Keele International: Study Abroad

Clothing

If you are coming to the UK for the first time, we know there is a huge temptation to bring everything you own.  We have put together the following information to help you decide what you will really need.

Clothing

The British climate is unpredictable and very changeable, which means that cold, windy and wet weather can occur at any time of the year.  It is rarely hotter than 30 degrees celsius and temperatures may drop below 0 degrees celsius during the winter months.  Therefore, you will need warm and waterproof clothing for your stay in the UK.  If possible you should bring some warm clothing with you, but it may be cheaper to buy suitable clothes when you get here. 

The average September temperatures are 15 degrees celsius so it can feel cold when you arrive.  It is advisable to dress in several thin laters such as a t-shirt, shirt and jumper so that you can adjust to the different temperatures inside and outside.

The average January temperatures are 5 degrees celsius so it will feel cold when you arrive. It is advisable to dress in several warm/thick layers, and a waterproof coat. Sensible shoes are also advisable as we are prone to bouts of frost and snow during this time of year.

You will have to wash your own clothes while you are here (there are launderettes attached to each Hall of Residence on campus), so choose clothes that are easy to keep clean for everyday use as dry cleaning can be expensive in the UK.

Dress at the University is generally informal but it is suggested that you bring your national dress, traditional clothes or a smart outfit for some of the formal events.

Electrical Appliances & Electrical Items

The standard electricity supply in the UK is 220 / 240 volts, 50 cycles AC, and the standard outlet is a 13-amp square 3-pin plug. Each room on University campus is equipped with one 13-amp socket.

If you are going to be living in university accommodation, you must ensure that if you bring your laptop it should be Portable Appliance Tested, and ensure that it complies with UK and EU Electrical Safety standards.

If you don't have a computer, there are computers in the IT Suite on the Ground Floor of the Library.

The University accommodation provides a kettle, toaster and a microwave in most halls, so you will not need to bring these with you.  We offer a Trash and Treasure which will enable you to purchase items at a very cheap price.

Please note: mini fridges and heaters are NOT allowed in University accommodation.

You will have a chance to buy anything you forget to bring with you if you go on the supermarket shuttle to Newcastle on Saturday 18th January in the afternoon.

Luggage

Remember to clearly label any luggage you bring with you. You should put your university address on the labels of your luggage.  If you are travelling by air the personal baggage allowance is usually 20 kilograms (approximately one large suitcase) and one item of hand luggage (approximately 5 kilograms).  However, if you are travelling from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Carribean, Columbia or Nigeria you are permitted two items of luggage up to 62 inches (158cms) in size and 23 kilograms in weight.

CERTAIN AIRLINES OFFER DIFFERENT LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES, SO PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU FLY.

Please do not send any luggage in advance of your arrival as we have no supervised storage space.  If any packages valued over £500 are being sent, you should ask the freight service to hold these and arrange to have them delivered after you arrive at Keele.

Bed Linen & Cooking Equipment

The Trash and Treasure sale will give you the chance to buy cooking equipment, but there are plenty of shops in Hanley and Newcastle selling items of bed linen.  We do not provide cooking equipment but again, there are a number of shops in the area where you can purchase items such as pots, pans, crockery and cutlery.  You will be able to purchase these during International Orientation using the Supermarket Shuttle service.  Alternatively, a company called Gailarde produce special bedding and kitchenware packs that can be delivered directly to you, although it can be quite expensive.  You can find their products and prices at http://www.gailarde.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=72.

You may wish to pack other items such as towels, dish cloths, tea towels, coat hangers, a battery alarm clock, a small backpack or rucksack, a torch or flashlight, a good English dictionary, laundry bag and camera.

Food

The local markets and shopping areas of Stoke-on-Trent sell many different foods from around the world, so you do not need to bring this with you.  You can ask the International Orientation Assistants and receive advice on where to shop during International Orientation.  If you want to bring certain items of food with you then please look at the Customs section of this website, as there are many products that you cannot bring into the UK.

Books and study materials

If you buy textbooks at home they will take up a lot of your luggage allowance.  We recommend you borrow texts from the library or you buy them from the Students' Union second-hand book sales.  If you do want to buy your own, there is a Waterstones bookshop on campus.

Documentation

Please bring with you your letter of acceptance and your fresher's hanbook

http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-immigration.htmdbook.

To view the ‌Fresher's Handbook 2012/13