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Living on campus

Most students in their first year live on campus in halls of residence. If you are an international student we will give you priority for this. If for any reason we cannot find a place for you in our halls of residence on campus, our student services team will help you to find private accommodation that is near to the university.

Living in private accommodation

In your second, third and fourth years of study, we will help you to find a place to live that is near to the university. We will help you to find accommodation that can include your family, if that is necessary.

Council Tax

In the UK, people have to pay for local services (such as police and libraries) through Council Tax. If you are living with other students, on or off campus, and are in full-time education you won't have to pay Council Tax. If you are living with a partner who cannot work or claim benefits as part of their visa, then they will not have to pay council tax either. You may be required to prove that you are a student to the local council or your immigration status to a landlord (if you are renting private accommodation near to the university). We can help you with this.

Studying at university in the UK may be different to what you are used to in your own country. Courses are split into 'modules' which cover different topics within the subject you are studying. These modules are usually taught in lectures to large groups and followed up by tutorial sessions with smaller groups. You may get the chance to see what you are learning in action with a trip to a neighbouring farm, environmental project or something appropriate to your studies.

To help you get settled into academic life in the UK, we will invite you to a pre-sessional programme. This takes place before the start of the academic year. The programme is designed to introduce you to life in the UK and help you prepare to study at Harper Adams. For some students, attending the pre-sessional programme may be mandatory.

English language support

If English is not your first language, you can access our English language support services. These include classes, one-to-one sessions and pre-sessional English language courses. We will tell you more about these services when you apply, but you can also get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Public phones

We have four public phones that you can use on campus, and you will find others in nearby towns and cities. You may need to buy an international phone card from a local shop to use these, but some accept coins (£1, 50p, 20p, 10p).

Mobile phones

There are many mobile phone networks in the UK. The main ones are O2, Three, EE and Vodafone. They all offer 'pay as you go' SIM cards with no contract. It is best to look at the different offers and tariffs to find the best deal for you. We also include a free Lebara SIM card with every welcome pack, which you can use if you like.

Post

The postal service in the UK is good value and reliable. To post letters or postcards, you will need to buy stamps (from a Post Office or shop), attach them to the top-right corner and post your item in a postbox. For larger items such as parcels or packages, you will need to take them to a Post Office. Here you can also send items using secure or quick delivery services.

Skype and email

If you are staying in our halls of residence, we will give you access to Wi-Fi internet for free, so you may want to use a free video calling program like to speak to friends and family at home. You will also be given a university email address, which you can use to keep in touch.

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) provides hospitals, doctors and dentists.

If you are from a country that is outside of the EU, you will need to pay £150 per year to access the NHS. You do this when you apply for your visa. This gives you access to free health treatment (including emergency and hospital care) and NHS dental treatment at a reduced cost. Further information is available on the GOV.UK webpage.

If you are from a country inside the EU, make sure you have a , as you will need this to access the NHS.

The doctors that is used by the majority of students is in Newport. To register with the surgery you will need to call them or visit the surgery once you are here. You will need to make an appointment to see a doctor and this can be done over the phone. The address is: Linden Hall Surgery, Station Road, Newport, TF10 7EN. The telephone number is: 01952 820400.

The Princess Royal Hospital near Telford is the closest hospital (9 miles).

Banking in the UK

Banks in the UK are normally open from 9.30 to16.30, Monday to Friday. Some larger banks in towns are also open on Saturday mornings. To open a bank account, you will need:

• your passport or ID card.
• your visa or residence permit.
• evidence of the course you are studying.
• your address.

The nearest banks to the university are Lloyds TSB, NatWest, HSBC and Barclays.

Exchanging currency

If you need to exchange foreign currency, you can do this at most high street banks or at a Post Office. For Euros and US Dollars you can usually do this on the same day, but for other currencies you may have to call in advance.

Insurance

Although crime is not as high in the UK as it is in some other countries, we still recommend that you insure your personal possessions. The National Union of Students (NUS) recommends They have insurance policies designed for students.

Cost of living

The cost of living in the UK may be more than you are used to at home. We recommend using the  to help you come up with an estimate for what your living costs might be.

If you are bringing your family over to the UK, you may need to enrol them in a school, depending on how old they are. Schooling in the UK is free and compulsory for all children over the age of five and under the age of 16. Three and four year olds are entitled to free nursery care for 15 hours a week, for 38 weeks of the year. Some two-year-olds are also eligible. We can help and advise you on childcare and applying for school places for your child.

The Students' Union at Harper Adams organises events all year round, both on and off campus. It is a great way to get to know other students, practice your English, and try new things.

The Students' Union is also home to many different clubs and societies that are centred around hobbies or sports. The International Society is one of the many organised clubs. It organises trips and events for international students to help them see the UK, get to know British culture, and make friends.

There is also a gym, sports hall, pitches and courts on campus for sports activities and training.

Airport links

The nearest airport to Harper Adams is Birmingham Airport, from which you can take a train to Stafford or Telford, and a bus or taxi to the university campus. Alternatively, you could fly in to Heathrow Airport, which has regular flights to and from countries all over the world. Other airport options include Manchester and Liverpool. 

Free bus service

During term time we operate a shuttle bus service between the university and the nearby towns of Newport and Telford. You will need to show your student ID card to use this bus service and it may be busy in the mornings and evenings.

Train and bus travel

To visit other parts of the country, you will need to take a bus or train. The local bus company is Arriva and you can find their . Harper Adams has three train stations nearby:

• Telford (with routes towards Birmingham)
• Stafford (with routes towards London and Scotland)
• Shrewsbury (with routes towards Manchester and Wales).

You can find out more about train times, routes and fares on the .

Driving in the UK

If you are from outside of the EU, you will only be able to drive in the UK on an international driving licence for 12 months. After that, you will need to apply and take a test for a British licence. To find out more, visit the GOV.UK webpage.

If you are studying in the UK on a Student Visa, you can take on some part-time work in the UK. Depending on your visa, you will only be able to work at most 10 to 20 hours per week. On your student visa, you are not allowed to take on a full-time job or be self-employed.

If there is a work placement or internship as part of the course you are studying, you can to do this, even if it is full-time work. You can also work more hours in the holidays, providing there are no specific restrictions on your visa.

If you are from an EU country, there are no restrictions on the amount of hours you can work alongside your studies. Be aware that working a lot of hours might impact your studies.

Part-time work is often advertised in local newspapers and as one of the highest employers in the region, Harper Adams offers various part-time opportunities. Our on-campus cafes, restaurants, and pub also have openings throughout the year. Our can help you find these and other openings. Registered students will also have access to a dedicated  jobs portal promoting vacancies for students and graduates.