General information - Chester



4536440-55435500-548640-27051000Erasmus + programme. This booklet contains essential information relevant to all students and staff. We are pleased to welcome you.Contents PageContents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u General information PAGEREF _Toc439698010 \h 2TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS PAGEREF _Toc439698011 \h 2BOARDING PASSES PAGEREF _Toc439698012 \h 2SCHOLARSHIP PAGEREF _Toc439698013 \h 3ADDITIONAL COSTS PAGEREF _Toc439698014 \h 3MOBILITY DOCUMENTS PAGEREF _Toc439698015 \h 3MOBILTIY PERIOD PAGEREF _Toc439698016 \h 4Visa Types PAGEREF _Toc439698017 \h 4Making your Visa application PAGEREF _Toc439698018 \h 55. ATAS Certificate PAGEREF _Toc439698019 \h 6REGISTRATION PAGEREF _Toc439698020 \h 6Induction PAGEREF _Toc439698021 \h 6ACCOMMODATION PAGEREF _Toc439698022 \h 7Health and Insurance PAGEREF _Toc439698023 \h 7Health PAGEREF _Toc439698024 \h 7Vaccinations PAGEREF _Toc439698025 \h 7Tuberculosis Screening PAGEREF _Toc439698026 \h 8Insurance PAGEREF _Toc439698027 \h 8TRAVEL PAGEREF _Toc439698028 \h 8Travelling to the University PAGEREF _Toc439698029 \h 8Getting to the Parkgate Road campus: PAGEREF _Toc439698030 \h 8By train from Manchester Airport PAGEREF _Toc439698031 \h 8By Coach PAGEREF _Toc439698032 \h 9From Chester railway station: PAGEREF _Toc439698033 \h 9CURRENCY PAGEREF _Toc439698034 \h 9WEATHER PAGEREF _Toc439698035 \h 9CAMPUSES PAGEREF _Toc439698036 \h 9Parkgate Road Campus PAGEREF _Toc439698037 \h 9Riverside Campus PAGEREF _Toc439698038 \h 11General informationTRAVEL ARRANGEMENTSInformation related to your flight arrangements will be communicated to you by your Host coordinators in University of Chester. You will have to complete a standardized form with your data and passport number as well as the date you have agreed with your host and home insitutions, for your mobility. Please ensure you have discussed your date of arrival with the team at University of Chester BEFORE booking reserving flights.Please note that once your flight ticket will be booked and edited, no changes can be done except in cases of exceptional circumstances. If you have not yet received information on your flights, please contact your relevant project coordinator. BOARDING PASSESIt is extremely important that you submit all of your boarding passes to the University of Chester Erasmus + team as soon as possible after arrival. The boarding passes are a proof that you have been on your mobility and are an essential part of your scholarship contract. SCHOLARSHIPThe scholarship holder receives a monthly allowance for a specific period of time (mobility period) depending on the level of study. The mobility period is stated in your Invitation Letter. If you have any queries regarding your start and end dates, please contact the University of Chester Erasmus + team immediately. University of Chester will be in charge of transferring your monthly allowance. Please note: All scholarship holders will have to open a UK bank account upon their arrival in order for their monthly allowance to be paid into this account.For students, the International Office will provide you with the necessary forms.Staff scholarship holders will be provided with a form to open a bank account from the Research Knowledge and Transfer Office.Please note that all scholarships are paid on time but there is no fixed date for the paymentADDITIONAL COSTSScholars may submit an “Additional Cost Claim Form” to their host University contact person upon arrival. Please note, payment of approved costs may take a number of weeks. Costs which may be claimed include:Visa costs related to the mobilityResidency permit costs related to mobilityTransport to/from airport related to the mobilityRefunding of all costs is not guaranteed, each case will be assessed independently. Scholars must submit ORIGINAL receipts for all claims being made.MOBILITY DOCUMENTS Mobility documents vary from one project to another. Please ensure to follow instructions carefully and complete and submit all documents when requested. Failure to submit requested documents may result in delays in the processing of scholarship stipend payments. Some of the mandatory documents are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list and other documents may be requested during your mobility. Please check your e-mails regularly and follow all instructions carefully. Beneficiary agreementLearning Agreement / Work Plan Boarding Passes for all flights related to your mobility Scholarship reportEnd-of-mobility summary / Outcomes / GradesEnd-of-mobility evaluation / surveyAll beneficiaries must ensure that they have completed and submitted their relevant learning agreement for students and work plan for staff and Post-Doc BEFORE their mobility begins. MOBILTIY PERIODPlease contact the team at the University of Chester to define your exact mobility period abroad. Please note that the EU regulations state that to receive your monthly allowance you have to spend at least 16 days at the Host institution. For instance, if you have a 6 months mobility period to achieve you will have to be abroad for at least 5 months and 16 days. English Language RequirementsWe require evidence that you have the correct level of English Language proficiency. This condition can be met in a two ways:Providing evidence of a certified Home Office approved English language test, i.e. IELTS. The IELTS score you will need will depend on your level of study:Undergraduate: 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each bandPostgraduate: 6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band2. Passing a University of Chester English Language Test (UoCELT) conducted via Skype. If you have not quite reached the required IELTS score or you are unable to take an IELTS test you do have the option of undertaking the University’s own English Language test. This test can be requested by contacting the International Centre at the University of Chester. Visa TypesAll International students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must confirm whether they require a visa to enter the UK. If you do require a visa there are two main visa routes you may be eligible for:Short-term Study Visa. This allows you to study any short course or complete a short period of research as part of a degree course. More information on this visa can be found on the Home Office website: This visa route is suitable if you are only required to be studying in the UK for a 6 month period. In order to make this visa application you will require an acceptance letter from the University of Chester.Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. If you are required to be present in the UK for longer than 6 months it may be more suitable for you to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student visa. In order to apply for this visa you must be issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) by the University. This must be requested from the International Centre and can be done by completing and returning the following forms:CAS Policy for New Applicants and Students Joining a New Course of StudyGenuine Intention to Study Form (students may also have to undertake a Genuine Intention Interview with the International Centre as a country specific requirement)Copies of the latest forms can be found on the University of Chester website: Please note before the University of Chester can consider you for a CAS you must have met all academic and English Language conditions associated with your offer. Making your Visa application: Once you have received all your required documents and checked to make sure all the information is correct, you need to submit your application using the UKVI website Please note, students now on a course 6 months or longer will need to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge at the time of your visa application, so that you are able to access NHS services whilst in the UK.When submitting your visa applications please ensure all the documents you submit are originals. The use of photocopies, scanned documents, or print-outs from a website will result in a visa refusal3. Credibility Interviews: The UK Home Office often interviews students in order to determine if your desire to study in the UK is genuine. The interview selection is random and does not mean something is wrong with your application, but it is something you should be prepared for. We have produced a guide to give you an idea of topics you should consider. This guide can be found on the University of Chester website: 4. Biometric Resident Permits: If you have applied for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa and your visa application is successful, you will receive a temporary 30 day Visa, during which you must arrive in the UK. If you attempt to enter the UK outside of these dates, you will not be granted entry. Your visa letter will also state where you can pickup your Biometric Resident Permit. To be able to collect your BRP card from the University of Chester, you MUST enter the following Alternative Collection Location (ACL) Code when making your online Tier 4 (General) Student Visa application. The ACL code is required on the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Collection screen. *The University of Chester ACL Code is: 2HE477* If you have applied for a Short-term Study Visa your visa will appear as a stamp in your passport. This will be valid for the length of your stay in the UK. 5. ATAS CertificateIf you are a non-EU/EEA (including Switzerland) national and are planning to take postgraduate study in the UK in certain, Technology, Engineering or Science subjects then you will now need to obtain an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate before applying for the visa, entry clearance or extension of stay as a student. Further details on the ATAS application procedure can be found at the following link: ATAS certificate6. EnrolmentWhen you arrive in the UK you must present your original passport, visa and educational documents to the International Centre to allow us to complete your enrolment. This is a Home Office requirement. If you fail to present these documents during your enrolment period you will not be able to commence your studies at the University of Chester. REGISTRATION The Erasmus + team at University of Chester will ensure you are registered with the University of Chester prior to your arrival. Once you are registered as Student in University of Chester, you will receive a Student Card and a University of Chester e-mail address. You will need to attend the library to have a photograph taken for your Student Card.Your student card can be used:-to borrow books from University libraries-to access discounts at the University cafes. -to join in activities in the Students UnionYour University of Chester e-mail address will be used by the University administration to give you all information about welcome events/visits, cultural events, introducing Erasmus or foreign students, student association events and other useful news. Please ensure you check this email regularly.INDUCTION We understand that planning to go overseas to study can be quite stressful. There will be a series of welcome events for International Students during Induction Week. Please contact the University's International Student Advisory Service for further information isas@chester.ac.uk.The International Orientation programme is a week-long and includes sessions on: Culture Shock and what this may mean for youBanking and opening a bank accountStudents’ Union – sports and societiesStudy Skills to support your studying in the UKAn introduction to the facilities of the libraryPersonal SafetyMoney saving tips for when you travelCampus and Chester City toursTier 4 Visa ComplianceRegistering with the policeACCOMMODATION All the Erasmus students awarded a 10 month scholarship may apply for university accommodation. Information concerning this option is communicated to all students by the team at University of Chester before their arrival in the UK. Even if you ask for university accommodation, it is not guaranteed that you will get one – depending on the accommodation availability. In case you don’t obtain one the team will help you find private accommodation. Further information about University accommodation can be found using this link: staff visitors or students on a 6 month scholarship, the team will help you find private accommodation. HEALTH AND INSURANCEHealthHealth care is free from the National Health Service (NHS) from the beginning of your stay if you are:An EU studentAn international student who is on a programme of study for six months and has paid the immigration health surchargeA national or a resident of a country which has a reciprocal health agreement with the UKYou may register with an NHS doctor when you arrive in Chester or Warrington. Advice on how to register will be given during the Induction Week.VaccinationsThe Department of Health in the UK is currently advising all new students to have the vaccination against Meningococcal Meningitis C strain. You are recommended to have this vaccination at least two weeks before you arrive at the University of Chester, so that you are fully immunised. All students taking Biomedical Sciences degree programmes are also required to be vaccinated against the Hepatitis B virus. This is essential under UK Health and Safety Regulations for those who will come into contact with blood or blood products. If students choose not to be vaccinated, their learning experiences and choice of work placement may be severely limited. Tuberculosis ScreeningApplicants for UK visas valid for longer than six months in certain countries from February 2007, require a certificate to show that they are free from infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The applicants from the following countries: Bangladesh, Ghana, (which also takes applications from Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Nigeria), Kenya (which also take applications from residents of Eritrea and Somalia), Pakistan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Thailand (which also takes applications from Cambodia and Laos) will need to provide with their visa application, a certificate confirming that they are free from infectious tuberculosis (TB).Before accepting your visa application, British Embassy/High Commission will ask you to contact their partner, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who will arrange for you to have a chest x-ray at an accredited clinic or hospital. The IOM office will give you a certificate which you must submit with your visa application form and other documents so that they know that you are free from infectious TB. Your visa will normally be refused if there is no certificate. You should carry the certificate in your hand luggage. If you do not, you may be delayed on arrival in the UK. InsuranceIt is advisable to take out an insurance policy to cover your personal property when you are travelling to the UK, and whilst you are in the UK.TRAVELTravelling to the UniversityGetting to the Parkgate Road campus:Chester is well served by the railway network, and has frequent fast rail links from London and Manchester. Journey times are approximately London 2hrs 10mins, Manchester 1hr, Birmingham 1hr 45mins. By train from Manchester AirportThere are several routes but the two easiest ones are:Direct train from Manchester Airport to Chester Station (1hr 30mins)Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly, change at Manchester Piccadilly to Chester Station.By Coach National Express Coach Travel will need to book online before you travel as the coach drivers do not issue tickets, and the cost is approximately ?8.10.From Chester railway station:Taxi: Outside the front of Chester station you can get a registered Taxi. They all operate a taximeter. The approximate cost from the station to the Parkgate Road campus is ?6.00.Walk: The University of Chester is 20 minutes walking time from Chester Railway station.CURRENCYThe UK currency is pounds sterling (?). WEATHERThe weather here in the North West is usually mild, but it can be unpredictable. In the summer, the temperature is usually between 18°C and 26°C, and can dip down to 5°C to 8°C during the day, and 0°C during the night, in the winter. The weather can change from day-to-day from being sunny and clear to being cloudy, windy or wet, so it is best to bring with you layers of light clothing, good shoes or boots, something warm and definitely something waterproof! CAMPUSESParkgate Road Campus: Main Campus, Student support and Guidance, Research Knowledge Transfer, Santander Bank, Sports Facilitites Riverside Campus: Faculty of Health and Social Care is based hereContact Details for Erasmus + teamDr June KeelingFaculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Clinical SciencesBache HallUniversity of Chesterj.keeling@chester.ac.uk ................
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