frequently Asked Questions
Leicester Facebook group

Arriving in the UK

Your accommodation should be available 24 to 48 hours prior to the start of your course, so you should plan to arrive in the UK on the Saturday or Sunday before your course starts.
Remember to take your University of Leicester documentation showing that you have been accepted on to the course with you on the plane.
Before flying, please check with your airline what you are allowed to bring on to the flight, particularly in reference to food products.
If you are arriving by plane and have asked for a taxi pick up, you will be met by the taxi driver in the arrivals hall, who will be holding a sign showing the University of Leicester logo, and the International Study Centre logo. They will take you to your taxi.
If there is no-one waiting for you on arrival, don’t panic, just ring us on our emergency number – 07827 850936 and someone will be able to help you.
The taxi will then take you to your accommodation. The driver should know which accommodation you are staying in, but it is a good idea for you to have details of where you are staying to hand.

Arrival at Leicester

All residences normal opening hours are 9am – 5pm, and there are night porters on site until midnight at Nixon Court, Freeman’s Common and Upper Brown Street.

Please ensure you have advised us of your expected arrival details in good time, on tel +44 (0)1273 339333. If you do not inform us, and you arrive out of hours, there may be no-one available to meet you at your residence.

On arrival you will need to pay a key deposit of £30, so you should bring this in cash with you.

You should complete an inventory within 48 hours of moving in. Any damaged or missing items should be noted on the form and returned to the Manager’s Office.

All students that are under 18 on arrival at the ISC, will be accommodated in Oadby Student Village, and must have a UK based guardian. If you do not already have a guardian in the UK, Study Group will appoint one for you for each term that you are under the age of 18.

Settling in to your accommodation

There will be a bedding pack ready for you on arrival. This will consist of a duvet, pillow and complete set of linen. The price is £20. The bedding pack will be charged against your student account. Please note there is no towel provided and you should bring your own.
All self-catered residences have kitchens which are equipped with cooking facilities. You will, however, need to provide your own cutlery and pans. These can be bought cheaply from local shops.
All rooms are provided with a telephone. The telephones can receive both incoming and outgoing calls. All outgoing calls will be charged to the rooms, and incoming calls will cost the callers at the BT national rate.
All bedrooms have broadband internet access for a small charge.
Tap water in Britain is safe to drink but if you feel wary of this, water filters are readily available at most supermarkets, which you could buy on arrival.
Please be aware that you will be charged a refundable accommodation security deposit of £250, which will be deducted from your £2000 accommodation confirmation payment.
Please also see the Leicester accommodation Terms and Conditions webpage.

Your first week

Induction activities

During your first week you will have a complete introduction to the UK, the university, and the ISC. The induction programme is designed to help you settle down within the university so that you can concentrate on your studies. You will:

Register with the university and receive a library card
Get set up and logged onto the university internet network
Learn about the programme that you have registered for including information relating to progression to the University
Learn the rules and regulations of the ISC and the university
Open a bank account
Register with local health services
Ask questions about accommodation issues
Learn about visa applications
Register with the UK police, if necessary

Freshers Week

If you start at the beginning of the academic year (September) you will have the opportunity to get involved in activities and events within the University itself. The first week of term, known as ‘Freshers Week’, gives all new and returning students the chance to settle into university life and get to know other students who they will be living and studying with.

Whatever time of year you start your course, in your first week you will have both lessons and introductions to the UK and university life. There may also be a chance to get involved with social activities planned by the university. Finally you will receive information about starting your individual courses, including timetables and academic information.

Starting life at the University

Join us on Facebook

We've created a Facebook group to help new students find each other. Visit the group and click "Request to Join Group".

Opening a bank account

If you are coming to the UK for at least an academic year, it is recommended that you open a bank account. Before opening an account, you should check whether money can be transferred into it from outside of the UK. To open a UK bank account you will need a letter from the ISC for the bank confirming that you are a full time student. Our staff will help you with this in your first week.

Warning: DO NOT carry large amounts of cash with you or keep large amounts of cash in your accommodation.

Police registration

If on entering the UK your visa is stamped with the words “Register with UK police on arrival” this must be done shortly after arrival. Staff at the ISC will help you with this. You will have the opportunity to register with the police during your first week with us.

You will need your passport and a sum of money, currently in the region of £34. You will be given further information on registering with the police during the induction programme.

Medical information

There are medical facilities located on or near to campus. Staff will ensure you are registered at the local Health Centre, and will show you where the closest pharmacy is located, where you can receive medicines on prescription.

Specialist and international foods

There are many shops and restaurants in the area which sell these types of foods. You may also find that some of the larger supermarkets stock the products that you require. Shops both on campus and very close to campus will sell most things you’ll initially need.

ISC contact details

ISC campus address

The postal address where you will be studying on the University campus is:

International Study Centre
Prospect House
94 Regent Road
Leicester
LE1 7DA
England

Emergency Contact Number

+44 (0) 7827 850936

International Study Centre