Oxford University Requirements For New International Students Today

OXFORD University; is a high distinguish institution with world-class learning, every world's prominent body wants his or her child to study at oxford. the university is one of the oldest universities with high standards of learning, which makes it to be ranked among the world's best universities today. 

To count the world's prominent feagues today and the institution of their learning you must count oxford as a background to many of them. as an international student oxford tries to accommodate as many representatives as possible from different countries who apply for admission into Oxford.  

The truth is to get admission into oxford university is not as easy as people who want to study there think, mostly for an international student your admission requirements may differ from those in Europe.

people around Europe have many advantages of getting admission without much stressing themselves,  unlike those international ones who came from different countries.

Oxford University accepts most of the brightest minds students from all over the world to study in oxford university every year. International students make up over a third population of those studying at oxford university every year, of which 138 countries are always represented. 

This is just a brief and more specific guideline on how to start at oxford university for European and international, Reading down you will see more orientation guides the helpful in learning about oxford terminology, and academic and social life in oxford.

• ARRIVAL
• ACCOMMODATION
• BANK AND FINANCES
• HEALTH AND INSURANCE
• PRE-SESSIONAL COURSE

Arriving in Oxford and Orientation events

To find your way from the airport to Oxford, make sure you contact your college before traveling to find out where you will need to collect your keys. You have to plan the journey first and discuss arrival times and accommodation arrangements so it will be easier for you. You should Note that most in September rial don't move in October so you need to find out another alternative

Orientation Event

Orientation events for international students take place at the same time as a home student, and the same student union freshers fair where you can talk to your advisors from the central university services. There you will receive much information from your college and department about academic and social life at oxford. Also, Alumni groups around the globe will sometimes organize fresh events, mostly in mid and late September, for new students embarking on their educational journey at the university. 

Adjusting to life in the UK

Coming to study in another country is a very big challenge, remember that this is a huge transition and it will take time to adjust to life in another culture which is not so easy. Keeping in contact with friends and family back home may help you feel better but if you find out that you are feeling too anxiety persist or depressed, advice and help are always available from your college, department, or central university service. Following the student union will help you with more information on culture shock.

Finding it difficult to adapt to the requirements of western academic culture, there is some material to guide and help you improve your English academic culture. Read pre-sessional courses in English for academic purposes offered by the language center and other courses which are available throughout the year.

Accommodation options

Undergraduate students are guaranteed college accommodation in their first year, but for graduate students, the offer of a college place does not guarantee accommodation. You can contact the graduate accommodation office to find out further information on graduate student properties if you are interested in how to apply for accommodation 

Note the UK government always requires the private landlord to perform an immigration check to ensure you have the right to be in the UK before agreeing on it. All university and college-managed accommodations are exempt from the requirement and no immigration check is required. If you are overseas looking for private accommodation this check can be done once you arrive in the UK, or it can be done online, rather than the usual 28 days before the tenancy starts.

If you are renting private accommodation, you must be aware of scams or fraudulent activity where landlords or agents will ask you to deposit large in advance. If you think it might be fraud, contact your college or the Graduate accommodation office for advice.

Finances and Opening a UK Bank Account

Managing your budget, Visit the fees and funding for advice on funding options click managing your budget. Don't forget you still have more expenses at the end when preparing to come back home.

Be Alert to any scams and potential fraud

You must be careful in your first week of staying there about any scams by email, phone, or any social media that ask you to pay money or your personal information. Fraudsters are known to take advantage of new students mostly when English is not your first language at the starting term.

A legitimate organization {UK or overseas} will always give you time to look for advice before responding, for more information about how to avoid scams. When their call you end the conversation immediately if you are not comfortable with it, or if you are asked to pay any money or personal details. End the conversation and contact your college or department or any relevant central team of the university.

For you to get to know them well contact them with the email subject title ‘potential fraud to gain their immediate attention. For visa or immigration matters contact student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk, for fees or loans contact student.funding@admin.ox.ac.uk and for any other matter do well to contact your college.

Opening a UK Account

UK banks can open accounts for European and international students, in other for you to meet up with the information needed for UK government financial rules see below. Remember that planning to bring money to the UK you must declare any cash of £10,000  or more or its equivalent in other currencies to customs officers.

The bank will make a distinction between UK students; international students with 3 years of address in the UK; and new to-UK international students. There is a different type of documentation required for each type of student, and the types of accounts you can open with the bank.

What you need before opening a UK bank account 

A contract UK mobile phone number

Pay-as-you-go sim cards can be bought with cash, but if you prefer a monthly contract, you can only pay by direct debit from a UK bank account. 

Paying your bills

For most utility companies, letting agencies for private accommodation, you are expected to set up a standing order from a UK bank account to pay your bill.

Scholarships and salary payments for part-time and vacation work

Scholarship payments can usually only be made into a UK bank account. Most employers only pay their workers by BACS transfer into a UK bank account.

The services that banks will provide

The banks vary in the services they provide;

• All banks provide a cashpoint card to allow you to obtain cash from machines 24 hours a day. A debit card can be used for shopping and paying bills, these are provided by all banks.
• Most banks will provide you with cheque book to students but you may request this; cheques are rarely used in the UK but can still be useful for making some payments.

• Contactless payment allows you to make payments in some shops and supermarkets for less than £100 without entering your PIN number.
• All bank offers online and telephone banking; you may like to discuss the security arrangement with the bank if you use the services.
• Most banks do not make a change for depositing money or making payments cheques, or direct debits but some may charge a monthly account fee.    

The things you should consider when selecting a bank 

• Whether you will require a checkbook
• How long it takes to receive a card
• What if any are for monthly charges for the account
• Overdraft facilities
• Debit and contactless cards 
• Telephone banking and internet banking
• Mobile apps and text alerts
• International transfer fees if you are planning on frequently sending or receiving money from home   

 Common terms about UK bank account 

The Government money helper website has nice information about the terminology used for a standard {current}  bank account and the service offered. It also explains what to do if you want to lay a complaint. The UKCISA website also offers a guide on how to open a bank account.  

How safe is online banking 

Yes, it is generally very safe in the UK, but save guide your password and login details and it is better to use your own personal computer and not a public computer. Many banks add additional security measures such as a password generator device that you keep at home and generate a unique password each time you use internet banking. Banking will also provide demonstrations of such facilities online for new customers.     

Internet bank accounts 

There is a reason to investigate some internet banking and that should be part of your considerations. So you must have it in mind that some app-based accounts may offer faster account setup and more cheap international fund transfers, mind you there will be limitations on times of transaction per day, and limits on the number of free ATM transactions per month. 

Online banks usually have more limited services and are regulated but not in the same way as mainstream high street banks are.    

The information you need most to open a bank account

An online account is very important because that is where you will upload your documentation. Note metro Bank does allow walk-in appointments, take note that the bank will give a distinction between UK students; and new UK international students.

Here you should understand that there are categories on the student from which you are coming from determined the type of documentation you will be presenting and also the type of bank account to be opened for each student. Most of these banks will require all the information while so may not need all the documents to open an account for the international student:

• In-date passport; All of the banks in the guide require a valid passport as part of the documentation to open a bank account.

• A valid visa Ank accepts valid student visas with more than 6 months remaining Non-U or digital visas/proof of settle/pre-settled status EU. In the past, local banks have been able to accept temporary visas/vignettes, however, with the recent legislation only BRPs and valid visas are accepted. 

• Student Enrolment certificate pdf must have your full student address and postcode, be dated within the last 4 months, and be signed and stamped by your college. Be advised the requirement from local banks for enrolment certificates will differ, and some local banks will not accept the enrolment for new UK students. 

• A bank statement from your home bank, for at least 3 months if you are living in college, and you have not lived in the UK for 3 years before your degree, banks like{ Netwest and Barclays} will require you to call your home bank in your country for an update of your address details to your UK address, and request for your statement to be sent to the same address. That is when it will be accepted as proof of address, both Natwest and Barclays will accept bespoke letters from your college on lettered paper and addressed to the bank, confirming that you live in university accommodation. the bank will accept the enrolment certificate.

• For all banks, you will need a UK mobile number to open an account online or via their app. You can buy a pay-as-you-go sim card with cash at any mobile phone store. Accounts are opened fully online at all local banks, including the scanning of your documentation.

• Banks may require student living in college or university accommodations to obtain a signed and stamped letter from their college office confirming address as owned by the college or university. Students living in private accommodation have to show utility bills.   

Local bank opening times and locations

These banks are located around Carfax  Tower in the center of oxford{ Santander, Lloyds, HSBC, and MetroBank} and NatWest, and Barclays are on Cornmarket street further down from Carfax Tower. Banks here usually have staff trained to help new students and be familiar with the documentation required to open a bank account for international students; banks outside of the city center may be less used to dealing with new students.  The banks are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday but note that some banks have a slightly later opening time in the mornings i.e. 9.30am or 10.00am. On Saturdays, they are usually open from 9.00am to 3.00pm or 4.00pm.           

How to obtain and print your student enrolment certificate 

The enrolment certificate is used as proof of your student status at some of the banks listed in the guide. Know that banks will require separate proof of address and proof of student status, and the required documentation for you may differ for banks.   Please see more guidelines below.

Remember: your enrolment certificate must have your complete student address and stamp by the college.  

Follow this guideline for your certificate

• when offer complete {academic and financial conditions} IT Services will email your single sign-on log-in details. The single sign-on system is used at oxford to access a wide range of IT services at the university by using only one login and password.

• In early September, student information will email to you asking you to complete your university student registration online. Make sure you complete it as soon as possible and is done online portal called student self-services.

• After completing  2, the college has to contact you to finalize your registration, your college will ask you to submit electronic copies of the document like your passport and visa[BRP]  if you have a visa complete other paperwork.

• Your college will then confirm on the oxford student database that you have completed the registration process and you are now enrolled in your course.

• You can now generate and download your student enrolment certificate from student self-service.

Health Insurance for International Students in the UK 

 

The National Health System [NHS] offers healthcare coverage to all legal residents, regardless of tax or insurance contributions, visa status, and nationality. So international students in the UK can benefit from the NHS in the same way as British citizens. However, registering with NHS, as an international student you have to pay a surcharge during the time you apply for a UK student visa.  Now see what you need to know as an international student about the healthcare system in the UK.

International student in the UK doesn't need to purchase a private health insurance policy, or for a visa application. you are free to get private insurance for coverage if you want to get medical treatment in a private clinic in the UK, it is not a necessity. NHS covers most things you need and is used by the majority of British citizens and residents.