Travelling to UK

CampusUK can make UK travel plans for students, we help them with ticket booking and try to group students to travel together to avail for Group discounts. We maintain a preferred list of suppliers who provide better service and discounts to our students. Our supplier list include

Travel agents
Courier services
FOREX exchange

Packing

Student should first find the baggage allowance. Most airlines allow 20 - 30 kilos of checked luggage and 6-8 kilos of hand luggage, airlines have stringent restrictions on size and weight and would charge you a fortune if you exceed the allowed weight

If you are bringing computer, laptop or audio equipment, please also bring a receipt showing when and where it was bought. British customs officials may ask you to certify that the equipment is for your own use and that you are not importing it permanently.

Things to avoid while packing

Prohibited items (e.g. weapons, certain drugs, some foods and plants). For more information visit www.hmce.gov.uk
Excessive clothing, you will have a better choice and chance of finding clothes you need once you get to the UK especially winter wears.
Lots of food items and groceries, most of the ingredients you need can be found in many asian shops open in most cities and towns in the UK
Avoid too many books, it would increase the weight easily

Please don't forget, if you exceed your baggage allowance you would have daunting experience and you would be charged extra.

We advise to pack the following

In your person or in hand luggage

Passport
Visa
Travel tickets
CampusUK, London office contact details and telephone number
Cash, Travellers cheque or Credit card
X-ray report if any
Original letter of acceptance from your institution
Original documentary proof that you have enough money to pay your fees and meet your living costs (e.g. recent bank statements, proof of scholarship, sponsor's letter, reference letter from your bank in India)
Originals (or certified true copies) of any degree certificates or technical qualifications
Confirmation of any accommodation you have booked, including full address and telephone number
Any prescribed drugs or medicines you are taking, plus a letter from your doctor explaining what they are
Details of your arrangements for onward travel within the UK
Insurance documents
A list of what you packed in each item of your main luggage, in case you need to make an insurance claim
A warm sweater and jacket
An umbrella
Name and telephone number of international students' adviser at your institution in case of an emergency
A pen or pencil and some paper, in case you need to write down directions, telephone numbers, etc.

In main luggage

A photocopy of each page of your passport and visa
Note of the serial numbers of your travellers' cheques
Back-up photocopies of all essential documents
A dozen passport size photograph of yourself
Clothing - mostly comfortable and informal but do also bring some smart clothes for special occasions
Toiletries and personal items to last for some time
A few small photos of family and close friends
One or two SMALL souvenirs to keep you feeling connected to home.
Address book with address of all your friends and relatives

Arranging your arrival

CampusUK will confirm your arrival arrangements with the International office of your place of study, before you leave India. When you reach the UK, Airport pickup will be arranged to help you reach your Institution safely.

We all advise students to arrive in UK in the morning. This will give student sufficient time to reach the final destination.

When the student reaches UK, one of our UK staff member would touch base with you and make out how are getting on and inform your home in India about your safe arrival.

Insurance

There are three types of insurance available:

Travel insurance - to cover you and your luggage during your journey

Personal belongings insurance - You should insure your personal property and valuable items like valuable items such as jewellery, musical instruments, cameras or your CD-player against loss or theft as soon as possible after arriving.

Health insurance - Find out whether you will be covered by the UK's National Health Services (NHS). If not, take out a medical insurance policy before you leave home and check the excess clauses

For more insurance approach our staff at Chennai office.

Money to UK

When you first get to the UK, you will have lots of things to do and it may be a few days before you are able to approach a bank and open a bank account. And once you do, it may take a while for your transferred funds to clear through the banking system. So altogether, it could be anywhere from ten days to six weeks before you have access to the funds you transfer. It is necessary that you will need some other sources of money in the meantime.

There is limit to the amount of money you can bring into the UK while you travel to UK, you are allowed to bring a maximum of 6400 GBP.

The possibilities of moving your money to the UK are

Cash in Great Britain Pounds (GBP)

It is advisable not to carry large amounts of cash, but do take along with you 300 GBP to cover the initial costs. If your dependants are travelling with you, you will need to bring more cash.

Travellers' cheques

These are safer than carrying cash, as they are insured against loss or theft. They can be cashed at banks and bureaux de change and travellers' cheques made out in Great Britain Pounds can also be used like cash in many shops and restaurants - but check with the staff in each case to be sure.

Credit card

Credit cards are widely accepted as payment in the UK, and you can also use them to get cash from the machines at banks. Check with your bank at home to find out how much commission you will be charged if you use your home credit card in the UK

Electronic transfer

Your bank in your home country transfers funds from your home account directly to your account in the UK. This is often the easiest way to transfer money, but it cannot be arranged until you have opened a bank account in the UK.

Electrical equipment

Before packing electrical equipment, make sure it's compatible with UK standards: 240 volts, 50 cycles (50Hz), three-pin (square-pin) plugs. You may need an adapter or a voltage converter. Generally, you should not have any problems with electrical equipment brought from home.

Induction programme

Many colleges and universities run special induction programmes for international students in the week before term begins. A typical induction programme involves a tour of the institution, an overview of the facilities and help with registering for your course. Induction programmes also include social events, which are good opportunities to meet and get to know fellow students and staff.