International Freshers' Guide 2020-2021 - The Queen's College University of Oxford
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The Queen’s College
University of Oxford
International Freshers’ Guide
2020-2021
• MCR President: Sean Telford
• MCR International Representative: Mary O’Connor
1
• MCR International Handbook Authors: Hannah Willis and Mary O’Connor
INTRODUCTION 3
Introduce ourselves 3
Contacts 4
BEFORE ARRIVING IN OXFORD 5
What to bring 5
GETTING TO OXFORD 6
Before you Arrive 6
ON ARRIVAL IN OXFORD 11
Getting access to your College room 11
Coronavirus and Quarantine Information 11
College accommodation 12
ONCE IN OXFORD 13
Freshers’ Week 13
Banking 13
Getting a SIM card 14
Buying food 15
Buying other supplies 16
Healthcare and Insurance 17
Brexit 17
Welfare support 18
Post 18
18
2
Introduction
Introduce ourselves
Hi there! We are your MCR International Freshers Week Representatives. This means
that we will be supporting all international students throughout quarantine and
fresher’s week with any questions or concerns you have.
Who we are?
Mary
Hi, my name is Mary O'Connor and I
am from Ireland. During my
undergraduate degree I studied
abroad in the US and came to the UK
for my masters, so I'm very familiar
with what it feels like to be an
international student and the different
challenges people face when they
come to a new country. I am currently
in the second year of my MPhil in
Medieval English where I specialise in
Old Norse and Romance literature.
Hannah
Hello! My name is Hannah Willis. Although I am from
the UK, I have spent a lot of time travelling and working
in different countries and so understand what it feels
like to move to a new country. I have also lived in
Oxford for over two years which means I have lots of
experience of the University and Oxford itself. I am
currently in my second year of a DPhil in Clinical
Neuroscience, but previously worked as a research
assistant in the Experimental Psychology department.
3
Contacts Here is a list of useful contacts for any questions you may have. MCR President: Sean Telford sean.telford@materials.ox.ac.uk MCR International Fresher Week Representatives Mary O’Connor mary.oconnor@queens.ox.ac.uk Hannah Willis hannah.willis@ndcn.ox.ac.uk Contacts at Queen’s https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/contact-us Queen’s College Porters Lodge All questions about quarantine should be directed to the lodge. lodge@queens.ox.ac.uk Queen’s College Bursar All questions about accommodation should be directed to the bursar marie.bracey@queens.ox.ac.uk Update Queen’s College coronavirus information https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus-information Queen’s College MCR Facebook pages: General Queen’s College MCR page Queen’s College MCR 2020-21 page University coronavirus test and trace https://www.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus/health/covid-testing Government advice on self-isolation https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self- isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you- travel-to-the-uk 4
Before arriving in Oxford
What to bring
While Oxford is a vibrant city with plenty of shops and facilities to serve your every
need and want, you will need to bring a few things with you prior to your arrival.
Here is a suggested list of items to bring with you to Oxford:
o Clothes
o If you are from a warm country, bring clothes twice as warm as you
think you need. Keep in mind that IT RAINS A LOT IN ENGLAND. So
waterproof shoes and a good rain jacket are an absolute must!
o Towels
o Basic toiletries
o Toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, moisturiser, hand soap, hand
sanitiser (and anything else you think you ABSOLUTELY cannot live
without).
o ID
o You must bring your passport and use this for registering for banks,
etc. If you are from the EU or an EEA country, bring your EHIC card as
students with EHIC cards are still covered for the NHS until June 2021.
o Bring food from home!
o While Oxford has a wide choice of foods and stores from around the
world, sometimes you will not be able to find your favourite snacks and
treats from home. It’s a great idea to bring some of your some with
you, at least for the first few weeks. They can also be a great comfort
to have (a taste of home?) when you are settling into a new country.
o Due to quarantine restrictions for students arriving from countries outside of
the UK, the Queen’s College has agreed to supply basic cutlery and bedding
supplies for students. However, after self-isolation you may wish to purchase
your own cooking utensils, crockery and bedding.
o Electronics
o Laptop/ computer/ tablet
o Chargers
o Adaptors
o Mobile Phone
o Cash for a few weeks until you can get your bank account set up
o Enough medication to last until you can get your prescription set-up in one of
the pharmacies in Oxford
5
Getting to Oxford
Before you Arrive
Visa
For students from the EU and Switzerland, a visa is not required. Students outside of
these countries may require a visa. Please refer to the university’s guidelines on
applying for visas and visa conditions.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/international
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa
student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk
https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
If you are staying in College-managed accommodation and will be required to self-
isolate, before your arrival, please ensure you have:
o Been given permission for the arrival date and you have confirmed an
approximate arrival time in Oxford (db.office@queens.ox.ac.uk). We
understand there may be last-minute delays and changes (see below).
o Signed (agreed) your Summary Licence Agreement and the date of your
contract matches your permitted arrival date (your Licence Agreement should
either be returned by email as a pdf of the form, or by online agreement). If
not contact db.office@queens.ox.ac.uk.
Flying
Contact your College to find out where you can collect your keys, discuss arrival
times, and quarantine (if needed) before finalising your travel plans.
As of July 2020, it is now required by law to wear face coverings while using public
transport or indoor transport hubs (such as airports, rail and tram stations, and bus
and coach stations). These rules also apply to shops and supermarkets; indoor
shopping centres; banks, building societies, and post offices. Please make sure you
bring face coverings with you on your journey.
6
Consider purchasing bus and train tickets online
in advance of your journey, so that you are
guaranteed a seat for your preferred time of
onward travel.
You may wish to avail yourself of one of a
number of Airport ATMs and currency exchange
services when arriving in the UK, since not all
international bank cards are supported for contactless payments on public transit,
and taxis in Oxford may not accept card payments
Please notify the Queen’s College Porters’ lodge (lodge@queens.ox.ac.uk) and the
Domestic Bursar Office (db.office@queens.ox.ac.uk) immediately of any changes to
flights or cancellations. The lodge is open 24/7 and can be reached at 01865
279120.
When you are approximately an hour from Oxford, please ring the Lodge on the
above number to confirm any final details. This is important – please do not forget
Heathrow Airport
o Under current lockdown conditions, buses depart once an hour instead of
every 20-30 minutes.
o Buses have charging points for your phone/laptop (remember your UK plug
adapter), toilets, and free Wi-Fi internet access. You can pay in cash (£, €, US
$) on the bus, or by credit or debit card in the bus station
o Arriving at Terminal 1, 2 or 3: follow the signs in the arrival hall to the Central
Bus Station, then take the lift up to the bus station and you will arrive in the
ticket hall.
o Arriving at Terminal 4: follow the signs in the arrival hall to ‘the trains’ and
take the free Heathrow Connect train service to ‘Heathrow Central’; a three-
minute train journey. Follow the signs to the Central Bus Station, take the lift
up to the bus station and you will arrive in the ticket hall.
o Arriving at Terminal 5: the bus service to Oxford also departs from Terminal 5
next to the arrival area (stop 10), so you do not need to go to the Central Bus
Station
o Heathrow currently has temporary airline terminal moves in place. You can
check which terminal your flight lands in; consult their journey planner for
services operating when you land.
o http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/airport-maps
Time: 01:40 Cost: £23
7
Gatwick Airport
o A similar bus service operates from Gatwick to Oxford (see the website
below). Under current lockdown conditions, buses depart every 2 hours
instead of once an hour
o All flights to and from Gatwick are temporarily operating from the North
Terminal, where the bus leaves from Lower Forecourt stands 4 and 5.
Students planning for train connections will need to take the free airport
shuttle to the South Terminal.
o Gatwick has prepared departure and arrival Covid-19 Travel Information for
passengers, and you can view their infographic which contains guidance
under the current social distancing measures.
Time: 02:40 Cost £28
For further information for Heathrow or Gatwick airline buses visit:
http://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/
Stansted Airport
o A number of airlines arrive at Stansted from European destinations, but it is a
longer journey to reach Oxford from Stansted than it is from Heathrow or
Gatwick.
o There are 8 buses a day that run from Stanstead to Oxford between 01:00-
22:00.*
o The bus/coach station is a 2-minute walk from the airport terminal, located
opposite the main terminal entrance. You will need to take the National
Express bus to central London (Victoria Coach Station and change to the
Oxford Tube bus
o If travelling by train, you can also take the Stansted Express train to London
Liverpool Street station and then change on the Underground to reach
London Paddington and then take the train to Oxford.
o Prices and journey times vary, and you should check travel times before you
book your flight to ensure that connecting travel to Oxford is available at the
time you land in the UK
Time: Varies, depends on connections Cost: Varies
http://www.nationalexpress.com/
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/tube/
8
Birmingham Airport
o Some airlines fly directly into Birmingham airport. This can be a great
alternative to flying into one of the London airports as it is (usually) quieter
and cheaper and has a direct train service to Oxford.
o Take the Air-Link Rail from Birmingham Airport (2-minute journey) to
Birmingham International Station. From here you can purchase your ticket
and take a train directly to Oxford
o Refer to Birmingham Airport’s website for guidance on Covid-19:
https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/covid-19-update-and-advice/
o Tickets can be purchased from https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/ or
further enquiries at
https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/BHI/OXF/today/2015/dep
Time: 01:00 Cost: depends on time of day
Eurostar/Train
From the Eurostar terminus at London St Pancras station you can either*:
Take the Underground to London Paddington station (20 minutes with Circle or
Hammersmith & City line) and then the train to Oxford (1 hour). Or, take the
Underground from London St Pancras station to Victoria (12 minutes with Victoria
line) and then the Oxford Tube bus (1 hour 30 minutes).
http://www.oxfordtube.com/
Time: Varies Cost: Varies
9
Taxis At Gloucester Green Bus Station, you will find taxis waiting in the large square behind the bus station. These can take you to your accommodation. The average fare will be about £5 to £10 for Oxford Colleges in the city centre or just over £10 if your College is further away from the city centre. If you have a lot of luggage the last stop (Gloucester Green) might be more convenient for you, and it’s easier to get a taxi there. If you are arriving by train, there are taxis outside the train station which can take you to your college, prices will vary from £10 to £40 depending on where your College is located. There are also luggage storage offices based in Gloucester Gren. For more information, see here. 001 Taxis App available or call 01865240000 Royal Cars App available or call 01865777333 Oxford Blue Taxis App Available or Call 01865 2388 88 10
On arrival in Oxford Getting access to your College room Generally college will arrange to leave the key in your room, hand them over to you at your location, or if you wish, the key may be made available to a friend who will pass it to you; however you must give permission for them to do this. Please contact the Lodge, lodge@queens.ox.ac.uk, to give this permission and inform who will collect the key and arrange the time of collection. Coronavirus and Quarantine Information Queen’s students living in Queen’s accommodation or living in private accommodation away from the College who become ill after arrival should inform the Lodge and the Domestic Bursar marie.bracey@queens.ox.ac.uk, immediately. The Domestic Bursar and the Welfare Officer are the lead contacts for you during this time. The Lodge will handle your details with discretion and pass the information to the Domestic Bursar who will ensure that both logistic and welfare arrangements are made to look after you. You may wish to inform yourself about the University’s own Early Alert Service (information to follow). Tests can be booked, and the University website will soon have helpful information for using the service, and if you should test positive [information not yet available – to follow]. Because you are not permitted to go to shops and cannot fully cook for yourself, we will help to support you. However, during your stay, because you are self-isolating as a precautionary measure, or if you become unwell but have only have mild symptoms, we will generally leave you to make your own decisions about how you wish to provide for yourself. If you are really not well, we will keep in touch with you, make sure you have enough to eat, and assist in making any medical arrangements if necessary. Food provision: You will be supplied separate information about food and other provisions. 11
Further information Update Queen’s College coronavirus information https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus-information University coronavirus test and trace https://www.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus/health/covid-testing Government advice on self-isolation https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self- isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you- travel-to-the-uk College accommodation Here are some of the routes for finding your way around Oxford. We have highlighted a few popular routes between the train station, Gloucester Green coach station, Venneit Close and college. 12
Once in Oxford Freshers’ Week Up to date information on Fresher’s Week will be posted on the MCR website (https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/freshersweek). This will be updated to stay within the current government and University guidelines. Banking Once you arrive in the UK, you will need to open a UK bank account to avoid high transaction fees. The main banks with branches in Oxford are HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, RBS, NatWest, Nationwide and Santander. At most banks, to open an account, you will need to book an appointment and bring with you identification (e.g. passport), Oxford Student Enrolment Certificate OR Proof of Residence (found at evision.ox.ac.uk under Student Record and will need to be stamped by the Queen’s academic office – contact college office for up-to-date information). Once set up, your card and PIN number will arrive by post. This process can sometimes take a while (1 week+) so we suggest you bring some cash with you (we suggest £400) to avoid large fees. Banks are likely to be busy at the beginning of term so try book this appointment as soon as you can. Alternatively, a popular bank in the UK is Monzo (https://monzo.com/). They have no premises and function using an app and website. To open a bank with Monzo you will still need your ID (e.g. passport) and UK address. You can sign up on the Monzo app, and they will ask you to photograph your ID and a short video of yourself. You are able to use your Monzo bank card to withdraw money at ATMs across Oxford, but any issues you have will be resolved through the app or website (rather than going into your local branch). You also get a very jazzy bright pink card. There is no ‘perfect’ bank to use, they all have slightly different benefits, but are largely the same. Some things to think about are: ease/cost of international transfers, online banking services, overdraft rate, any ‘rewards’ they offer (e.g. free rail card, travel insurance, cash). 13
Getting a SIM card
It is a good idea to get a UK sim card once you arrive. Although it is not essential, it
will likely be easier and cheaper. There are lots of different phone companies in the
UK and largely very similar. There are two kinds of contact you can get, and this may
affect your choice:
Pay-as-you-go SIM
With this contract, you pay once a month, with no
commitment. It is easy to cancel, freeze and continue
whenever you want to.
Contract
With this contract you will have to commit for at least 6
months. This means you will pay an agreed monthly
amount till the end of the contract. You must have a UK
bank account to set this up. These contracts often work
out as cheaper, and on some contracts, you can get a new
phone.
Phone companies in Oxford
EE
Location: Westgate shopping centre, Cornmarket Street
Our opinion: Pretty good reception across Oxford.
GiffGaff
Location: No in-person stores, support is provided on forums on their website.
Our opinion: Good support through forums, cheaper monthly contracts, good place
to buy second hand or new phones.
O2
Location: Clarendon Centre, Templars Square (Cowley)
Our opinion: We have no experience of them but haven’t heard anything bad.
Three
Location: Westgate shopping centre
Our opinion: Bad reception in some places in Oxford. Good value.
Vodafone
Location: Cornmarket Street
Our opinion: Good value, good reception, good support staff in the Oxford shop.
14Buying food There are many supermarkets in Oxford and depending on where you live and what you like to eat, some will be better than others. For some supermarkets, it is possible to order food online and have it delivered. This might be particularly useful if you are quarantining or unable to carry large items. Some supermarkets have online delivery. You will probably need to make an account, book a delivery slot, and pay online with a card. You will also need to be available to collect the delivery at the specified time. Tesco Location: Medium sized Tesco Metro on Magdalen Street. Tesco Express across Oxford Amenities: Food, Homeware, Clothing, Bank, Phone, Photos Online delivery: Yes Our opinion: Good value, good choice. Sainsbury’s Location: Small stores across Oxford, larger store in Temple Cowley Amenities: Food, Homeware, Clothing, Bank Online: Yes Our opinion: Good value, good choice. Co-operative (Co-op) Location: Small stores in Jericho, bigger stores in Summertown and Headington. Amenities: Food, Prescriptions Online: Yes Our opinion: Good choice, bit more expensive. Aldi Location: Botley Road Amenities: Food, limited homeware, clothing (varies weekly). Online: Yes Our opinion: More restricted choice but much cheaper. Ox-Unboxed Location: Little Clarendon Street, Jericho Amenities: Dried food, household liquids Our opinion: Takes a bit more time, but a good way to avoid plastic and reasonably priced (it’s a not-for-profit). 15
Buying other supplies
IKEA
A company that sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and
homeware.
Freecycle/Gumtree
Websites where you can get second-hand items for free (Freecycle) or for reduced
cost. Great places to look for furniture and homeware.
Argos
A company where you can buy a range of products and reasonably priced. You can
order online or visit a store.
Westgate Shopping Centre
There are lots of different shops in the Westgate Shopping Centre.
Supermarkets
Many supermarkets also sell homeware (e.g. duvet, sheets, pillows), clothes,
toiletries.
Boots/Superdrug
The main health, beauty and pharmacy chains in the UK.
Bike shops
There are several bike shops across Oxford. Here are some suggestions:
You can buy second-hand bikes on GumTree or Ebay. You can buy new bikes or get
your bike fixed at Decathalon, Oxford Bicycle Company or Walton Street Cycles.
Broken Spoke
Broken Spoke is a not-for-profit social
enterprise based in Oxford. They sell second-
hand bikes and parts and have open
workshop support and mechanics courses.
The University will also cover up to six hours
of free cycle training with Broken Spoke
(https://travel.admin.ox.ac.uk/bike/oxford).
16Healthcare and Insurance There is good information on the Oxford University website (https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/international). For any further details, contact the college office. Brexit Brexit (the UK’s decision to leave the European Union) should hopefully not affect your studies. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss student, you will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to be able to remain in the UK after June 30th 2021. We would advise getting the documentation required and applying as soon as possible, as the waiting times can be quite significant. https://www.gov.uk/eusettledstatus. For further information on Oxford support on the EU Settlement Scheme here: https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/EU%20Settlement%20S cheme%20presentation%203%20March%202020.pdf 17
Welfare support
There is a lot of welfare support at Oxford and at The Queen’s College. Here are
some helpful links. You could also speak to our MCR Welfare Representative (Becky
Hodgkinson, email rebekah.hodgkinson@queens.ox.ac.uk).
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/counselling
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/health
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/peersupport
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/harassment
https://www.ox.ac.uk/students/welfare/supportservice
https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/welfare
https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/finance-and-student-support
Post
It is possible to order packages to the Queen’s
College Porters. This means that you do not
have to make sure you are home to receive
packages. You can then collect these parcels
from the Parcel Room in college.
If you are quarantining, it will be best for you to
order any parcels to your home address (e.g.
Venneit Close). Temporarily, if you order
packages to Queen’s, we will be able to
forward your post to you. You must email the
porters lodge, copying in the MCR president
giving permission for this to happen.
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