{"id":601,"date":"2024-06-20T12:28:55","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T11:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/?p=601"},"modified":"2024-06-20T12:28:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T11:28:55","slug":"the-ultimate-international-student-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/2024\/06\/20\/the-ultimate-international-student-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"The ultimate international student checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

MSC marketing student Sanjna shares her top tips for international students moving to Bath...<\/p>\n

So, the university has offered you a place. Your flight confirmation sits proud in your inbox. And your mum\u2019s haggling with you over the number of plates you need to pack. There\u2019s still a couple of months to go, and you\u2019re not quite sure what you\u2019re meant to do with them.<\/p>\n

Worry not \u2013 we\u2019ve all been there. As a self-declared neurotic planner, here\u2019s my guide to everything you need to do in preparation for moving to the UK.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before you leave<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Check the checklist<\/em><\/p>\n

The first item on my checklist is, yep \u2013 going through another checklist. The university\u2019s Welcome Checklist<\/a> helps you cover a lot of ground with your preparation and is a great place to start.<\/p>\n

Out with the old<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got an older phone or laptop, trade in for newer models to avoid issues later. Most students choose to get a UK SIM, and I got mine for free during my visa appointment (so keep a look out for that).<\/p>\n

Comb over the curriculum<\/em><\/p>\n

The curriculum for each course changes slightly every year, so it\u2019s best to stay updated. This way, you can also prepare questions for your first meeting with the Director of Studies.<\/p>\n

Scour for scholarships<\/em><\/p>\n

Bath offers a range of scholarships for different courses, but there are also many grants and scholarships offered through the UK government and NGO initiatives. Check British Council<\/a>, The Alternative Guide for Postgraduate Funding<\/a> (Bath will provide login information), and incentives offered by your own government. Apply as soon as possible \u2013 many close applications early!<\/p>\n

Organise the chaos<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find a lot of packing guides for university online, but it\u2019s best to create a customized one for yourself. Check what your accommodation includes and avoid overpacking. During Moving-In Week, the university hosts a sustainability sale where items left behind by previous tenants are sold for a bargain \u2013 don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n

Secure your shots<\/em><\/p>\n

You may need some vaccinations before going to the UK, and the university lists them all here<\/a>. Some of them may be multiple doses, so it\u2019s good to get a head start.<\/p>\n

Workshop wonder<\/em><\/p>\n

Bath hosts a range of lovely workshops to help you transition to university life. Don\u2019t miss out \u2013 I got a lot of great tips and advice from them.<\/p>\n

Jumping into the job scene<\/em><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a lot of work experience before starting university, you\u2019ll probably be looking at applying to graduate programs in the UK. However, most have deadlines in October or November, and so it\u2019s good to have an updated CV on hand when you meet your career advisor.<\/p>\n

Catch the coach<\/em><\/p>\n

The university has already released its booking link for the free Heathrow Coach Service<\/a>. Make sure to book your place quickly \u2013 seats are limited!<\/p>\n

Take your time off<\/em><\/p>\n

Celebrate your time at home. I took a trip with my family so that we could relax and spend some time together before I had to leave \u2013 and I\u2019m so glad I did! You\u2019ll miss home sooner than you think.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pictures from my trip to Kashmir, India<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After you arrive<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Money matters<\/em><\/p>\n

When I first arrived, I had a Forex card (highly recommended!) and some cash to bide my expenses before I could open a bank account. While I did overthink this, I advise you don\u2019t \u2013 just pick a bank with 0 fees and little to no international transfer charges.<\/p>\n

Register with the NHS<\/em><\/p>\n

You are required to register with the NHS<\/a> within the first few weeks of arrival. If you happen to live in the city, register with a practice close to you \u2013 the University Medical Centre may not be very convenient if you don\u2019t live on or close to campus.<\/p>\n

Apply for the NIN<\/em><\/p>\n

BRPs are being digitized, and you\u2019ll probably have your NIN (National Insurance Number) recorded on it. But if you don\u2019t \u2013 make sure to apply for it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get a Discovery Card<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a full-time student living in Bath for at least one year, you\u2019re eligible to apply for a Discovery Card<\/a> that gives you loads of discounts and free access to Bath\u2019s best spots!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/em><\/p>\n

On the left: The Roman Baths, On the right: The Bath Abbey; both freely accessible with the Resident\u2019s Discovery Card<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get out and about<\/em><\/p>\n

Explore a little bit of the city every day. Get into town with your flat mates, it\u2019s a great bonding exercise! Go to the international student group<\/a> meets. You\u2019ll soon be busy with your first semester and won\u2019t have too much time on your hands.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/em><\/p>\n

From left to right: The Raven \u2013 one of Bath\u2019s oldest pubs, the inside of Scoop Wholefoods on Roseberry Road, a walk down Widcombe Hill from campus, a shop in the Guildhall Market, my friend holding up a pumpkin we carved at the International Student Group Halloween Event (you can see that we make up for lack of skill with our unfettered positive attitude)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Above all \u2013 know that you don\u2019t have to have it all figured out. The university is mindful of your journey as an international student and has many resources (and endless patience!) to help you navigate it. All you have to do is reach out!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MSC marketing student Sanjna shares her top tips for international students moving to Bath... So, the university has offered you a place. Your flight confirmation sits proud in your inbox. And your mum\u2019s haggling with you over the number of...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1076,"featured_media":605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/144\/2024\/06\/Blog-posts-headers-1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pd4PsN-9H","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1076"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/be-well\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}