International Student Support

What is the Programme?

Please arrive on Wednesday 19 September 2012 as this is when the programme starts.  It is a great opportunity for you to meet new people, get to know your new city and find your way around the University.  You can find information on the main activities under the following tabs, but for details of all the events and activities on offer, please look at the International Orientation Programme Timetable section which will contain the latest changes and most up-to-date information.

If you think you will not be able to arrive by 19 September, you must inform sas@kfm.keele.ac.uk, international@keele.ac.uk (or keeleinternational@keele.ac.uk if you are a visiting student) and internationalsupport@keele.ac.uk about your intentions.

The first five days are specifically designed for International and EU/EEA Students to settle in to life at Keele University. Along with lots of fun events and activities, you will also complete all the necessary University procedures to make your enrolment as smooth as possible.

The Welcome Week following the International Orientation Programme will provide you with opportunities to meet all the new first year students and attend meetings and sessions with your School(s), Programme Teams or Research Institute.

If you have any questions during the International Orientation Programme, come to the Help Desk in the Chancellor’s Building Exhibition Suite from Wednesday 19 to Sunday 23 September.

Welcome Teams

To assist you as you arrive and throughout the International Orientation and Welcome Week, we have three main teams of Welcome and Support Assistants.  Each team (staff and students) will be wearing coloured team t-shirts.

International Orientation Assistants - Black and Yellow T-shirts

The Meet & Greet Airport Collection Assistants will be wearing bright yellow t-shirts with 'Keele University' printed on the front and 'Student Ambassador' printed on the back in black.  These Assistants ensure that those registered for Meet & Greet Airport Collection are welcomed at the airport and transported safely to campus.

The International Orientation Assistants will be wearing black t-shirts with yellow panels.  These Assistants will be located on the International Orientation Help Desk, at Enrolment and at the various events and activities during the International Orientation Programme to support you during the first five days.

Welcome Week Assistants - Black and Yellow T-shirts

Student Guides will be located across campus throughout Welcome Week.  As well as being situated at a number of 'Info Points', the team can answer any questions you may have and point you in the right direction.  They will be coordinating a number of events and activities throughout the Welcome Week.

Fresher Guides - Blue T-shirts

The Student Guides in blue t-shirts are also on campus during Welcome Week.  They know all about social activities, opportunities to get involved and events in the Students' Union.

Wednesday 19 September 11am - 8pm, Chancellor's Building Exhibition Suite

Students arriving on Wednesday 19 September who are living in campus accommodation can collect their keys from 11am to 8pm from the Exhibition Suite in the Chancellor's Building.  Once you have your key, the International Orientation Assistants will take you to the minibuses and help you to get into your accommodation.

Don't forget to bring copies of your signed Accommodation Contract - we will need it before we issue you with your key.

Also in the Chancellor's Building Exhibition Suite will be the Contact Cafe.  Here you can use the computers to log on to your web-based email or social network account to let your family and friends know that you have arrived safely.  You can also get a drink and snack from here at the same time.

If you arrive after 8pm, you can collect your key from the 24-hour Security Office in the Darwin Building.  Once you have your key, remain with the Security Staff and they will ensure that you get to your accommodation.

Thursday 20 September 10am, Westminster Theatre

During this session, the Vice-Chancellor will welcome you to the University and introduce you to some of the key members of staff who will be hosting sessions throughout the International Orientation Programme.

Thursday 20 September 11am - 6pm, Chancellor's Building Exhibition Suite

Enrolment is compulsory for all new students.  It will take place from 11am to 6pm on Thursday 20 September in the Exhibition Suite in the Chancellor's Building.  It should take no more than 45 minutes to complete. 

Undergraduate student enrolment ONLY will be from 11am to 3pm and postgraduate student enrolment ONLY will be from 3pm to 6pm.

If you are unable to attend enrolment on Thursday 20 September, you must inform sas@kfm.keele.ac.uk or international@keele.ac.uk (or keeleinternational@keele.ac.uk if you are a visiting student).

The Enrolment Team will guide you through this process.  We will give you a pre-printed form to complete and sign; we will then check the form and you will be issued with your enrolment documents.  You will need to show us your passport and visa, which we will photocopy and keep for our records.

Sunday 23 September 9.30am - 12pm (For students living in campus Halls of Residence)

It's Sunday morning of the weekend of your time here at Keele; what better way to get the morning off to a great start than by enjoying a breakfast with your new flatmates and friends.  Staff from each Hall will be hosting a breakfast.  This is a great chance to meet the accommodation staff including the Residence Support Assistants.

Sunday 23 September 12.30pm - 1pm, Keele SU

At 12.30pm, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett along with senior University staff, the elected Sabbatical Team of Keele Students' Union and Keele Postgraduate Association will officially welcome you and your fellow students to Keele University.

1 - 4pm, Keele SU Union Square

After the Vice-Chancellor opens the curtain to your life at Keele, the Welcome Festival begins.  From 1-4pm the campus will be full of life.  There will be something for everyone, from huge inflatables and climbing walls to music and dancing as well as lots of fun sports activities.

If you have not already paid your tuition and accommodation fees, staff members will be available between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 September in the Income Office, Tawney Building.

All international students who do not speak English as their first language are required to attend one of the International Student Language Assessment Sessions. 

• Session 1 on Thursday 20 September from 2-3.30pm is for undergraduate students with surnames beginning with A-J and ALL visiting students. 
• Session 2 on Friday 21 September from 10-11.30am is for undergraduate students with surnames beginning with K-Z.
• The International Student Language Assessment Session for postgraduate students is on Saturday 22 September from 10-11.30am.

If you think you may be exempt from this language assessment, or if you will need to miss this session for any reason, please contact the English Language Unit (ELU) at eluadmin@keele.ac.uk as soon as possible. 

In order to register with the National Health Service and receive treatment, you must be registered with a general medical practice near to where you live.  If you are not already registered with a local practice, you should register with the general medical practice at the University Health Centre in the first week of arriving at Keele (details below).  All new patients will have a short interview about their health during registration.  Registration is particularly important if you have a medical condition.  If you are currently undergoing treatment, we advise you to bring with you any documentation about your condition.

The Campus Health Centre has two doctors, one male and one female, and their are two specialist Nurse Practitioners.  If you do not wish to register with the Health Centre, please see the Advice and Support at Keele (ASK) webpages for a list of local GP surgeries.

We recommend that you arrange with your doctor at home to have vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella, poliomyelitis, tetanus and meningitis group C.  If you have not had these, they will be offered to you at registration.

Timetable for Registration at the Health Centre

Monday 24 September

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames A-D

Tuesday 25 September

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames E-I

Wednesday 26 September

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames J-N

Thursday 27 September

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames O-R

Friday 28 September

9am - 4.30pm                  Surnames S-Z

If you are unable to register at your allotted time, or are enrolling at Keele at any time other than September, then you can register with the Health Centre during normal practice opening hours.