Erasmus Mundus Funding Category A deadline: 17 December 2010

Erasmus Mundus Funding Category B deadline: 29 April 2011

IMESS Bursary deadline: 29 April 2011

Non-scholarship deadline: 29 April 2011

Visiting Scholars deadline: 31 January 2011

 

 

 

IMESS Student Handbook

Living in London

Cost of Living

IMESS students should be aware that they will need to budget for the costs of accommodation, food, books, travel, mobile phones, and other leisure expenses associated with studying in London. Estimates may vary considerably since the lifestyles and circumstances of individual students also differ greatly, and the estimate given below should only be used as a rough guide. Some students may find that they can live within this allowance fairly easily, whereas others may find it insufficient to meet their expectations. Living expenses are greatly affected by choice of accomodation, with UCL halls of residences ranging in the price of £65.00-£110.00 (twin rooms), £80.00-£14.00 (single rooms), approx. £165.00 (1 bed flat), depending on location and catering arrangements.

For a single graduate student studying for a calendar year (12 months), UCL gives an estimated average living cost of £9,000 (approx €11,340). International students should also be aware that there may be initial expenses on arrival for clothing, books and deposits which could total another £800 (approx €1,000).

The British Council website offers lots of information on living costs in the UK and an extremely useful section on planning a budget. Go to and click on the ‘study in the UK’ link on the left hand side, then the ‘Living in the UK’ link along the top of the page, for more specific information.

For converting prices into Euros (€) or your home currency click here.

Working and Studying

You will probably be allowed to work whilst you are in the UK as a student, although there are rules about the number of hours you can work and the type of work you can take. However, not all students are allowed to work. You should also note that, under the UK Immigration Rules for the Student immigration category, you must be able to show that you have enough money to pay for your studies and living expenses, and support any family who have come to the UK with you, without working.

First check the Visa or Entry Clearance sticker or immigration stamp or UK Residence Permit in your passport. The wording of this will tell you what conditions apply to your stay, including whether or not you can work.

 If your passport says:

‘No work or recourse to public funds’ or ‘No recourse to public funds. Work prohibited’

This is called a prohibition on working, and you are not allowed to do any work, paid or unpaid.

If your passport says:

‘No recourse to public funds. Work and any changes must be authorised’

You can work.

This is the usual wording for students and is called a ‘restriction’. It means that you are allowed to work within certain conditions.

If you have a work restriction and not a prohibition:

• you can work for up to 20 hours a week during term-time

• you can work any number of hours during vacations.

However, you must not:

• engage in business, be self-employed, or provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer

• pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy.

For a detailed description please see the following page from UKCOSA, The Council for International Education, here.

Further financial support

Aside from working, we recognise that circumstances change and that you may need to investigate other sources of funding (aside from your existing provision). These may include the following:

Hardship Funds

The Student Hardship Funds are available to help students in need of financial assistance with maintenance costs to enable them to continue their studies at UCL. The awards are authorised by the Deputy Dean of Students on behalf of the Council. To be eligible for the Hardship funds:

• Applicants must be registered students of UCL on a programme of study leading to a degree or diploma and have attended for not less than one term.
• Applicants may be students in any Faculty.

 All applicants are required to show that:

• They had made adequate provision for the expenses of their courses of study before entering UCL.
• Their financial means have subsequently become inadequate for reasons which could not have been foreseen by them, for example, as a result of the death or illness of a sponsor, war or civil commotion.
• They cannot sufficiently meet their needs from other sources accessible to them.

Please note: a student may only make one application to the Funds unless the reasons for subsequent applications are significantly different from those made previously.

Details and application form can be downloaded here:

Old Students Association Trust Scholarships

Scholarships, to be known as OSA Trust Scholarships of between £500 and £1,500 each may be awarded in each session from the funds of the Old Students' Association Trust.

The Scholarships may be awarded to Home and Overseas undergraduate and graduate students. Academic excellence and financial hardship will be the main criteria. Awards will not normally be made to undergraduates or research students in the first year of their programme.

Application forms and details of the application/notification process can be found here.

Travel in London

The Transport for London website has the most comprehensive and up to date information on travel in London. Including a journey planner (for bus, train, tram, cycle and walking), ticket prices and service information, it is the best online source for London travel. The most efficient and cost-effective way to travel in London is with an Oyster Card (see below for further details). Please note that the Oyster Card is only valid for certain rail routes and stations. Always check before travelling by rail to avoid a fine: 08457 484950.

The TfL Oyster Card

With effect from September 2006 you will be able to apply online for a Transport for London Student Oyster Photocard. You may use the online application process for both your first application and any subsequent applications, including replacements for lost/stolen photocards. The process will allow you to:

• apply for your student photocard
• pay for your student photocard
• upload the photograph which will appear on your Oystercard

Please note: In order to apply online for your photocard you will need to have enrolled with UCL for the academic session 2008-9. Please DO NOT apply online until you are sure you have enrolled for your programme and either paid your fees, or provided satisfactory evidence of sponsorship, as your Oyster photocard application will be rejected and your application fee will not be refunded.

Please ensure that you read the eligibility criteria before you apply as the application fee itself is non-refundable.

To apply online you will need to provide:

• your credit/debit card number and expiry date
• a digital photograph of yourself saved as a jpeg file
• your UCL student number (shown as PRN or SN on your UCL ID card)

Once you have successfully completed your online application, Transport for London will check your eligibility for the photocard scheme directly with UCL. If you are eligible, you will then be sent your Student Oyster photocard and an information leaflet. TfL will make every effort to process your application within seven working days of receipt. Please allow up to an additional five working days for postal delivery.

To apply online click here.

Taxis

‘Public hire’ taxis or ‘cabs’ are taxis that are licensed to pick up passengers without a prior booking. In London, these are the familiar black cabs. If you need a cab, you can signal to any that are passing and ask them to stop (if the ‘taxi’ light on the roof is not lit, they will not stop because they already have a passenger). Although very convenient, public hire taxis can be extremely expensive, especially in London. ‘Private hire’ taxis, or ‘minicabs’ are car services that must usually be booked by prior arrangement (usually by phoning an office), and in some areas will collect from designated points (e.g. train station taxi rank). The cars often do not have a ‘taxi’ sign, although many will have a company name on their windscreen. Generally they are cheaper than public hire taxis, although not as convenient. Be particularly careful if you are approached by a ‘minicab’ driver that you have not booked in advance. Some minicab companies are unlicensed and may be operating illegally. Using an illegally operating minicab firm may be unsafe and expensive. You should never pick up a minicab in the street. Only black taxis are allowed to pick up passengers in this way, so any minicab touting for business is illegal and potentially dangerous. If you are out at night and do not have a lift home, text the word HOME to the number 60835 to get details of nearby licensed minicab and taxi firms, wherever you are in London. But if you do know what time you are going home, pre-book a car through a licensed mini-cab office. Licensed minicabs have an official yellow sticker in the front and rear windscreens. Any vehicle without one is illegal. Once your car arrives, you should check you are getting into the right one by making sure the driver knows what name it was booked under. If you can, share a car with a friend and never give any personal details to the driver. You should also sit in the back of the vehicle with your mobile phone switched on.

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