What is the Programme?

Please arrive on Wednesday 25th September 2013 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 25th September, you must inform accommodation@keele.ac.uk, international@keele.ac.uk 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 25th to Sunday 29th 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 25th September 11am - 7pm, Chancellor's Building Exhibition Suite

Students arriving on Wednesday 25th September who are living in campus accommodation can collect their keys from 11am to 7pm 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 printed copies of your signed Accommodation 'Boarding Pass' - 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 7pm, 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 26th September 10am, Westminster Theatre

On Thursday 26th September at 10am, a member of the University Executive will welcome you to the University.

Thursday 26th 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 26th 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 26th September, you must inform accommodation@keele.ac.uk or international@keele.ac.uk.

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 or Biometric Residence Permit, which we will photocopy and keep for our records.

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 26th September from 2-4pm is for undergraduate students with surnames beginning with A-J. 
  • Session 2 on Friday 27th September from 10am-12 midday is for undergraduate students with surnames beginning with K-Z.
  • The International Student Language Assessment Session for postgraduate students is on Saturday 28th September from 10am-12 midday.

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 elu@keele.ac.uk as soon as possible. 

Thursday 26th September 6.30pm - 10.30pm, Lindsay Cafe Bar within Lindsay Halls of Residence

Join us for a fun quiz with an international theme.  Compete in teams to win some great prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners and don't worry if you are coming alone, you will soon be welcomed into a team and make some great friends at the same time.  Food is available to buy from the bar.

Friday 27th September 12.30pm - 1.30pm, Dorothy Hodgkin Building

If you are not sure about how you will be taught at Keele and want to ask questions about your learning, join Emee and Richard, two of our most inspiring academic staff members, in an interactive workshop to discover what it will mean to be in a seminar or what a tutorial is for and how to get the most from a lecture.

Friday 27th September 7.30pm - 10.30pm, Keele Hall Ballroom

The highlight of the International Orientation Programme is the International Welcome Ball in Keele Hall.  The evening starts with a non-alcoholic welcome drink followed by a few short speeches and then a mouth-watering buffet dinner.  After the dinner, the disco will start so join the Mayor and Mayoress of Newcastle-under-Lyme, all of the staff that organised and participated in the International Orientation Programme and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in welcoming you to Keele University and celebrating the start of your academic career.

Sunday 29th September 2pm - 5pm, KeeleSU Union Square

After the Vice-Chancellor opens the curtain to your life at Keele, the Welcome Festival begins.  From 2-5pm 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.

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, Dr O'Byrne (male) and Dr Deaville (female), and there are two specialist Nurse Practitioners.  If you do not wish to register with the Health Centre, visit Keele Students' Union Advice and Support at Keele (ASK) to see 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. 

Timetable for Registration at the Health Centre

Monday 30th September

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames A-L

Tuesday 1st October

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames A-L

Wednesday 2nd October

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames M-Z

Thursday 3rd October

9am - 5.45pm                  Surnames M-Z

Friday 4th October

9am - 4.30pm                  Surnames M-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.

Reception Opening Times

Monday 8am - 6pm

Tuesday 8am - 6pm

Wednesday 7.30am - 7.30pm

Thursday 8am - 1pm

Friday 8am - 6pm

Dispensary Collection Times

Monday 8.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.45pm

Tuesday 8.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.45pm

Wednesday 8.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 7.15pm

Thursday 8.30am - 1pm

Friday 8.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.45pm