Welcome to London Orientation! Come up front to pick up your packet and sign in (parents, we have packets for you, too). Have some breakfast and well get started soon! PLEASE If you havent already joined our Facebook groups do it now!! Summer 2015 Ithaca College London Center Fall 2015 Ithaca College London Center Other Orientations: Make-up London Center Orientation Monday, 3/23, 6:00-9:00 p.m., Textor 103 Visa Drop-in Q&A Session Tuesday, 3/24, 12:10-1:00, Textor 103 Health, Safety and Security Property & Health Insurance Medical Needs & Health Care in London British Laws Safety in London Safety while traveling Study abroad in 2015 Respecting Cultural Norms Culture Shock Property Insurance You may want to consider insuring the personal items you bring to London, such as laptops, digital cameras, and iPods. You can purchase property insurance from Haylor, Freyer & Coon that will cover your items while at IC and abroad On-line enrollment and policy information available at $2,000 coverage costs $65/yr, additional Health Insurance You will be covered by Ithaca Colleges international health insurance plan while in London. The cost is $ Refer to orientation packet for details. Information available at Medical Needs The London Center can assist you in getting any medical care you need while in London. You are strongly encouraged to inform OIP & the London Center of any conditions that you may have prior to your departure for London. The UnitedHealthcare Global Assistance network is also a good resource for finding health care in London and scheduling appointments. Have a physical exam and a dental check-up before you leave for London Bring along an adequate supply of any prescription medication you take (UHG can help with this) Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses British Law The possession, use, purchase, distribution or sale of illegal drugs is prohibited. Possession or use of mace or pepper spray is illegal - do not bring these to London The U.S. Embassy in London will not intervene with the British government on behalf of U.S. students arrested for drugs or other serious infractions. You are permitted to drink alcohol at age 18 in the U.K. Be moderate! Drinking to excess will make you more vulnerable to crime. Safety in London Be careful crossing the street! Traffic moves in the opposite direction in the U.K. Be aware of pickpockets. Keep valuables in the safe at the London Center Carry passport only when needed Always be certain to lock the doors/windows of your flat. It is advisable to travel in pairs or small groups, especially for women and especially at night. Dress and behavior: Be aware that your dress and behavior may be communicating a different message than you intend to convey when viewed from another cultures norms. Safety while traveling Keep London Center staff informed of your travel plans. Alert London Center if plans change while traveling. Always carry your passport, credit cards, traveler's checks and extra cash in a money belt or pouch while traveling Never keep valuables in a backpack or back pocket. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not be an oblivious tourist (or an obvious tourist), especially while sightseeing and taking photographs. Try not to stand out as a group or an individual Standing out as an American can make you a target. Certain types of clothing will identify you as an American, even from a distance. Study abroad in 2015 OIP and the London Center keep in contact with the U.S. Dept. of State, U.S. Embassy in London, and other U.S. study abroad programs in London to keep informed of current security information. Maintain high level of awareness of your surroundings and what is happening around you Keep a low profile/try not to stand out Take time to learn about current events Europeans tend to be very knowledgeable about current events, and will want to discuss with you the role of the U.S. in world events. You may feel that you are held responsible for U.S. policy/actions. It is helpful to have a good understanding of current events so that you can express and defend your position on the issues. Respecting Cultural Norms Expectations and standards of behavior are not always the same in other countries You are the foreigner, and the burden of respecting and adapting to such behavioral and cultural differences will be your responsibility. Be sensitive and observant of the people around you, and follow local customs concerning respect, etiquette, and behavior. Culture Shock Four stages: Honeymoon period Frustration/Judgment Adjustment Repeat! Dealing with Culture shock: Remember its a natural reaction - everyone goes through some degree of culture shock, regardless of how similar or different the new culture is from what you are used to. Dont feel like you have to understand everything, right away. Give yourself time to adjust Try to meet local people Learn about the host country before you leave Use resources the London Center offers you. 15 minute break! Cost Comparison Budgeting for London (Summer) Costs in London Summer Tuition: $7,116 Summer Rent: $2,750 Group travel: $1059 Student visa: $500 Personal expenses (inc. food): $800-$1,200 Total Basic Cost: $12,225-$12,625 Semester at Ithaca Costs at IC: Tuition: $20,329 Meal Plan: $1,354-$3,351 On-campus housing: $3,389-$5,781 Books: $ Personal: $ (Insurance: $577.50) Total Basic Cost: $26,805-$31,771.50 Budgeting for London - Fall Costs in London Tuition: $20,329 Rent: $2,477-$5,504 Food: $1,500-$3,000 Books: $0-$150 Personal: $2,000 Travel & Hotel: $1,920 Student visa(if needed): ~$500 Health Insurance: $578 + $161 Total Basic Cost: $28,387 - $34,142 Exchange Rates As of March 20, 2015: 1.00 = $1.48 Remember: rates fluctuate! For updated rates, go to: Budgeting in London Make a budget before you leave, including entertainment and travel. Find a flat with a group that has a similar budget. Try to eat most of your meals at your flat, and bring your lunch. Restaurants in London are often quite expensive! Look for free things to do and student discounts. Plan your travels early, and make sure they fit into your budget. Remember that pubbing, clubbing, and drinking are very expensive in London! Take some time to figure out what is most important to you (travel, shopping, theater, clubbing, entertainment, etc.), and plan accordingly. Bringing Money to London Financial Aid All aid is applicable to the cost of the Fall London Center program This includes Ithaca College scholarships/grants, federal aid, and NYS aid. Typically summer students are not receiving aid The office of Student Financial Services will be supplied with a list of all ICLC participants Consult with SFS if you need to access some of your excess aid before leaving for London Scholarships/grants Two scholarships available for the fall Fred Camden London Assistance Grant (2-3 awards of ~$500-$1000 each) Studin Sisters London Center Scholarship one award, ($500) Two scholarships available for the summer Studin Sisters London Center Scholarship one award, $500 David A. & Peggy R. Williams International Study grant one award, $1000. You will be contacted soon by someone in Development with information about applying. Working in London Work-Study (fall only) If you currently have work-study as part of your financial package at IC, you are eligible to do work-study in London if you apply for and receive a student visa. Cannot guarantee certain number of hoursvery limited work-study funding is available for the next year. Part-time work outside of ICLC If you apply for and receive a student visa, you can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week). The money earned may equal less than the cost of the visa. If you would like to work, but you missed internship/immigration orientation contact the ICLC Student visas Do you need a visa? The answer is yes if You will do an internship in London You want to work part-time (including work study) while in London You want to do the Community Service Project, or any other volunteer work. You will be in London more than 6 months You are a visa national (your country of citizenship is something other than the US or a country in the European Union, in general) More info will be reviewed at end of session for those who need/want it. Documents you will need for visa Passport (with sufficient validity i.e.: six months after your date of return to the U.S. Two photos (official passport-type photos) Financial documentation to prove you have access to approximately $6,120 (4,080) for living expenses. Letter from parent stating they will support you Official bank statement (in your name or parents name) Must be a letter on bank letterhead, or an original copy of a bank statement (not printed by you) that is signed and stamped by a bank official on each page. Letterhead should be full color (not black & white). If you receive financial aid that can be used for living expenses, this will be reflected on your CAS (Certificate of Acceptance for Study), issued by the London Center and can be deducted from the total amount of funds needed. Birth certificate (if using parental bank account) Biometrics confirmation page Copy of online application, with your signature CAS number from London (to be provided shortly) Steps to acquiring a Tier 4 Visa 1.Arrange to hold appropriate funds for 28 days if those funds are not already being held 2.Collect the information you will need: passport, passport number, parents dates of birth, your birth certificate, bank details and documentation, letter from parent(s) stating they will support you, 2 photos, etc. 3.Online application - go tofollow the ICLC template, pay with credit/debit card, book a biometrics appointment, print your application & sign it.www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk 4.Go to biometrics appointment, then immediately afterwards, mail all required documentation by secure delivery to the NYC British Consulate. Registering for Classes Summer: You will register yourself using HomerConnect toward the beginning of May (well tell you when to register). Fall: Registration will occur towards the very end of the semester, or perhaps during the summer. Youll receive further information once the schedule has been finalized. Dont register nowcourses dont have times/days assigned to them! Course registration OIP can usually help you with pre- requisite/capacity overrides if needed. Additional fees apply to ticket classes. These are charged to your student account when you register. Interrelationships $200 London Theatre Immersion $175 DLT $150 Shakespeare $75 British Pop $75 Music in London $75 SPUK $75 Packing Be sure you can manage to transport all of the luggage you bring, all at the same time!! Be careful taking any aerosols, liquids or gels in your carry on. You may only bring containers that are 3 oz. or less, and these must all fit in one quart-size, ziploc plastic bag that can be scanned separately from your carry-on. Large backpacks, suitcases with wheels and retractable handles are easiest to carry. Think about your plans while packing: will you be travelling, going to clubs, doing an internship? This may influence what you need to bring. Electrical voltage is 220v in Europe, as opposed to 110v in the US. Electrical plugs are shaped differently in the UK, and in the rest of Europe. Purchase electrical items there or bring a converter and/or an adapter. Bring enough prescription and over-the-counter medication to last the entire time you will be abroad. Summer Group Flight Arranged by Frosch Student Travel: Participation in the group flight is optional. You may make your own travel plans, if you prefer. Round-trip Newark Stockholm London on Scandinavian Air: $1049 Complete online preference form by Tuesday, March 24, 4:00 p.m. Fall Group Flight & Hotel Arrangements Group travel arranged by Frosch Student Travel: Participation in the group travel arrangements is optional. You may make your own travel plans, if you prefer. Flight only: $1,379 (w/ transfer from airport) Hotel only: $550 (estimate; no transfer) Flight & Hotel package: $1,929 (w/transfer to hotel) Frosch can arrange connecting flights at student discount rates from all over the country. Complete online form by Monday, March 30 to sign up for group travel. Completing form commits you to purchasing the travel arrangements you indicate on the form. Passports If you do not yet have a passport, is essential that you apply for one immediately. If you have one, and it expires before January 6, 2016 (summer) or June 12, 2016 (fall), you must renew it. Passport processing can take up to 10 weeks. Summer students who do not yet have a passport MUST expedite the passport processing. This costs an additional $60 + overnight delivery of the application and passport. You will need to bring with you: 2 passport pictures Original birth certificate (or old passport if renewing) Drivers license $135 in fees ($110 application fee, $25 processing fee) Arrival in London You must have the following documents on you when going through passport control at the London airport: Passport open to visa page Acceptance letter (included in packet) Proof of finances documentation (see handout) IF NOT GETTING VISA: Passport Proof of finances documentation (see handout) Acceptance Letter (included in packet) Letter from London Center (to be provided later) This applies anytime you enter the UK, not just your first arrival! Travel Semester overnight excursions have included locations such as Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon, Liverpool and Edinburgh. Summer day trips to places such as Windsor, Brighton, and Cambridge. 10-day fall break, long weekends during summer & fall ISIC card may help you get discounts all over Europe Eurail passes should be purchased in US *Lets Go or Rough Guide Books *Start thinking about where you want to go early in the semester. Do some research to learn about your intended destination(s). *There are many places you can travel to over the weekend, but dont forget to spend time in London, too! Flats Summer students: YOU CAN LEAVE NOW, unless you need more visa information. Fall students: The first week in London is dedicated to orientation & flat hunting. First 5 nights are spent in hotel. Housing Options Traditional flat hunt (find housing during first week in London, w/ help of ICLC) Pre-arranged housing (more specifics will be provided very soon) Residence hall Flats Homestays Flat-finding Tips Normal cost range: 90 - 200 per person, per week ($144-$320 per person, per week / $620-$1376 per person, per month / $2480-$5504 for the semester) Find a place that is clean, safe, and liveable for one semesteryoull only be there 4 months! Area around London Center is very expensive. Living a bit further from the Center will save you money. Larger groups can be less expensive. You will likely share bedroom with at least one other person. Flats are smaller in London. Students who make the most of their time in London dont spend a lot of time in their flats! Have a great time in London!