On arrival The College provides an Induction Programme to help you settle into student life. This is a great opportunity to meet other students and college staff.
Your personal tutor will inform you about a wide range of college facilities and show you how to make the best use of them. During your course, your tutor will monitor your academic progress and support you if you have any difficulties. In addition, they will advise you on career choices and opportunities for progression into higher education.
Our International Student Manager can provide you with help and advice on matters relating to immigration, renewal of leave to remain, welfare and health care.
We understand the importance of providing assistance beyond the classroom – and The College has an expert, caring team to help you. Appointments with the team are always confidential.
International Student Handbook
There is a lot of useful information in the International Student Handbook [1]
Pre-arrival Information
All students will be sent helpful information about joining the course and coming to live in Bournemouth. For additional information go to www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk
Visa Advice and Guidance
If you are applying to The College as a direct student you can obtain useful information re completion of your visa application form from the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk [2]
You can make the application once you have completed the college application form, have been accepted by the college and paid for your course. At that point you will be issued with a CAS ID number through the electronic Sponsorship Management System used by the British Embassy. Our International Office staff will also help with visa extensions and any other immigration matters once you are studying at The College.
UKBA Tier 4 Rules and Regulations - Students Rights and Responsibilities [3]
English Testing and Language Support
When you apply to do a course in the UK, a condition of acceptance is that you must have either taken an approved language test i.e. IELTS, TOEFL or a test provided by The College. The College provides an online test, which must be taken in exam conditions. If you require additional support for your language to help you with your academic studies, such as completing the written assignments, you can go to a drop in English Language Support Class for one session a week.
Welfare Advice
The International team can also provide advice for students who may be experiencing a variety of welfare problems, often students will need advice about money, health care etc. The College has trained counsellors who offer support for personal and confidential issues. The International office staff are always available to help you. In addition there is an emergency telephone system so that if you have a serious problem outside normal college hours you can still get help.
Religious Advice
In the Bournemouth and Poole area there are a number of places of worship for people of varying religious faiths. We are aware that some students may require special arrangements during particularly important times so The College has multi-faith prayer rooms at its main sites.
Student Union
We want our international students to feel part of The College and the community. Every college has a students union and they will arrange for many events and activities during the year. When you arrive at The College you automatically become a member of the union.
Opening a UK Bank Account
Please be aware that opening a UK bank account on arrival can take up to three weeks, even if you have the correct identification and documentation.
Therefore, we are pleased to announce through our partnership with Edustep's: Pay To Study service, we can now offer you the opportunity to open a UK Bank Account Pre-Arrival!
Edustep provide a very user friendly, free service and will complete your application on your behalf so you can start banking before you arrive and have your UK Bank Card ready for your collection on arrival.
Get more information and register for this free service. [4]