Nationals of the following countries are usually required to register with the police:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, PR China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea (North), Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

• National Insurance Number
Everyone who works in the UK must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions. Once the student has started working, they must apply for a NI number at their local Job Centre Plus office, providing evidence of their identity.

• CV Help
If you would like some help with putting together a CV then please ask at reception where we can provide you with CV layouts and further information.

• Your Health
For international students, climate change and unfamiliar food can all have an impact on your health.

Please bear in mind that the weather in the UK is very temperamental. British weather can be pleasant from April until the end of September. However, rain is never far away so carrying an umbrella at all times is a must! The coldest months are December, January and February where the temperature can fall to below freezing. Therefore a warm coat, scarf and gloves during these months are essential.

In terms of the unfamiliar food you will experience as an international student, we advise our students to follow a healthy diet. This can be done by trying to have a balanced meal at each meal time. A balanced meal includes at least one carbohydrate for example bread, rice, pasta or cereal, one dairy/fat food for example milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter or margarine and one portion of fruit or vegetables. It must also include one protein food group for example meat, fish, eggs or pulses.

• Work Experience
Students may work part time during term time (dependant on course) and full time during holidays.

• Students following a course of degree level study or a foundation degree may work for 20 hours per week in term time.

• Students following a course of study below degree level (excluding a foundation degree course) may work for 10 hours per week.

Please note that the hours a student may work as specified above cannot and MUST NOT be exceeded. The Home Office are taking strict measures against those students that do not follow these rules.

• Opening a bank account

In order to open a bank account you'll usually be asked to:

• prove who you are
• prove where you live
• prove student status by providing a letter from Essex College
• fill in an application form

It may take one to two weeks to open a UK bank account. International students may open a bank account for a fee from £5 per month in major UK banks such as HSBC, Natwest, Barclays, Lloyds TSB or Halifax Bank.

• Accommodation
The college can arrange, on request, accommodation for its students. Initially, the college can reserve accommodation with a host family within reasonable travelling distance. The weekly rent for this type of accommodation may range from £95 to £105 per week. The majority of our students reserve accommodation for an initial period of four weeks. After the initial period they may extend the contract beyond the initially reserved period or look for an alternative, usually cheaper accommodation. For accommodation to be arranged by the college, students must inform the college at least four weeks before accommodation is required. There is a charge of £420.00 which is one month’s rent deposit, followed by rent payable on a weekly basis.

• Exemption From Council Tax
Council Tax is charged by local authorities to homeowners/tenants to help pay for the services they provide such as emergency services, rubbish collection and street cleaning. Full time college students are exempt from paying council tax. Please ask at reception for a letter to state your student status, you can then send this to your local council to be exempt from council tax.

• In and Around Essex College
Essex College is located in a multicultural area therefore there are lots of restaurants, cafés and local grocery stores that cater for all different religions and dietary practices including Halal meat. The popular supermarket, Sainsbury’s is also nearby.

• Information About TFL and Oyster Information
Students that are aged 18 and over are eligible for a Student Oyster photocard. This enables students to save 30% on their travel. However this is only valid on Adult Travelcards and Bus and Tram passes valid for seven days, one month or one year.

In order to apply online for your photocard, you will need to have enrolled with Essex College. Please do not apply online until you have enrolled and paid your fees. Your application for a Student Oyster photocard will be rejected and your application fee will not be refunded.

Please note you cannot apply between 1st and 31st August.

To apply online you will need the following:

• A colour passport-size photo
• Your enrolment ID from Essex College
• A credit or debit card to pay the £10 fee or a cheque via post made payable to ‘Transport Trading Limited’.

If you would prefer to make a postal application then please ask reception for a Student Oyster Application form.
When completing the form you must follow the instructions on the front page.

Once you have successfully completed your application, Transport for London will check your eligibility for the photocard scheme with Essex College. If you are eligible, your Student Oyster photocard will be sent to the address you provided. TFL recommends that students allow up to two weeks for them to process your application once your student status has been authorised by Essex College. To do order a Student Oyster card, please copy this link into your browser: https://photocard.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gotoApply.do?type=student&from=home

You can check the status of you application by calling 0845 331 8972.

• National Health Service
For students registered on courses of at least 6 months are entitled to free health care from the National Health Service (NHS) and can register with a General Practitioner (GP) in your local area.

Under the NHS, there is no charge to see a GP but there is a small prescription charge (£7.20) if you are over 19 and need any medicine. You may be entitled to help with the cost on the grounds that you have a low income. To apply for help with health costs, complete application form HC1, available from your local NHS hospital.

• Registering with a Doctor
If you are entitled to free NHS treatment you should register with a GP as soon as possible. Student Services can help you locate a doctor in your area.

To register, visit the GP's receptionist during opening times and ask to be added to the list of NHS patients. Bring your passport and a letter from Essex College confirming that you are a full-time student. If the doctor has too many patients s/he may not be able to accept you, in which case you will need to try another doctor. Once you are registered you will be sent a medical card with your NHS number on it. Please note: it is difficult to get eye and dental care on the NHS, so you may have to pay for private treatment.

• Emergencies
In an emergency/accident, dial 999. You will be asked if you want the fire, police or ambulance service. You need to give your name, the address of your current location and describe the emergency.

• VISA Extension
• When should I apply for an extension?
Send your application approximately four weeks before your current visa is due to expire.

• Where can I get a visa extension application form?
You can download the Tier 4 application form from the homepage on our website www.essexcollege.co.uk

• How do I complete my form?
You can download the Tier 4 application guidance and photo guidance on www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or please bring the form with you into college where any member of staff will be happy to help.

• What documents do I need to send?
The immigration regulations are based on a Points System and you will need to gather sufficient amount of points for your visa extension application to be successful. Tier 4 guidance notes explain what documents you will need to provide.

• What if I cannot send a document or do not have an original document?
If you cannot send a document or only have a copy then you must write a letter with your application explaining why and when you will be able to send it. Home Office could still reject your application if the required documents are not enclosed with the application form.

• Should I go in person to the Home Office or should I send my application?
If you go in person your application may be processed on the same day. However, in complex cases, the Home Office decides might ask you to return for an appointment in a few days, or even weeks. If you post your application, keep a copy of all the documents (including your passport) and send it by recorded post. All applications require payment of £357.00 for postal applications and £565.00 for applications made in person. Payments should not be made in cash.

• Can I continue working whilst my application is being decided?
If your existing visa allows you to work, you can continue to do so until your case is decided.

• Can I check on the progress of my application?
Unless your circumstances have changed, there is no need to contact the Home Office. It is advised that you do not make any travel plans until you receive your passport/travel documents, as if you ask the Home Office to return your passport before your application is decided, the application will be considered withdrawn.

If you urgently need your passport/travel documents back during the decision process call +44 (0) 870 0606 7766.

• Friendly staff
Our friendly and approachable staff are happy to offer assistance and advice for any problem or query any of our students may face. All our staff are willing to help with both academic and non-academic issues to the best of their ability. As the vast majority of our students are International, our staff are experienced in helping those students that need help ‘settling in’ once they have arrived to the UK. We understand that migrating to a different country can be very daunting for some individuals so please don’t suffer in silence! Feel free to come to our staff with anything that may be troubling you. They are there to help. In addition, our staff speak a number of languages including English, Romanian, Hungarian, Hindi, Urdu, Sinhalese, Tamil and Nepalese.