Pre-arrival information for new students

New students starting September 2010

• We expect to see you at 9am in the ISC on Monday 27th September.
• Please do not arrive more than 2 days before your course is due to start as your room may not be available.
• If you do need to arrive earlier than this, please ensure you advise us of your expected arrival details in good time, on Telephone +44 (0)1273 339333 or Fax +44 (0)1273 339398
• You can arrange to stay on campus for a nightly fee, before the start of term.

All new students

• What to pack
• Useful websites
• Arriving in the UK
• Arriving at Surrey
• Your first week
• Starting life at the University
• ISC contact details

What to pack

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!

All the residences are self-catering and your kitchen is equipped with a kettle, toaster or grill, iron, microwave and fridge/freezer. No cooking utensils, crockery or cutlery are provided. We recommend buying these when you arrive. The ISC will give you advice on arrival.

Useful websites

If you would like to learn more about life in the local area and the UK, the following websites may be useful:

Visit Britain
UK Away Travel Directory (links to many other websites about the UK)
UK Maps
BBC Weather for Guildford
Visit England
Visit Guildford
Visit Surrey
Surrey ISC - Frequently Asked Questions
ISC Facebook group

Arriving in the UK

You should aim to arrive in the UK on the Saturday or Sunday before your course starts. Ensure you inform us of your arrival details in good time, on tel +44 (0) 1273 339333 or fax +44 (0)1273 339334. Remember to take your University of Surrey documentation showing that you have been accepted on to the course with you on the plane.

If you are arriving by plane and have booked airport collection with us, the taxi driver will wait for you in the arrivals hall, holding a sign which will state ‘University of Surrey International Study Centre’.

If you arrive at the airport and no one has met you, please ring 01483 566566 and give your name to the receptionist. They will locate your driver for you. For emergencies only please call: 07824 590698

The taxi driver will take you to the University of Surrey campus. They will know the accommodation court you will be staying in, but it is a good idea for you to have the details of where you are staying easily to hand.

Please do not pay the driver. You have already paid.

By train: The best way to get to Guildford from Central London is by train from Waterloo station. The fastest trains take 35 minutes, via Woking. The single fare is about £10. You can get a taxi from the train station to campus  which should cost about £6 or there is a bus every 10 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the evening from Guildford centre and railway station to the University campus.
By car: If you are arriving by car, you should be able to drive to the residences and unload, but then should park in one of the visitor car parks for the day.

Arriving at Surrey

Make sure that you have a copy of your enrolment documents with you when you arrive at the campus. You will be taken to the reception of your accoummodation court to collect your keys. If you arrive outside the opening hours, you need to collect your keys from the Senate House Security Office which is open 24 hours a day.

Please note, below, your allocated Campus Court Reception, and their opening times to find out details of where and when you will be able to collect your keys:

If you arrive at the weekend before term starts, staff of the ISC will be on campus at specific times and are happy to meet you.

If you need help during the arrival weekend you can contact your accommodation reception, university security or call the emergency number 07824 590698.

Your first week

You will find helpful details about your first week at university in the pre-arrival information pack (, 638KB). Don’t worry if there are some things you don’t understand, as there will be opportunities for you to ask questions about anything related to the ISC or the university on the day you arrive.

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 programmethat 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 is known as ‘Freshers Week’. This 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

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. The University campus has a branch of the bank 'NatWest'. There are many other banks based in Guildford city centre.

It is very useful to start a bank account with NatWest in your own country if that is possible. Before opening an account, 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 confirming that you are a full time student, and your address while you are in the UK. You will also need your passport. It is important that you open your bank account as soon as you receive your letter from the ISC, so that you are able to complete police registration within the legally required 7 day period.

DO NOT carry large amounts of cash or keep large amounts of cash in your room.

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.

University Health Centre

The University Health Centre is located next to the Student Union. The Health Centre has several doctors and nurses who can help you if you need medical assistance. Students can register with the Health Centre during the Induction Week. The ISC will help you with this. To see a doctor or nurse, you will need to contact the health centre reception and make an appointment.

Pharmacy

There is a pharmacist just off campus, which is a 5 minute walk in the direction of the train station.

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 the basic things you’ll need to help you settle in. Before flying, check with your airline what you are allowed to bring on to the flight, particularly in reference to food products.

ISC contact details

Find us on Facebook

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

ISC campus address

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

International Study Centre
2nd Floor, Philip Marchant Building
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7XH
UK

ISC telephone numbers

Telephone Number of ISC: +44 (0) 1483 689951
Fax Number: +44 (0) 1483 689952
Emergency Contact Number: +44 (0) 7824 590698