Welcome to the United
Kingdom |
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| First of all you may wish to register
yourself with the St Vincent and the Grenadines High Commission
in london.Iit is always a good ideas to have them keep a copy
of your passport on file in the case that it gets lost or stolen.
Location... |
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| There is also a St Vincent and
the Grenadines Student Association you can join. see
the list of associations you may be interested in one of the
others. |
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| Below is some information you
may find handy while you are in the United Kingdom. however if
there is anything that is not stated that you need help with please
feel free to contact us and let us know
about it. |
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 Registering
with a doctor
Dental services
Education for your dependants
Services and access
for disabled people
Working
and studying
Time allowed to work
Working in the UK after graduation
Leaving and returning to the UK
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Telephone services
Public telephones in the UK can be coin operated or card operated.
To use a card-operated phone, you need either a credit card or
a special, pre-paid phonecard. Phonecards come in values of £2,
£5, £10 and £20 and you can buy them from newsagents,
post offices and supermarkets. |
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Low-cost calling
Calling from a private phone is significantly cheaper than calling
from a public phone. Inland calls (calls within the UK) are cheapest
between 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 a.m. International calls are cheapest
between 8.00 p.m. and 8.00 a m. There are also reduced rates on
Saturday and Sunday.
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Useful UK numbers
- international operator:155 (for help with placing a call)
- international directory enquiries:153 (to find out a number)
- to phone someone overseas direct, dial 00, then the country
code, then the number |
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Registering with a doctor
To receive any kind of treatment through the NHS, you must be
registered with a doctor or General Practitioner (GP) . GPs are
doctors who are trained and experienced in diagnosing a wide range
of health problems. You should do this as soon as possible after
you arrive in the UK and have a permanent address - don't wait
until you're ill.
If your school, college or university has a
health centre, you may be able to register with a doctor there
or they may be able to recommend a local doctor or GP. You can
also get a list of local doctors from the Post Office or by
contacting the Family Health Services Authority in your area
(look in the local telephone directory).
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Dental services
If you're eligible for NHS treatment, you can receive your dental
treatment at a reduced rate. Once you've registered with a doctor,
register with a local dentist as soon as possible. First of all,
however, make sure that the dentist accepts NHS patients - some
dentists only accept private patients. |
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Services and
access for disabled people
If you have a disability of any kind, contact your school, college
or university before your arrival to find out what facilities
will be available for you. Some institutions can make special
arrangements that take your disability into account such as allowing
you extra time on examinations if writing is physically difficult
for you. |
Skill: National Bureau
for Students with Disabilities
www.skill.org.uk |
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Education for your dependants
In the UK, all children must be in full-time education from the
age of five to the age of sixteen. If you bring your children
to the UK with you and they are in this age range, they can study
at a UK state school free of charge. If your children are older
than sixteen and they want to continue their education, they may
have to attend an independent school or further education course.
Independent schools charge fees to all students. |
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Working and studying
You can find out about any part-time jobs that are available by
consulting notice boards around your institution, looking in local
newspapers and job centres, and visiting your college or university
careers office. Many institutions have their own 'job shop' which
displays part-time and holiday vacancies and may issue job vacancy
bulletins.
The careers service can also provide you
with extensive information and advice about employment, training
and further study, and help you with job-hunting and making
applications.
Before taking
a job, think carefully about how much time you will have available.
Success on your course must be your priority. Your studies may
be intensive and demanding and you should be realistic about
the amount of time this will leave for part-time work. Many
students find that working part time helps improve their English,
but you must be careful not to let work interfere with your
studies.
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Time allowed to work
You may take part-time or holiday work but you must not:
- work for more than 20 hours
a week during term time, unless your work placement is part
of your studies and your education institution agrees;
- do
business, be self-employed or provide services as a professional
sports person or entertainer; or
- work full time in a permanent
job.
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Working in the UK after
graduation
Some students may be able to work in the UK after their course
ends under various government schemes. At the time of writing,
students who complete a UK degree and students who complete a
Diploma of Higher Education (Dip HE) in Nursing may be able to
stay on to work, as long as their employer can get a work permit
for them. Work permits are issued where a job requires a skill
that is in short supply in the UK. Students
graduating from a UK university with a 2:2 or higher in the
physical sciences, maths and engineering are now able to apply
to stay in the UK and work for 12 months. You can find
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Leaving and returning
to the UK
If your permission to stay in the UK has been given for more than
six months, you will usually be able to travel in and out of the
UK for short breaks (as long as you return before your permission
expires, and your studies are continuing). Ask a welfare officer
at your institution for advice about being re-admitted to the
UK before you plan any trip abroad. It is especially important
to seek advice if your permission to stay was given for six months
or less, or you will be returning to the UK after your permission
to stay expires, or when you will no longer be studying (even
if your permission to stay will not expire). |
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Applying for a National
Insurance number
information
and advice applying for a National Insurance number |
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Driving
in the United Kingdom
a guide for international students An
explanation of the legal requirements relating to the car and
to the driver. |
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| Further Information
British Council (Quality Development
Unit): www.britishcouncil.org/education/qdu
British Council:
www.britishcouncil.org/education/qdu/info.htm
First steps guidance note
Preparing for entry clearance
First steps video
Preparing for entry clearance
UKCOSA guidance notes:
www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/guidenote.htm
Preparing for study in the UK
Working in the UK during your studies
Arriving in the UK
Immigration procedures after arrival in the UK
EEA Students
Dependents of international students
Department for Education and
Skills (DfES):
www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students
UK visas: www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Home Office Immigration and Nationality
Directorate (includes Work Permits UK) www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
www.fco.gov.uk
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See
also:
IMMIGRATION
ADVISORY SERVICE (IAS)
The IAS is an independent charity which gives
free and confidential advice, assistance and representation
to persons who are applying for an entry clearance for the UK.
Their address is:
County House, 190 Great Dover Street, LONDON SE1
4YB United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 171 357 6917
Duty Office 24 hrs: +44 181 814 1559
Fax: +44 171 378 0665 |
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