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The period you spend in study abroad will be one of the most exciting and inspiring times of your life. Coming to another country to live and study is an enterprise full of challenges, and without the right support these challenges can overwhelm you. You will have to learn to find your way about, make new friends, and adapt yourself to new customs and different ways of doing things. All this can seem daunting, especially before you come here, when you hardly know what to expect, and in the period immediately after your arrival, when you have so much that is unfamiliar to get used to.

This is why we make every effort to ensure that the transition from your life at home to your life at the University is as smooth as possible. We give you all the practical information you need before you leave, and we will be there when you arrive to welcome you and take you to your accommodation. We provide a comprehensive orientation programme and ongoing support throughout the year, to help you settle into your new home and make the most of the opportunities available to you. We want you to feel that our University is your home, because every single student is a valued addition to our University, and it is by helping you achieve your full potential that we measure our success.

You will find on this page a brief introduction to some of the principal services and facilities we provide to help you make Birmingham City University and Birmingham your home.

The International Advice Service

The International Advice Service (IAS) consists of a team of advisors who offer a wide range of services for both new and continuing students. We can assist with immigration and visas, funding, finance, employment, and other practical matters relating to your stay in the UK. We provide access to a wide range of social activities with your fellow students and organise excursions throughout the UK. We are also there to give advice and support, and to help you when you have any problems.

The IAS runs the following services, further details of which can be found on the website:

• A Meet & Greet service free to ALL new international students. You can be met at Birmingham International Airport and taken to your University accommodation;
• An Orientation Programme for ALL new international students;
• Xplore - a programme of social and cultural events that take place throughout the year in and around Birmingham and across the rest of the UK.

Pre-arrival information

Once we have confirmed your place on a course at the University, we will keep in touch with you to ensure that you have all the information and help you need in the months leading up to your arrival in Birmingham and enrolment at the University.

The IAS has produced a Pre-arrival information booklet for all new students, which tells you all about what you need to do before you leave home, what to bring with you, how to get to Birmingham, and what to expect when you arrive. The booklet includes a list of useful contact names and details, and a checklist of things to do before you leave. A PDF version of this booklet can be obtained here.

If you have any queries arising from the matters covered in this document, please contact the IAS.

Orientation Programme

Before you start your studies at the University, you will be invited to attend our special Orientation Programme for International Students. The Orientation Programme, which is free of charge, is very important as it will provide the background knowledge you need to help you have a successful and happy experience with us here at the University. The programme aims, firstly, to give you an introduction to Britain, Birmingham and the University, and secondly, to help you adjust to the way of life in the United Kingdom and to studying at the University.

By the end of your programme, you will:

• be familiar with your surroundings in Birmingham and at the University;
• have completed all enrolment and registration procedures;
• understand the structures and working of your Faculty and its support systems;
• be aware of the demands of your course, including study and learning skills;
• know the academic and administrative staff with whom you will be closely involved;
• have met and made friends with other new and current International Students;
• be ready to start classes at the same time as British students;
• have consolidated and improved your English Language skills;
• have visited local places of interest;
• have had a chance to sample some of the many attractions Birmingham has to offer.

In addition, of course, we very much hope that you will find the Orientation Programme an enjoyable beginning to your period of study at the University.

If you want to find out more, click here.

Accommodation for international students

If you are coming to Birmingham to study, one of your main concerns will be where you are going to live. Birmingham is a large and cosmopolitan city which offers a wide range of accommodation. The University's Accommodation Services office provides plenty of help and advice about the different types of accommodation available and these include the University's Halls of Residence, University-managed houses, and private lodgings.

All International Students are guaranteed a place in self-catering, single study bedrooms in University accommodation close to their place of study for the full duration of their course, subject to application before the start of the academic year.

Most University-owned accommodation is self-catering, so students have to provide their own meals. However, Hamstead Campus has 150 rooms in Hamstead Hall which provides breakfast and evening meals on term-time weekdays. Further information and details of accommodation charges can be obtained from the Accommodation Services web page.

The International Students' Society

An Introduction from the Union of Students.

Making friends and meeting people from all over the world is what the International Students' Society (ISSoc) is all about. The British are notoriously shy when it comes to showing International Students the wonderful things their country has to offer, so the International Students' Society works hard to make sure you get the best out of your British experience.

We have an exciting programme of trips all over the United Kingdom, organise social nights with British and international themes, help students get involved with the activities offered by the Union of Students, and even more importantly we make sure that you never feel alone.

We are based in the Union of Students at the City North campus, but if you are studying on another campus it's OK because we will ensure regular contact with you through newsletters, meetings and nights out.