International Student Definition

Preparations

It is extremely important that you obtain the necessary travel documents before you come to the UK, particularly if you require a visa. Please check about UK entry requirements with the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your country. If you are not sure about any aspect of your preparations to come to the UK, please contact the International Student Support Officer who will be pleased to help you.

Arrival

You will need to produce the following at any port of entry in the UK.

• A valid passport (including Visa/Leave To Remain or Entry Clearance Certificate) and a certificate of health or vaccination if required.
• An offer letter from the College and a letter of receipt if you have paid your fees before arriving in the UK.
• Some evidence of your ability to be able to pay all your expenses here and those of any dependants whilst you are living and studying here.
• Enough money in cash (GBP200/GBP300) or travellers cheques to pay for immediate expenses upon arrival eg. food, transport etc.

Immigration

There may be some delay whilst all your documentation is checked. Please try to be as polite and patient as possible. When the Immigration Officer is satisfied that you are a 'bona fide' student, you will be allowed to enter the UK. Depending on what (if any) stamp you already have in your passport, you may or may not have a further endorsement placed in your passport which will tell you the length of time you are allowed to stay in the UK. Read any endorsement very carefully. If you do not understand you must ask the Immigration Officer. If you wish to work you must ask for the appropriate stamp.

NB. If you have the word 'prohibited' in your endorsement you will not be able to work at all in the UK. If you are directed to register with the police, you must do this within 7 days of your arrival. You will need to pay GBP34.00 for a registration document. If you are not sure about the implications of any stamps/ endorsements which have been placed in your passport, ask the International Student Support Officer in the International Office at The College to explain this to you.

HM Customs

After passing through Immigration Control and having collected your luggage, you must declare to the Customs Officer all articles (including gifts) obtained abroad or on your journey. The Officer may ask you about particular items on which duty is payable (eg. cameras, jewellery and watches) and you should tell the Officer whether you have any of them in your luggage.

You will be allowed to import free your oldest personal effects and, as a full-time student coming to the UK for at least 12 months, some of your newer personal belongings, provided there is not more than one of each item and you take them out of the country when your course is finished. All such items should be declared to the Customs Officer who may enter them on your passport.

Emergency Procedures

On arrival in the UK you may find your first moments confusing, however, the majority of our students have a trouble free-entry into the UK. You will be met by our transport service, which will take you to your allocated host family/point of destination.

As a College, which places duty of care to students high on its priorities, we have a policy in case of emergency or delay.
Before departure from your own country you will be provided with details of your host family, an emergency procedures letter, and details of transfers to Bournemouth and Poole.

Should you be detained in immigration for any reason you should immediately show the emergency procedure letter to the person who is responsible for the delay e.g. Immigration/Customs Officer. This letter will request the Immigration/Customs Officer to call Airport Information and inform your driver that you will be delayed. This will ensure that your transport will be waiting for you no matter how long the delay.

Having passed through immigration, collected your baggage and entered the main arrivals area, you should proceed to the Airport Information desk and request that the driver from Airport Cars, Bournemouth should be paged. The driver will then come to the desk and collect you.

In the unlikely event that no driver is there to meet you then you should immediately request the Airport Information desk to call, or should yourself call the following number:

Monday to Friday 0830 - 1700 = 01202 205161/205161
Monday to Friday 1700 - 0830 = 07710 533499
Saturday and Sunday 24 hours = 07710 533499

Under normal circumstances our staff will give you detailed information on how to proceed. Certain situations may dictate that you will have to find alternative arrangements to travel to Bournemouth and Poole. Our staff will give travel advice when you call, but details on how to proceed are available on the back of the emergency procedures letter.

These consist of how to travel to Bournemouth and Poole be either bus, or train. Alternatively for possible evening emergencies hotel accommodation may be arranged.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU MAKE YOUR OWN TAXI ARRANGEMENTS. THE COLLEGE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY UNAUTHORISED AIRPORT TAXIS OR TRANSFERS.

You and your parents may be assured that we will do everything possible to make your arrival in the UK safe and trouble-free.

Personal Details

During your time at College you will be asked to fill in a number of forms. Please spell your name exactly the same way each time - the way it is spelt in your passport. Please give your real name rather than a name you 'adopt' for use in the UK.

The Weather

Those of us who live in the UK permanently, think that our weather is 'bad' but the British climate is formally described as being 'equable'. If you come from a tropical or semi-tropical climate you may find it cool or even cold here. Temperatures range from 30C in the Summer (sometimes) to below 0C in Winter. You certainly will need an umbrella!

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