Welcome to the United Kingdom!
We’re the University for the Creative Arts Students’ Union (UCASU). UCA has students coming from many different countries, so we’re excited to welcome you into our diverse and talented community!
Moving to a new country can be both exciting and scary – but you’re not alone! We’re here to help and guide you through your experience and hopefully make it the slightest bit easier.
Contents:
What is a Students' Union?
Arriving in the UK
Healthcare & Wellbeing
Exploring the Local Area
Housing & Accommodation
Fraud and Scams
University Contacts
Useful Apps to Have
The Students’ Union is here to make your time at university better. It’s run by students who are chosen (elected) to represent you and support you during your studies.
Every Students’ Union is different, but most offer helpful services like advice, support with your course, fun events, and loads of clubs and societies where you can make friends and try new things.
This guide has information from the UK Government, from UCA, and from other students. If you have any questions, you can visit the Students’ Union office on your campus, or email your elected representatives at presidents.su@uca.ac.uk.
Advice, Support & Knowledge
Need help? Got questions? Contact our Advice, Support & Knowledge (ASK) team for independent advice. Whether it’s about resits, complaints, bullying or anything else the Union may be able to help!
ucasu.com/ask
Clubs & Societies
Clubs and Societies are an amazing way to meet new people and learn skills. One of the hardest things when moving so far away from home is building a support network, which is why it’s so important to make friends. Clubs and societies are the perfect way find a new and friendly community, whether it’s through football, cheerleading and yoga or anime, gaming and faith, there is something for everyone. They’re all run by fellow students and if there isn’t one you’re interested in, you can speak to your campus Student Engagement Coordinator, who will be more than happy to support you to get it all set up!
activities.su@uca.ac.uk
Democracy
If you’re looking to really make a difference, you can run to be a Course Rep within your class, or one of or UCASU Presidents. It is a fantastic way to get leadership and communication skills, while helping to develop your course or the student experience at UCA in a positive way.
studentvoice.su@uca.ac.uk
Events
While we have our daily events throughout Freshers’ Week and our weekly events through the rest of the year, we’re more than happy for you to come to us with your ideas. If you want to raise money for charity or just propose an event idea, reach out and speak to our Events Manager who can help you out!
events.su@uca.ac.uk
Dealing with Culture Shock
You may hear people talking about ‘culture shock’, which is common among international students who find the UK is very different to what they are used to.
Click here to read some important information from UKCISA on how to cope with culture shock.
Registering for an eVisa
All holders of immigration permission will need to register for a UKVI account to access their eVisa. After you have registered for a UKVI account, your immigration permission (your eVisa) can be viewed through this account.
You will also be able to share that permission with other organisations, such as the university or your accommodation landlord. The part of the UKVI account where you can access your permission and learn how to share it with others is called ‘View and prove’.
Changes to your Visa
Any change of address or circumstances should be reported to the Home Office. Changes include:
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Address
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Name
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Facial appearance
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Nationality
Mapping out the Town
We highly recommend taking the time to map out the town and figure out where your nearest hospital is, bus routes in and out of the area, as well as general train times.
There are a couple ways you can do this. It’s easiest to hop on google maps or any navigation site of your choice and pin important locations so that you can look back at them later. After that, using apps like City Mapper, Stagecoach or Trainline to find the easiest route to your destination is easy!
Getting a UK Phone Number
You don’t need a UK Phone Number to get by in the UK, however, for most banks, you need a UK phone number to utilise online banking as well as other services.
Having a UK phone number is not a necessity but it sure makes things a whole lot easier. Getting a UK Phone Number is as simple as buying a new sim card for your phone. There are multiple providers you can choose from with multiple different styles of coverage. It’s up to you which provider you choose based on what you need out of a phone.
What do you need to get a UK Phone Number?:
Opening a bank account
You’ll need it to pay bills, rent, and travel costs. When you’ve got some time, head into one of your local banks. It’s best to have a look online to find out which bank works best for you.
You can use your existing bank account, but it’s more difficult in the long term than setting up a new one. With a non-UK account, if you want to take money out at an ATM you would be charged for the conversion of currency. You also need a UK bank account if you are planning to find work while you’re here, as it’s much easier for your employer to pay into a UK account.
We recommend HSBC or Lloyds Bank.
What do you need to set up an account?:
Applying for a National Insurance Number (NIN) and Getting a Job
Getting a part-time job alongside your studies is a good way to get some extra cash to travel and support you along the way. The Union has several part-time positions available through the year so keep an eye out if this is something you’re interested in. Depending on your type of visa, you may be eligible to work part-time and the hours depend on what type of course you’re doing.
If you’re doing a foundation course, you can work up to 10 hours per week during term time*.
If you are on a degree course you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time*.
Outside of term time there is no limit on how many hours you can work. Check your BRP for how many hours you’re eligible to work. To work in the UK, you will need to have a National Insurance Number, however you can start working without a NIN if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.
You will need to request a ‘Term Time’ letter from the Student Life team.
*Term time = Defined by the University’s official academic calendar, including reading weeks and exam periods – not just teaching weeks.
What do you need to get a National Insurance Number?:
Register with a GP and get an NHS Number
Most people forget to register at a local doctor’s office when they first move but if you fall ill at some point during your time here, you’ll really wish you’d done this sooner! If you are coming to the UK for 6 months or longer and have a student visa, you will have paid an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application fees. This entitles students to access NHS care free of charge in the same way as a permanent UK resident.
You may need to pay for dental and optical treatment as well as for any medicine prescribed by the doctor and collected from a Pharmacy for which there is normally a standard charge of £9.90 per item. If you need to have continued medication, you may find it cheaper to get a Prescription Pre-Payment Certificate.
If you’re not from England, Wales, or the Isle of Man, you will be assigned an NHS number when you register with your GP. An NHS number is a 10-digit number that is unique to you. It helps healthcare staff and service providers identify you correctly and match your details to your health records. You do not need an NHS number to use NHS services, including booking appointments, however, it helps to keep all of your medical records in the same place. If you have any repeat medications, make sure to bring enough for your time in the UK.
What do you need to register with a doctor?:
In case of an Emergency
For all police, fire and medial emergencies (unable to travel to the hospital yourself) call 999 from any phone, and ask for the service you need.
The nearest Accident and Emergency departments to our campuses are:
Canterbury: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG
Epsom: Epsom Hospital, Dorking Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG
Farnham: Royal Surrey County Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Frimley, Camberly, GU16 7UJ
NHS 111
If you are ill or injured and need help fast but it is not an emergency, or you are not sure what to do, use NHS 111. You can either call free on 111 or use the online service.
Safeguarding at UCA
We recommend you familiarise yourself with the university’s safeguarding policy.
It’s important that everyone takes some time out to look after themselves and take a break from the day-to-day stress of life and work. Go to a park, get some exercise, or treat yourself every once in a while!
What can I do in the local area?
Canterbury
Canterbury has an exciting atmosphere – there’s almost always something going on! If you live in Hotham Court, you can buy groceries at the big ASDA or Aldi, only a 5-minute walk from you.
In the other direction you have a very busy town with a variety of restaurants and places to grab a quick bite to eat! Other things around the town include the Canterbury Cathedral, a National Heritage site which as a UCA student, you can access for free with your Student ID. There are also River Tours and a few country parks, gardens and museums in the area too!
Canterbury has a busy night life, filled with clubs and pubs like The Ballroom! Best of all, we have our own Lounge on campus calld ‘The Nook’, where you can attend or organise social events and club nights.
Epsom
Epsom is small but busy – there are dozens of restaurants and bars around town, including Blacks Burgers (famous for its Instagrammable freakshakes), The Faraday, and Caballo Lounge. On a day off, you can visit the Odeon for films, see a show at the Playhouse, or escape to nature as there are several lovely parks in the Epsom area!
The Epsom campus has a common space attached to the canteen where you can go to study, listen to music, play games on the green, or just meet other students.
Only 35 minutes from Central London the train, Epsom is a very well-connected campus, so you can easily access all that London has to offer while studying in a more relaxed atmosphere during the day.
Farnham
Farnham is our biggest campus, but in the quietest town. In the local area you can find several big supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Lidl all within the town. There are also plenty of choices of restaurants and cafes, ranging from big chains to independent businesses.
If you want to stay active there are multiple gyms around town, or you could go for a nice stroll through any of Farnham’s park. The town has plenty of pubs dotted around – 24 in total! Don’t forget about Glasshouse, our on-campus nightclub, brought to you by UCASU!
In the next town over, Aldershot, you visit Cineworld to watch the latest films and from there also make a shopping trip into Guildford. Waverley Abbey is a short bus ride away which not only is set in a quaint park, but is also the set for films such as Into The Woods, The Mummy and The Huntsman.
If you’re planning to live on campus, there are different types of rooms you can apply for - the University has a list on their website of on-campus rooms and prices.
If you will be living off campus, we recommend signing up to our Digital Communities groups to check out listings from other UCA students on your campus. You can request to join the Digital Communities here. [ucasu.com/digitalcommunities]
If you’re still struggling with private housing, check out the following tips and tricks:
Budget
Make sure to set a realistic budget that includes not just the rent, but also other expenses such as utility bills, council tax, and internet. Keep in mind that some areas may be more expensive than others. When looking for accommodation, avoid Facebook marketplace! Instead use websites like Sparerooms.co.uk, Rightmove.co.uk, and Zoopla.co.uk. Think of it this way - if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
Location
Consider the location of the accommodation in relation to your campus, as well as other amenities such as public transportation, grocery stores, and entertainment options. You can use Google Maps or a browser to estimate time spent commuting to and from your campus; e.g. if the accommodation you are looking at is at Ashley Road in Epsom, google “Ashley Road, Epsom to University for the Creative Arts, Epsom” and check the “Public transport” option to see the estimated time spent commuting.
Safety
Look for accommodation that has proper safety measures in place, such as fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and secure locks on doors and windows. It's also a good idea to research the safety of the neighbourhood. You can check out Crime Rate public safety data for your area at crimerate.co.uk.
Contracts
Read and understand the rental contract thoroughly before signing. Pay attention to clauses related to rent, deposit, repairs, and any additional fees. Seek legal advice if needed (reach out to Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) for free help).
Deposit and Rent
Be prepared to pay a security deposit and advance rent. Make sure to understand the terms and conditions related to the deposit, including how it will be protected and under what circumstances it may be withheld. Often the deposits are protected by a service such as Deposit Protection Scheme.
Amenities & Repairs
Check what amenities are included in the rent, such as furniture, appliances, and internet. If anything is missing or not working properly, discuss it with the landlord or agent before signing the contract. Inquire about the landlord's responsibility for repairs and maintenance. Make sure to have a written agreement on how repairs will be addressed during your tenancy.
Roommates
If you are renting with roommates, discuss expectations and responsibilities upfront, including rent sharing, household chores, and bills. This way you will avoid future misunderstandings and disagreements. It might be worth agreeing on a bill-splitting service/app to help you track expenses and payments such as the FREE Housemate app by Natwest - it even recognises your rent payments to help build your credit score and renting history!
References
If available, ask for references from previous tenants or other reliable sources to get feedback on the condition of the property, the landlord's responsiveness, and any issues you should be aware of.
Guarantors
Your guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you are unable to, this might be a parent, a close relative or a third-party service such as Housing Hands. If living in shared accommodation you will need to double-check if this applies to all or just your share of the rent. In cases where you are unable to obtain a guarantor, you will need to be prepared to pay an advance on the rent, this could be as much as 6 months however there is no legal limit to how much rent a landlord can ask for upfront.
Alternatively, there are some guarantor services that may be helpful:
Legal Rights
Familiarise yourself with your legal rights as a tenant in the UK, including your rights to repairs, privacy, and protection from unfair treatment (reach out to Citizens Advice for free help). Citizensadvice.org.uk
Document everything
By taking photos and screenshots, you can have a visual record of the property's condition when you move in. This practice is important in case of any disputes about the deposit amount that should be returned to you when leaving. Be sure to take this step before settling into your new accommodation. It's also crucial to keep any relevant filed documents in a secure location where they'll be easily accessible if needed. These documents could include your contract, move-in inspection report, and any correspondence with your landlord. By storing them in a safe place, you can avoid the hassle of having to search for them later on, saving you time and effort.
Check out private accommodation options at Studentpad
Studentpad.co.uk has an official partnership with UCA to supply private rental properties in Canterbury, Epsom, and Farnham. They frequently upload new properties to their website, and they have some great guides you can check out too.
Families
It’s important to note that if you’re coming with family, most student housing do not accept families.
Unfortunately, International students can sometimes be targeted by fraudulent criminals, pretending to be from your bank or the Home Office.
Click here read some important information from UKCISA on how to avoid fraud and scams.
Academic Advice
Should you need any academic advice and support during your time at UCA, our Advice, Support & Knowledge (ASK) team is here to help. If you’re unhappy with your grades, need help applying for extensions, or any other academic queries, please contact us at ucasu.com/ask.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing support is available to you as a student at UCA via the University’s website.
Specialist Advisors
Specialist Advisors are available at each campus to provide information and guidance to students on a wide range of practical and personal issues. Each advisor is a member of the National Association of Student Money Advisers and the University is a member of the UK Council for International Student Advice. They can help you with issues related to money, visas, work, police registration, or accommodation, whether with other students or at home.
Food Delivery
Whether you can't be bothered to cook, or you're really craving something from a local restaurant, using food delivery apps can be a great choice! Some shops/restaurants in your area may offer their own delivery service (which can be cheaper), so we recommend checking before using an app!
Messaging
There are lots of ways to stay in contact with people in the UK, here are our top choices for messaging apps that are widely used by other students.
Travel
Getting around the UK can be a hassle, here are the best apps for planning your travels and getting used to the trains, buses, tube, and other transportation options in the UK.
Money Savers
Being a student can sometimes mean having a tight budget, luckily, there are a few ways you can save money just because you're a student! Check out our favorite ways to save a few ££.
NUS / TOTUM Card
New students should consider ordering a TOTUM card. These cost £15 for one year, £25 for two years, or £30 for three years. This card can get you discounts at all sorts of shops, restaurants, online services and on the 16-25 Railcard. You can order them online at totum.com and then pick it up from your local Union office.
Railcard
If you’re aged between 16 and 25 you can register for a 16-25 National Railcard. There is also a 26-30 option.
This card gets you a third off the price of UK train tickets. It costs £35 for a year’s railcard but is more than worth it if you’re planning to visit London or other local towns for sightseeing and shopping trips! You can order a Railcard online or in person at most railway stations.
Even if you’re not 25 and under you can still get a railcard as there is a section for mature students, you’ll just need to make sure you get the Campus Life team to sign off on your application.