CCL Student Handbook
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CCL Student Handbook
Transcript of CCL Student Handbook
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CONTENTS
WELCOME 3
OUR PROGRAMS 4
OUR PROGRAM STAFF 4
Business Department
Health and Social Care Department
English Department
TERM SCHEDULE 5
Spring Term
Winter Term
Summer Term
STUDENT SUPPORT 6
STUDENT RESOURCES 7
POLICIES AND COMMITMENTS 8
Equal Opportunities & Diversity
Our Commitments to You
Your Commitments
Health and Safety
Access and Fair Assessment Policy
Academic Misconduct Policy
Complaints
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES
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YOUR LIFE IN THE UK 19
Accommodation
o Choosing a Location
o Costing of Renting
o Checking the Property
o Tenancy Agreement
o Council Tax
o Change of Address
Working in the UK
o National Insurance
o Income Tax
Health
o Free Treatment
Transportation in London
o Buy an Oyster Card
o Student Oyster Photocards
Bank Account
Emergency Contact
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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Welcome to Central College London, a young college offering a range of courses to help you develop your
intellectual capabilities and vocational career. We give great importance to the development of English
language skills as we see these as the tools of success for international students. Our Foundation English and
English for Academic Purposes courses provide the student with the confidence to progress to our
programmes in business and health & social care. Our programmes are taught in English, examined in
English and the successful student receives an English academic award. So English is important!
As you are visiting our web site you would have noticed that our building was part of the historic Ealing
Studios where the British film industry was founded. We have developed this charming location to provide
a modern, well equipped learning environment which we are justly proud of and where students can reach
their full potential. You are warmly invited to visit us at one of our open day events to experience them for
yourself and meet our students. Our students are important to us. They are regularly consulted and involved
in decisions to improve the student experience.
Although we are a relatively new college we have developed good links with the university sector. Having
entered into articulation agreements we are now seeking validation for top-up degrees and post-graduate
diplomas to extend our business and health & social care portfolio. The college has a number of start dates
for its courses to provide as much flexibility for the student as possible. At Central College London we
employ full-time well qualified staff with experience of supporting international students to provide a strong
foundation that will be with you throughout your future career.
The good location and resources we provide will take you through each level of your higher education so
that you can fulfil your potential. I recognise the importance of education in changing lives and improving
life chances. Enrol with us at Central College London and we will provide you with a friendly, supportive
study environment where you can flourish!
We are a young college – grow with us!
Mike Cuthbert
Academic Principal
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ICIES AND COMMITMENTS
OUR PROGRAMMES
Central College London currently offers the following programmes:
Business Studies
HND in Business Management
Advanced Diploma in Business Management
Graduate Diploma in Business Management
BA (Hons) Business Management
BA (Hons) Business Management – Top-up Degree
BA (Hons) International Management – Top-up Degree
BA (Hons) Business Finance - Top-up Degree
Pre-Masters in Business Management
Health and Social Care Studies
HND in Health and Social Care
Advanced Diploma in Health and Social Care
Graduate Diploma in Health and Social Care
English Studies
Foundation English Course
English for Academic Purposes
Business Department
Lecturer
Keeshon Holmes
Room 3C
Lecturer
Mansur Shohag
Room 3C
Lecturer
Shyam Sharma
Room 3C
Lecturer
Kwawo Marfo
Room 3C
OUR PROGRAMME STAFF
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Lecturer
Joshie Juggessur
Room 3C
Health and Social Care Department
Lecturer
Michelle Duggan
Room 3C
Lecturer
Joss Kitching
Room 3C
Lecturer
Karen Murrell
Room 3C
English Department
Tutor
Clare Loxey
Room 3C
Tutor
Mark Cullen
Room 3C
TERM SCHEDULE
2011 / 2012 Term Schedule
Spring Term
January 10th, 2011 to April 29th
, 2011
Summer Term
May 2nd
, 2011 to August 26th, 2011
Winter Term
August 30th
, 2011 to December 30th
, 2011
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STUDENT SUPPORT
Central College London provides ongoing support for its students in all aspects related to their current and
future studies or work related endeavours. Students should contact our Student Welfare Officer when in
need of any service that might aid them in their studies.
Counselling
Our Student Welfare Officer is ready to help students to plan their study path and advise them on choosing
the right set of classes in order to help them accomplish their aims. The student advisor helps the students
both during their studies and also in the future, by providing them with valuable advice about options for
pursuing further studies or entering the job market.
Students must identify any disabilities during the application process, however if you need to discuss any
other disabilities you may consult our Student Welfare Officer or any other member of staff. Central
College London will be made aware of any disability and the appropriate measures will be taken to
accommodate them within the college‟s guidelines.
Personal tutoring is available to students who are struggling with their course progress. Students are
encouraged to contact either the lecturer/tutor or the programme head to discuss ways for further
improvement. In circumstances where the lecturers are not available, students can contact Reception to
make appointment for the personal tutoring.
Visas for foreign students
Central College London is able to provide visa application support for international students that require Tier 4 Sponsorship through our partner immigration firm, Inno-Ship International. Please contact them for advice and assistance at:
Inno-Ship International Ltd.
Unit 2C Walpole Court
Ealing Green
London
W5 5ED
Ph: 0203 355 7777
Email: [email protected]
Assistance in employment
Central College London is often approached by employers for part-time, full-time or volunteer work
opportunities. Central College London maintains a section of our website that aims to help our students to
secure part time work opportunities in the UK during their studies. Students should be aware that part-time
work during studies should only be supplementary and cannot impact on your full-time studies. It is
quintessentially important that you abide strictly by your visa conditions and only work the number of hours
allowed. CCL has a mandatory obligation to report any breach of visa conditions to the UKBA.
You can access this information at: http://www.centralcollegelondon.co.uk/#
Alternatively, our Student Welfare Officer is prepared to counsel and advise students regarding employment
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issues such as CV preparation assistance, job searching, employment rights and various employment related
issues.
STUDENT RESOURCES
IT Facilities
Computers are available for email and web access during regular college hours in the IT lab room 2B. The
computer lab is available for student and faculty use weekdays except when in use by classes. Please speak
with the college reception staff to arrange access. You are obligated to use the computers in fair way and
reasonable way, including the use of the Internet for academic or personal purposes. All students need a valid password and username to sign in to any computer at Central College London. Contact the reception desk for more information.
Virtual Learning Environment
As a support system to your study, Prague College has developed a web portal that will allow you to exchange ideas with
lecturers and receive study materials necessary for individual courses. This system will allow you to download the syllabus,
individual lecture content, assignments, grades, chat with your lecturer, and perform other functions necessary for effective
lecturer/student communication. The system offers many interactive features, helping to make your learning more effective.
In order to enter the Learning Centre you will be given personal password and username. If you have not received your password
and username yet, please contact our Student Welfare Officer who will provide you with the information. Training on how to use
the VLE is provided for students.
Online Learning Centre – Teesside University
Business Management students will also have access to the Teesside University online system
(Blackboard), from where they can access the periodical database and other research tools that will be
essential to use during the programme.
E-learning@Tees is the University‟s online learning environment powered by Blackboard. Lecturers use
this system to support learning and teaching. The system facilitates communication between staff and
students and can enable structured learning content.
E-learning@Tees is a web based system and therefore is available both on and off-site using the following
address: http//eat.tees.ac.uk. Your username and password will be required to gain access to this secure area.
Library Facilities
Central College London utilizes both an online and on-site library in which students can access a variety of
books, papers and publications to support their studies.
Our online library is operated via EBSCO and hosts a wide selection of international materials and
publications. Students are able to access this library via their student IT account both on-site in our student
IT facility or off campus via any internet connection through the Virtual Learning Environment of our
college website.
Our on-site library is currently under further renovation to allow for more student private study areas and
provisions.
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Textbooks and class materials
Class materials will be regularly distributed during lectures and workshops, and they will also be posted on
the VLE. Extra copying is the responsibility of the student.
Textbooks and additional course materials can be purchased in the college reception.
Message boards
Message boards remind the students of important events, announce news and provide information of general
interest to all students. Message boards are located in the stairwells as well as in reception of the college and
serves as one of the most important communication tools at the college. Students should always check the
message boards, as critical information is posted there regarding their studies. The message boards are
reserved only for posting information with educational content.
Student ID Cards
Students are issued with photo student ID cards. These cards are your ID while you are in the college.
They enable access to Central College London during college open hours, and are used to borrow materials
from the library once an account has been created by the operations desk.
ID cards are required for all students (part and full-time)
If a card is lost or stolen, please contact the Operations desk immediately to cancel the old card and
have a new card issued.
POLICIES AND COMMITMENTS
Equal Opportunities and Diversity
Central College London (CCL) is committed to promoting and celebrating diversity and equality of
opportunities. We welcome diversity and differences as a great source of strength.
★ We want your time at CCL to be enjoyable, successful and stimulating.
★ Racism, sexism or treating people disrespectfully because of their age, class, sexuality, religion, physical
or mental differences is unacceptable. We reject any behavior which allows this to happen, or which
suggests that one group of people is superior to another.
Our Responsibilities
We will:
★ Support and respect all our students and staff in the college.
★ Enable you to study and work in a safe and motivating environment to the best of your potential.
★ Celebrate your efforts and successes and support you if things do not go well.
★ Treat you with respect and value you as an individual.
★ Make sure that all facilities are as accessible as possible.
★Our Race Equality Policy states that we are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment for
all our students and raising their success levels. In doing so we wish to :
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o Work towards ensuring our student population is reflective of the local community.
o Work towards ensuring our admissions and assessments procedures are fair and that any
barriers faced by students or prospective students are addressed.
o Work towards ensuring that all student inductions promote an understanding of racial
equality and providing information on how students can take action to challenge
discrimination as part of an equal opportunities program.
o Ensure that students are aware that any form of discriminatory or unacceptable behavior will
not be tolerated.
o Ensure that students who make racist remarks or commit racial harassment will be subject to
investigation and may face disciplinary action.
Central College London welcomes students with additional learning and /or access needs and provides:
★ Specifically designed programs.
★ Support on any courses, for example, signers or scribes.
★ Appropriate admissions arrangements.
★ Special examination and assessment provision.
★ Links with External Agencies.
★ Physical accessibility of the college premises.
★ Evacuation Procedures for those with restricted mobility.
Your Responsibilities
As a student at Central College London you are responsible for adhering to CCL‟s policy. It is your
responsibility whilst at CCL to:
★ Value and respect teachers/tutors, staff members, fellow students and others as individuals.
★ Respect the fact that as individuals we are all different and may have different experiences and needs.
★ Abide by the CCL‟s procedures and codes of conduct which uphold the spirit of this policy.
We are all responsible for checking that actions speak louder than words. If you have any reason to feel our
policy is not working for you or others, please tell us. All feedback will be directed to the Head of Centre
who monitors and assesses the effectiveness of our Equal Opportunity Policy.
Our Commitments to You
We will:
★ Help you identify your personal goals and choose a learning program which best meets your aims, taking
into account your existing qualifications, skills and experience.
★ Provide an ID card so that you can gain access to the school facilities.
★ Provide you with an induction program at the start of your learning program and a learning plan which
identifies your learning aims and how to achieve these aims.
★ If you have indicated that you have a specific learning difficulty or disability, provide you with an
interview with a specialist member of staff to agree on the level of support you need.
★ Provide help and advice at the time you join CCL and during the time you are studying with CCL.
★ Make sure that information is available to you about financial matters, such as fees and financial support.
★ Make sure that you have the information you need about the services, facilities and support that will be
available to you.
★ Provide clear and accurate information in your course handbook about your learning program, about
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what you will need to do to succeed, and how and when you will be assessed.
★ Provide teachers and support staff that have the skills, qualifications and commitment to support you, and
encourage you to succeed.
★ Provide additional learning support where a need for that support has been identified and agreed.
★ Provide all full-time students with a minimum of three written progress reviews or reports per year.
★ Support you on work placements, where relevant.
★ Provide you with appropriate classroom, equipment, and facilities, including new technologies, within
available resources.
★ Provide a complaints handling procedure which is easy to follow and understand.
★ Be given the opportunity to be involved in the processes we have in place to review and improve our
services.
★ Inform you when reports and the results of surveys are published, and where you can find them.
★ At the end of the program, help you to prepare for your future by providing career-related information,
advice and guidance.
Your Commitments to Us
We have made commitments to you to help you achieve your goals. You will also need to make
commitments to us, other students and visitors to Central College London, and yourself if you are to
succeed.
The Student Code of Conduct for Central College London is that you will:
★ Support and respect all staff in the work they do. Discrimination and bullying in the form of racism,
sexism or treating people disrespectfully because of their age, class, sexuality, religion, physical or
mental differences is unacceptable.
★ Make sure you attend classes and other activities which are part of your program on time.
★ Complete your assignments and meet the agreed deadlines for handing in your work. Be aware of the
college‟s academic misconduct policy.
★ If, for any reason you are unable to attend a class or any other scheduled event, inform the appropriate
member of staff, by the time agreed with your assessor/tutor.
★ Always behave in a way which respects the needs and rights of others.
★ Your health, safety and well-being is important to us. Please familiarize yourselves with our Health &
Safely Regulations, Equal Opportunities Policy and other college regulations. Comply with them and act
at all times with due regard for your own safety and that of others.
★ Respect the accommodation, equipment and property of the college.
★ Help and support staff and other students in keeping a clean and tidy environment.
★ Ensure mobile phones are switched off during teaching and learning sessions. Any misuse of phones
could result in disciplinary action.
★ Do not possess or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or carry weapons in CCL premises.
★ Always carry your ID card to gain access to the college premises and to show it when asked on college
property.
★ It is very important that you continually update us on your status including change of address, phone
number, visa status, etc. In case there is ever a need for CCL to get in contact with you, it helps if we
have the correct and updated information.
The above responsibilities apply equally to students when on work placements, trips and any other college
activities.
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Health and safety
General Intent
Central College London, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the management of
Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and other relevant related legislation acknowledges its
responsibility to provide, and maintain as far as reasonably practicable, a working environment which is
conductive to the health and safety and welfare of its employees, learners and anyone else who may be
affected by its undertaking.
Objectives
★ To promote a positive health and safety culture within all institute business undertakings.
★ To be proactive by management strategies to prevent injury or decay of health as a result of the business
of the institute.
★ To introduce control measures to minimize or eliminate risks to health.
★ To ensure a healthy and safe working environment.
★ To comply with Health and Safety legislation.
★ To provide arrangements for safety of persons in situations of imminent danger and provide First Aid
arrangements
★ Where health is affected, to provide prompt corrective measures to remedy and control re-occurrences.
★ To inform, train, and educate staff as well student s in health and safety matters.
★ To maximize the opportunity of education to instil an understanding of risk management and health and
safety into students for benefit of present and future working lives, involving in the institute‟s H & S
matters when appropriate.
★ To accommodate as far as reasonably practical those with special requirements to ensure equality in an
approach to maintain health and safety for all people.
In Case of an Emergency
Fire ★ In case of a fire, you will alert one of the members of staff. At this point one of the staff on hand will
push the alarm button. When you hear the alarm you should stop what you are doing, leave your
belongings and then proceed (remember walk don‟t run) to the nearest emergency exit in a calm and
orderly fashion. Exit signs have been placed to direct you to the closest exit. Once outside you will
gather at the evacuation point until staff has taken a proper head count. The current evacuation point is
on the grassland 10 meters opposite the college reception.
Accidents ★ If you have an accident or witness that an accident has happened please alert a member of our staff team
who can get in contact with our onsite First-Aider (Paul Labelle). If you have a small accident and only
require the first aid kit it can be found in the reception area.
★ REMEMBER ALL ACCIDENTS MUST BE REPORTED NO MATTER WHAT THE SEVERITY OF
THE ACCIDENT IS.
Access and Fair Assessment Policy
Central College London is committed to upholding fair and equal access and assessment opportunities
through the implementation of the Access and Fair Assessment Policy.
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Central College London promotes the reasonable adjustments that can be made for students with disabilities
and, as such, the following arrangements can be arranged:
★ Learning support assistant
★ Extra time for exams or assessments
★ Rest breaks during an exam or assessment
★ Specifically prepared exams on coloured paper or with enlarged print
★ A reader or writer
★ An interpreter of British Sign Language
★ Disabled access entryway
Central College London has an Equal Opportunities Policy which is reviewed at 6-month intervals at our
overall policy review meeting. This meeting is attended by our staff team including senior management
team and by two nominated students so as to represent the perspectives of the students.
Central College London has a unique Mentorship Program, which will further ensure that students with
learning difficulties and/or disabilities are fully supported to achieve their learning goals.
Fair Assessment
Central College London‟s assessment process will take into account the individual needs of learners with
disabilities and learning difficulties and reasonable adjustments can be made as described above, where
candidates supply formal evidence of their disability.
Assessment practice will be monitored through assessor induction, observation of assessors in the workplace
and monthly meetings attended by the Head of the Centre and Heads of the Programs. The internal review
strategy and appeals procedures will also help ensure assessment is fair and consistent.
Academic Misconduct policy
Central College London takes academic misconduct very seriously and will seek at all times to protect its
academic standards. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating constitute academic misconduct, for which
there is an explicit range of penalties depending on the particular form of academic misconduct.
The penalties that can be applied if academic misconduct is substantiated range from failure in the assessed
work or module to expulsion in very serious cases. It is the responsibility of students to ensure that they
understand the academic misconduct policy of Central College London to ensure that work submitted for
assessment is their own.
In any academic activity at the College, students are responsible and accountable for academic integrity.
Academic misconduct will be disciplined according to the severity of the offence. Those who are found to
have repeated offenses will be progressively disciplined, as per our published disciplinary procedure.
The following areas constitute the major types of academic misconduct and are subject to penalties. Please
note that misconduct on one or any portion of a work constitutes misconduct; there are no partial culpability
or penalty options. No fees are refunded to students who are dismissed from the College for misconduct.
For those students studying our BA(Hons) Top Up Degree program, we defer to the Plagiarism policy of
The University of Teesside, which is available on our college website as well as will be made available to
you during your course orientation.
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Cheating
Cheating is the use of inappropriate or unacknowledged materials, information or aids in any academic
work.
Fabrication
Fabrication is the falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic work.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one‟s own in any academic work. To
avoid plagiarism, every direct quotation must be identified and properly cited in the text of the submitted
work.
What students should do
Students must submit only their own work for assessment/evaluation. Students are not to copy other work
and claim it as their own. Students are not to quote other authors as their own work ie: if a student wishes to
include a sentence or phrase from a book, website or other publication they may do so, but they must name
the original author that they are quoting. For further information on plagiarism and how to avoid it please
see college academic staff for further discussion.
Facilitating Academic Misconduct
Students who knowingly or negligently allow their work or portions of their work or
drafts of their work to be used by other students or who otherwise aid others in
committing academic misconduct are violating academic integrity. Such students are as guilty as a student
who receives and uses the material or is involved in the incident directly, even though they may not
themselves benefit from that act of misconduct.
Misconduct in formal examinations
This includes having access, or attempting to gain access to, during an examination or assessment, any
books, notations, unauthorized material or attempting to gain or offer aid to or from another candidate
during the examination.
Academic Misconduct Process
In all instances, the instructor will keep and secure any and all documents related to an incident until the
process is complete. When an instructor suspects an offence has occurred, the student(s) will be required to
meet with the instructor within five working days to discuss the incident. If the situation is shown to be free
of academic misconduct, no record will be kept of the incident.
If the instructor or program coordinator determines that an offence has occurred, perhaps without
identifying the offenders or severity of the offence completely, an investigative process will start and
records will be kept.
Appeals
If dissatisfied with the result of the investigative process and the College‟s findings, the student may appeal
following Central College London‟s Complaint / Student Appeals procedure. Students who enroll on the
joint Teesside programmes will also have a right of appeal to Teesside University.
Penalties to be applied
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The penalties that may be applied vary depending on whether the misconduct is minor or major.
Minor Misconduct
For cases which are technically proven but believed to be unintentional / trivial, no further action
than a caution will take place.
For cases in which the work should be resubmitted the student will be required to correct their work
by including references, etc. The work will then be reassessed.
Reduction of mark to an extent that will not cause overall failure of the course.
Major Misconduct
Deduction of marks which may lead to the course failure
Directly reducing the mark for the course to zero
Reduction of mark average for the course by up to 10%
Disqualification from candidature for the award for the course
Complaints
Stage 1: Informal Complaint
We ask you:
Before making a formal complaint (or if you have a minor complaint) we ask you to discuss it with your
personal assessor or member of staff concerned.
CCL will:
★ Explore ways of resolving the problem.
★ Explain the formal procedure and give you a copy of the complaints procedure.
If your complaint is not resolved within one month:
Stage 2: Formal Complaint
We ask you:
★ To write a letter or complete a Complaint Form and send it to the Student Services Administrator, or give
it to the Reception.
★ You should then attend any necessary meeting(s), accompanied by a friend if you wish.
The CCL will:
★ Pass details to the Director who must:
★ Send a written acknowledgement within 2 working days.
★ Investigate the complaint.
★ Hold meeting(s) to resolve the complaint.
★ Send a written (initial or final) response as soon as possible but within 10 working days.
If you are not satisfied, you must lodge an appeal within 5 working days.
Appeals
We ask you:
★ To write to the Director to state your appeal.
★ Attend any necessary meetings, accompanied by a friend if you wish.
CCL will, under the supervision of the Director:
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★ Send a written acknowledgement within 2 working days.
★ Investigate the complaint and the way it was handled.
★ Send a written response as soon as possible but within 10 working days.
Disciplinary Procedure
This procedure applies to all students of the College. The purpose of the procedure is to ensure consistent
and fair treatment for all in relation to disciplinary action taken in response to allegations of unacceptable
conduct or performance.
Stage One – Oral Warning
If conduct does not meet acceptable standards, the student will normally be given a formal oral warning by
his/her assessor/tutor. The student will be:
★ Informed of the nature of the misconduct.
★ Informed of the improvement required.
★ Informed that it is the first stage of the disciplinary procedure.
Stage 2 – Written Warning
A written warning will be given to the student by his/her assessor/tutor if:
★ The student fails to comply with a formal oral warning, given under Stage 1, or;
★ Despite having been given a formal oral warning, under Stage 1 for misconduct, the student commits a
further offence of misconduct.
Stage 3 – Exclusion
The Principal may give notice of exclusion to a student if:
★ The student fails to comply with the final written warning, given under Stage 2 or;
★ Despite being given a final written warning for misconduct, under Stage 2, the student commits a further
offence of misconduct.
The student should be informed that he/she has a right of appeal to a Student Disciplinary Appeals
Committee.
Stage 4 – Appeals against Exclusion
A student who wishes to appeal against exclusion must inform the Head of the Program in writing within
five working days of the date of the exclusion decision which forms the subject of the appeal. The decision
of the Appeals Committee will be final and binding.
Suspension, pending disciplinary action
When the Principal is of the view that a student‟s continued attendance at CCL, because of the severity of
the misconduct, cannot be permitted, the principal may suspend the student, pending further disciplinary
action.
Major disciplinary offences
CCL may be required to take urgent action against a student for major disciplinary offences such as: violent
or aggressive behavior, destructive behavior against CCL property, systematic and /or frequent racial, sexual
harassment or verbal abuse towards staff or fellow students, persistent refusal to comply with reasonable
requests from staff, taking, being under the influence of or being in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs or
weapons on CCL premises. These may result in the immediate expulsion from the college without prior
notice and at the full discretion of the college.
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International Students
UK Border Agency (UKBA) under UK Home Office is the only government department responsible for
immigration matters. UKBA has very stringent regulations on Student visa compliance. To keep up to date
with the standards set forth by UKBA, we have mandatory reporting of the following:
★ Attendance: You must have cumulative attendance of at least 80% or we must report absence to
Home Office and cancel student registration
★ Satisfactory progression: Student must be progressing through the course satisfactorily. If not,
we are under a duty to report their lack of progress to the Home Office and cancel student registration.
★ Withdrawal of student registration: Either voluntary or involuntary we are under duty to report
the student's withdrawal from the academic programs to the Home Office.
Loyalty Award Policy
Existing students of Central College London are eligible for our “Loyalty Award” program in which each time an
existing student introduces an independent friend to Central College London they will receive a Loyalty Award worth
5% off of their next years‟ tuition fees.
Definitions:
Existing Student: a student is to be considered an “Existing Student” if the student has paid their tuition to the college in full for the current academic year, is currently attending their course
of study and has a CAS/Visa Letter issued to them by the College.
Independent Friend: an “Independent Friend” is a prospective student not subject to any agent commission
scheme.
Loyalty Award: An official, numbered and tracked voucher equivalent to 5% off of the student‟s next
year‟s tuition fee.
Conditions:
1. Loyalty Awards cannot be traded for cash or sold back to the college.
2. Loyalty Awards cannot be used for the student‟s current year tuition fees.
3. Loyalty Awards may be accumulated; multiple Loyalty Awards may be combined for a total discount of a
student‟s next year of tuition fees.
4. Loyalty Awards are specific to an individual student and accumulated to a point that the individual student‟s next
years‟ tuition payment may be fully discounted (100%), at which point any remaining Loyalty Awards of the
student may then be transferred to another student with the written consent of the student to which the Loyalty
Awards are named.
5. Loyalty Awards will only be issued to a student once their Independent Friend has paid their course fees in full
and has commenced their course of study.
6. Loyalty Awards may be revoked by the College if an Independent Friend withdraws from their course of study
and is issued with a refund of their tuition fees.
7. Loyalty Awards that remain unused after 14 months shall expire.
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Continuing Student Discount Policy
Independent Students of Central College London that have completed a full course of study with the college and are continuing with Central College London for another course / Academic Year will receive a 5% discount on their total tuition fee for the next
academic year.
Definitions:
Independent Student: “Independent Student” is a prospective student not subject to any agent commission scheme.
Full Course of Study: “Full Course of Study” is a course of 1 academic year.
Conditions:
1. Continuing Student Discount is non-transferable.
2. This policy discount may not be combined with the Early Payment Discount.
3. This policy discount may be combined with the Loyalty Award Policy.
TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS, POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES All students enrolled in the BA (Hons ) Business Management programme are students of Teesside
University, and are thus obliged to adhere to the general and academic regulations of the university. Central
College London has fully integrated the following policies into its own.
Teesside University documents are available online at www.tees.ac.uk , and the regulations that apply to
students can be accessed directly at:
http://www.tees.ac.uk/docs/index.cfm?folder=student%20regulations
Teesside University Student Policies in Brief
Admissions Policy
This explains the University‟s responsibility to operate a fair admissions system, one which provides equal
opportunity for all individuals, regardless of background, to gain admission to a course suited to their ability
and aspirations.
Applicants with Disabilities
The University is transparent in terms of the requirements of a programme to all students, without making
assumptions about disabilities and being positive about the mechanism by which the University can make
reasonable adjustments. This policy reflects the University's commitment to widening participation to all
those who will benefit from a higher education. It aims to demonstrate a proactivity in removing barriers
and promoting equality of opportunity.
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Policy and Procedure for Handling Applications from Students with Previous Criminal Convictions
This regulation describes the criteria and procedures to be followed when considering applicants with
criminal convictions.
Recording of Lectures
It is University policy not to permit the recording of a lecture/seminar/tutorial without the prior consent of
the lecturer. This regulation explains the procedure for obtaining consent and the penalty for breach of the
regulation.
Quality Assurance System
It is University policy to have effective procedures for designing, approving, supervising and reviewing the
assessment strategies for programmes. It will ensure that assessment is conducted with rigour and fairness
and with due regard for security. The QA system will also ensure that assessment decisions are recorded and
documented accurately and systematically as well as maintaining that the scheduling and amount of
assessment is consistent with an effective and appropriate measurement of the achievement by students of
the intended learning outcomes. The QA system also comprises a robust mechanisms for marking and for
the moderation/internal verification of marks.
Regulations for the Submission of Assignments
This Regulation explains the procedures for submitting assessed work and the penalties for late submission.
Regulations Relating to the Examination Disciplinary Committee
This Regulation explains the conduct and procedure for considering all cases where there has been an
infraction of the examination regulations and penalties for breaching these Regulations.
Examination Regulations — Instructions to Candidates
This Regulation explains the conduct and procedures to be followed by students in examination conditions
and the penalties for breaching the Regulations.
Mitigating Circumstances Regulations
Under this Regulation, students who have experienced circumstances outside their control, which they
believe have affected their academic performance, may make an application under the Mitigating
Circumstances Regulations.
Assessment, Award and Progression — Regulations for Post-graduate Degree Programmes
This Regulation governs how the University determines the progression of a student in their post-graduate
programme of study or the conferment of an award.
Assessment Review Regulations
This Regulation explains the circumstances under which a student may appeal to the University Assessment
Review Committee to review an assessment decision or other decision of an Assessment Board. An appeal
application may only be submitted on specific grounds, as cited in the Regulations, and not where a student
is dissatisfied with their mark/grade awarded. An Application for Assessment Review must be started within
ten calendar days of the date of publication of results by the Assessment Board.
Regulations Relating to Academic Misconduct (Taught Programmes)
This Regulation explains that work submitted by a student for assessment must be their own work and any
passage quoted, paraphrased or opinions relied upon must be properly attributed. It also explains the
procedure to be followed when a suspected case of academic misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, and the associated
aspects of cheating) is identified. Where a student is found guilty of academic misconduct the penalty
recommended to an Assessment Board may include module failure, a reduced degree classification award,
failure or termination of studies. If a student is in any doubt as to how to present material then they should
seek support.
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Work submitted by students may be checked by the University using electronic systems that assist in the
prevention and detection of plagiarism.
Withdrawal from the programme
Students seeking to withdraw or suspend their students are required to formally communicate their decision
using the appropriate documentation.
Attendance
Students must attend classes in order to maintain participation in the module. If the student misses too many
lectures and workshops then the module must be repeated. It is the responsibility of the students to attend
their classes, and the lecturer is required to monitor attendance. Disciplinary policies regarding attendance
are those determined by Central College London.
Policy on lateness
Students are requested to make every effort to be in class on time. It is disruptive to everyone in the class if
students come late. Each lecturer will determine if late students will be considered as absent for the
attendance calculation. As a matter of “business courtesy,” please let your teacher know beforehand if you
will be absent, and if you are late attempt to communicate this in an appropriate manner to the lecturer.
Policy on academic freedom
Academic freedom applies to every student. The student is free to raise any issue pertaining to the subject
matter taught, and convey his or her ideas in a classroom setting, research and publications. The student
cannot, however, force his or her opinions on other students or require students to adopt his or her ideas.
The student must be sensitive to the opinions of all the students and the lecturer and cannot raise issues that
could be perceived as discriminatory toward other students/lecturer (e.g. age, sex, religion, nationality etc.).
YOUR LIFE IN THE UK
Accommodation
TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION
Homestay Homestay is a type of accommodation living in someone's home with a "host family". Breakfast and
evening meals are provided, usually eating together with the family. The bathroom is probably shared with
other members of the family.
Bedsit
A single room in which you live and sleep; the room is both a bedroom and a sitting room (living room).
The cooking area (if there is one) is usually shared. There is usually a wash basin in the room, but the
bathroom may be shared. Services such as cleaning and changing of sheets are often provided.
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Studio flat A small flat where the living room and bedroom are combined (a flat is known as an "apartment" in
American English). Usually the room has its own entrance and you are free to come and go when you want.
There is usually a small bathroom, but this may only contain a basin, toilet and shower. A 'maisonette' is
similar, but is usually not all on one floor.
Flatshare / shared house A "flatshare" is when you share a flat with one or more other people. You may have your own room, or
alternatively you may share a twin-bedded or double-bedded room with another person.
A "student house" usually refers to a private house which is occupied by a group of students (sometimes
called "student digs")
B&B ("bed and breakfast"), guest house
A room, usually part of someone's home, which the owners are renting out to make some money. Breakfast
is provided, but not for evening meal. The bathroom is often shared with other guests
CHOOSING A LOCATION
Some of the factors to consider when choosing an area in which to live:
Transport: Availability of transport to and from the school, workplace or places to socialize with friends.
Being near to a transport route can be convenient and could be safer. Note that buses may not run in the
evenings or late at night in some areas.
Social life: You may want to live near where your friends live
Local maps: You can find street maps and aerial photographs from: http://www.streetmap.co.uk or:
http://www.multimap.com
Local facilities: Check if there are local facilities you need. You can use the Find My Nearest tool at
http://www.upmystreet.com (based on the Thomson directories), or you can search Yellow Pages online at
http://www.yell.com
COST OF RENTING
Calculate the maximum amount that you will be able to pay. Remember to consider travel costs as well as
the rent: you may be able to find somewhere with a lower rent if it is far from the college or workplace, but
travel costs could be higher.
Rents are often quoted as weekly amounts ("pw" or "per week"), even though they are often paid monthly
instead ("pcm" or "per calendar month"). To calculate the monthly cost, multiply the weekly cost by 52 and
divide by 12 (or simply multiply by 4.33). You will underestimate the cost if you simply multiply the
weekly cost by 4, thinking that there are about 4 weeks in a month.
If renting a private room, remember that at the start you may need to pay a deposit (of perhaps one month's
rent) as well as the first month's rent. You may need to pay an agent's fee after you have signed the rental
agreement (ask for the cost including VAT - value added tax). Check whether you have to pay bills for gas /
electricity (for heating and lighting), telephone (for line rental or installation, internet access or telephone
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calls), water (for water delivery or sewage removal), laundry or council tax (for local services). You will
probably have to buy a TV licence if you use a television in your room. Make sure that you consider all of
the costs when you are comparing different rooms.
CHECKING THE PROPERTY
If you go to see a room or flat, you will need to make an appointment first. If you are using an agent, it may
be possible to view the property during the day, if the owner has given a copy of the keys to the agent. If
you are finding a room independently, you may need to see it during an evening or at a weekend, because in
most cases the landlords will be at work during the day (even if you have already made an appointment, you
may want to phone just before going to visit, to make sure that the person will be there). If you can, go with
a friend when you visit a property. If you are a woman and will be going by yourself, think about carrying a
mobile phone and/or a personal alarm for your safety. If you are seeing many rooms, you may want to take a
digital camera to take a photo of each one, so that you can remember them later (always ask for permission
before taking a photo, and do not photograph private areas). Always take a notebook and pen with you, and
make notes as you make the visits (you will quickly forget the details).
These are some of the things you may want to check when you see the property:
Money / Contract
Do you have to pay a deposit, and when do you have to pay rent?
Which bills are not included in the rent? water / gas / electricity / council tax / telephone line rental
If you want to move out of the accommodation, how much notice do you need to give the landlord? Do you
feel you can trust the owner?
If you are with a host family, what is their main reason for wanting to accept a student into their home? If
the main reason is to make money, in some cases the family may not speak to you often, may provide very
cheap meals, or may argue about small matters such as the amount of toilet paper that is being used.
Problems are more likely to occur in popular student locations at time when there are many students in the
town (for example, in a town on the south coast of England in the summer) - there may be a lot of demand,
and too little supply of quality host families
House rules Can you wash yourself every day if you want to (some houses have a small hot water tank)?
Can you use the telephone? Is there a separate line for your computer (if you have one) for internet
connections?
Can you bring your friends back? Can you have a friend stay overnight; if so, is there a charge?
Which rooms can you use? Can you smoke cigarettes?
Services
Is there any laundry or cleaning services provided? How can you clean your room, and wash/dry your
clothes? If there is a washing machine, are there any charges for using it?
Are meals provided? If you do not want to take the meals that are offered, can you pay a lower rent? If
meals are provided, what type of meals are they? If you cannot eat some types of food, check that you can
be offered something else
Facilities
Can you use equipment such as a cooker/microwave oven, washing machine, fridge or dishwasher?
Is there a shower or a bath, or both (many studio flats only have a shower)? How many people share these?
How many toilets are there?
Is there a telephone line you can use, and if so are there any restrictions about when you can use it? If you
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do not have your own telephone line in your room, will the landlord allow you to install a new line? This
may be important if you need personal access to the internet.
Location
Will you feel safe walking back to the accommodation at night? Are the roads well lit? Is it a safe area?
How near is the accommodation to your school? Is there a park nearby?
House
How many other people share the property? Can they speak English?
Will you have any social contact with them; how much common space is there?
Are there other people of your own nationality? If so, it may make you feel less lonely, but you may not
speak English as much.
Are the other occupants all men, all women, or a mixture of men and women?
Are there smoke detectors, and is there a safe way to leave if there is a fire?
Room How much noise is there from the road or from neighbours? Is there a shared telephone near your room?
How much privacy do you have? Is your room secure? Are there locks on the doors and windows?
How much space do you have? What is the quality of the mattress and sheets? How clean is the room? Note
that British people usually wear shoes inside rooms?
Will the room be warm enough in winter? Is there central heating, and are the windows "double glazed"?
Will the room be cool enough on a hot summer's day? Can you open the windows?
Are there any signs of damp on the walls? Are there any unpleasant smells, for example from the kitchen or
toilet, or from cigarettes?
If you are sharing a room with someone, do you think you can get on well with that person?
Is there enough storage space for your clothes, books and other belongings? Is there a desk, light and chair
for studying in your room?
TENANCY AGREEMENT
It is risky to rent somewhere without a legal agreement between you and the landlord (or accommodation
agency).
The most common type of agreement is known as an assured shorthold tenancy (AST). As long as you
pay the rent and do not break the conditions in the tenancy agreement, you have the right to stay for 6
months. After 6 months, if your landlord wants you to leave, he/she should give you details (in a written
letter) at least 2 months before the date on which you are expected to leave.
If you have a licence agreement (you are living in the same place as the landlord), the notice period may be
shorter than for a tenancy agreement, for example 1 month.
You should read the agreement carefully before you sign it. If you do not understand something, ask for
someone to explain it to you. If necessary, you can ask for advice at a Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Below are some of the things you need to make clear before you sign:
Term (period)
How long does the agreement last?
Is there a minimum period that you can rent the accommodation?
Will you have the opportunity to rent the accommodation for a longer period?
How much warning do you need to give the landlord if you wish to leave?
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Rent and bills
How much is the rent? When must the rent be paid?
How often are rent reviews (when the amount of the rent can be increased)?
Does the rent include council tax? Does the rent include water charges? If not, how much are these?
How are charges for gas, electricity, telephone line rental or calls or the charges for the television licence for
a shared TV divided between the people living in the accommodation?
Deposit and inventory
How much is the deposit?
When you leave, how quickly will your deposit money be returned to you? Will you earn interest on the
deposit while you are renting the room?
Under which circumstances will the landlord keep your deposit?
Check the inventory carefully before you sign the tenancy agreement. Make a list of anything that is
damaged (for example, note any scratches, cracks or stains) and give a copy of this to your landlord. You
may want to take photographs as soon as you move into the room, to prove that any damage was not caused
by you. If anything is missing or damaged when you leave, your landlord may try to keep part of your
deposit to pay for these.
COUNCIL TAX
Council tax is a local tax in Britain. It is used to pay for local services such as libraries, the police, the fire
brigade, and rubbish collection. When you rent a new room, ask whether the council tax is included in the
rent.
In some types of accommodation, there is no council tax to pay. You do not have to pay council tax if all the
adults in your accommodation are 'full-time students' (usually this means people on a course lasting at least
1 year who study at least 20 hours per week and at least 24 weeks per year). You also do not have to pay if
you live in student accommodation owned or managed by a recognized school or university.
The amount of tax depends on which local authority or borough you live in, and the value of the property.
A typical level of council tax in London is about £30 per week for each property (a place with its own
entrance), but this can vary a lot between boroughs.
A single person who lives on his/her own in a property may pay less than the full standard charge (perhaps
25% less).
If you live in a block of bedsits, the owner pays the tax but may ask each of the residents to pay a share of it.
You can find out the council tax bands for your borough or local authority using UpMyStreet:
http://www.upmystreet.com. Enter a postcode, select Home review then Council tax.
UKCOSA produce guidance notes for students on "Council Tax and international students" at:
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/advice.htm.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Once you have found new accommodation, you need to inform people about your change of address:
Take your existing TV licence to the post office and ask for the address to be changed.
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Tell your doctor your new address in case he/she needs to write to you or visit you at home. You will
probably need to change your doctor if you have moved to a new area; take your medical card to your
new doctor.
Tell your school and/or workplace.
If you have a national insurance number, you should tell your local office of the DHSS (the Department
of Health and Social Security - you can find the address at your local post office).
You may want to change your bank branch, or make sure that your existing branch sends statements to
the correct address.
Ask your previous landlord to forward any mail to your new address.
Tell your own family as soon as you have moved, in case they need to contact you.
If you needed to register with the police when you arrived in the UK, you must tell them your new
address.
Working in the UK
NATIONAL INSURANCE
National Insurance is a tax which is taken from pay for the UK's health and social security system. Your
payments are known as National Insurance contributions (NICs). Most people working in the UK need to
pay this: there are a few exceptions (for example, if you are from an EEA country with a reciprocal
agreement with the UK and you continue to pay National Insurance in your home country).
After you have been offered a job in the UK for the first time, you will need to obtain a National Insurance
(NI) number (this is two letters followed by a 6-digit number and a final letter). If your employer has a
computerized payroll (payment system), a temporary National Insurance number is sometimes used to allow
the computer to work, but this is not a real number and you must still apply for a permanent National
Insurance number. Your employer or an adviser at a Job Centre can tell you which telephone number you
need to call. You will be asked to give some personal details, including the address and telephone number of
your workplace and of your accommodation and you will need to make an appointment at the correct local
office of your Benefit Agency (now called the Department of Work and Pensions). At the Benefit Agency's
office you will be asked to complete an application form and there will be a brief interview. You will be
expected to take two types of identity with you to prove your name, UK address and date of birth: usually a
passport and a letter from your employer (containing your name and address and confirming that you have a
job offer). After your interview, it may take one or two months (or sometimes longer) before you are issued
with your National Insurance number. When you have received your number you should tell your employer.
Further information:
Applying for a National Insurance number: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/ni_number.asp
Finding your nearest Job Centre:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/AboutUs/OurOffices
HM Revenue & Customs: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic
National Insurance Helpline: (0845) 302 1487
INCOME TAX
If you work in the UK, you will have to pay income tax. This tax is collected by the government department
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known as the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Tax is paid based on your income during the tax year,
which starts on April 6th and ends on April 5th in the following year.
Income Tax Allowances
The Chancellor announces the rates of allowances at the Pre-Budget Report which precedes the start of the
tax year to which they relate. Generally speaking, Pre-Budget Report takes place in November or December.
Taxable Bands
The Chancellor announces the taxable bands and the rates of tax at the Budget Report which precedes the
start of the tax year to which they relate. Generally speaking, Budget takes place in March.
From 2008-09 there is a 10 per cent starting rate for savings income only. If your non-savings income is
above this limit then the 10 per cent starting rate for savings will not apply.
Pay-as-you-earn (PAYE)
You normally have to pay tax each time you are paid by your employer. This system is known as pay-as-
you-earn (or PAYE). You may be sent a PAYE Coding Notice which shows your tax code, which is used
by your employer's pay system to calculate how much tax you pay (it will show your personal allowance,
which is the amount you can earn during a tax year without paying any tax, and it may show the value of
some benefits from your employer on which tax is payable).
At the end of the tax year (some time after 5 April), you should receive a P60 (End of Year Certificate)
from your employer. This shows how much you have earned during the year and how much tax you have
paid on these earnings.
Soon after you have left you should be sent a form P45 by your employer. You will need to keep this and
give it to your next employer if you start another job.
Tax reclaim
You may believe that you have paid more tax than you need. For example, this may happen if:
- you did not have a National Insurance number, or did not tell the number to your employer;
- your total taxable income in a tax year is less than your personal allowance;
- you left your job before the end of the tax year and stopped working in the UK after this.
To apply for a tax refund ask your Tax Office for a tax repayment claim form (P50).
Further information
For more information about tax see the HM Revenue & Customs site: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk.
There is a special section for students: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students.
P50 form: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payetaxpayers/fagp50.shtml
Medical TREATMENT
If you are in the UK with a visa which lasts for six months or more, you should be able to have free
Health
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treatment from the NHS from the start of your stay in the UK. You have to be accepted as being an
"ordinary UK resident", which means being in the UK for a "settled purpose" (a short-term course of study
may not be considered enough for this).
To be able to obtain free NHS treatment, you need to register with a doctor. You can then register with a
dentist who accepts NHS patients (check-ups or treatment are not free, but the cost will be lower than if you
are accepted as a private patient). Eye check-ups may sometimes be cheaper if you can show that you are a
NHS member (by showing your medical card).
Even if you can have free treatment from the NHS, you will probably have to pay some charges for
medicines ("prescription charges"), and for dental and optical check-ups or treatment.
If you cannot receive free treatment from the NHS, you should buy health insurance (if possible, before you
arrive in the UK).
Treatment at GUM ("genito-urinary medicine") clinics, which deal with sexual diseases, is free for anybody.
Note that there may be some advantages in paying for private health care instead of relying on free NHS
care. For example, you may be able to receive treatment more quickly, and the quality of service may be
better (for example, a dentist providing private treatment may be able to use more expensive materials for
filling your teeth).
There is a detailed guide for overseas visitors on this site:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/International/OverseasVisitors
You should register with a doctor in your local area as soon as you have found a permanent place to live.
The doctor's surgery and your accommodation may need to be in an area covered by the same health
authority.
When you register with a doctor, you should ask for details of when the doctor's surgery is open, how to
make an appointment, and what to do if you need to contact your GP when the surgery is closed.
You should apply for a medical card, which contains your NHS Number (make a note of this number, as it
will allow you to get free medical treatment from a National Health Service doctor or dentist). Your medical
card is an official document containing your name and address, so you may also be able to use this card to
prove where you are living.
To find a doctor, optician, dentist, pharmacy or hospital in England:
Doctors: http://www.nhs.uk/England/Doctors
Dentists: http://www.nhs.uk/England/Dentists
Opticians: http://www.nhs.uk/England/Opticians
Pharmacies: http://www.nhs.uk/England/Pharmacies
Hospitals: http://www.nhs.uk/England/Hospitals
To find a doctor, optician, dentist, pharmacy or hospital in Wales:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/directory.cfm
To find a doctor, optician, dentist, pharmacy or hospital in Scotland:
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/findnearest/healthservices
To find a doctor, optician, dentist, pharmacy or hospital in Northern Ireland:
http://www.healthandcareni.co.uk
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When you feel ill, you can telephone your doctor's surgery to make an appointment to see your GP. (If you
are not near your home, you can get free treatment from any family doctor if you tell them your NHS
number).
If necessary, your GP may recommend that you make an appointment to see a specialist (this is called
making a "referral").If you need medicines, your GP will write a "prescription"; you fill in the back of the
form and take it to a pharmacy. If you are very ill and you cannot go to the surgery, it is possible to ask a
doctor to visit your house.
If you have had an accident and need immediate treatment, you can visit the accident and emergency (A&E)
department or minor injuries unit of your local hospital and wait for a doctor to become available. You do
not need to make an appointment.
For sexual health problems, you can visit the GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinic at your local hospital.
You do not have to make an appointment, and you do not have to give your real name (the service is
confidential, and free).
Transportation in London
BUYING AN OYSTER CARD
The cheapest and most convenient way to travel on public transport (buses, Tubes, DLR or trams) in
London is with an electronic card called an Oyster card. Cash fares are much higher: even if you are a short-
term visitor to London (for example a tourist on holiday) you are likely to save both time and money by
getting an Oyster card.
To get your Oyster card, ask for an application form at any underground station in London. You will be
given a short form to complete and will need to pay a deposit (in 2007: £3) plus some money to add to your
card's credit (you can choose the amount, for example: £5). You can add extra credit to your card at any
time either at a ticket office or by using one of the ticket machines which has an Oyster card reader. You can
also use these to check your balance (this is also displayed at many ticket gates and when you use your card
on a bus): if your balance is too low to make a journey your card will be refused at the entrance and you will
need to add more credit. If you are leaving the UK and don't want to keep your Oyster card, you can return it
to a ticket office at an underground station and you will get back your deposit and any credit which remains
on your card (this can only be paid to you by cash if you used cash to buy the card).
Visitors to the UK from some countries can buy an Oyster card before coming to the UK, using
VisitBritain's online shop: http://www.visitbritaindirect.com
STUDENT OYSTER PHOTOCARDS
If you have a Student Oyster Photocard, you can buy a discount travelcard period ticket (for 1 week or
more) or a discount bus pass period ticket (for 1 week or more) from a ticket office. These cards are about
30% cheaper than the normal travel passes, and are put electronically onto your Oyster card. The discount
travelcard allows you to travel on the Tube, bus, DLR or railway services within Greater London (excluding
the Heathrow Express service from Paddington to Heathrow Airport). The discount bus pass allows you to
travel on most bus services.
You should buy a Student Photocard if:
- You are going to a school or university in London which deals with Student Photocards (or if you are
studying at a university outside of London on a course which includes a work placement within London)
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- You are aged 18 or over
- You have enrolled on a course for at least 14 weeks
- You attend lessons for 15 hours or more each week (ie you are a full-time student).
- You regularly travel in London by bus, Tube, tram or DLR
The Photocard usually expires at the end of course finish date. You should apply the Student Oyster card
online: www.tfl.gov.uk. You can buy the card at any time of the year, but the cost of the card is always the
same.
Bank Account
Ask if your home country bank has a special relationship with a bank in the UK, and whether this can help
you with setting up an account or in any other way.
This information covers only the major banks. Many building societies also offer banking facilities.
Banks offer many different financial services. You may wish to compare the services and costs of several
banks before choosing one at which to open an account. Banks are competing for your business, so don‟t be
afraid to ask questions. When choosing a bank, you need to consider the following:
1. How easy it is for you to visit or contact the bank.
2. The services the bank will offer and what charges it will make.
3. What arrangements there are for transferring money from your home country, and the costs
involved.
4. What documents are required by the bank in order to open an account. In all cases, to open an
account you will need your passport and a letter from the management institute, addressed to the
bank at which you want to open an account confirming the following:
Your full name
Your UK address
Your home address
Title of course you enrolled on
Start and end dates of course
TYPES OF ACCOUNT
The main types of account are the Current Account, which provides immediate access to your money but
may not pay you interest, and the Deposit Account which pays interest on your savings but you may not be
able to withdraw money on demand. Check with various banks what kind of accounts they will allow you to
open. Many students open both types of account, especially if they have all their funds at the beginning of
each academic year. In this way, most of the money can be earning interest while there is just enough
money in the current account to pay immediate expenses. Money can then be transferred from one account
to the other as required.
Cash Card
This is used to get money from cashpoint machines (also called cash machine, autobank or ATM). You will
be given a Personal Identification Number (PIN) so that you can use the card. Make sure you memorise it,
destroy the letter telling you the number and don‟t tell anyone your PIN.
Remember that this card is not a credit card. You can only withdraw as much as you have in your current
account and no more. Although it may be possible to arrange an overdraft if you need one, banks will
charge you a lot of interest on any overdraft you have not arranged.
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Debit Card
This allows you to spend money from your account without having to use cash or write a cheque. Certain
shops, such as the main supermarkets, will allow you to get cash in addition to the purchase you are making.
This is called „cashback‟.
Credit Card
You may also be eligible for credit cards e.g. Access, Visa, Barclaycard etc. Credit cards allow you to spend
money even when you have no money in the bank. Banks and other financial institutions all issue credit
cards. You get a bill every month and you have to pay a part of the balance. If you do not pay the full
amount, interest builds up on the amount you have not paid and the interest rate can be quite high. Credit
cards are convenient, but you should be very careful.
Front of debit card
Back of debit card
Front of credit card
Back of credit card
All UK and European debit/credit cards now include a microchip that stores data on the card. When you use
the card in a shop you will be asked to enter your four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) on a
keypad. Make sure that nobody can see the number which you type and that nobody else knows your PIN.
Signatures are not accepted for cards which contain a microchip (you may still be able to sign if you are
using a card which has been issued outside Europe). The system is known as chip and PIN. If you enter an
incorrect PIN three times in a row your card will be locked - you will need to contact your bank to unlock
your card.
Make sure you sign the back of any new cards you are given as soon as you receive them. Write down the
telephone number which you should call if your card is lost or stolen.
The last 3 digits printed on the signature strip on the back of a credit or debit card do not appear on the front
of the card. They are a security number, which you may be asked to type when you order goods online using
your card.
Cheque Book
Cheques allow you to pay for goods and services without having to use cash. Payment of large sums of
money in cash is unusual and it is better to use a cheque. You can also take money out of your account using
a cheque. If you are given a cheque book when you open your account, ask the bank to tell you how to
complete a cheque. When your cheque book is almost finished, the bank will send you a new one
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automatically.
Cheque Guarantee Card
When you pay for something with a cheque, you will have to show a cheque guarantee card as proof that the
bank will pay the money written on the cheque up to a fiex amount. A cheque guarantee card guarantees
payment up to the limit shown on the card (eg £50). Some people will not accept a cheque without seeing a
cheque guarantee card at the same time. Even without a cheque guarantee card, cheques can be used for
postal payments.
Bank Statements
This is a record of all transactions on your account over a period of time. You can also request a statement
from some cashpoint machines. Keep bank statements as you may need them to verify your financial
status for immigration or other purposes.
Emergency Contact
In case of an emergency, on any public telephone, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO DIAL 999 FREE OF
CHARGE.
The operator will ask you: “Which Emergency Service-Fire, Police, Ambulance or Coast Guard?”
The operator will then ask you for:
The telephone number shown on the public phone from which you are ringing
The location of the emergency
A short description of what is wrong
I ___________________ acknowledge that I have read and understand this Student Handbook.
Signed _________________________ Dated____________/_______/_____________
