University of Kent Pre-departure briefing

1. Introducing Kent
Pre-departure briefing
International Development Office

2. A little bit about Kent
• Where are we?
• Academic
reputation
• Student
population
• Job prospects
• Student Life
• Accommodation
• Fees and costs

4. Where you’ll be studying
Canterbury – one of the biggest and greenest
university campuses in the UK
A safe, self-contained environment with
everything you need for a good academic and
social life
Within walking distance of the city centre, 1 hour
to London by train, 2 hours to Paris and Brussels
by Eurostar.
Medway – the campus is based near the historic
naval town of Chatham, with purpose-built
riverside student accommodation, 40 minutes by
train from central London.

5. World-leading research informs your learning
• Award-winning, dedicated teaching informed by
world leading research in Humanities, Sciences &
Social Sciences
• 18 Schools recognised as conducting research of
world-class standing (Governmental Research
Assessment Exercise, 2008)

6. Excellent job prospects – get involved
• Kent students are consistently within the Top 20
graduate starting salaries (Sunday Times
University Guide)
• Year in Industry and study abroad available
around the world.
• 97.2% of our postgraduate students found a job
or further study placement within 6 months of
graduating
• Professional Careers Advice Service and
contacts with companies and governments
world-wide
• The Employability Points scheme rewards
students for active engagement in
extracurricular activities.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/
• A pioneer university with Kent’s Law Clinic and
Kent’s IT Centre
Did you know?
Canterbury was ranked as the safest
university city in England in 2012

7. What our students say about us…!

8. Congratulations!
You have an offer to study at the University of Kent
• International atmosphere
• Living costs and tuition fees
• Planning ahead
• Student life

9. International atmosphere
Total Number Students:
19,665
Undergraduates:
14,030
Postgraduates:
2,840
26% of students are international, 125
nationalities represented.
Did you know?
Kent’s largest international
student groups are from France,
China and the USA.

10. Living costs and tuition fees
Visit our cost calculator pages to manage and calculate your
money whilst you are at university.
http://www.kent.ac.uk/finance-student/calculators/index.html
Other useful websites are:
http://www.uniaid.org.uk/
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
Tuition Fees 2012/2013
International Foundation Programme: £10,350
Undergraduate Non-laboratory: £11,625
Undergraduate Laboratory: £13,400
More information on fees can be found at:
http://www.kent.ac.uk/finance-student/fees/postgraduate

11. Planning ahead – Key dates
Key dates:
15th – 16th September 2012 – Arrivals Weekend
17th – 21st September 2012 – Welcome Week
24th September 2012 – 14th December 2012 – Autumn Term
14th January 2013 – 5th April 2013 – Spring Term
6th May 2013 – 14th June 2013 – Summer Term

12. Planning ahead – Welcome Week
The University of Kent organises a welcome programme for the
hundreds of international students arriving on our Canterbury and
Medway campuses. The programme takes place during Welcome Week,
before term commences. Although optional, we strongly recommend that
you come along as it is a great opportunity to make new friends and get
to know the University and the surrounding areas before the busy first
week of term. To take part you need to register at:
www.kent.ac.uk/gettingstarted/international/events/index.html
The Welcome programme includes:
• Welcome meeting (including essential information about English
language lessons, academic life, welfare, immigration advice, UK health
service and opening bank accounts)
• Visit to Leeds Castle
• International students’ dinner

13. Student life
• Campus life – best of both worlds
• Over 100 student societies
• We offer a high level of support; Kent Student Union,
Jobshop, Student Learning Advisory Service,
English Language Unit, Medical Centre and
Pharmacy and Sports Centre
• Multi-faith and multicultural
• Range of international cuisine on campus
restaurants and snack bars, vegetarian, halal, etc

14. Planning ahead - What can you do from home?
• Accommodation – have you booked it? If coming to Kent via ‘Clearing’ we’ve
requested this on your behalf
• Apply for visa - When you accept your offer, we will send you a CAS number by
e-mail, which you will need when applying for a visa. If you email address have
change, please contact us,
• Getting Started at Kent booklet; book onto orientation events; Airport pick up
service
• Payment of fees in advance or on arrival at Kent (instalments possible)
• Register online (using ID number from final offer letter)
• Send us a photo (.jpeg preferred)
• Set up your computing account online
• Choose your modules online
www.kent.ac.uk/gettingstarted/

15. Planning ahead – Accommodation
• If you have not yet applied for accommodation, please do so as soon
as possible at:
www.kent.ac.uk/accommodation
• All of our accommodation includes internet connections in the
bedrooms, so you can use this to do your research, and also to stay in
touch with friends and family
• Free contents insurance offered for those with a room on campus
• Students will be informed which accommodation they have been
allocated at the end of August. Remember to accept the offer of
accommodation when it is made. If arriving late, check arrangements
on where and when to get your key for accommodation

16. Planning ahead – Health
• Chest X-rays
• Purchase adequate travel insurance to cover you before you
arrive in the United Kingdom
• Students studying in the United Kingdom for a period of
study longer than six months will be able to register with the
National Health Service
• Students can register at the University Medical Centre to
see a doctor or nurse free of charge. However, there will be a
charge for prescriptions
• It is a good idea to consider any medications that you take
and whether you can get medications in the UK and whether
you can take some with you before you go.
• If you need any additional support while you are abroad for
example extra time in exams please let us know as soon as
possible.

17. Planning ahead – getting a bank account
• There is a bank on the Canterbury
campus, and many more in the city
centre.
• Shop around for the best account
– you shouldn’t have to pay fees on
a standard student account, and
many banks offer rewards for
signing up.
• Bring some money with you for
use while your account is being set
up.

18. Planning ahead – What you should bring with you
• Baggage allowance: excess
baggage charges can be expensive
and you will have to carry what you
bring.
• In your hand luggage make sure
you have all your important
documents including your passport,
visa documents, qualifications and
insurance documents.
• It is also a good idea to carry a
photocopy of all your important
documents with you in your hand
luggage
• Do NOT carry any prohibited items.
Do NOT bring too much clothing,
food or stationery – this can be
bought on arrival

19. Planning ahead – While you are abroad
 Keep in touch with home
 Tell your family your address while
abroad.
 At Kent for example, parents and friends
can register to receive news about the
University of Kent:
hwww.kent.ac.uk/alumni/news/fprog.html
 Check the different UK phone card
discounts: these are phone cards which
allow you to call home for special, very
cheap rates. They are available in
newsagents and some supermarkets.
 Download Skype, MSN, Whatsapp, Viber
and other programmes on your computer
and mobile phone.

20. Culture Shock
 It is to be expected – don’t worry if it happens to
you. It happens to many international students.
 Challenging times at the start of the year and on
national holidays and birthdays etc, but it gets easier
 Getting over it is often a matter of time.
 Make yourself aware of cultural differences and
embrace them! Open your mind and learn from the
host culture.
 Use all resources to seek assistance.
 One of the best ways to overcome it is to get
involved in university life.

22. Contact us
If you require any further information,
please do not hesitate to contact us as
follows:
Email: international@kent.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1227 823871
We look forward to welcoming you to the
University of Kent very soon!