Home Welcome to International Page
Welcome to College of Business and Development Studies
We are committed to helping our international students settle in to the College and look forward to welcoming you at CBDS.
Here at CBDS, we have a strong network of welfare support and we continually strive to provide a dynamic, supportive and stimulating environment. Bradford is a safe and compact city – the college and the city centre are all within ten minutes walking distance and it is easy to find your way around.
We are sure you will find student life new and exciting, but at the same time you may also find you are slightly bewildered, especially if you are moving to the UK for the first time. We aim to make sure that, right from the start, you have access to any support you might need - academic, personal and medical- from people who are easy to contact and who can give you friendly and expert guidance when you need it. In the meantime, please read this handbook thoroughly as the following information will be useful to you as you plan and prepare for your student life in the UK.
College of Business and Development Studies (CBDS) looks forward to meeting you.
Director
College of Business & Development Studies
International students “To do List”
- Read this Information thoroughly
- Read the “Do I need a visa?” section on carefully
- Apply for a visa if you are coming from outside the EU
- Insure your personal belongings (this can be done on arrival, but you may want to take out travel insurance for the journey)
- Organize currency/cash/travellers’ cheques for your journey and the first two weeks of your stay
- Transfer money or obtain a Bankers’ draft (you MAY be able to open a UK bank account before you arrive in the country if your own bank has a reciprocal arrangement with a UK
- bank but most students will open a bank account after arrival in the UK)
International Students “To bring List”
- A valid passport
- An entry clearance visa (non-EU students) (i.e. the visa in your passport) Unconditional offer, letter or Visa letter from College of Business and Development Studies.
- Proof of financial means. If you have to apply for your visa, you must prove that you have sufficient money to pay for your fees, accommodation and living costs during your stay in the UK. This information may also be required by the immigration desk on arrival at the airport
- Certificates for any qualifications you have that are relevant to your course of study
- Any other official paperwork/documentation which you think may be in any way helpful when you report to immigration at the airport, enrol at the college and open a UK bank account
- Cash/Travellers’ cheques for first few weeks and Bankers’ draft to deposit into new Bank account if applicable.
Do I need a visa?
Since the end of March 2009 the process for applying for a student visa has changed as UK Border Agency (UKBA) has moved student visas into the new Tier 4 Points Based System (PBS).
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
College of Business and Development Studies will report to the UKBA any student who:
- Does not enroll on their course
- Withdraws or defers from their course
- Moves to another institution
- Does not attend the course (they expect attendance to be at least 85%)
- Is withdrawn by CBDS for any reason
It is also essential that you inform the college of all updates to your personal information including changes of address, changes in personal information and course information.
EU/EEA Nationals
European Economic Area (European Union countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) nationals do not need a visa (entry clearance) to study in the UK.
American, Canadian, Taiwanese, Japanese and other non-Visa nationals
(use this link to check if you are a non-visa national
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals)
If you are coming to the UK for more than six months, you do need a visa (entry clearance) to study in the UK.
If you are coming to the UK for less than six months, you do not need a visa (entry clearance) to study in the UK. Instead, you can ask for a ‘Student Visitor’ visa in your passport at Immigration upon arrival. You must be prepared to show the Immigration Officer your offer letter, financial evidence and accommodation arrangements. The ‘Student Visitor’ visa does not permit you to work during your stay, not can it be extended or changed to another visa. If you wish to do any of these, you must apply for a Student visa before coming to the UK, or, if you are already here, you will have to go back to your home country to apply for the appropriate entry clearance (visa). For more information go to:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/studentvisitorinfo
Non-EU/EEA Nationals
All non-EU/EEA nationals do need a visa (entry clearance) to come to study in the UK, including non-visa nationals wishing to stay for more than 6 months.
All students in this category therefore MUST obtain entry clearance (a visa) before travelling to the UK. The Immigration Authorities will not let you enter the UK if you do not have entry clearance (a visa). It is essential to check the International Group website www.ukvisas.gov.uk for new information on entry clearance and visas before you travel to the UK. You can also use the following link to check if you require a visa: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/doineedvisa/visadatvnationals
The UK Council for International Student Affairs has a very useful website for information on applying for a visa. Go to: www.ukcosa.org.uk > Advice for International Students > Guidance notes > ‘I am coming to the UK to start my studies. What do I need to do about immigration?’
Restrictions on bringing meat and food in to the UK
Many food items are deemed illegal as they may bring diseases into the UK. What you can bring into the UK depends on where you are travelling from, not where the item has been produced or packaged. Please check the rules before attempting to include any prohibited or controlled items in your personal effects as you could face severe delays, prosecution and fines. The rules are available online at www.defra.gov.uk
My Arrival in the UK
On arrival in the United Kingdom, you may be asked by immigration officials at the airport to provide the documentation listed in the ‘To bring’ list.
If you are arriving in the UK by air, we recommend you to fly directly into Leeds Bradford International Airport alternatively you can select Manchester International Airport which is 48 miles (1 hour drive) from Bradford. There are regular connecting flights to/from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
London Heathrow
If you arrive at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) you will need to clear immigration there. There is also a direct coach service to Bradford Interchange from Heathrow airport, operated by National Express. The journey takes between five and six hours and the single fare is around £25.00.
Airport Pick-up Service
The college can arrange an airport pick up service for international students arriving from overseas, provided a pre-arrival notice is given in advance to the college. Pick-up fee applies, please contact the college for further information.
PLEASE BE AWARE that services are not as frequent in the evening and all day on Sunday. Journeys in this instance may also take longer and stop at more places.
Money on Arrival
You will need approximately £100-£200 in British currency on arrival in the UK. This is to pay for transport and meals during the first few days. Do not carry any more than this in case it gets lost. It is advisable to bring some travellers’ cheques with you for emergencies; they can be cashed at airport bureau de change offices and in banks. It may take up to 3 weeks to open a UK bank account so be prepared with cash and travelers cheques until then.
Living in the UK
Living on a Loan
Living on a budget can be difficult, especially if you’re used to a regular wage or haven’t had to pay the bills before. Luckily, Bradford is one of the few cities where you can actually survive on your loan if you’re careful with your money.
Tips on how to save money:
- Pay your rent first and then work out a weekly budget from what’s left.
- Draw out your weekly amount of money at the beginning of the week and make sure that is all you spend until the next week.
- Don’t be tempted to go to the cash point for ‘just another tenner’ when you’re on a night out.
- If you don’t know where your money is going, keep a diary for a week – you might wish you’d not bought those magazines and luxury readymade meals when you can’t afford to go out at the weekend.
- Shop around for the best bank account you can find, preferably with an interest-free overdraft in case you overspend.
- Don’t waste your money on takeaway food – learn to cook and share meals or make enough for two days.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Bradford is extremely low in comparison with the majority of the UK. Please see prospectus where you can find estimated basic yearly living costs for a student. Note that course costs and other one-off costs are not included.
| Accomodation | £2600 | Rent & Utilitity Bills |
| Food | £2000 | |
| Travel | £500 | Local Travel on Bus & Train |
| Entertainment | £700 | Cinema, Eating Out & Sports etc |
| Learning Material | £500 | |
| Miscelleneous | £700 | Telephone, Clothing and Insurance etc |
| Total | £7000 |
Accommodation
We can arrange accommodation if a student requests in advance. We recommend students book their accommodation at least six weeks in advance. If student give advance six weeks notice the students will be provided with list of agencies and other contacts who can arrange accommodation like one bedroom and shared use of living room, kitchen, toilet and other facilities. If you need any help in finding accommodation please let us know by email at info@cbds.org.uk
Making contact with Home
Pre-paid phone cards, sometimes called calling cards, are normally the cheapest and easiest means to make long distance overseas phone calls from your home or mobile phone. There is a variety of international calling cards available that can be purchased from the Post Office and many newsagents.
All cards will carry clear instructions for you to follow when making your call from a pay phone or landline telephone. Some students find that the option of a mobile telephone, although sometimes more expensive, provides a convenient method of communication. There are a number of mobile phone shops in Bradford and you may be able to find a special deal for phoning overseas.
Transferring Money to the UK
Bringing money into the UK is straightforward if you plan ahead. There are a number of ways of getting money into the country and the various options open to you are listed below:-
- Credit card - most banks in the UK will accept MasterCard, American Express or Visa Cards. These can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs (cash dispensing machines) with an additional charge Travellers’ cheques are very useful because they enable you to obtain money before you have organized a bank account.
- Electronic transfer of funds – the easiest and quickest way to send money from a bank in your country to one in the UK. You can use this method once you have opened a bank account in the UK.
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Opening a Bank Account
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International students do not always find it straightforward to open a bank account in the UK as different banks have different policies and apply different conditions. Please assume that it may take at least 2-3 weeks to open a UK bank account. Also, please make sure you have access to the money that you will need during this period by making financial arrangements similar to those you might make if you were on vacation.
Can I bring my family with me to the UK?
According to the new UKBA rules students studying at a higher education institution on a course on NQF7/QCF7/SQCF11 or above lasting 12 months or more will be able to bring their dependents to UK.
There are a number of things you might like to consider before deciding whether or not to bring your family with you to the UK. It is advisable to arrive in the UK first and bring your family over once you have settled here and arranged accommodation for them. The spouse (wife or husband) and child (under the age of 18) of an international student (non EU) will normally be given permission to enter and remain with his or her spouse for the duration of the programme. Your spouse may come to the UK as your dependant if you can show the immigration authorities that:
- you are married (you will need proof, such as a marriage certificate) you intend to live together and your marriage is continuing
- you have sufficient money to adequately accommodate and maintain yourselves financially without recourse to public funds
- your spouse does not intend to work in the UK unless they are permitted your spouse intends to leave the UK at the end of the permitted stay
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Your children may come to the UK and live with you as dependants if you can show that they:
- are your children
- are under the age of 18, or entered the UK under the age of 18 and have current leave to stay in the UK as the child of a student
- are unmarried and do not lead independent family lives will be adequately accommodated and maintained without recourse to public funds
- will not stay in the UK beyond the period granted to you My health
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The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s state health service that provides treatment for UK residents. Some of these services are free and others require payment. Everyone is entitled to the following free of charge: treatment in an emergency, treatment of certain communicable diseases, compulsory psychiatric treatment. To qualify for any other treatment under the National Health Service, you must meet certain conditions. If your course of study is for 6 months or more you can get most of your health care free of charge from the National Health Service (NHS) whilst you are in the UK. This applies from the first day of your stay in England. You must register with a doctor at the start of the course.
The National Health Service (NHS)
The NHS is the UK’s state health service. It provides free treatment for UK residents through a wide range of health care services. The National Health Service provides medical treatment through three main routes:
General Practitioners (GPs/Physicians): usually the first point of contact for medical treatment
Hospitals: you may be seen as an in-patient (where you stay in the hospital for treatment) or as an out-patient (where you visit the hospital each time)
Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department: This department is open 24 hours a day and deals with patients needing emergency treatment International students studying for six months or longer are entitled to free health care from the NHS (excluding dental treatment), from the beginning of their studies. Your spouse and children under the age of sixteen will also be entitled to NHS treatment.
Academic Life in the UK
You may find, as many international students do, that the teaching methods used by lecturers are very different from any you have been used to. The relationship between staff and students is often relaxed and informal and high importance is placed on students’ abilities to take responsibility for their education and organise their own time. The UK system assumes that students will develop independence and individuality.
Language Support, including individual tutorials, is available for international students throughout the duration of your studies at the College. There is also a programme of Study Skills support available throughout the year.
Have a safe journey!
It is very important that you read ALL of this International Student Information. We do hope this information will be useful to you as you plan your journey and as you prepare to live and study in the UK. If you have further questions or are unsure of anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and will be happy to do so.
Useful Information/Contacts
UKCISA
(UK Council for International Student Affairs)
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7288 4330
Fax: 020 7288 4360
www.ukcosa.org.uk and www.ukcisa.org.uk
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
www.fco.gov.uk
www.ukvisas.gov.uk (for visa information)
UK Border Agency
(Home Office)
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Immigration application forms
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/howtoapply/vafs
Embassy List
www.embassyworld.com/embassy/directory_A
Direct Gov – Financial Information for EU Students
www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/universityandhighereducation/studentfinance
The British Council
www.britishcouncil.org
www.educationuk.org
www.educationuk.org/downloads/first_steps_students.pdf (useful guide)
Universal Currency Converter
www.xe.com/currency
Interfaith Network for UK
www.interfaith.org.uk
National Health Service (NHS)
www.nhsdirect .uk
0845 4647
Important note
Immigration law is subject to change. Please make sure that you have the most up-to-date advice by checking the following websites:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/immigration.php
CBDS Contact Address:
College of Business & Development Studies
Legrams Lane
Bradford
West Yorkshire
United Kingdom
BD7 2EA
Tel: (+44) 1274 577 721
Fax: (+44) 1274 299 777
Email: info@cbds.org.uk
