International Study Centre
Students on campus chatting

Get ready to join us

Download your Pre-Arrival guide

Access your pre-arrival guide now so you can refer to all the information you require whilst getting ready to join us. 

The UK welcomes international students

Bridget Phillipson, the UK’s Secretary of State for Education, shares her admiration and warm welcome for international students.

We're looking forward to welcoming you

We are really looking forward to welcoming you to the International Study Centre. Here you'll find all the essential information and resources you need to ensure a successful start to your studies. 

It is important that you are able to regularly attend your classes as this is a UK visa requirement. To help with this, we provide accommodation options and support with the booking process. Should you choose to book your own accommodation, we suggest you live close to the Centre so you can make the most of your student experience.

What to pack

  • Prescription medications, with prescriptions translated into English
  • Essential toiletries – you can buy any other medicines and toiletries once you arrive in Durham

Bring essential clothing for all weather conditions, including a warm coat. There is no dress code at the International Study Centre, so bring comfortable clothes like jeans, t-shirts and jumpers. Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough has plenty of shops where you can buy any other clothing you need.

To access course materials on the Virtual Learning Environment or platform and undertake assessments, it is important that you come prepared with the appropriate technology. 

While it is possible to access and interact with most course content using tablets and smartphones, such as iPads, iPhones and Android devices, these devices will not work for assessments. Therefore, you must have a PC or Mac based computer available for use. Please note that Linux, Chromebook, iPad or Windows 10S/11S mode operating systems are not supported. 

Minimum recommended specifications:

PC 

  • A Microsoft Windows-based PC with at least 4GB RAM and 200MB available free disk space (laptop or desktop, preferably running Windows 10 or 11) 
  • Web Browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (Chromium version) 

Mac 

  • An Apple MacOS 10.12 and above based laptop or desktop with at least 4GB RAM and 200MB available free disk space
  • Web Browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (Chromium version)
  • Travel adapters: It is a good idea to bring a travel adapter with you, so that you can charge your phone and computer as soon as you arrive.
  • Personal items: You may also want to bring a few personal items, such as photos and books, to make you feel at home.
  • Cash: It's useful to have some money in cash when you are travelling. We recommend about £50. It is important that you do not bring any £50 notes as these are not accepted in some stores.
  • Guardianship letter (if you're under 18).

Essential documents to bring

  • Passport and visa
  • UKVI Decision Letter
  • International Study Centre offer letter
  • CAS statement
  • Evidence of funding for your tuition fees and living costs
  • Accommodation documents
  • Four passport-sized photographs
  • Insurance documents (unless you use StudyCare)
  • Medical certificates and vaccination records

Please make sure you pack your essential items and papers in your carry-on bag, not your luggage. This is because you will need your papers at border control which is why it is important to have them somewhere at hand

Accommodation

It is important that you are able to regularly attend your face-to-face classes as this is a UK visa requirement. To help with this, we provide accommodation options and support with the booking process. Should you choose to book your own accommodation, we suggest you live close to the Centre so you can make the most of your student experience, but your accommodation should be no more than a 60 minute door-to-door commute from the International Study Centre.

Living in student accommodation is the best way to experience student life. You’ll make friends from around the world, have fun and learn to live on your own in the wonderful Stockton-on-Tees. Living with other students is a great way to make friends which will help you settle into life away from home. We work with student accommodation providers Infinity House and Rialto Court. Find out more about your accommodation options here.

Insurance

We recommend that all international students have the protection of appropriate accident and medical insurance for the duration of their time in the UK.

StudyCare Insurance has been designed specifically to offer international students comprehensive protection and support during their studies at the International Study Centre and, if required, after progressing to your university.

Insurance cover is available in terms of up to 12 months or 24 months fixed, allowing students to select the policy length that suits their needs. Both lengths cover travel to the UK, loss of personal possessions as well as providing health and medical insurance. If you select 24 months, you will be covered for the duration of your pathway programme plus the first year of your degree.

Frequently asked questions

Prepare for Success

For some intakes, we offer a free online preparation course, Prepare for Success, to help you improve your academic expectations, skills and readiness –  ahead of starting your academic programme. This online course is designed to provide you with practical advice, guidance and support, so that you are ready to succeed from day one of your academic programme.

Find out more about Prepare for Success on our website. 

Enhanced Induction

You may also be able to benefit from our 3-week face-to face Enhanced Induction programme, designed to help you settle into your new home in the UK before commencing your main pathway programme.

Find out more about Enhanced Induction on our website.

Our expert teachers will deliver face-to-face teaching, supported by an online hub and other online resources. At the International Study Centre, you can expect classes of no more than 25 students. You will be assigned a Personal Tutor who is there to support you every step of the way to help you to stay on track to progress to the University.

To support you to success, you must arrive in the UK, on campus, by your programme start date, and be ready to attend your induction programme and all subsequent timetabled classes. Please note that poor attendance that conflicts with our Attendance Policy (in accordance with UKVI requirements) will result in the termination of your studies. Visa sponsorship will also be withdrawn.

If you are coming to the UK to study for 6 months or longer on a Student visa, you will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of your visa application fee.

The immigration health surcharge will entitle students in the UK under the Student visa route to access NHS care at no additional cost in the same way as a permanent UK resident. The National Health Service (NHS) provides a wide range of health care services including:

Registration with a GP practice (family doctor) for non-urgent appointments and health checks. You will receive information about how to register with a doctor when you arrive. Once you have registered with a GP you will be eligible for:

  • Emergency care in local hospitals
  • Referrals to specialists if and when required (waiting lists may apply depending on the urgency of the problem)
  • Ongoing medical support and care for any long term medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma

Not all treatments are covered by the NHS. For example; non-emergency dentistry, orthodontics, routine eye tests and prescriptions for medicines need to be paid for.

If you are studying in the UK for less than 6 months on a short term study visa, you are not required to pay the health surcharge as part of your visa application and are therefore not eligible for full NHS support. In these circumstances, you are advised to take out medical insurance as you will be liable for NHS charges for the treatment you receive in the UK except for in a medical emergency. If you already have medical insurance in your home country, you may wish to check whether this can be extended to cover your stay in the UK.

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WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN STOCKTON-ON-TEES

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