International student: What do I do now?
Essential advice on your new life as a student in the UK
By Simon DavisMonday, 18 August 2008
What documents will I need when I arrive?
First up, your passport. It’s best to make sure that this is valid for the duration of your stay in the UK, avoiding the cost and difficulties of transferring your visa to a new passport later down the line. You may also need to show the acceptance letter from your place of study, as well as proof of your own funds (or that of a sponsor) to pay your way, such as your last three bank statements. Be sure to carry all your documentation in your hand luggage – where it is easy to get at – and take a few photocopies of all important papers, just in case. Are there any other immigration requirements? Some students will have to provide health records as they enter the UK, especially for those coming from countries where there is compulsory screening for tuberculosis (TB); take a look at the UK Border Agency website (see Web watch box) to find out where this applies. Others may have to register with the police within seven days of their arrival; this will be indicated on your visa. If you need to register, your university can direct you to the right police station. Where do I go when I first arrive? Before jumping in the first taxi you see, find out what transport arrangements your university has running to get you to campus. Many have welcoming parties to meet international students at major airports and can direct you from there. What about health services? Students staying longer than six months are entitled to free health care from the National Health Service (NHS).You will simply need to register with the local doctor, or check if there are health centres on campus; your university can point these out. Remember to also bring any prescriptions you will need or details of any ongoing medical conditions. If you are staying for less than six months, you will not be automatically entitled to NHS services. In this case, it is essential to get appropriate medical insurance to cover the costs of any treatment. Am I allowed to work while I study? The majority of international students can work for up to 20 hours a week while studying, except for those whose passport sticker clearly state: “No work”. If this is the case for you, getting a job is against your immigration status and is illegal. You can apply to change your conditions, though this will cost you money. Speak to the international adviser at your university to see how much and what it entails. If you do plan to work, nearly all universities have career services which can offer you employment advice and some can match you up with local jobs. But remember that you cannot use this extra income as proof that you are able to pay for your studies. The only exception is if you have a work placement lined up as part of a sandwich course or have a proven offer of work within the publicly funded institution you are at. What other money matters should I think about? “Many fail to anticipate the full cost of their studies,” says Dominic Scott of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). “International students - always know the cost of fees. What they don’t know so much about is all the extra costs, from library fees to transport to gym membership. These can mount up quite considerably.” However, help is at hand in the form of the international student calculator. This balances your budget by looking at what money you have and what your living costs are likely to be. Where can I get more advice? The international student advice office at your university will serve as your key point of contact when you arrive, so keep their details to hand. They can answer individual queries, often by phone as well as online, and will continue to offer support throughout the year. As Karen Griffith, international student adviser at Leeds Metropolitan University says, “Don’t panic. If you don’t remember everything at the beginning, just remember the person or department you can go to for help. You are not on your own and you don’t have to memorise every single thing.That’s what the university support services are there for.” Will I need to adjust to life and study in the UK? “Higher education in the UK can be completely different to what you may have done in your own country,” explains Scott. “You may have to put quite a lot effort into adjusting to UK learning styles.” Universities are aware of a possible culture shock, which is why many provide orientation days for international students. In addition, the Prepare for Success website allows you to get a taste of learning methods and explores the cultural challenges others have faced. The 2008 International Students Festival took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 13th and in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 23rd. For more information on the Scottish event visit http://www.issfest.co.uk/ If you missed out on previous events, you can view the photos by visiting http://www.isfest.com/.
Essential advice on your new life as a student in the UK
By Simon DavisMonday, 18 August 2008
What documents will I need when I arrive?
First up, your passport. It’s best to make sure that this is valid for the duration of your stay in the UK, avoiding the cost and difficulties of transferring your visa to a new passport later down the line. You may also need to show the acceptance letter from your place of study, as well as proof of your own funds (or that of a sponsor) to pay your way, such as your last three bank statements. Be sure to carry all your documentation in your hand luggage – where it is easy to get at – and take a few photocopies of all important papers, just in case. Are there any other immigration requirements? Some students will have to provide health records as they enter the UK, especially for those coming from countries where there is compulsory screening for tuberculosis (TB); take a look at the UK Border Agency website (see Web watch box) to find out where this applies. Others may have to register with the police within seven days of their arrival; this will be indicated on your visa. If you need to register, your university can direct you to the right police station. Where do I go when I first arrive? Before jumping in the first taxi you see, find out what transport arrangements your university has running to get you to campus. Many have welcoming parties to meet international students at major airports and can direct you from there. What about health services? Students staying longer than six months are entitled to free health care from the National Health Service (NHS).You will simply need to register with the local doctor, or check if there are health centres on campus; your university can point these out. Remember to also bring any prescriptions you will need or details of any ongoing medical conditions. If you are staying for less than six months, you will not be automatically entitled to NHS services. In this case, it is essential to get appropriate medical insurance to cover the costs of any treatment. Am I allowed to work while I study? The majority of international students can work for up to 20 hours a week while studying, except for those whose passport sticker clearly state: “No work”. If this is the case for you, getting a job is against your immigration status and is illegal. You can apply to change your conditions, though this will cost you money. Speak to the international adviser at your university to see how much and what it entails. If you do plan to work, nearly all universities have career services which can offer you employment advice and some can match you up with local jobs. But remember that you cannot use this extra income as proof that you are able to pay for your studies. The only exception is if you have a work placement lined up as part of a sandwich course or have a proven offer of work within the publicly funded institution you are at. What other money matters should I think about? “Many fail to anticipate the full cost of their studies,” says Dominic Scott of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). “International students - always know the cost of fees. What they don’t know so much about is all the extra costs, from library fees to transport to gym membership. These can mount up quite considerably.” However, help is at hand in the form of the international student calculator. This balances your budget by looking at what money you have and what your living costs are likely to be. Where can I get more advice? The international student advice office at your university will serve as your key point of contact when you arrive, so keep their details to hand. They can answer individual queries, often by phone as well as online, and will continue to offer support throughout the year. As Karen Griffith, international student adviser at Leeds Metropolitan University says, “Don’t panic. If you don’t remember everything at the beginning, just remember the person or department you can go to for help. You are not on your own and you don’t have to memorise every single thing.That’s what the university support services are there for.” Will I need to adjust to life and study in the UK? “Higher education in the UK can be completely different to what you may have done in your own country,” explains Scott. “You may have to put quite a lot effort into adjusting to UK learning styles.” Universities are aware of a possible culture shock, which is why many provide orientation days for international students. In addition, the Prepare for Success website allows you to get a taste of learning methods and explores the cultural challenges others have faced. The 2008 International Students Festival took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland on February 13th and in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 23rd. For more information on the Scottish event visit http://www.issfest.co.uk/ If you missed out on previous events, you can view the photos by visiting http://www.isfest.com/.
EVENT 1
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR TICKET YET TO THE AFRICAN BALL ON 17TH OCT 2008.DETAILS www.letthemhelpthemselves.com
EVENT 2
live band on stage fri 22 aug 2008 at face club .chatham st ,reading.Deplazir , one of congolese top artists
10 pm -4 am
10 pound advance 15 pound at tyhe door
www.bongodjs.com
EVENT:
HIT THE RUNWAY WHERE MUSIC AND FASHION COLLIED
ARTIS : Brick and Lace, Ray c,Dully sykes,Mr Blu
SAT 23 AUGUST 2008
ROYALE BANQUETING SUITE-819 HIGH ROAD TOTTENHAM N17 8ER
EVENT:
THE FIRST BEACH PARTY ON BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST 2008, IN BRIGHTON BABILON LOUNGE3PM TILL LATE
BRIGHTON BN3 4FA
EVENT
OFFICIAL ADVERT:
THE UGANDAN DIASPORA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR DEVELOPMENT, SOLIDARITY & DEMOCRACY
~.~ 23rd August, 2008: At UEL - Docklands Campus, London ~.~
Organized By
The Human Development and Solidarity Foundation Reg. No; 6637155
A Network of the Uganda Diaspora Community
Gives You
THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES, CREATE NEW RELATIONSHIPS, LEARN NEW INNOVATIOS AND TARGET MARKETING/SPONSORSHIP OPORTUNITIES!
Conference participants:
The entire Ugandan Communities Fraternity, Diaspora Families and citizens of different Skills, Talents and Aspirations
The nexus of Social Development Practitioners, Business Leaders, Faith, politicians and other decision makers/Leaders, from the local Diaspora communities in the UK, Ireland, Europe, America, Canada and the Homeland (Uganda).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come meet these hardworking "International Citizens" making a positive contribution (Building for Unity in Diversity, Progress and Prosperity) in their Local Communities, and the decision makers who have a combined purchasing power of over £1.25 billion* and contributing a record 3rd of Uganda's GDP – and now committing themselves to advance the Ugandan Diaspora Solidarity as a stimulant framework to unleash Skills, Talents and Aspirations of 'the Poor Majorities' Abroad and Home.
Therefore;
PARTICIPATE TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES, TARGET MARKETING & SPONSORSHIP OR SPONSORING OPPORTUNITIES, CREATE NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND SHARE INFORMATION with Influential Diaspora Ugandans, UK and International Friends of Uganda - advocates, volunteers, funders and elected officials.
Also; re
Come to Enjoy the Marketing Advantages
• Exhibit at the only international conference of this type in the UK.
• Gain exposure to your target market and potential buyers
• Meet key institutional decision makers who directly influence your livelihood, welfare, skills training and business opportunities
• Create brand and product, awareness to help increase your visibility and sales
zimbabwe king maker
THE following is the full transcript of an interview by Movement for Democratic Change faction leader, Professor Arthur Mutambara on ABC's 'Saturday Extra' programme. The interview was given before the Southern African Development Community's annual summit held last weekend.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO
Geraldine Doogue: My first guest on today's program is emerging from an incredible week of a behind the scenes chess-plays and horse-trading, all of which have led to major talks that start today in South Africa, and which could determine the fate of Zimbabwe.Arthur Mutambara, is the leader of the faction within the Movement for Democratic Change that's led by Morgan Tsvangirai. Both men, plus Robert Mugabe and South African president, Thabo Mbeki, are participating in talks that many hope might culminate in some sort of National Unity government. Now we've spoken to the ambitious Arthur Mutambara before and he's always enlightening, highly, about his country's politics, way beyond the newspaper headlines.The question is, is he acting at the moment as a noble circuit-breaker in this long-running tragedy or more as an opportunist? I'm delighted that he could spare some time to talk to us at the start of a very busy weekend. Professor Mutambara, welcome back to Saturday Extra.
Arthur
Mutambara: Thank you very much.
Geraldine Doogue: I'm going to read you a rather difficult old summary that I read in The Guardian newspaper this week, which said that you were a 'shameless opportunist who has appeared to be currying favour with his former enemies by parroting Mr Mugabe's anti-western rhetoric'. Now I take it that you fundamentally disagree with that summary.Arthur Mutambara: Yes we do. What we have stated, we did a press conference on Wednesday and made it very clear that this is a tripartite negotiations framework. There cannot be a bilateral agreement out of this framework. Either all three principals agree and we have a solution in our country, or if one of them doesn't agree, then there's no solution. So there's absolutely no way that our party is going to cut a deal with Mugabe to the exclusion of Morgan Tsvangirai. So that must be understood without equivocation or ambiguity. We are in here because Zimbabwe is going through a humanitarian, economic and political crisis of immense proportions and we're driven by the national interest, we're driven by the desires of the people of Zimbabwe to move from poverty, from misery, to a justiciable environment in our country, and we are saying all the leaders, all the three political leaders must put national interest before self-interest.
Geraldine Doogue: So can I ask you, why did so many papers around the world get this wrong then?Arthur Mutambara: Because they are very stupid, they are very stupid, it's as simple as that. In the first place, technically you can't have a bilateral agreement from a three-party negotiations framework. Secondly because the negotiations are being held with confidentiality so they didn't have the information. And there is also propaganda on the part of ZANU to try to put pressure on Mr Tsvangirai by saying to the world, 'If Mr Tsvangirai doesn't agree, we're going to work with Mr Mutambara, and we're saying, No, no, no. And the foolish journalist who has the nerve to believe that Mr Mutambara can cut a deal with Mugabe in this framework is sick in the mind.Geraldine Doogue: Okay, that's a good rebuttal. Did you agree to anything that made the negotiations advance, then?
Arthur Mutambara: Okay. What we have done is that we've agreed on all issues, the three of us, Morgan Tsvangirai, Robert Mugabe and Mutambara. We've agreed to everything, except one issue, and I'm not at liberty to discuss that one issue, but I can say there's one issue which is outstanding and Mr Tsvangirai has asked for time out to reflect and consult on that matter. And we respect that because in any negotiations we must allow our colleagues the opportunity to reflect and consult.
Geraldine Doogue: So you're not going to tell us what that is, I take it?Arthur Mutambara: Yes. But I will say on that issue we as a party have no problem with the current position in the negotiations. And so that's where we are in agreement on that particular issue Mr Tsvangirai is on his own. I must emphasise I am not beholden to Mr Tsvangirai. I am not beholden to Robert Mugabe. I'm a separate political party, holding the balance of power in our parliament, and will use that balance of power in the national interest. I am not bound to agree with Tsvangirai all the time. When I disagree with Morgan Tsvangirai I will go against him. I am a separate political party with its own existence. However, we hope that the negotiations are going to continue, Mr Tsvangirai will reflect and will be able to come out with an agreement that will be signed by the three principals. Right now nothing has been signed. Nothing, nothing, nothing.Geraldine Doogue: Okay. So can I ask you this, which is what the world is waiting for, that Tsvangirai is looking for the transfer of real executive power from the President's office, to someone else. Now can you tell us, from your inside knowledge, whether that is on the table?
Arthur Mutambara: Well of course, as I said before, we are not allowed as part of this framework to negotiate in the media. We are only allowed to discuss those matters that the facilitator has allowed us to discuss. What I can tell you is that we are working towards a practical and reasonable and justifiable political settlement in our country, and most of the reports that are in the media are false, and we are hoping that the Zimbabwean political leaders will come up with an agreement. What we must emphasise, you think about the west that I'm parroting Mr Mugabe's language. Let me make it very clear, we are discussing as Africans, we are discussing as Zimbabweans, and will brook no interference from patronising westerners who make the following statements. For example, saying to us, 'We will not allow, we will not accept an agreement unless it's led by a particular leader.' Who are you to tell Africans how to run their affairs? If the three leaders agree on a particular position, it's not for Britain, it's not for Australia, it's not for America to say that we are wrong. Who are you? How dare you undermine our intelligence, how dare you are so racist to the extent that you can't guarantee us and give us the respect, the vote of confidence that we can make our own decisions.Geraldine Doogue: Well, let..Arthur Mutambara: You are collectively stupid..Geraldine Doogue: Let me.Arthur Mutambara... collective foolishness. We won't allow Australia to judge our agreement. It's none of your business.
Geraldine Doogue: Let me bring up...Arthur Mutambara: ...of Zimbabwe.Geraldine Doogue: Let me bring up the issue of the...Arthur Mutambara: I haven't finished. Secondly, you've individuals in the west. So you're saying to us that Zimbabwe is not capable of making a decision. With individuals and governments in Europe and America imposing sanctions while we are talking. We must not do anything to damage your rapprochement, the spirit of discussion while people are talking. If sanctions are imposed after the failure of the talks is a different matter. But to impose sanctions while we are talking is a travesty of justice and we're saying shame on you for expressing no confidence in Morgan Tsvangirai, shame on you for expressing no confidence in Mugabe, shame on you for expressing no confidence in Mutambara. We will not brook that nonsense.
Geraldine Doogue: Is it possible—and this is what I think some people with some memories are wondering—that you or Mr Tsvangirai could be walking into a trap as Joshua Nkomo did in the '80s, where it looked like a power-sharing agreement and in fact as you know...
Arthur Mutambara: I have a question. Do you think I am stupid? When you ask that question you think we are foolish and we are very offended that you think we are that stupid. We are smarter than the Australians, we are smarter than the Americans, we went to better schools than most of these leaders in America, in Britain and in Australia. I am coming out of Oxford. None of your prime ministers can challenge me intellectually. So how do you patronise me and tell me that I'm going to be hoodwinked by Mugabe. You are doubting my intelligence. Shame on you.
Geraldine Doogue: So you are quite confident that this veritable old-stager called Robert Mugabe is not going to emerge in the same level of power as before. You're quite confident of that, are you?
Arthur Mutambara: Very confident, because we know what we are doing. We are capable Africans, we are capable Zimbabweans. We are very clever people.Geraldine Doogue: Let me just put something else to you about a very interesting observation made by an African man actually, writing in The African Executive, that the difficulty about African politics is that ethnicity can take centre stage long after the tribal war has been won, and he was suggesting that this has been a real problem for Zimbabwe and in trying to move to a new settlement, it does bedevil a lot of your efforts, no matter how difficult the crisis. Are you confident you can rise above that?
Arthur Mutambara: That is completely nonsense, which is not even worth my comment. Next question please.Geraldine Doogue: So this is not—we should not.Arthur Mutambara: Complete nonsense, not worth my comment. Can we have the next question please.
Geraldine Doogue: Okay, well so you're telling me by the sound of you, Arthur, and we've spoken to you a couple of times, you are starting to feel some real confidence that these terrible times that have afflicted your country, might be coming to an end?
Arthur Mutambara: We have cautious optimism. We're not over-confident, we have cautious optimism and we hope that all the political leaders in our country will put national interest before self interest. We are very, very keen that we are driven by what's good for the country, what's good for the people of Zimbabwe. Not what's good for Morgan Tsvangarai, not what's good for Mutambara, not what's good for Mugabe, or what's good for the west, what's good for America, Britain and so on—we should be driven by the Zimbabwean national interest and we're smart enough to be able to extract a reasonable deal from these negotiations, and there will be no bilateral arrangement. It will be a threesome agreement.
Geraldine Doogue: And so will the west not like what's going to emerge?Arthur Mutambara: It can go to hell. Who are you? Do we judge your elections in Australia? Do we judge your elections and your agreements in America and Europe? Nonsense. If Tsvangirai agrees. Who are you in Australia to judge and say Tsvangirai is wrong?Geraldine Doogue: So what in your view is the ideal outcome of this weekend's talk, Arthur Mutambara?
Arthur Mutambara: The best outcome is to get an agreement where Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Mugabe and myself say this is a good arrangement for our country. We all agree and are going to sign this document. This is the best short term answer to extricate our country from the worst situation in which it is. And I must emphasise that whatever we agree upon this weekend or the week after, it's a short-term answer. It's not the long-term solution for our country. The long-term solution for our country is to get a new people-driven democratic constitution, create a national vision, 20-, 30-year vision to make Zimbabwe a globally competitive economy, and hence economically transforming ourselves so that in terms of the capital income GDP, business growth, entrepreneurship, financial literacy we are one of the top 20 countries in the world. We are on a long journey to the Promised Land.
Geraldine Doogue: Thank you very much indeed Arthur Mutambara. Good luck.Arthur Mutambara: Thank you very much.Geraldine Doogue: And Professor Arthur Mutambara...you won't forget these negotiations, will you, coming up this weekend. Let's watch with interest.
Arthur Mutambara is the leader of one of the factions of the Movement for Democratic Change.GuestsProfessor Arthur MutambaraLeader, breakaway faction of the Movement for Democratic ChangePresenter
Geraldine Doogue
Story Researcher and Producer
Muditha Dias
Source:
ABC at http
