Hi There, Can I Know What Is Needed To Open... Hi There! I'll Give You A Bit More Info In... Question

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QUESTION ANSWER jyburger: Hi there, can I know what is needed to open a bank account there? :) * International Student Support - Tim: Hi there! I'll give you a bit more info in a moment jy but the main thing to know is that during our orientation Week there will be talks every day about how to open a bank account. Orientation Week is from 14 to 18 September. * International Student Support - Tim: No there will still be time to open your account and pay your fees, don't worry. There's some general information about opening accounts on our page here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/living/money/bank-account Amna: hi. Can u please tell me how long does it take to open a bank account? And what about getting sim cards and getting packages on them? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Amna! It can take from a few days to week to get your account fully opened but it is not too difficult a process. For SIM cards, the best thing are to wait till you get here and all the main stores in Sheffield will be able to give you good advice about the various options. Again, this won't take too long to set up :) jyburger: alright thanks Tim ! Will it be too late to open an account after that? because I’m afraid that the process might take some time and I don’t when are we required to pay our fees * Jessica Bream: Hi Jy, find out here more about fee payment deadlines: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/registration/tuitionfees It won't be too late to sign up for a bank account after Orientation week, but I recommend you make it one of your first priorities International Student Support - Olivia: Hi everyone, while my colleague Tim is answering the question about bank accounts, I'll just quickly introduce us! * International Student Support - Olivia: We work in International Student Support and will be organising Orientation Week and the Meet and Greet service, and are happy to answer any questions about these or anything else to do with arriving and settling into life in the UK :) timothy: hi, I have booked the meet and greet service, may I know what is the next step? I have also ordered a giffgaff simcard, who should I contact when I get a UK phone number? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Timothy! You should receive a confirmation email from the online store now you've booked (if you don't receive one, let us know on [email protected]) When our Meet and Greet coordinator starts work in August, you will then receive another email from them confirming the flight details you provided (just to double check they're accurate!) and the date/time that our assistants will be waiting for you at the airport. So there is nothing more you need to do for Meet and Greet at the moment except wait for the second email. In terms of the simcard, what would you be wanting to contact someone about? Let me know and I'll answer that part of your question. :) Leah Burke: hello, are apple/Macintosh computers compatible with what most professors provide? Or are windows/pc systems a better option? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Leah, there's no problem with apple macs, they will be fully compatible - just bring whichever you prefer! dvzfb: Will I be able to open the account if I skip the orientation but come for the intro week * Jessica Bream: Hi DVZFB, you will be able to open a bank account after Orientation week, so don't worry. You can get advice from our Student Services Information Desk in the Students' Union on what to do when you arrive. Jenna Studtmann: Does bus schedule change buses during winter break to Manchester airport from Sheffield?Are there buses around Sheffield and the University of Sheffield? How does the mailing system work at the University of Sheffield? Mailroom? Are there carts available to transport big packages? There is a sponsor section of tier 4 general student visa to fill out, but I do not have a sponsor. How do I proceed? I don’t understand the points claimed portion of visa application. What does it mean? What do I do? Can I travel outside the UK with the tier 4 general student visa? Is there a phone company on campus, Manchester airport or city? As full time student do I have coverage as a student? I’m recovering from a back injury. Are there elevators in the dorm buildings? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Jenna! Bus schedules stay pretty much the same all through the year and you can easily download the latest schedules. There is a good service between Manchester airports and there is a very good service all around Sheffield. You can find more info about getting a bus or train from Manchester airport here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/before-youarrive/travel/airport. Your mail will be delivered to your University residence or private accommodation address depending on which you are in. Big packages can usually be delivered but if it’s really big you may need a specialist carrier? On the visa question, there will be a separate chat with our immigration advisers on 21 July :) There is also a lot of information on our web pages: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/immigration/overseas. If you can't find the information you need from those links then please contact our advisers at: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/email. . Ethan: Orientation begins on the 14th, is there any way to move into University housing around that time? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Ethan! It is possible to stay in University housing during Orientation Week, but it needs to be booked/paid for separately (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/orientation-week/accommodation). If you will be staying in University accommodation for the rest of the semester/academic year, you will be able to move into this on the Friday of Orientation Week, even though this is earlier than the date stated on your contract. We unfortunately are rarely able to give someone the same room during Orientation Week as they will have for their permanent accommodation after Orientation Week. I hope that answers your question but just let me know if I haven't given enough detail :) Krutika Shrikhande: Hi! Is it possible to work outside the university campus if you are not a citizen * Danielle Bertrand: Hi Krutika- International students can work on or off campus in the UK. Farnoush ;): Hi everyone, :) During the orientation week my dad will be in Sheffield with me as well and I wanted to know is there any Uni accommodation that we could stay in? If not, where are the events of orientation held so I can book a hotel close to it? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Farnoush! Unfortunately the Uni accommodation we have available for booking for Orientation Week is only open to students themselves, not family members or friends. However, most of the Orientation Week events will take place at the Students' Union building ( http://su.sheffield.ac.uk/sheffield-su/how-to-find-us ) which is very near the centre of the city, where there are lots of reasonably-priced hotels :) jyburger: also , are there any suggestions on any particular phone providers that I should use ? * International Student Support - Tim: Not really, we all use different ones to be honest; it'll be a case of whoever does the best deal for you :) Cris Agonoy: where is the accommodation for orientation located at Sheffield? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Cris, the accommodation for Orientation Week will mostly be located in the Endcliffe Student Village (if we have a lot of bookings then some might be elsewhere). This is about a 15-20 minute walk from the central campus, or 5 minutes on one of the very regular buses. Cris Agonoy: does the accommodation for orientation week end go fast? When is the deadline for that? * International Student Support - Olivia: The deadline for booking Orientation Week accommodation is the 9th September. However, if it is very popular there is a small chance it might become fully booked before then, but I think this is unlikely, and we will warn everyone via the Orientation Week mailing list (which you can sign up for here: http://goo.gl/forms/vcZFmUX6rd ) in advance if we think we might run out of rooms, so everyone knows that the deadline might be earlier than the 9th September. Hope that helps! Farnoush ;): I heard that it can get up to 3 weeks to open a bank account, so my question is can I get the bank letter from SSID in late August when I’m in UK so I could have my account by orientation week? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Farnoush! Unfortunately you need to have your University registration completed before you can get the bank letter so you won't be able to do that beforehand in August, sorry :( Mikhail: Hi guys. Which telco provider would you guys recommend for the best coverage in Sheffield and around the campus and accommodation halls? :) * Jessica Bream: Hi Mikhail, the main providers in the UK are EE, Vodafone, O2 - but then you can also get deals through companies like Giff Gaff, Talk Talk and many more - phone signal in general is pretty good for all the major networks. timothy: hi Olivia, my local number cannot be contacted at overseas, so I thought I should provide a UK number so that people can contact me after I arrive at the airport * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Timothy, you should not need to be contacted when you arrive at the airport - our assistants will know when your flight is due to land and will be waiting for you at the arrivals gate (wearing bright orange University of Sheffield t-shirts so you can't miss them!) We also do provide a number you can call in case anything goes wrong (for example if you miss your flight) so you can call us if you need to. But if everything goes according to plan, there will be no need for anyone to contact you at the airport :) Amna: If a student doesn’t attend orientation and comes in at the weekend when accommodation starts on the 19/20th sept, will there be any problems that they may face? * International Student Support - Tim: Amna, no that is fine. Orientation Week if you can make it just gives new international students a bit of extra time to get used to the city and university before everyone else joins in but you would not face any problems if you can't make it :) Jenna Studtmann: hello again! I arrive in Sheffield on the 13th and have registered for University accommodation. Is it possible to move into my accommodation early, purchase another accommodation to stay in for that week, or should I stay at a hotel? * International Student Support - Tim: No problem Jenna. Unfortunately you won't be able to move into your University accommodation then. If you were to take part in Orientation Week (14-19 September) then you could take the accommodation package for that and then move into your permanent accommodation on Friday 18th. Otherwise yes, it would be a case of staying in a hotel for a while. You can find out about Orientation Week on our page at: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/orientation-week/september and you can get a list of local hotels here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation/temporary_accommodation. Hope that helps! Farnoush ;): is there any schedule to know when will the events of orientation be held? I mean are the events on different times in day ? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Farnoush, we hope to release a draft schedule of the programme in the next few weeks - it will be uploaded to our webpages ( http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/orientation-week ) and I will also be sending out an update to the mailing list when it is available. If you are not already on the mailing list, it is a great way to stay updated with all Orientation information: http://goo.gl/forms/vcZFmUX6rd Amna: after we arrive in Sheffield, what are the next steps? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Amna - when will you be arriving? Yashwant L Gurbani: hello, I’m Yashwant from India and my question is that I’m a bit confused to choose the hostel so I’m still a bit confused in making up my choice, so I wanted to know if there is any deadline for applying for hostel accommodation? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Yashwant! Do you mean University Accommodation? Yashwant L Gurbani: moreover, if a student has already applied for hostel accommodation, does he/she also have to apply for orientation week accommodation? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Yashwant. There is a deadline for applying for University Orientation Week accommodation (the 9th September), but if you would rather stay in a local hostel or hotel (or if you have already booked it) then that is fine. You do not have to stay in Orientation accommodation to take part in Orientation Week. I hope that answers your question, please let me know if you need any more detail :) Asdf: During Orientation Week will there be beddings provided for our rooms? * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Asdf! There is bedding in the Orientation accommodation but it is only for that week. Sudeshna Sarkar: Hi. Is it that we can open the bank account in the registration week only? In Sheffield School of Architecture there is one summer school from 7th to 11th September which I want to attend... In that case I will be arriving 2 weeks before registration... So can you please suggest if I will have to carry money in cash to support those 15 days before opening bank account?? I have Bank account in HSBC in Oman. Will it be possible to withdraw money through international debit card from this account in Sheffield? Thanks, * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Sudeshna! Yes, you'll have to be registered as a student with us to open your bank account but you may be able to use that card in the UK on a temporary basis. Check with your HSBC branch in Oman and they will be able to call up their colleagues in the UK to check if needed :) Amna: It’s not confirmed but I plan to arrive on the 18th or 19th and I will be coming with my parents * International Student Support - Tim: The first thing you would do Amna is to go to your accommodation and get yourself in there. Do you have your accommodation booked yet? Then you will have received a booklet telling you about Registration and that is the main thing you will do in the days after that. Have your parents booked somewhere to stay? Yashwant L Gurbani: yes Tim, i wanted to know the deadline for applying for university accomodation. * International Student Support - Tim: OK, you will be able to find that information on our web page here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/accommodation. You would have to apply for Orientation Week accommodation separately as the main contracts don't start until 19th or 20th September. You can find out about Orientation Week accommodation here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/orientationweek/accommodation . jyburger: Hi again, I’m arriving at Manchester airport on the 11th and i know that there won’t be a meet and greet on that day. Most likely, i will be taking a train from Manchester. Can I clarify whether it is the train from Manchester airport that I should be taking? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi there, yes you can get a train directly from the station at Manchester Airport to Sheffield train station - they run very regularly and are relatively cheap and fast. There are other transport options (coach and taxi) but these are either more expensive or a lot slower! There is a bit more detail about all three options here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/beforeyou-arrive/travel/airport I hope that answers your question but just let me know if you need any further details :) Yuka Iwadare: Hello, Olivia. I am Yuka and I am from Japan. How should I go from the Heathrow Airport to the Sheffield University? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hello Yuka! Unfortunately we do not run an airport collection service from Heathrow Airport, so you would need to make your way to Sheffield independently. Our webpage ( http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/before-you-arrive/travel/airport ) offer information about how to get from Heathrow Airport to Sheffield, and once you arrive in Sheffield you will be able to get a taxi to your final destination (most main accommodation areas/University campus are all within a taxi ride from the train station that costs less than £10). I hope that helps, but just let me know if you have any further questions :) NataliaF: Hello! I would like to know what is the average money spending on food per month on Sheffield? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Natalia, that's quite hard to calculate as different people have different lifestyles! But this webpage might help - it shows you the average cost of various things in Sheffield, and you can compare it to different cities around the world: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-ofliving/city_result.jsp?country=United+Kingdom&city=Sheffield It is worth saying that Sheffield certainly is a lot cheaper than a lot of places in the UK! I'm sorry I can't be more specific but I hope that webpage helps - just let me know if you have any further questions :) Farnoush ;): Thank you Tim, and is it the same with registration? Can I do any of the registration process in late August or it’s not possible ? :) * International Student Support - Tim: It's not possible to register in August unfortunately Farnoush. DAN: hi, could you let me know when the regular moving in date is? (Sep18, Sep19 or Sep20?) * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Dan! The regular moving in ate is weekend of 19th/20th September. Your accommodation contract will start on one of those dates. All students need to be at the University for Intro Week which follows that weekend :) NataliaF: Do you recommend bringing an unlocked cell phone or buy one in Sheffield? * International Student Support - Olivia: It can work out a lot cheaper to get a 'sim only' deal with most phone providers, so if you are able to bring an unlocked phone with you that might save you some money :) If you are not going to be in the UK for a long time, getting a 'sim card only' deal also can avoid tying you down with a long-term contract which might not be what you're looking for. But if you are staying in the UK a while then you might get a good deal on a phone+Sim contract - it might be worth looking at some phone companies' websites to see which works out best for your personal situation :) * Baiju IOA: Hello NataliaF, I would recommend you go for an only SIM deal as it turns out to be cheaper on the long run, unless you like getting a new phone every 2 years. Amna: Which bank should we open an account with and which will have a close by atm * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Amna. As a University we have to stay independent of the banks so we can't actually recommend one. But all the main UK banks have facilities nearby and there are many ATMs in the Students Union and near to the accommodation. There will be bank talks in orientation Week and lots of information available to help you decide :) Jenna Studtmann: Are there elevators at Endcliffe Village and the other accommodation sites? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Jenna, some of the accommodation blocks do have elevators, others do not. If you book orientation accommodation, you can let us know on the form if you require elevator accessibility so we can make sure we allocate you suitable accommodation :) Amna: I still haven’t received the other set of 2 booklets. Have they been sent out? * International Student Support - Tim: Amna, there are links to the booklets that are currently available here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/welcome jyburger: thanks Olivia! I’ve looked up at the link that you gave me :) Will the train fares vary or is it a fixed rate for a particular time? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi, if you book them in advance you can get them cheaper (though often this requires you to commit to catching a specific train, which can be annoying if your flight gets delayed and you miss it!) but otherwise there are fixed prices. Have a look at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for the most up to date ticket prices, and you can book in advance from there as well if you want :) Baiju IOA: I would recommend you stay in student accommodation during orientation week as that is where all the students are and that is where you get to meet lots of people. But if you would feel comfortable in your hotel then go for it. :) Panos: Hiyas. Simple question, until how late does public transport run in Sheffield? * Amina - Student Ambassador: Hi Panos, buses and trams usually run until midnight. Asdf: Do I need a European Health Insurance Card? * International Student Support - Tim: It's not absolutely necessary because as a student you will be covered for use of the health service. We have some more information on that here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/living/health Amna: will an iPhone bought an Oman be compatible in the UK? * Baiju IOA: Hello Amna, if your iPhone is unlocked, it should most likely be compatible in the UK Panos: I'll be arriving in Sheffield quite late. Is it safe to walk around in the night or should I get a taxi to take me to my accommodation? Mind you, I'm a little short on cash... * Amina - Student Ambassador: I would say it's easier to get a taxi especially if you are carrying luggage but it is of course safe to walk * International Student Support - Tim: Hi Panos, it kind of depends what time you will be arriving. If it were me, after about 11pm I would certainly take a taxi just because it gives you peace of mind, especially in a new city. Sheffield is rated as one of the safest cities in the UK but hey, cities are cities so it's best to play safe, especially early on. Try and make sure you bring some cash for that fare! 10 pounds should cover it easily :) Amna: Can u please guide how much does a train cost per person from Manchester to Sheffield and from London to Sheffield? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Amna, it will cost about £23 from Manchester Airport to Sheffield if the ticket is bought on the day. From London to Sheffield will vary depending which train station you are coming from - the best thing for you to do would be to have a look at www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for full details about ticket options. Buying them in advance, particularly if you are traveling from London, could save you quite a lot of money. :) * Amina - Student Ambassador: If you buy your tickets on the day: Manchester to Sheffield would be about £12.50 with a 16-25 railway card or about £25 without one; London to Sheffield would cost you about £80 without a railcard or £50 with one. You can get a railcard on the day for £30 pounds and it is valid for a year - it reduces all your train fares to about 1/3 of the full fare. * Amina - Student Ambassador: It is of course much cheaper if you book tickets online in advance. I usually use the virgintrains.co.uk website for that - and it doesn't charge you any booking fees :) Asdf: What documents do we need to bring in regards to health matters, immunisation information, etc. * International Student Support - Tim: Asdf - follow the links from this page to get the information you need: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/immigration/overseas. Also, there will be a separate immigration web chat on 21st July :) Farnoush ;): can I pay for my tuition fees with my Debit card from a UAE bank? * International Student Support - Olivia: Hi Farnoush, I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that question! If your question isn't answers on these pages: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/applicant I would recommend contacting the International Office to ask your question to their staff specifically. Sorry I can't help more! Panos: Thanks! Okay, last question. I heard Sheffield is quite hilly. Is it a good idea to bring my rollerblades along? * Baiju IOA: it is quite hilly and you see lots of skateboarders around, however if you feel that you really need to bring them along, please feel free to do so..Just remember that if you have limited storage, they could be a hindrance * International Student Support - Tim: Hahaha! Sheffield certainly IS hilly, but there is one park in the valley bottom where I used to go rollerblading with my kids! But on a serious note, yes, be prepared for quite a few walks up and down hills. But most students love that aspect of the city; it makes it a nice environment. It's one of the things that made me move from my home city of Birmingham many years ago and I've stayed here since! :) Sudeshna Sarkar: Hi. Can you please tell me if I can transfer my HSBC account in Oman to Sheffield branch? * Baiju IOA: You should try contacting the Oman branch and ask them how you can do so Britney: Hello, can we purchase tickets for the rail when we arrive in Manchester or is it better to book it online in advance? * Amina - Student Ambassador: It is much cheaper to book tickets in advance but you can also buy them on the day of your travel at the station. Yashwant L Gurbani: will be able to use hostel facilities like the Hustle n bustle bar during orientation week? * Baiju IOA: Most of the student’s union facilities will be open at this time and in fact many of them will have special offers going on. ;) Sudeshna Sarkar: Because of the weather will it be advisable to take accommodations of 15 minutes walking distance? Is the climate really favourable to walk? * Jessica Bream: The weather can be mixed - even in the summer, but as long as you have a coat and an umbrella and waterproof shoes you can walk all year round! There are good bus services too, so everywhere is easily accessible * Baiju IOA: you can have an umbrella and a rain coat, so that should not be a problem really and there is plenty of public transport available. :) * International Student Support - Tim: To be honest Sudeshna, you get a certain amount of rain but rarely get anything very extreme in the UK or Sheffield in particular so most students enjoy the 20 minute or so walk from the main accommodation and there is a regular bus service for those days when it really is just too wet (or you get out of bed late) :) Amna: Thanks a lot Amina. What about bus fares? Can we book them online too. I’m just looking at all options * Amina - Student Ambassador: You can't normally book your bus travel online but you can book a coach from Manchester to Sheffield online at nationalexpress.co.uk and it might be cheaper than going by train, but it will take longer. International Student Support - Olivia: Hi everyone, we’re almost out of time so we'll answer these last few questions and then the web chat will be closing, so I hope that most of your questions got answered! If you have any further questions about Orientation Week or Meet and Greet, you can email [email protected] at any time and we can answer them from there. * International Student Support - Olivia: To stay updated with Orientation Week news, you should join the mailing list: http://goo.gl/forms/vcZFmUX6rd. And if any of you are on Facebook, you can join the Orientation Week event: https://www.facebook.com/events/107132352952814/ Amna: since Sheffield is hilly, it is easy to ride a bike? * International Student Support - Tim: A lot of people do cycle Amna, myself included :) It will certainly keep you fit! Jessica Bream: You can find out more here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/help/internationalonline-chats * Jessica Bream: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/index DAN: am I able to view this chat history some days after? * Jessica Bream: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/international/help/international-online-chats transcripts will be here (scroll down)