Pre-arrival

Congratulations on being accepted at ONCAMPUS UK North, we look forward to welcoming you. Before you arrive, you will be contacted with more information about what you need to bring with you, and what will happen during Induction.

If you have any further queries please contact the ONCAMPUS UK North team: [email protected]

Pre-arrival requirements 

If you need to contact centre staff in an emergency outside of office hours please call: 07540 413 221.

• Visa information

• What to bring with you

• How to pay

• What to expect on arrival in the UK

• How to get to ONCAMPUS?

• Accommodation

• Enrolment and induction

• Term Dates

Visa information

As an international student planning to take a full-time course in the UK, it is likely you will need to apply for a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 student visa). You can read our full Visa information here https://www.oncampus.global/uk/visa-information.htm

Visa and immigration rules change frequently, so please make sure you contact your nearest British diplomatic post to get up-to-date information on the visa application process, requirements, fees and supporting documents. We can provide support and guidance if you have any questions, please contact the centre or Immigration Compliance and Advice Team on [email protected]

Applying for a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 Visa)

To apply for a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 visa) you will need a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number. We will send you this number on a ‘CAS statement’, once you fulfil the conditions on the offer of a place to study and pay your deposit/full fees. . Please note the earliest we can send you a CAS number is 3 months before before your course start date. We will also send you information for your visa application at the same time.

Once you receive your visa, please inform the Admissions Team by email [email protected] or by phone +44 1223 345 698. This information will help us to prepare for your arrival. 

Entry Clearance vignette and Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card

When your visa application is successful and your course is longer than 6 months, you will receive a 90 day entry clearance vignette in your passport. This allows you to travel to the UK. You will need to collect the actual visa - Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) once you arrive in the UK. If your course is under 6 months, the Entry Clearance vignette should cover the duration of your course in the UK. 

Where do I collect my BRP card from?

Your Decision Letter (sent to you with your passport upon a successful visa application) will include details of the place you need to go to collect your BRP card. At the visa application stage you can select whether you wish to collect your BRP card from the ONCAMPUS centre or the local Post Office branch. It is recommended you opt to have your BRP card delivered to the centre, so please enter ACL code (written on your CAS statement) on your visa application. 

Arriving late

You will need to enrol at your ONCAMPUS centre on the day your course starts. This date is in your CAS statement. If you are delayed and have to travel later, you must let the Admissions Team know. This is very important because we need to inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if you cannot arrive on time.

Withdrawing from your course

If you change your mind about joining our course or there are any circumstances that prevent you from studying with us, please inform the Admissions Team as soon as possible. 

What should I do if my student visa is refused?

If your student visa application is refused, please email our Admissions Team (admissio[email protected]) and Immigration Compliance and Advice Team ([email protected]) Please include the full copy of the refusal notice, so we can advise you on what to do next.

How to pay

We want to make paying your fees as easy as possible. They can be paid using our online payments platform: Convera® GlobalPay for Students.

Pay Now with Convera Global Payments for Students

This fast and reliable service allows you to pay in your local currency via bank transfer, Visa/Mastercard, or by using a wide range of local online payment options including WeChat Pay, UnionPay, India NetBanking and more, without incurring any transaction charges.

Klarna and bank transfer are also available for UK domestic payments through the platform.

Benefits

• Pay fees in your local currency
• Avoid fees and international foreign exchange charges from your bank
• Easy to use on smartphones and other mobile devices
• Pay online or by bank transfer
• Rest assured knowing your payments are received in full by ONCAMPUS
• Track your payment status by text and email
• Get price and payment options upfront with a price comparison too

Pay Now with Convera Global Payments for Students

If you need any further payment assistance, please call our Finance team on 01223 942 300. You can also see the video below on how to pay through Convera GlobalPay for Students.

Important: A payment reference must be provided so that the college can identify funds on safe arrival into our account. This must be the student reference number as stated on your offer document. This reference means that we can then allocate the funds against your invoice accordingly. Failure to include a reference may mean we have to contact you again to establish your proof of payment.

What to bring with you

Ensure your required documents are placed safely in your carry-on bag. 

Money 

It may take a few days to open a bank account, we recommend you bring approximately £200 to £500 in cash. We also advise you to limit the amount of cash you bring into the UK (for security reasons).

Clothing 

You should have enough warm clothing for your flight and subsequent journey. Several layers of lightweight clothes are better than a single shirt or dress. The UK rarely has extremely hot or extremely cold weather, but it can be very changeable, so you should be prepared for different types of weather. Find out more about the UK climate: www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate

What to expect on arrival in the UK

Once you arrive you will need to pass through immigration so follow the signs to Passport Control. The Immigration Officer will ask you about the purpose of your visit to the UK. It is important that you answer these questions in detail, politely and keep calm. Make sure you have all the following supporting documents in your carry-on luggage:

• Passport
• Bank statements
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter
• Original academic documents and their official translations (for any documents that are not in English)
• IELTS Certificate.
• Proof of accommodation - confirmation of accommodation letter
• Proof of financial support & any fee payments made
• TB Certificate (if applicable) Visit www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa for listed countries

Students from some countries may be asked to have a chest x-ray before collecting their luggage – you can check if you will need to do this with your local British Council.

If you experience any problems at Passport control, please contact Rachel Ladd – Student Recruitment & Support Officer on +44 (0) 7540 413 221. 

Use of eGates

If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or USA, and wish to use the eGate when entering the UK, please read the message below before arriving in the UK:

• If you are entering the UK under Short-term Study route (up to 6 months), you must obtain the correct visa stamp at the border to enrol onto your programme. Therefore, please do NOT use the eGates but instead follow the sign for ‘See an officer’ at the border to obtain the correct visa endorsement in your passport from the Immigration Authority.
• If you are entering the UK under a Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 visa) or Short-term Study route (11 months) then you may be eligible to use the eGates. However if you do use the eGates, you may be required to show relevant evidence of your first entry into the UK such as a boarding pass or travel booking confirmation to complete your Right to Study or Right to Rent checks. Therefore you are advised NOT to use the eGates in order to obtain an entry stamp in your passport upon your first entry into the UK under your new visa. Should you have any questions regarding the use of eGates, please contact our Immigration Compliance Team at visahelp@ ceg-uk.com

How to get to ONCAMPUS UK North

ONCAMPUS UK North Room 015, Kirkham Building, Bhailok Street, Preston, PR1 2XQ

Taxi

Please visit the Taxi Transfers page if you would like more information on making a taxi booking. 

Private taxi transfer price:

Bus

Stagecoach is the largest operator in Preston and staff and students benefit from excellent discounted semester-length tickets available online at www. buymyunirider.com. Stagecoach Unirider discounts apply across three travel zones providing discounted travel across Lancashire (visit www.stagecoachbus.com). Student discounts also available on season tickets from Fishwick buses ([email protected]) and Lancashire United (www.lancashireunited.co.uk). Bus routes and timetables are available at Lancashire County Council

Enrolment and induction

You will be contacted nearer the start of term with enrolment instructions, how this will happen and the appointments you will need to attend to officially enrol. It is an essential part of your induction process and after you enrol, you are officially a student of ONCAMPUS UK North. 

Documents required for enrolment are listed below:

• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter
• Passport with valid visa
• Proof of payment or sponsorship letter
• Original supporting academic documents (high school certificate, IELTS, academic transcripts)

Attendance at all classes and examinations is compulsory. We expect 100% attendance and commitment from all students. You are required to attend Monday to Friday from the first day of term until the last day, including any examination and resit weeks. If you do not maintain an attendance level of above 90%, you will have disciplinary action taken against you and in severe cases this can result in exclusion from your examination or termination of your programme of study.

Term Dates

• Term 1: 25 September 2023 - 15 December 2023
• Term 2: 08 January 2024 - 22 March 2024
• Term 3: 02 April 2024 - 09 June 2024 
• Term 4: 10 June 2024 - 09 August 2024