Newcastle College is a very ordinary college, but it can't be said to be poor.
The school area is not large, and the students are mainly British students. In recent years, enrollment has been gradually expanded.
Students' grades are generally not very good, the admission requirements are very low, and basic applications will be accepted.
Newcastle College has its own website with a lot of information you can find.
School website:), because this kind of free information can be found everywhere in Britain, not only in the British Tourism Bureau, such as temporary hotels or tourist routes and tourist maps, and you can get it for free by printing beautiful brochures. And as soon as you enter the airport, there are many sightseeing maps, all of which are free.
Besides the British Tourism Board, here are two websites: the first website is (www.nationalexpress.co.uk), which is a coach network. For example, it is very close from London to Surrey, that is, 20 minutes, and you can take a bus. If you are a little farther away, you can find the following websites (www.railtract.co.uk) where you can take the train. In Britain, trains are very convenient. The choice of transportation means are car, train, plane and subway. You'd better think about it when you choose. There was a traffic jam in the car, because it was the first time I arrived at the airport, and I thought the car was a very convenient tool. As a result, I went up, and the road was full of cars. When I got off the bus, there was a traffic jam for four hours. This became a very bad experience. If others tell me there is a better way, I might take the subway because it is very fast. If you go to other cities, for example, you want to arrive at your destination on time, you can choose the train. Trains in Britain are very developed, and the driving time is calculated in minutes. Maybe there will be another train in five minutes. So it's different from home. In China, you can wait for the train at the railway station one hour in advance. Then, when you get on the train, grab the seat quickly. In fact, this is completely unnecessary in Europe. You will find that there are few people in Europe. Once I went back to London from Manchester, I ran to the station. I saw the train stop there, and there were few people on it. I asked others if this train was going back to London. He said yes, don't worry, the train will leave soon. I asked why there was no one, and he said that someone would come slowly. That is to say, unlike us, their train was crowded with people at the first stop and couldn't wait to squeeze in. In Britain, many empty seats are reserved, that is to say, if you book in advance in Britain, there will be seats, and first class and second class seats will be divided. If you are sightseeing, just looking at the scenery, especially traveling, you can take a long-distance bus, because foreign cars have better air conditioning and good service. So everyone should choose the means of transportation according to their own purpose.
Third, the cost
I'll tell you two things, one is tuition and the other is living expenses. No matter whether it is an undergraduate or a master's degree, our country has relevant foreign exchange policies. If it is less than $2,000, you can exchange it with a copy of your visa, passport and admission notice at Bank of China Beijing Branch. If you want to change more than $2,000, you must get the approval from the China Administration of Foreign Exchange, which will be a little more complicated. Room 60 1 of huatong building has an address. This address is in Beijing, and foreign countries should be approved by the local foreign exchange administration department. After approval, be sure to ask him to agree to your wire transfer. Wire transfer means either cash or just hanging in your account. It needs you to remit it to an address or give you a money order. If it is a cash transfer, the bank will charge you a 3% handling fee, which is very high. If it is a wire transfer, it will only charge you a few thousandths. There is a big difference between the two. Don't convert the remittance into cash immediately after approval. I'm here to remind you. If it's a wire transfer, you don't want to remit it to the school, or you don't want to remit it to one of your accounts, you can apply for a draft from the bank and take it out of the country. Other methods, such as wire transfer, bank account and credit card. There are two kinds of credit cards. One is to open a credit card or other cards in the UK. China Bank, Guangdong Development Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and many other domestic banks have opened international credit card business. International credit cards are especially suitable for children to study abroad. In China, if your parents have international credit cards, you have to apply for a primary and secondary card. If in England, your father holds the primary card and your child holds the secondary card, the effect is the same. The key is that the father will receive the bill every month, which means that it will be clear how much the child spent.
Fourth, the British currency
One more thing about British currency, because there are 100,20 and10 notes in Britain. In fact, 100 paper money is rare after it really arrives in Britain. Usually a bill of 20 will make people frown and think it is big money. Credit cards are widely used in Britain. Credit cards are very common in Britain, that is to say, you can swipe your card when you buy chocolate bars in small supermarkets. So his credit card system is very convenient. In this case, you must prepare some small change when you go out, such as 10 yuan, five yuan. I once had such an experience. Once I went to the airport, I knew I had to bring some change, and then I wanted to make a phone call. I only have a five-yuan note in my pocket. I walked up to a man and said I could change some coins for him. As a result, he said there was a money exchange room upstairs. But it is inconvenient for me to climb the elevator with a lot of luggage, and I have to wait in line. In addition, the queues in Britain are very regular. No matter whether you go by car or go to the theatre, no one will rob you. This is one thing, patriotism is another. In fact, the pride of China people will grow stronger after going abroad. After going out, as a China person, you are alone. If you are crowded, others will wait in line for the bus, which is impolite. Do as Romans do in Rome. When you take a bus, you should always keep some small change in your pocket.
The common currency in Britain is the pound, and other currencies must be converted into local currency to save.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) certification document
The following key issue is the issue of documents, which can also be summarized as a short story. When I went, I also sent a child, who was on the same flight with me, and said that I could take care of him. At the end of March, I told him what documents to bring, and he said that he should check when entering the country, such as admission notice and bank documents. He took a big bag and opened it to see what was inside. So from this point of view, we must put these documents in a place that is convenient for you to take. Some people just take a laptop and put some money in it, but this can't be done. Baggage can also be lost abroad, so it is not safe to put it there. So valuables, especially money, should never be put on the luggage.
Six, luggage
Besides, the luggage problem is also a concern of everyone. British Airways flies directly from Beijing to London, four times a week in summer (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) and three times a week in winter (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday).
Fly to other major British cities (such as Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, etc.) via London several times a day. );
All flights to England arrived in the afternoon. British Airways flight attendants have a good command of Mandarin, Cantonese and English: British Airways' Chinese service team will provide you with services such as entry and exit, transfer, baggage claim and hotel reservation at London Airport at any time.
Young passengers flying independently will receive special care from British Airways until they are taken to the airport to meet them. Family members only need to fill in the relevant application forms when booking flights.
British Airways launched a student program two years ago to provide overseas students on the Beijing-London route with 30KG of free freight baggage and 6KG of hand luggage (including a laptop), in which the size of hand luggage in economy class should not exceed 55 * 40 * 20cms except 6KG weight. The accompanying checked baggage is subject to weight, regardless of size or number. One problem here is that you must apply for your luggage when you arrive in England.
Finally, British Airways recently provided a new plan, which will be gradually recognized by students, but it is still in the experimental stage. Students will have three vacations when they go to the undergraduate course, and they have to go back and forth once every three years. They can buy three round-trip air tickets at a trip, which can be cheaper 1000 yuan or more. This plan has just started. If you want to know, you can call. The office of British Airways is located in Room 2 10 of Saite Building. The telephone number is 65124070,75,80,85.
As for hand luggage, I made a list of what I should take with me. One is immigration documents, including passports, visas and immigration cards issued to you before the plane lands, which can reduce your entry time. You should also bring a pen, fill in some information, and bring some pounds in cash. The clothes you wear before boarding are very important. I saw some delegations on the plane, and their clothes were very formal. Wearing a tie and a suit is very tiring, because it takes more than 10 hours to fly. You should wear some pure cotton and comfortable clothes, and try not to wear too thick clothes, especially when it is cold in summer. Never mind, there will be blankets on the plane. If you know that you have some minor ailments, you should take some medicines needed for treatment. If the doctor makes a prescription, you should bring the doctor's prescription and medicine with you, so if you get sick in England, it will be good for your current treatment. The other most important thing is the phone number of the contact person at your final destination, which is also the most important. No matter what you do after you get off the plane, you can call if you have any questions.
As for luggage, try not to bring too much luggage. We just mentioned some useful things and some useless things. For example, some people may bring a lot of books, dictionaries and the like, but don't bring a lot. In addition, don't give your luggage to strangers when traveling abroad.
Seven. List of articles
Let me talk about the list of useful things, the camera, the backup of all important documents, the backup of visas, passports and admission notices in case they are accidentally lost in the future, and at least 9 passport photos, because there are many documents to be handled abroad, such as student ID cards, various cards, photos and bilingual dictionaries, which are suitable for everyone. Don't bring too much Chinese medicine, and don't bring too much small gifts at most. It often rains in England, especially at the seaside. Raincoats and raincoats are very important. The umbrella is not very strong. The sockets in Britain are different from those in China. It is best to have an adapter. Also, talk about prohibited items. Some items are not allowed to be taken out of the country or into Britain, such as narcotics, simulated weapons and real guns. If you bring your laptop, you'd better bring a shopping receipt.
Eight. enter
When it comes to entry, Britain's sign system is perfect. Follow the sign. There are 60% China citizens on the plane from Beijing to Britain. Don't worry. You can make a lot of friends on the plane, and there will be no problem entering the customs. When you transfer, you can also see the transfer sign, and the luggage will be transferred automatically.
Speaking of entry, people who have been abroad for more than six months must have a physical examination. It will be quick to have a medical certificate when entering the country. If there is no medical examination, there will be a quick examination when entering the country.
If there is any problem in entering the country, the first contact is the school. You can also call the airport at 020-88 14 1559 and 88349942. In London, you don't need to dial 020-735769 17. It's the immigration phone. It will help you solve the problem.
Let's talk about the British entry regulations, which can be carried free of charge: 200 cigarettes, cigars 100, 2 liters of wine, 60 ml of perfume, 250 ml of toilet water, 45 pounds of gifts, and alcohol and tobacco are not included under 17.
Nine. residence
Regarding accommodation, general schools will provide student dormitories, and the first year will give priority to international students. Most school dormitories have computer interfaces and telephone interfaces. Generally speaking, people use some public facilities, such as toilets, bathrooms and kitchens. Another dormitory with better conditions has its own independent bathroom.
If you don't like school dormitories, you can also find some private rental houses in Britain. If you rent a private house, the owner will let you sign a contract with him. If you share the rent with him, remind everyone to make clear the allocation method of related expenses before moving in, such as utilities, telephone bills, heating bills, etc.
It is also helpful to arrange accommodation before going abroad. When you enter the customs at the British airport, the immigration officer will ask you to show the relevant documents left in the UK. Therefore, making good arrangements before departure will not only make your first step abroad more secure, but also help you enter the country.
X. registration
Let me talk about the relevant regulations on the registration of police stations. Maybe no one has heard of it. Students from China should register with the local police station within 7 days after their arrival in the UK. Pay the registration fee, and don't forget to bring your passport and two passport photos.
XI。 Opening an account and insurance
How to open an account in the UK to buy insurance? There are many banks in Britain. There are different big banks in different regions, and the bigger banks in Britain are (RoyalBankofScotland, HSBCBank, Natwest). Students should pay attention to several points when opening an account. First, it depends on whether the bank has a business point near your campus and residence. After opening an account, the bank will give you different services according to your situation. For short-term study, if it takes less than 6 months, you may not get a checkbook. When you open an account, you will be asked to show your documents, such as passport, visa, materials to prove your residence address, etc. For example, he may ask you to show your documents to your landlord. In addition, each bank has different preferential measures and different interest rates.
Regarding insurance, if you have studied in the UK for more than 6 months, you can enjoy the free service of the National Health Center without purchasing medical insurance. If it is within 6 months, you should consider buying medical insurance yourself. If you buy a car in England, you must buy insurance. In addition, if you have valuables, such as computers and mobile phones, you can also buy insurance in case of emergency.
Twelve. medical care
Medical care may be everyone's concern. As long as your visa shows that you have been in the UK for more than 6 months, you can enjoy the British National Medical Plan. We suggest that you register at the school health center as soon as you arrive at school. After registration, you will get a medical card. With this card, you can get a doctor's free diagnosis (prescription) when you are sick, but it costs money to take medicine with a doctor's prescription. In addition, if your doctor thinks that you are seriously ill and need hospitalization, all medical expenses after hospitalization are free. Dentists in Britain are usually not free.
Thirteen, learning methods
Questions about learning methods. There are many kinds of learners, mainly including teaching, autonomous learning, group discussion (topic) and homework. In Britain, you rely more on autonomous learning, and you will have a lot of time to yourself. I suggest you make full use of the information in the library and the Internet. Actively participating in the discussion of group topics and daring to express their views are not only conducive to learning, but also conducive to making friends. Homework needs to be done by computer, so it is recommended that students who are not familiar with using computers strengthen their training before leaving. The homework should be finished on time, and the teacher has the right to refuse it beyond the time specified by the teacher, so you will get zero points. If you have difficulties in your study and life, communicate with your tutor at any time.
Fourteen, contact with family and friends.
A. mail
In Britain, there are four ways to deliver mail:
1, first class mail
The standard weight of first-class mail does not exceed 60 grams. The cost of delivering mail in Britain is 26p, and it will reach the recipient the next day. The cost of international mail is 30-60p.
2. Second-class mail
The second-class mail within the standard weight (60 grams) costs19p, and usually reaches the recipient within 2 or 3 days.
3.Recordeddelivery: It is suitable for sending important files, and the sender can check the arrival date of the mail.
4.Registeredpost: suitable for sending important files. If the mail is lost, you can claim compensation.
telephone
1, public * * * telephones: Public * * * telephones abound, which are divided into coin-operated telephones and card telephones. If it is a card phone, you need to buy a calling card first. The most famous telephone company in Britain is BT (British Telephone Company), but the telephone charges of BT are relatively expensive. Like China, you can buy all kinds of network calling cards in Britain. Although VoIP is cheap, it often has poor clarity and lagging sound, so the call time is longer. In Chinatown, you can find all kinds of business cards.
2. Student line
If you live in the dormitory of the school, you can enjoy the service of the student-only line. The advantage of the student line is that internal calls are free, which is convenient for you to discuss topics with your classmates and enhance your understanding; There are also some discounts for using an outside line. But the disadvantage is that there is a charge for using calling cards. In this way, those students who often make international calls with calling cards should consider the cost and call quality comprehensively and make the best choice.
Step 3: Mobile phone
It is very cheap to buy a mobile phone in Britain, and sometimes you can even get a mobile phone for free, but the phone bill is more expensive. The most famous wireless communication companies in Britain are Vodafone, BT, One2One, Virgin and Orange. The services they provide are even more dazzling, including monthly subscription and charging by call time. When choosing a mobile phone and its service, you should comprehensively consider your own call habits, such as the length of call, the type of call (international, domestic, calling card), which phone company your friends use (the call charges between customers of the same company will be lower), and so on, and choose the package that suits you.
E-mail: Most British universities will provide students with free e-mail accounts and a large number of computers for their use. However, computers in schools generally have passwords. I suggest you complete the registration as soon as possible, and get the user name and password, so as to make full use of the school facilities.
If the school doesn't provide email service, I suggest you register a free email account, such as hotmail, yahoo, etc.
Part-time job
If you get a visa as a student, you can work legally during your stay in the UK. Time limit for working is: 20 hours per week during the semester; 40 hours a week on holidays.
There are several channels to get information about work: notices on the door of shops. If you see a note in the shop that says "wanted", it means there is a vacancy here. You can ask. In addition, you can also go to the school's vocational education office for consultation. Every city has a job center, from which you can also find a lot of recruitment information. Pay attention to the school bulletin board or local newspapers and magazines, you can find relevant information on it. You can also tell your friends, landlords or classmates the information that you want to work, and they may give you clues.
Sixteen, the experience of alumni studying in Britain:
First of all, I want to talk about learning methods. Education in Britain is very different from that in China. It is important for us to master our own methods. In Britain, there are no textbooks, and teachers will leave some topics for discussion before the start of each semester. In Britain, textbooks are very expensive, ranging from 25 to 30 pounds each. If you buy all the books, the cost will be considerable. So I suggest you go to the library as much as possible and rely on it as much as possible. You can find them in the library.
In addition, there are two kinds of exams in Britain. One is an open-book exam. This kind of exam will usually give you a specific case before the exam. You can look for information related to this case. Materials prepared in advance can be brought into the examination room. The examination time is generally 3 hours. This kind of exam is very tense, so you must be fully prepared.
The other is a closed-book exam. No materials. You usually ask 10 questions and ask you to answer at least a few questions. Students can choose your best question to answer. Students whose mother tongue is not English can bring dictionaries, but not electronic dictionaries. In Britain, you generally pass 50 points, and 70 points can prove that your grades are excellent.
~~~