EFL Student Handbook 09 10 August 2009

EFL
HANDBOOK
2009-2010
EFL Section
Centre for English Learning and Teaching (CELT)
School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages
University of Westminster
309 Regent Street
LONDON W1B 2UW
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION: WELCOME AND STAFF DETAILS......................................................................................1
2. WHO TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IF ...............................................................................................................2
3. TEACHING AND CLASSROOMS ......................................................................................................................4
4. PLACES AND SERVICES TO FIND AND USE IN THE UNIVERSITY .............................................................5

4.1 Library .......................................................................................................................................................5
4.2 The Learning Advice Centre (LAC) and Learning Advisor Service...........................................................5
4.3 Mary Ford Library ......................................................................................................................................6
4.4 Computer Rooms ......................................................................................................................................6
4.5 The Deep End ...........................................................................................................................................6
4.6 School Registry .........................................................................................................................................6
4.7 Telephones................................................................................................................................................6
4.8 Sport ........................................................................................................................................................7
4.9 Polyclinic ...................................................................................................................................................7
4.10 Students’ Union .........................................................................................................................................8
4.11 Student Welfare.........................................................................................................................................8
5. CULTURAL PROGRAMME AND VISITING LONDON......................................................................................9
6. GETTING INVOLVED OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY .......................................................................................10
7. LOOKING FOR JOBS ......................................................................................................................................13
8. INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS .............................................................................................................15

8.1 Recognition for Overseas Qualifications .................................................................................................15
8.2 IELTS Courses ........................................................................................................................................15
8.3 IELTS Exam ............................................................................................................................................16
9. ACCOMMODATION .........................................................................................................................................17
10. BANKS ..............................................................................................................................................................20
11. INSURANCE .....................................................................................................................................................21
12. SCHOLARSHIPS ..............................................................................................................................................21
13. HEALTH (WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ILL) .....................................................................................................22

13.1 Student Health Centre.............................................................................................................................22
13.2 NHS Direct ..............................................................................................................................................22
13.3 Medicentres.............................................................................................................................................23
13.4 Contraception and Abortion ....................................................................................................................24
13.5 HIV / AIDS ...............................................................................................................................................24
13.6 Complementary Medicine .......................................................................................................................24
13.7 Helplines..................................................................................................................................................25
14. TELEPHONES ..................................................................................................................................................26
15. TRAVEL ............................................................................................................................................................27

15.1 Getting Around London – London Transport ..........................................................................................27
15.2 Travel Around the UK..............................................................................................................................28
15.3 Travel Abroad..........................................................................................................................................29
16. RELIGION ......................................................................................................................................................32
17. TIMETABLE ......................................................................................................................................................33
18. CLASSROOM LANGUAGE..............................................................................................................................34
19. PLACES TO VISIT IN LONDON.......................................................................................................................36
20. USEFUL FACTS ...............................................................................................................................................38
21. IMPORTANT DATES ........................................................................................................................................39
22. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE...........................................................................................................................40

WELCOME
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER!
We hope you will enjoy using this handbook on the University and life in London. We have tried
to include all the information you may need, but if there's anything you think is missing - let us
know!
1. INTRODUCTION: WELCOME AND STAFF DETAILS

Everybody in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Section is here to help you!
Here are some people you might like to talk to:
EFL Coordinator Team: Wells Street Room 112
Caroline Caygill – Coordinator – Groups

C.Caygill01@wmin.ac.uk., 020 7911 5000 ext. 2327
Rose Nicols – IELTS Coordinator

nicolsr@wmin.ac.uk, 020 7911 5000 ext. 2339
David Robson – Coordinator – Full-time Courses

robsond@wmin.ac.uk, 020 7911 5000 ext. 2326
Rebecca Sewell – Coordinator – Part-time Courses (afternoons and

evenings)
sewellre@wmin.ac.uk, 020 7911 5000 ext. 2306
Look at the Intranet: www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-1462, for more information.
Other members of staff look after the Cultural Programme and Student Welfare. Please
look at the noticeboards outside W107 and R315. We will give you information about other
people you might like to talk to at your induction on the first day of the course.
If you have any queries about booking your course, or you need a student card, go to:
School Registry
Ground Floor, Wells Street
Open: Mon-Thurs 12.30pm – 6.00pm
Fri 12.30pm – 3.30pm
(see map on the back)
English as a Foreign Language 1 Student Handbook 2009-2010

2. WHO TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IF:
• you want an official If you want an official letter confirming you are a student
letter here, go to the School Registry, Ground Floor, Wells Street.
• you need to get a Go to the School Registry, Ground Floor, Wells Street. If you
student card lose your card, you will have to pay £10 for a new one.
• you want to book a We explain this at the Induction. If you want to book, you can
place on a trip on the see Frances Lee outside the Mary Ford Library, R600, in
Cultural Programme Regent Street on Mondays between 12pm and 1pm.
• you are not happy with You should first speak to your course tutor. If you are not
your class satisfied with this, you can see any one of the four
Coordinators in Wells Street, Room 112.
• you want to extend your You should go to www.westminster.ac.uk/page-4596 for

visa information about how to extend your visa.
• you want computer • You may use the computers in the computer rooms in
access any of the University buildings.
• When you log in for the first time, in the space after
‘Username’ you must type ‘w’ followed by the first 7
numbers on your ID card (but not the 8th number).
• Then move to the space after ‘Password’, and type in
your date of birth using the form DDMMYYYY, where
DD is the double figure of the day, MM the double
figure of the month, and YYYY the full four-figure
number of the year. For example, 28 July 1988 is
written as 28071988.
• You will then be asked to change your password to one
you choose yourself. This should have six different
characters. If the computer will not accept the
characters you choose, try a different one until you find
one it will accept.
• You must now use this password every time you log in.
Log off, and wait 20 minutes before logging in again
and using the computer.
• All students can bring their laptops to the University and
use the wifi in the library and certain other areas.
• you want computer help All requests for IT Help should be made via ResolveIT the
new online system for staff and students, follow the links
from www.wmin.ac.uk homepage and click on ‘IT Help’, or by
calling the FixIT Centre on 0207 915 5488, a university
staffed call centre.
• you are ill Tell your teacher, or contact staff at Reception, who will call
a person trained in First Aid. See section in this handbook on
Health, from page 20.

• you are arrested Keep calm and do not panic. You have certain rights,
including the right to be treated fairly by the police. You do
not have to say anything to the police, but if you are later
charged with a crime and you haven’t mentioned something
that you later rely on in court, then this will be noted.
Get a solicitor (a lawyer) to see you in the police station

as soon as possible. Anything you say can later be used
against you, so always wait until a solicitor is present to
discuss matters with the police. This is your right. You must
therefore insist on seeing a solicitor (it is free if you have
been arrested and are in custody) who must be present
when you are interviewed. Do not write a statement or sign
anything written by the police until you have seen a solicitor.
You have the right to know why you have been arrested and
the right to see the written codes that govern your rights and
how you are treated. You cannot be kept in custody
indefinitely (normally 24 hours, longer for serious offences).
Make sure the correct time of your arrest is on the custody
record.
For information and help in dealing with the police, the courts
or drug problems, contact Release. They have an advice
line: 020 7729 9904 (10.00am – 6.00pm Monday to
Friday). Emergency helpline: 020 7603 8654 (at all other
times). (This is for information only, and we cannot be held
responsible for any errors, although we have done our best
to check for errors. It is always better to get professional
legal help by contacting Release or your local Citizens’
Advice Bureau.)
• you have a problem Please try not to be late! However, if you have a special
which makes you late reason for being late, please explain to your teacher.

3. TEACHING AND CLASSROOMS
Classrooms
Teaching takes place at 309 Regent Street and at 32-38 Wells Street. Our visits and
excursions generally leave from Regent Street.
Teaching and Classrooms
You may find our teaching methods different from what you are used to at home. With us
you will be learning English through English. This means that you will use English in the
classroom all the time. At first, listening to English and speaking English with your teacher
and the other students may be difficult for you. But in time we are sure you will see a big
improvement in your listening and speaking skills.
Our teaching style is friendly and informal. We behave like this because we believe it helps
students to feel more relaxed and comfortable, so that they will take part in classroom
activities and speak more easily. We hope you agree with this. We do not mean to offend
you by our style, but please let us know if we do!
You will be in a class with students from different countries and cultures. The students in
your class will have about the same level of English as you, although some may be better
at some things and others at other things. Your educational background and the way you
learnt English at home may be different from theirs, but we hope that you will be able to
work together and to learn from each other. Try to take part in the classroom activities and
speak as much as possible – that is the best way to improve your English.
Changing Classes
We try to place you in the correct class, but if you feel you have to change your level, you
must first talk to your teacher. If your teacher agrees, he/she who will then fill in a transfer
form and give it to the Course Director. There is a deadline for changing classes.
Student Representatives
Each class elects a Student Representative. This student gives feedback about the class
and course at the Student Representative Meetings. All the Student Representatives and
two members of the Management Staff attend these meetings. The comments and queries
that arise during these meetings are responded to within one week of the meeting being
held.
Mobile Phones
Please switch off your mobile phone during lessons. It is disrespectful to your teacher and
the other students to make or receive phone calls or to send or receive text messages.
Your attention and participation is essential for working with your classmates.
Lateness
Please arrive on time for your lessons. If you are going to be late or absent, phone
another student in your class and ask them to tell your teacher, or email your teacher
before the class is due to start.

4. PLACES AND SERVICES TO FIND AND USE IN THE
UNIVERSITY
4.1 Library
Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/library
The main library for the SSHL is at 4-12 Little Titchfield Street. Your teacher will take
you there. See the website for opening hours.
4.2 Learning Advice Centre and Learning Advisor Service
The Learning Advice Centre (LAC), situated in the basement of Regent Library on
Little Titchfield Street, provides facilities for English language learning in the form of:
• A range of resources (books, CDs, tapes) covering the different skill areas e.g.:
grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, exams (including IELTS);
• English language films on video or DVD (these are located on the very last
shelving stack next to the emergency staircase);
• 4 live English-language television channels: BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV 1, Channel 4;
• A series of Language Learning Helpsheets containing helpful study tips (also
downloadable from the website) http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-861
• Video, DVD/CD and cassette playing/voice recording facilities;
• Computers with headphones and access to on-line learning materials.
You can use the resources and the equipment in the LAC at any time during library
opening hours; you do not have to ask or book in advance. You can borrow the
books and resources that have a green label on the spine for 1 week; you cannot
borrow the resources that have a red label but you can use them in the LAC.
Learning Advisor Service
If you are struggling to organise your work, manage your time or feel that studying is
very difficult, Maria O’Conor, the school’s Learning Advisor, is available to offer
guidance and support to help you become a more effective learner. You can request
an appointment for a 1-1 advice session with Maria by phoning 020 7911 5000 ext
2364, emailing m.oconor@westminster.ac.uk or calling in to Room 301 in the Wells
Street building.
Alternatively, from October to December 2009 and January to March 2010 there are
lunchtime drop-in advice sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in the (old)
Gymnasium, Regent Street. Look out for posters advertising exact times.
Language Exchange
There are many students at the University studying a range of languages (e.g.
Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Arabic) who would like to practise with native
speakers. If you would like to find a language exchange partner, log on to Connect,
the University’s social networking site https://connect.wmin.ac.uk/ (also accessible
through the University website), and join the Language Exchange community.
For more information or to download helpsheets, visit the LAC website:

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-861

4.3 Mary Ford Library
• The Mary Ford Library is in Room R600. It has books, cassettes and CDs at
your level for you to practise reading and listening.
• Your teacher will give you an information sheet which tells you about material in
the Mary Ford Library.
• It is open every weekday during term time between 12.30pm and 1.00pm.
• A teacher is there to give you advice about how to use the books and listening
material.
• We also have videos and DVDs, which you can watch at home, in LAC, see
section 4.2, any University of Westminster library or in the Deep End.
4.4 Computer Rooms

Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/RITS
Location of computer rooms:

• Regent Street – Basement.
• Little Titchfield Street – Basement, 1st Floor and 5th Floor.
E-mail
Once you are fully registered for your course, you will be issued with an ID card, a
registration number and your e-mail address (see page 2).
4.5 The Deep End
Where to eat
The Deep End cafeteria is in the Basement in Regent Street. It sells hot food as well
as snacks, baguettes, Danish pastries, drinks etc, and is open at lunchtime.
4.6 School Registry
This is on the Ground Floor, Wells Street. It is where you can ask for a University
letter (if you need one to confirm your registration on the course or for the UK
Borders Agency) and where you get your ID card. You will need to show this card
when you enter any University building. You also need to register for Cambridge
exams there, if you want to take them.
SCHOOL REGISTRY
Ground Floor, Wells Street
Open: Mon-Thurs 12.30pm – 6.00pm
Fri 12.30pm – 3.30pm
4.7 Telephones
There are public telephones on the ground floor in the Reception area at Regent
Street.

4.8 Sport
The Gym is at 309 Regent Street.
There is a fitness room which contains a lot of equipment and weights. To use the
fitness room you must become a member which is very cheap. You first book and
complete a fitness room induction. This involves a health screening assessment
followed by instructions on how to use the exercise machines. The appointment
takes about 45 minutes. The induction may be carried out with a maximum of 3 other
people. After your induction, you can pay as you go, or pay for a term or a whole
year.
GYM
Open: Mon-Thurs 8.30am – 9.00pm
Fri 8.00pm – 5.30pm
Weekends Closed
There are also a lot of lunchtime and evening classes in aerobics, circuits and martial
arts (see the website www.wmin.ac.uk/page-853). A sports hall is available for hire
for basketball, badminton and table tennis. You can also visit the Students' Union
Sports Secretary (in Marylebone) for details of University Sports Clubs and
activities. The football team, the rowing team and the netball (women only) team, for
example, are often looking for new members.
There is a swimming pool you can use (take your student card) at ULU (the
University of London Union) in Malet Street, opposite Waterstones Bookshop.
4.9 Polyclinic
Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/Polyclinic
This is a teaching clinic of the Centre for Community Care and Primary Health in
the University of Westminster. It is committed to the integration of complementary
medicines into mainstream NHS (National Health Service) primary care. It provides
complementary therapy teaching clinics, offering treatment at affordable prices.
Therapies available at the clinic include:
Therapeutic Massage, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Therapy, Herbal

Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Osteopathy and Craniosacral Therapy.
The therapies are available at different times and on different days, so please phone
reception for details on 020 7911 5041.
Patients are treated either by experienced practitioners or by advanced level

students under the close supervision of their tutors.
The Clinic is at the University site at 115 New Cavendish Street, beneath the
Telecom Tower, close to Warren Street, Goodge Street and Great Portland Street
underground stations. The entrance is actually in Hanson Street.
The clinic is open from Monday to Friday, from 10.00am – 4.45pm, and treatments
cost £18 per session (£12 if you are a full-time student).

4.10 Students' Union
Website: www.uwsu.com
Do you want to meet British students? Do you want to practise your English? The
University of Westminster Students’ Union (UWSU) represents students’ views at the
University and also provides recreational and social activities. It is based at
Marylebone. This is where you can find the Students’ Union Bar ‘Inter:mission’. The
Union produces a newspaper called ‘The Smoke’ and runs a radio station.
As well as sporting activities, there are other interest groups you can join (during the
academic year) – a University choir, a human rights group, political and religious
groups, drama and film clubs. There is also an International Students’ Society. See
the Students’ Union website for full details.
4.11 Student Welfare

Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/canda
This is on the 3rd Floor at Marylebone. Here you can get advice and counselling
about emotional and practical problems – if you’re homesick … worried about exams
… your boyfriend has left you … There are sessions for individuals and groups.
There is a drop-in session between 12.30 and 1.30 every day. You can also email
canda@wmin.ac.uk or phone 020 7911 5000 x 3140/3261/3232.

5. CULTURAL PROGRAMME AND VISITING LONDON
This programme comprises lunch-time classes and weekly (and occasional
weekend) visits in and around London. We consider this programme to be an
integral part of your course and experience while you are in London. Our guide is
Reg Parks. You can see what is on each week on the noticeboard outside R315.
Lunchtime Classes
The EFL department offers free lunchtime classes/lectures in a variety of areas:

Literature, Pronunciation, History, Business English, Spoken English, The News etc. They
are open classes, so you don’t need to sign up for them; just go. They are free. This is a
very good way of learning more English and meeting students from other classes. Classes
start at 1pm. If you have an afternoon class starting at 2pm, you should leave the
lunchtime class at 1.50pm.
Cultural Programme
EFL students can also participate in a varied and popular cultural programme. If you are
studying in London, part of the learning experience is seeing what the capital has to offer:
its theatres, parks and walks, museums and galleries; its architecture, its law courts and
Parliament. Before each visit, there is a talk which helps to prepare you for the trip.
There are also excursions outside London, to places like Cambridge, Bath, Hampton Court
and Rochester.
You must sign up for every visit. Come to R600 outside the Mary Ford Library to see
Frances Lee on Mondays between 12.00pm and 1.00pm.
The talks on the visits will take place every Thursday at 1.00pm in Lecture Theatre 4 in
Regent Street, and the visits leave from Reception in Regent Street at 2.15pm.
Visiting London
There is a lot to do and see in London. Our guide, Reg Parks, is always happy to advise
you about places you can visit. Reg is in the University every Thursday, from 1.00pm in
LT4 Regent Street, and then in Reception at Regent Street at 2.15pm to meet students for
the weekly visit.
For ideas about which museums and galleries to visit, theatres, cinemas (note there is the
London Film Festival in November, organised by the National Film Theatre on the South
Bank: 020 7928 3232), talks/lectures, concerts and clubs, buy the TIME OUT
entertainment and listing magazine which comes out weekly. You can also buy the book
called Time Out Visitors' Guide to London.
The website is: www.timeout.com

6. GETTING INVOLVED OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
There are a number of ways you can meet British people, and also use your English.
International Student House (ISH) (free membership to University of Westminster

students if you show your UoW Student Card)
International Student House is an independent charity in central London. They provide

free, confidential advice and information to international students in London. Specialist
advice is available on immigration, employment and fees.
They also have a social and recreational centre, with a health and fitness service, clubs
and societies (photography, badminton and football for example), free events, Friday night
discos, cultural and open evenings and a Cyber Café.
Go to reception at Great Portland Street (any day). Membership is free to University of
Westminster students and entitles you to use the House facilities and join in with all the
activities, restaurants, bars and study rooms. You can also join the ISH Club for as short a
time as one month. You may have to pay for some activities. You have to take your UoW
Student Card.
ISH is a 10-15 minute walk from Oxford Circus at 229 Great Portland Street, London, W1N
5HD, (it is near Great Portland Street Station, which you can see on the map on the on the
back cover of this handbook). Telephone 020 7631 8300. The website is www.ish.org.uk.
Voluntary Work
If you are here for more than a few months, doing some voluntary work is a really good
way to feel part of the city or borough in which you are living. Most London boroughs have
a Volunteer Bureau, where you can go and inquire about the possibilities of doing
something in your area, eg Westminster Volunteer Bureau is at 53-55 Praed Street,
London W2 (near Paddington Station), telephone 020 7402 8076. The kind of work you
could do varies from working in a charity shop to visiting elderly people or helping people
with learning difficulties.
Twice a month The Guardian newspaper advertises voluntary jobs of all kinds. Look at
the paper on a Wednesday in the Society section. You can also volunteer in hospitals, with
environmental groups, city farms or human rights organisations. In previous years a
number of our students have done voluntary work – working with “Help the Aged”, with
people with disabilities, with Oxfam and with “Red Pepper”, a left-wing journal. All the
students found their experience very worthwhile. For voluntary work overseas you can
search the VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) website, which tells you how you can work
for them abroad: www.vso.org.uk.
There is also a Community Volunteering Unit in the University where you can get advice
and help about finding volunteering opportunities. Contact the Community Volunteering
Manager, Richard Pitts, Room M301 Marylebone, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS, email
pittsr@wmin.ac.uk.
Adult Education Classes
Every London borough offers a range of adult education classes (daytime and evening) at
very reasonable rates. You can usually get an idea of what is available in your area by
asking at your local public library for information. You can take classes with British people
in anything from art and architecture, computer skills, cookery and flower arranging, to
languages, music, photography, philosophy or politics. One adult education institute in
Central London is the City Lit. (short for the City Literary Institute). Many of our students
have been there. You can pick up their brochure, free, at their building near Covent

Garden, Keeley Street, WC2B 4BA, telephone 020 7492 2600 (the line is open from
Monday to Friday 12.00pm – 17.00pm).
Do buy a copy of FLOODLIGHT. It costs (approximately) £4 from most newsagents

and lists all the evening classes in London. The website is www.floodlight.co.uk.
Public Libraries
It is a really good idea to join your local public library, the one nearest to where you are
living. You can borrow books (including EFL books), CDs and DVDs, you can study there
in peace and quiet, and they have a lot of information about what is happening in your
local area (eg choirs, drama groups, orchestras you can join, public meetings that are
being held, and talks or concerts that are taking place locally).
Some examples in the West End:
• Charing Cross Library, at 4 Charing Cross Road, WC2

• Marylebone Library at 109-117 Marylebone Road, NW1
• Westminster Reference Library at 35 St Martin’s Street, WC2
Outside Lectures
There are many places where you can go and listen to lectures on a variety of topics.
Often these are free. ‘Time Out’ usually includes talks and lectures in its listings.
Galleries and museums have lunch-time lecture programmes on topics related to their
collections (join their email lists for information).
Other universities also host guest lectures, for example Gresham College, or Kings
College, which is home to the British Institute of Human Rights, and puts on a series of
interesting talks throughout the year. Topics for their lectures can be found on the website
at www.bihr.org. UCL (University College London) has free lunchtime lectures given by
their top academics, usually on Tuesday and Thursday, 1.15pm – 1.55pm at Darwin
Theatre, Gower Street, WC1, telephone 020 7679 2088.
And, of course, the University of Westminster has a number of public lectures, with outside
speakers. These are advertised on our homepage.
Sports and Leisure Centres (outside the University)
There are sports and leisure centres in most London boroughs eg YMCAs – you don’t
have to be male or Christian, which often offer recreation classes, sometimes swimming
pools, badminton courts etc; there are also local authority, public, sport and leisure
centres, and, of course, there are private health clubs. To find what is available in your
area, go to your public library, where they should have a list of the facilities in your
particular district, look on your local borough's website, or look in the Yellow Pages under
"Leisure Centres", the Time Out Sport, Health and Fitness Guide or call Sportsline on 020
7222 8000. One public leisure and sports centre, near the University, is in Covent Garden
- Jubilee Hall Leisure Centre, 30 The Piazza, Covent Garden WC2, telephone 020 7836
4835.

Meet British people at the iClub in All Souls Church
Very close to our Regent Street building is a dramatic church with a tall slender spire on
top. This is All Souls Church, part of the Church of England. It hosts many sorts of
activities, and some of them are designed especially for foreign students like you.
The main event is a Friday evening gathering called iClub, from 7.30pm - 9.30pm in the
basement hall of the church. It is a great opportunity to make friends and practise speaking
English, because a lot of British people come from the church to join in the evening. You
don't need to be a Christian to come to the iClub; everyone is welcome!
Half of the evenings have themes (eg Mexican night, Chocolate Party, Surviving British
Culture); every week they serve dinner for the amazing price of £1. The iClub is a little bit
like our lunchtime lectures - you don't have to sign up or promise to come every week; you
can just drop in if you feel like it. Free tea and conversation, and a meal for £1 – who said
London is expensive?

7. LOOKING FOR JOBS
University Careers Service
Contact the University Careers Service, Third Floor, Marylebone Building, 35 Marylebone
Road.
The Service runs a student employment service – CaSE (Careers and Student
Employment). To register, you need to enter your details via the University Intranet site.
There is an information room with lots of really useful details about courses and careers.
You can also make an appointment to see a Careers Adviser. Help can be given with
interviews and CVs. They keep newspapers and specialist journals in which jobs are
advertised. Their details are on the intranet at www.wmin.ac.uk/careers, and you can e-
mail them on careers@wmin.ac.uk or telephone 020 7911 5184.
Job Centres
There are job centres in many parts of London (look in the telephone directory under
“Employment Service – Jobcentres” for the one nearest to where you are living), eg the
Holborn Jobcentre at 289 High Holborn, WC1 or the Islington Jobcentre at 4 Upper Street,
N1. They keep lists of job vacancies.
Newspapers
Public libraries keep copies of the daily newspapers, and you can look in these for jobs
too. The Evening Standard (London’s evening paper, which comes out mid-morning), The
Independent. The Guardian advertises different jobs on different days of the week
(Monday: Media and Communication; Tuesday: Education; Wednesday: Public and Social
Work; Thursday: IT. Voluntary jobs are advertised every fortnight.
The University library in Little Titchfield Street takes quality papers daily: The Times, The
Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent.
See The Guardian website www.jobs.guardian.co.uk.
The free paper – Metro – also features jobs of all kinds. Specialist, professional
magazines, eg Computer Weekly, are useful too. You can buy these at WH Smiths.
Working in the UK as an International Student
If you are a student from a European Economic Area country you do not need permission
to work in the UK.
If you are from outside the European Economic Area, you can work if you meet these
conditions:
• you work in your spare time while in term time and full-time in the vacations;
• you take a work placement with an employer (sandwich students);
• you take an internship placement with an employer.
However, you may not work if your visa or passport stamp states NO WORK or
EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED or that you must NOT ENGAGE IN EMPLOYMENT
(unless it also contains the words CONSENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE).

As an international student from outside the EEA, you may not:
• work for more than twenty hours per week during term time, except in the case of an
agreed work placement or internship;
• engage in business or self-employment, or provide services as a professional
sportsperson or entertainer;
• pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy.
All international students from outside the EEA who are studying in the UK are authorised
to work, subject to the conditions above. You no longer require permission from a Job
Centre to take work in the UK, or from the Department of Education and Employment for a
sandwich or internship placement.
For advice on immigration matters and working in the UK, you can see one of the
specialist advisors in the Counselling and Advice Service on the Third Floor at
Marylebone Road. The website is www.wmin.ac.uk/canda and click the link for
International Student Advice.
National Insurance Numbers
You need to have a National Insurance Number to work. Your local Benefits Agency
(National Insurance Contributions Section) will tell you how to apply for one. The Benefits
Agencies are listed in the telephone directories. You have to show the Benefits Agency
two forms of identity (passport, birth certificate or bank statement) and give them details of
when you received a job offer or started work.
Immigration rules for students can be found on the internet:

www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk.

8. INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
8.1 Recognition for Overseas Qualifications
If you want to study at a British university, or find employment here, and you need to
find out the value of your qualifications measured against UK standards, there is an
organisation called UK NARIC - that is the National Academic Recognition
Information Centre for the UK. It is part of the Department for Education and Skills
(DfES). It can help you compare your international qualifications against UK
standards.
It is really helpful to do this before you begin to apply for an undergraduate or

postgraduate university course here. It gives you a clear idea of whether you have
the right qualifications to meet a university’s entry requirements. If you have a
general enquiry, there is a free advisory service. But if you need an individual
assessment of your own qualifications, with a letter of comparability, it costs £42.30.
Contact details:
ECCTIS Ltd Telephone: 0870 990 4088

Oriel House www.naric.org.uk
Oriel Road Email: naric@ecctis.co.uk
CHELTENHAM
Glos GL50 1XP
8.2 IELTS Courses
The IELTS course leader is Rose Nicols. On the following pages you can read
frequently asked questions. If you need more information about courses, please
contact her.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IELTS?
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. Most universities in
the UK require students to take this exam and gain a particular score. The
examination tests all aspects of English, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
What are the scores in the IELTS examination and what do they mean?
The scores go from 0 to 9 where 0 is the lowest and 9 is the highest. When
your test is marked, each of the four parts will have a mark and your score will be the
average of these marks.
What score do I need to study in an English speaking country?

Most universities require:
5.5 for a foundation course ( about Upper Intermediate level in General English)
6.5 for an undergraduate course, e.g. BA, BSc, (about Advanced level in General
English)
7 or above for a post-graduate course, e.g MA, MSc, MBA, or entry into the PLAB test
for doctors. (about Advanced level or above in General English)
What General English level do I have to be to take the IELTS examination?

You can take the exam whatever level of English you are. Exams are held every
week at the University of Westminster.
However, if your level is:
• Pre-intermediate – we advise you to do 2 or 3 terms more of General English and
an IELTS preparation course to reach 5.5 to 6.5
• Intermediate – we advise you to do another 1 to 2 terms of General English and
an IELTS preparation course to reach 5.5 to 6.5
• Upper Intermediate – Advanced (in all aspects of English) – we advise you to do
an Intensive IELTS preparation course to reach 6.5 or 7.
What Preparation courses can I do at the University of Westminster?
a) IELTS AND GENERAL ENGLISH CLASS – 8.45-12 every morning for a term
(Intermediate – Upper Intermediate)
This class is for students who want to improve their overall level of English while
preparing for the IELTS examination.
b) IELTS STANDARD PREPARATION COURSE – 5/6/7 weeks,

Monday and Wednesday 2-5pm. (Upper Intermediate and above)
This class is for students who need an intensive preparation course for IELTS
exam. Students who register for this course usually have conditional offers from
universities.
Please note: this is not a General English course, i.e. grammar is not taught, but
students are given plenty of feedback on all their work.
c) IELTS FOLLOW-ON COURSE – 5/6/7 weeks, Monday and Wednesday 2-5pm

(Upper Intermediate and above)
This class is for higher level students who have already done a Standard
Preparation Course and need more teaching and practice to gain a higher score.
d) IELTS EVENING CLASS – 6 weeks (2 courses per term), Tuesday and

Wednesday 6-8.30pm (Upper Intermediate and above)
This class is Standard Preparation Course with some General English where
appropriate.
8.3 IELTS Exam
The University of Westminster IELTS Test Centre is the second largest IELTS
testing facility in the UK, examining over 7000 candidates a year. The test takes place
on three Saturdays per month throughout the year, and there are additional Thursday
tests in the summer.
The IELTS test is not included in your English course. If you wish to take the test you
must book it separately well in advance as the Westminster Test Centre is very
popular and the test dates may be full if you leave the booking too late. On the Test
Centre website, www.westminster.ac.uk/ielts, you will find up-to-date information
about available test dates, IELTS registration desk opening times, and common
Questions and Answers which you may find useful.
The test costs £105 in 2009, but this will increase in 2010.
If you have any other questions about taking the IELTS test at Westminster or would
like further information on any aspect of the IELTS examination, please contact the
Test Centre: IELTS Test Centre, 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW
Tel: +44 (0)20 7915 5487, Email: ielts@westminster.ac.uk

9. ACCOMMODATION
Note: It can be difficult renting private accommodation if you are here for a short stay. Most
leases will be for at least six months.
If you decide to rent a house, flat or room, you need to meet the owner of the property so
that you can see it for yourself. If you decide to move in, ask for a tenancy agreement that
you and the owner will sign. This will set out the details of the agreement between you.
Check that electrical and gas appliances are safe and that you know how to use them –
landlords MUST have a gas safety certificate – ask to see it. You will have to pay a deposit
before moving in, but this is given back to you when you leave, if you have paid all the bills
and there is no damage to the property or contents, and if you have given the required
amount of notice. Take photos on the day you move in, especially if anything is damaged.
(“Giving notice” means that you tell your landlord/lady in advance that you will be leaving in
one or four weeks’ time – this depends on the agreement that you have made with
him/her.)
Independent Hostels (Temporary Accommodation)
These can offer single rooms or shared rooms and reasonably priced meals. Many are
fully booked at the beginning of the academic year (September) for students wanting
permanent accommodation (about a year). You may be lucky if you want a room only over
the summer. These hostels can be very good if you are coming here for the first time and
don't know anyone. Some offer social programmes, and it is easy to meet other students.
Prices vary, depending on whether you have a single room or a shared room, and whether
you want an evening meal or not (eg single rooms with breakfast and an evening meal can
cost anything from £60-£70 to £100+ per week).
Other suggestions of hostels:
Women’s Link
Room 417 Telephone: 020 7247 2028
London Fruit and Wool Exchange Open: Mon-Thurs 10.00am-4.00pm
Brusfield Street
London E1 6EL
They publish a book called Hostels in London.
The London Hostels Association

54 Eccleston Square Telephone: 020 7834 1545
London SW1 Website: www.london-hostels.co.uk
They can give information about hostel vacancies across London.
International Student House (ISH)

229 Great Portland Street Telephone: 020 7631 8300
London W1N 5HD Website: www.ish.org.uk
See page 11 for more information about ISH.

Youth Hostel Association (YHA) (part of Hostelling International Group)
YHA Information Office Telephone: 017 27 855 215
Trevelyn House YHAcustomerservices@compuserve.com
8 St Stephen’s Hill
St Albans
Herts
There are 7 of these hostels in London where you can stay for short periods (a few
nights). They range in price from £16 to £22 per night. There are also hostels in other
parts of Great Britain where you can stay if you want to travel out of London at
weekends or at the end of your course.
YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association)

There are 10 of these hostels in central London, and they, too, can offer short term
accommodation over the summer months. Members of any religion can stay in them.
YMCA The Barbican YMCA Ealing

Fann Street 25 St Mary’s Road
London EC2 8BR London W5 5RE
Telephone: 020 7628 0697 Telephone: 020 8579 6946
YMCA Hornsea YMCA London City

184 Tottenham Lane Luwum House
London N8 8SG 8 Errol Street
Telephone: 020 8340 2345 London EC1Y 8SE
Telephone: 020 7628 8832
YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association)

Helen Graham House
57 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3BD
Telephone: 020 7430 0834
The Piccadilly Advice Centre

100 Shaftesbury Avenue Open: Mon-Fri 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm
London W1V 7DH and 6pm-9pm.
Telephone: 020 7437 1579 Weekends 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
This has a drop-in centre offering advice on temporary and permanent
accommodation.
University Student Housing Service

Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/studenthousing
The office is situated at the Marylebone Road site. It can offer advice on all aspects of
housing, and publishes lists of accommodation offered to students by private landlords.
There are also noticeboards on which rooms to let and flat shares are advertised, and a
wide range of leaflets and information is available. They can also advise on your legal
rights regarding renting a property.

Homestay
Hosts International is one of the organisations which provide English homestays to

students and companies. All the families have been specially selected and live in good
residential areas of London, near to an underground station. There are three levels of
accommodation: standard (home in zones 3 and 4 and facilities shared with the family);
superior (homes in zone 2 and 3, some offering private facilities for students) and
executive (homes in zones 1 and 2, many of which have private bathroom).
Hosts International are at 76-78 Mortimer Street, W1W 7SA, telephone 020 7323 5244,
email info@hosts-international.com, website: www.hosts-international.com.
Agencies - These are for information only, and are not necessarily recommended.
Please note that it is illegal for an agency to charge for registering personal details or for
supplying addresses of vacant accommodation. They can only charge a fee if you find
accommodation through them. A fee may also be charged for drawing up tenancy
agreements. You should only pay if it seems reasonable and the services have been
agreed and provided. The University Student Housing Service in Luxborough Street can
advise on such issues.
Black Katz 89 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1, telephone 020 7284 3111 or 157
Broadhurst Gardens, NW6, telephone 020 7624 8131, or 22 Baron Street, N1, telephone
020 7713 7337
Jenny Jones 40 South Molton Street, W1, telephone 020 7493 4801/4381
Diamond Lettings 365 High Road, N22 4JA, telephone 020 8889 9996
London Estates 61 Daling Road, W6 0JD, telephone 020 7741 8485
Other Places to Look
There are several websites where you can find accommodation, including:
www.moveflat.co.uk; www.gumtree.com; www.easyroommate.com;
http://london.craigslist.co.uk/roo/
Loot A paper that is published each weekday, Monday to Friday. Try to get a copy and
phone very early, because vacancies are filled very quickly.
Time Out A weekly magazine, available in Central London (Tuesdays).
The Evening Standard London’s evening paper, which is actually available each morning
from 10.15am. Again, you have to telephone very early.
Also look in local London newspapers which cover particular areas of the city, eg The Ham
and High (for the area around Hampstead and Highgate).
It is advisable to get an A – Z of London (a street finder) and an underground map before

you begin to look for somewhere to live. You can also look at the website:
www.streetmap.co.uk.
You could also try different boroughs’ websites, which have useful information
about jobs, places to visit, places to study in the particular area, council
departments and places to stay. For example, Camden Council’s website has a lot
of helpful tips about finding accommodation. Go to: www.camden.gov.uk.
You live in one of the boroughs of London and the council provides the local government
of that area.

10. BANKS
To open an account, fill in an application form from a bank or building society. (Originally
building societies were to help their members buy houses, and while they still do this,
many provide banking facilities).
It is difficult to open a bank account in this country if you are staying here for less
than a year.
There are strict regulations in place to deal with fraud and money laundering, so the banks
do not make it easy to open new accounts. Remember most banks (the National
Westminster, Lloyds, Barclays etc) will ask you for the following:
• your passport or ID card;

• confirmation of your UK address (a gas or electricity bill; a rental agreement
etc)
• a University letter, confirming you are registered on a course here.
• a reference from your bank in your own country;
IF YOU ARE HERE FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS ONLY, IT IS ADVISABLE NOT TO
KEEP YOUR MONEY IN THE FORM OF CASH. USE A CREDIT CARD, WHICH YOU
CAN PAY FROM YOUR HOME BANK ACCOUNT, OR GET ONE OF THE NEW CREDIT
CARDS YOU CAN PRELOAD.
An alternative is to open an Alliance and Leicester Giro Account and use the Post
Office rather than a Bank.
To apply for an account you can call (free) 0500 11 77 11. You will need to have details of
the following:
1. length of time at your present address

2. length of time at your previous address
3. length of time with your current employer and the name and address of the employer
(or details and confirmation of where you are studying)
4. your total annual income
5. your total monthly spending
6. how much you plan to put into your Giro account each month
If you don’t want to phone, you can write for an application form to Alliance and Leicester
Giro, Accounts Opening Department, Freepost, 58-62 Hagley Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, B16 8BR. Or pick up an application form at any Post Office.
DON’T carry your credit cards around with you – if you need to use one, just carry one, - if
your wallet is stolen you don’t want to have to phone more than one bank!

11. INSURANCE
When you are studying abroad you have to manage on a tight budget. If you are ill, and
are not eligible for NHS treatment, or if any of your possessions or money are stolen, it is
both alarming and very difficult to find extra money to replace these things.
It is, therefore, advisable to consider insurance for personal property, medical expenses
(see section on Health) or for reimbursement of course fees if you are ill or injured.
ISIS – Insurance for International Students – produces an insurance package for

international students. It is organised by Endsleigh Insurance Services Ltd, in
association with UKCOSA. Endsleigh are the official insurance services of the National
Union of Students (NUS).
You can get more information at www.endsleigh.co.uk, write to Endsleigh at Endsleigh

House, Ambrose Street, Cheltenham, Gloucester, GL50 3NR, or telephone 020 7436
4451, or you can get a form from ISH (International Students House) at 229 Great Portland
Street, W1N 5HD.
Other companies offer insurance for students, and prices vary, so it is a good idea to look
around for competitive packages from companies with good reputations.
12. EFL Scholarships

Each year the Scholarship Department offers six scholarships for full- and part-time EFL
courses. These scholarships give you free classes for the length of the course you apply
for, and are open to everyone. You can apply for one of these scholarships at any time of
the year, but you should do this before you start studying.
Your application will be assessed by the Scholarships Committee, who will look at your
case individually and make a decision based on your personal and financial situation.
For more information, you should contact:
The Administrator
Scholarships Department
University of Westminster
32-38 Wells Street
London W1T 3UW.
Telephone: 0044 (0) 20 7911 5000 ex. 2338.
www.wmin.ac.uk/funding

13. WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ILL
DON’T FORGET! IF YOU ARE ILL – TELL YOUR LECTURER OR THE RECEPTION
STAFF, WHO WILL CALL SOMEONE TRAINED IN FIRST AID.
13.1 Student Health Centre

Website: www.wmin.ac.uk/studenthealth
Email: student-health@wmin.ac.uk
(During Summer Vacation the Student Health Centre is closed. In an emergency
contact The Marylebone Health Centre 020 79356328.)
This is a free and confidential service run by experienced nurse practitioners. They
provide urgent treatment and advice during University hours, term time only, for
most ailments, injuries and ill health, as well as support relating to chronic illness and
disability that might affect academic studies. A doctor is available by appointment
only, via the nurses. Voicemail is in operation and gives a daily update on clinic hours
and alternative points of contact. They are based on the Third Floor of the
Marylebone Building, 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS. Telephone 020 7911 5186.
Student Health is not a general practice, and if you are a full-time student here for
more than six months, you should register with a National Health Service practitioner
(GP) in the area in which you are currently living.
13.2 NHS Direct

Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
This operates a 24-hour nurse advice and health information service on:
• what to do if you or your family are feeling ill;
• particular health conditions;
• local healthcare services, such as doctors, dentists or late night opening
pharmacies;
• self-help and support organisations.
For health information or advice at any time of the day or night call NHS Direct on
0845 46 47. They can provide confidential interpreters, in many languages, within
minutes of your call. All you need to do is state in English the language you would
prefer to use.
• ring the NHS Direct telephone number 0845 46 47.

• when your call is answered, say the English word for the language you wish to use
• wait until you are connected to an interpreter, who will help NHS Direct give you
the health information or advice you need.
More details on emergency treatment are listed below.
Accident and Emergency - 24-hour Walk-in A and E (Casualty)

University College Hospital (UCH) Charing Cross Hospital
Warren Street Tube Baron’s Court or Hammersmith Tubes
Guy’s Hospital Royal Free Hospital

London Bridge Tube/Rail Belsize Park Tube

Great Chapel Street Medical Centre St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street,
Tottenham Court Road Telephone: 0207886 6666
Telephone: 020 7437 9360
Walk-in National Health Service Surgeries for anyone without a doctor

Minor Injuries Clinic Minor Injuries Unit, St Charles Hospital,
St Bartholomew’s Hospital Exmoor St, W10
London, EC1A 7BE Telephone: 020 8962 4262
Telephone: 020 7601 7407 9am - 9pm every day (except Christmas
Open 8am – 8pm Monday - Friday Day).
Soho Walk-in Centre, 1 Frith Street,

London, W1
Telephone: 02075346500
Open 8am - 8pm Monday – Friday
10am – 8pm Saturday & Sunday and
Bank Holidays
Optical / Eye Injuries

Western Opthalmic Hospital Moorfields Eye Hospital
Baker Street Tube Old Street Tube
Open 24 hours daily. It has a casualty

department for acute eye problems that
have occurred within the previous 7 days.
Dental Emergencies
Guy’s Hospital Charing Cross Hospital
London Bridge Tube/Rail Baron’s Court or Hammersmith Tubes
Telephone: 020 7188 7188 x80510 Telephone: 020 8846 1234
A walk-in emergency service which is Kings College Dental Hospital

free on weekdays and charges NHS Denmark Hill Station
rates at the weekend. Telephone: 020 3299 3894
Register 8.30am-10.00am on 23rd Floor Royal London Hospital Whitechapel

of Guy's Hospital. Telephone: 020 7377 7000 ext 2888
Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm (except
public holidays)
13.3 Medicentres
These are situated at Euston, Waterloo and Victoria main line stations. There is also
one in The Plaza, Oxford Street, just round the corner from where Wells Street joins
Oxford Street. They are walk-in GP services which offer a confidential service, and an
appointment is not necessary. They can provide diagnosis, advice, prescriptions and
recommendations for further treatment. They are, however, private and you must
pay. Your travel insurance may pay for this. The website is www.medicentre.co.uk.

13.4 Contraception and Abortion
Family planning advice, contraceptive supplies and abortions are free to British
citizens on the NHS. If you have to access these services privately, contact one of
the groups below:
FPA (Family Planning Association) The Brook Helpline
Angel Tube Telephone: 0800 0185 023
Telephone: 020 7837 5432 or 020 www.brook.org.uk
7837 4040
www.fpa-org.uk
Brook Advisory Centre Marie Stopes House

Tottenham Court Road Tube Warren Street Tube
There are 14 Brook Advisory family Offers advice on contraception,

planning clinics in central London. treatment and advice for
Call the number above to find your gynaecological complaints,
nearest. Free and confidential counselling for sexual problems
advice is given on contraception, and referral for abortion. Fees vary,
sexual problems and abortion with check with the clinic first.
referral to NHS or private clinics.
13.5 Sexual Health (including HIV / AIDS)

St Mary’s Hospital Terence Higgins Trust
Paddington Tube/Rail Chancery Lane Tube
Telephone 020 7886 6619 or 1225 Helpline: 020 7242 1010
or 1697 Appointments: 020 7831 0330
The walk-in Special Clinic is free The Trust advises and counsels
and confidential, and deals with any those with HIV / Aids, their relatives
sexual health matters. and lovers and friends.
National Aids Helpline

Telephone: 0800 567 123
Minicom: 0800 521 361
13.6 Complementary Medicine
British Acupuncture Council British Homoeopathic Association

Park House Baker Street Tube
www.acupuncture.org.uk www.trusthomeopathy.org
The BHA will supply the address of your
Phone for a free list of local nearest homoeopathic chemist and
registered practitioners. doctor.

13.7 Helplines
Medical Advisory Service MIND (National Association for Mental
Helpline: 020 8994 9874 Health)
www.medicaladvisoryservice.org.uk/ www.mind.org.uk
Health advice over the phone. Telephone: 020 8522 1728
A free information service on mental
health. Callers can be referred to an
appropriate counselling service.
Nightline Samaritans
Telephone: 020 7631 0101 Telephone: 0845 790 90 90
www.nightline.niss.ac.uk Japanese Line: 020 7287 5493
www.samaritans.org.uk
A confidential listening, support and A confidential listening service for
information service run by students anyone with emotional problems.
for students.
Citizens’ Advice Bureau National Missing Persons Helpline

www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Run by local councils and offers Publicises information on anyone
free advice on legal, financial and reported missing, and will help find
personal matters. Check the phone missing persons through a network of
book for your nearest branch. contacts.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support

Centre
www.rasasc.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8683 3300
Provides support and information

for anyone who has suffered rape or
sexual abuse.

14. TELEPHONES
The London code is 020, followed by 8 digits, beginning (020) 3, (020) 7 (inner London)
and (020) 8 (outer London).
To phone a London landline from abroad in most countries, you phone:
+ 44 (0) 20 7XXX XXXX

or + 44 (0) 20 8XXX XXXX
or + 44 (0) 20 3XXX XXXX
Last Number Recall

If you want to find out the number of the last person who called you, dial 1471.
Directory Enquiries
Dial 118 5000. Using the Directory Enquiry service is free if you call from a phone box but
if you're using a private phone the charges are high.
Operator Services
Always dial direct if possible as call connections by an operator are very expensive. Call
100 to speak to an operator if you're having difficulty getting through, for an early morning
alarm call, and to make credit card calls. Dial 155 if you need to reverse the charges (so
the person who receives the call pays!).
Phonecards
Prepaid phonecards, which use a scratch-card to reveal your PIN (Personal Identification
Number) are often the cheapest way of making international calls. They are available from
newsagents.
Public Phones
Public pay phones take coins, credit cards or prepaid phonecards (and sometimes all
three). The minimum cost is 30p.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER

For Fire, Police or Ambulance
Phone 999 or 911
Mobile Phones
Most students buy a mobile phone. There are a number of different companies and you
can get pay as you go (eg £10 cards) or a contract – it is probably better to start with a pay
as you go phone! The best advice on what mobile phone to buy is from other students!
Ask your friends!

15. TRAVEL
15.1 Getting Around London – London Transport
Website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/
All the information you need is on the website (maps, journey planner, ticket
information).
• You can get tube and bus maps from any Underground station.
• London has six zones – look at your map!
• Travelcards can be bought for different zones (for example, Zones 1-2) and for
different lengths of time (one day, one week, one month).
• You can get cheaper fares if you get an OYSTER CARD. You need to get a
form for this from an Underground station.
• If you are a full-time student aged 18 and over, you can buy a Travelcard
cheaply (30% off 1-month, 3-month and 1-year Travelcards). However, you
must be on a full-time course of 15 weeks or more. If you are on a shorter
course, you cannot get a Travelcard.
Crime is not a big problem on London Underground, but avoid sitting alone in
a Tube carriage or alone upstairs on a bus. Watch out for pickpockets.
London Travel Information Lost Property Office

Telephone: 200 Baker Street
020 7222 1234 London NW1
020 7222 1200 – 24-hour recorded
information Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-2pm
Email: travinfo@tfl.gov.uk Telephone: 0845 330 9882
The Underground
• Trains run daily (except Christmas Day) from early in the morning (check at
your station).
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

• DLR is part of London Transport. The trains are driverless, and you can get a
fantastic view of the ‘modern’ part of London.
• You can buy ‘Sail and Rail’ tickets that combine unlimited travel on the DLR with
a riverboat trip between Greenwich and Westminster Piers.
Buses
• You can get a wonderful view of London from a double decker bus!
• At night, there are Night Buses which all begin N… You need to check which
night buses go near your home and where you can catch them.
Taxis and Minicabs

• The familiar-shaped London taxis are called black cabs.
• Drivers of black cabs are licensed and have passed a test called 'The
Knowledge', which means they generally know the city extremely well.
• If the yellow ‘For Hire’ light on the roof is on, you can stop the cab in the street.
Your fare is measured by a meter. It is usually expensive, but fits 5 people and
a wheelchair.
Call Radio Taxis or Dial a Cab to book a cab by phone.

Radio Taxis Telephone: 020 7272 0272
Dial a Cab Telephone: 020 7253 5000
• Minicabs are mostly cheaper than black cabs, but drivers are often untrained
and very occasionally dangerous.
• Always book with a firm that has been recommended, ask the price when you
book and confirm it with the driver when the car arrives.
• It is accepted practice to give a tip of around 10% to black cab and minicab
drivers.
DON’T trust a driver who says he’s a minicab unless you phoned for him.
Minicabs are NOT allowed to get business on the streets.
Addison Lee Telephone: 020 7387 8888

One of the bigger, more reliable companies.
Ladycabs Telephone: 020 7254 3501

Employs only women drivers.
15.2 Travel around the UK
Several different companies provide services in Britain, and it can be complicated to

find the cheapest ticket for your destination, but ASK which is the cheapest ticket.
• If you book in advance you can save a lot of money.

• Use the National Rail Enquiries website www.nationalrail.co.uk to find the
cheapest ticket.
• If you are between 16 and 25, you can buy the Young Person’s Railcard for £20
per year. This will give you up to a third off most fares. You need proof of your
age and 2 passport photographs.
• See www.railcard.co.uk or www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk.
• You can also get information by phoning 0845 748 4950.
You need to go to different mainline stations, depending on which part of Britain you
are going to (but you can buy the tickets at any of them):
Charing Cross Station Fast trains to and from south-east England

(Dover, Folkestone, Ramsgate)
Euston Station Trains to and from the north and north-west
of England.
Kings Cross Station/ St For trains to and from the north and north-
Pancras east of England and Scotland (and France).
Liverpool Street Station Fast trains to and from the east coast and
Stansted Airport.
Paddington Station For trains to and from the south-west, Wales
and the Midlands.
Victoria Station For fast trains to and from Brighton, Gatwick
Airport and the channel ports.
Waterloo Station For fast trains to and from the south and
south-west of England including Dorset and
Devon.
Coach Travel
Victoria Coach Station (near Victoria tube) offers services from Britain’s most
comprehensive coach company, National Express, with destinations all over
England, Scotland and Wales.
National Express Telephone: 0990 80 80 80

www.nationalexpress.com
15.3 Travel Abroad
Check different travel agents and low cost airlines. Prices can vary a lot.
Flight Centre Telephone: 0870 499 0040

Website: www.flightcentre.co.uk
STA Travel Website: www.statravel.co.uk
Easyjet Website: www.easyjet.com
Ryanair Website: www.ryanair.com
Airports
London’s two busiest and most central airports are Heathrow and Gatwick. Cheaper
tickets may require you to leave from Stansted, Luton or City Airport.
Gatwick Airport
Telephone: 01293 535 • The Gatwick Express from Victoria Station

353 which takes about 30-35 minutes and runs
between 5.00am and 11.45pm.
About 30 miles south of • Slower trains are cheaper and run 24 hours a
central London. day.
• Tickets cost around £14.00 single and £25.00
Getting There: return.
Train: Gatwick Express
from Victoria Station • The Jetlink 777 bus from Victoria Coach
Bus: Jetlink 777 Station is cheaper but takes longer.
(telephone 020 8668
7261) from Victoria Coach • A taxi will cost as much as £50.
Station

Heathrow Airport
Telephone: 020 8759 • The Heathrow Express service from

4321 Paddington is by far the quickest and most
efficient way to get to Heathrow.
About 15 miles west of • The journey takes only 15 minutes and there
central London. are four trains an hour.
• Tickets cost £14.50 single and £27.00 return.
Getting There: • A cheaper option is to take the Piccadilly
Train: Heathrow Express line but allow around 50-60 minutes for your
from Paddington Station journey.
Tube: Piccadilly Line • The Airbus Heathrow Shuttle runs four
Bus: Airbus Heathrow buses an hour from several locations in
Shuttle (telephone 0181 central London and takes around an hour. A
400 6655) single ticket costs £6 with a valid student
card.
Luton
Telephone: 01582 405 • A rail service runs to Luton rail station from
100 Kings’ Cross.
• Tickets cost £12.10 single.
About 30 miles north of • A cheaper bus runs from Victoria but takes
central London. longer.
Getting There:
Train: Thameslink from
Kings Cross
Bus: Green Line
(telephone 020 8668
7261)
Stansted Airport
Telephone: 01279 680 • The quickest way to reach Stansted is on the

500 Stansted Express from Liverpool Street.
Fares are £15.00 single and £25.00 return.
About 35 miles north east • A cheaper way to reach Stansted is to take
of central London. the coach from Victoria. This goes day and
night and costs £14 return, or £13.50 if you
Getting There: book online.
Train: Stansted Express • Another cheaper company called
from Liverpool Street Terravision runs coaches from Victoria and
Station (telephone 08457 Liverpool Street. Fares are £11.80 return or
484950) £8.10 single.
Coach: National Express
from Victoria Coach
Station (telephone 080705
80 80 80); Terravision
from Victoria Coach
Station (telephone 020
7630 7196)

Trains
Trains can be a cheap and flexible way to visit Europe. Eurotrain (bookable through
Campus Travel) offers discounted tickets. Eurostar (08705 186 186) run trains to
Paris, Disneyland Paris, Brussels and Lille via the Channel Tunnel. Journey time to
Paris is three hours, Brussels two hours 40 minutes. Eurostar services leave from the
St Pancras International Terminal.
You can also buy an Interail ticket to travel around Europe. This gives you unlimited
travel in Europe. Europe is divided into different zones. For example, one zone for 16
days costs £140 (student price). Travelling in all zones for 1 month costs £277. See
www.interrail.com for more information.
Coaches
Coaches can be cheaper than trains.
Eurolines (telephone 0990 01 01 04) run coaches to over 400 towns and cities
across Europe from London Victoria.
Eurobus (telephone 0118 936 2320) have passes for Europe covering all zones from
Spain to Germany.
If you’re travelling to other countries it is a good idea to check the price of coaches,
trains and flights – sometimes flying is the cheapest, especially if you book in
advance!

16. RELIGION
London is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith city. Here are a few names and addresses if you want
to attend acts of worship, or simply make contact with your own spiritual / religious faith.
The University Chaplain is based at The Buddhist Society, 58 Eccleston

Marylebone Road. The Chaplaincy provides Square, SW1V 1PH, telephone 020 7485
advice and support to students and staff, 8220. It arranges classes and activities and
promotes regular meetings for Christians provides facilities to members and non-
and non-Christians and those interested in members. Its aim is to “publish and make
exploring issues of faith and belief, and known the principles of Buddhism, and
provides a link between students and local encourage the study and practice of these
churches. The website is principles”.
www.wmin.ac.uk/chaplaincy.
The Catholic Church, Newman House, The Chinese Congregation is served by

111 Gower Street, WC1E 6AR, telephone the Rev. Gilbert S K Lee, at St Martin-in-the-
020 7387 6370. This is the Central London Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ,
Catholic Chaplaincy, and it offers a varied telephone 020 7925 0755 (Cantonese
programme of events and meetings open to speaking) or 020 7930 0089 (English
all students. Sunday Masses are at speaking).
10.30am and 7.30pm.
The Chinese Church in London 67 Brook The Chinese Church in London 166a
Green Road, Hammersmith, telephone 020 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 2BE,
7602 9092. Mandarin Congregation: Rev telephone 020 7240 0449. Rev Chi-Shing
Vincent Aun, Miss Boon-Hwa Lee, Mr Wong, Miss Anita Tang, Mr Chun-Kuen
Richard Wang. Cantonese Congregation: Cheung.
Mr Kin-Fun Lau. English Congregation: Rev
Siew-Huat Ong, Mr Matthew Chow.
Hindu Centre, 39 Grafton Terrace, NW5 Islamic Cultural Centre and London
4JA, telephone 020 7485 8200. Central Mosque, 146 Park Road, NW8
7RG, telephone 020 7724 3363, fax 020
7724 0493.
Japanese Chaplain, the Rev. Job Minoru The Orthodox Church (Christian), the
Uchida is Chaplain to Japanese people in Rev. Alexander Fostiropoulos, Room 6B,
England, and can be contacted at St King’s College, The Strand, WC2R 2LS,
Martin's Cottage, Hale Gardens, Acton, W3 telephone 020 7873 2373 or 020 8879
9SQ, telephone 020 8993 4227. 1461.
Judaism, West London, 33 Seymour Place, Church of England, All Souls Church
W1, telephone 020 7723 7246 and West Langham Place, 2 all Souls Place, London,
End Central Synagogue is at 36 Hallam W1B 3DA, telephone 020 7580 3522.
Street, W1, telephone 020 7580 1355. Website www.allsouls.org. This church is
just up the road from Regent Street - a very
international congregation.

17. TIMETABLE
Use this page for information about your classes (teachers, rooms, times etc).
MORNING
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Time: ……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Room: ……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Teacher: ……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………

L U N C H T I M E C L A S S E S 1-2pm (see Social Programme)
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………

AFTERNOON
Time:
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Room:
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Teacher:
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
EVENING
Time:
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Room:
……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………
Teacher: ……………… ……………… ……………… ……………… ………………

18. CLASSROOM LANGUAGE
Excuse me, ……………..
What does ……………………………………. mean?
Could you repeat/explain that, please?
How do you spell …………………………… …..?
How do you pronounce ………………………….?
Could I pop out for a moment?
Could I just leave the room for a moment?
How do you say ………………………. in English?
Sorry I’m late – the train/bus was late.
Sorry I’m late – I overslept.
Sorry I’m late – there was a terrible traffic jam.
I’m terribly sorry – I have an urgent phone call to take/make – do you mind/is it OK if I go
out?
I’ve lost my ID – what should I do?
Add any other useful language here:

19. PLACES TO VISIT IN LONDON
The top 10 attractions for visitors to What you MUST see in London:
London from abroad:
The London Eye Regent’s Park and St James’s Park
Madame Tussaud’s 10 Downing Street
The Tower of London and Tower Horse Guards Parade

Bridge
The Original London Sightseeing Westminster Abbey
Tour
The Houses of Parliament Big Ben
Buckingham Palace and the Trafalgar Square

Changing of the Guard
Hampton Court Palace The National Gallery
The British Museum Oxford Street and Regent Street
The London Dungeon Piccadilly Circus and Eros
Tate Modern and the Millennium Soho and Shaftesbury Avenue

Bridge
Covent Garden
Camden Lock and Camden Market
Kings Road and Fulham Road

(shopping)
The Science Museum
The Natural History Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Hyde Park and Green Park
The Royal Festival Hall
Tate Britain
Shakespeare’s Globe

What you SHOULD see in London What you COULD see in London
The Old Bailey (Crown Court) The Hayward Gallery
The Museum of London Bush House (BBC)
The Bank of England Butler’s Wharf
The Monument The Old Curiosity Shop
The Stock Exchange Portobello Road
Lloyds of London Crystal Palace
The National Portrait Gallery Horniman Museum
Fleet Street (newspapers used to Eltham Palace

be printed here)
Kensington Gardens and Peter Pan London Transport Museum
statue
The Albert Hall and Albert Memorial The Geffrye Museum
Royal Opera House The London to Brighton Veteran

Car Rally
The Coliseum The Boat Race
Hampstead and Hampstead Heath Dulwich Picture Gallery
Highgate and Highgate Cemetery Liberty’s

(Karl Marx’s tomb)
Blackheath The Law Courts in The Strand
Greenwich and Greenwich The Imperial War Museum

Observatory
Royal Maritime Museum and The St James’s Palace
Meridian
Canary Wharf London Zoo
River Thames boat trip from Kenwood House

Docklands to Greenwich
Kew Gardens and Richmond
Wimbledon
Harrods
The South Bank Centre

20. USEFUL FACTS
CAPITAL POPULATION
England London 50 million
Scotland Edinburgh 5 million
Wales Cardiff 3 million
Northern Ireland Belfast 1.5 million
6.9 million (within M25)

Biggest City London 13 million (in SE England)
Longest River The Severn 354 km
Highest Mountain Ben Nevis (Scotland) 1,343m
Largest Lake Lough Neagh (N. Ireland) 388 sq km
The following are often used by native speakers:
Britain: England, Scotland and Wales
Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales
United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The British Isles: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire (Eire
(a geographical term) is a separate country – we also call it the Republic of Ireland)
Conversion Chart
Imperial Metric Metric Imperial

1 inch = 2.5 centimetres 1 millimetre = 0.04 inch
1 foot = 30 centimetres 1 centimetre = 0.4 inch
1 mile = 1.6 kilometres 1 metre = 3 feet 3 inches
1 ounce = 28 grams 1 kilometre = 0.6 mile
1 pound = 454 grams 1 gram = 0.04 ounce
1 pint = 0.6 litre 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 gallon = 4.6 litres

20. IMPORTANT DATES 2009/2010
Monday 14th September 2009 Beginning of Autumn Term
Saturday 31st October 2009 Hallowe’en
Thursday 5th November 2009 Guy Fawkes’ Day
Friday 18th December 2009 End of Autumn Term
Thursday 24th December 2009 Christmas Eve
Friday 25th December 2009 Christmas Day (Bank Holiday)
Saturday 26th December 2009 Boxing Day (Bank Holiday)
Thursday 31st December 2009 New Year’s Eve
Friday 1st January 2010 New Year’s Day (Bank Holiday)
Monday 11th January 2010 Beginning of Spring Term
Sunday 14th February 2010 Valentine’s Day
Friday 19th March 2010 End of Spring Term
Friday 2nd April 2010 Good Friday (Bank Holiday)
Sunday 4th April 2010 Easter Sunday
Monday 5th April 2010 Easter Monday (Bank Holiday)
Monday 12th April 2010 Beginning of Summer Term
Monday 3rd May 2010 May Bank Holiday
Monday 24th May 2010 Bank Holiday
Friday 19th June 2010 End of Summer Term
July – September 2010 Summer School

(see the EFL brochure for details!)

21. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
If you wish to complain about any aspect of your experience at the university, here
is the procedure you should follow:
1. Please talk to your teacher, or the student representative for your class.
If this does not resolve your complaint
2. Talk to any member of the EFL Coordinators Team.
If this still does not resolve your complaint
3. Please talk or write to Ken Paterson (Director of the Centre for English Learning and
Teaching (CELT)) patersk@wmin.ac.uk ext 2304.
If you are still not satisfied
4. Please follow the Formal University Complaints system described on the noticeboard
outside room R315.
If you are still not satisfied
5. Please contact English UK (supply contact details).
We hope you find this handbook useful. However, if you find any information is incorrect,
please tell us!! You might also have ideas about information we could add. Please write
down any corrections or ideas and give them to Katy Shaw or your Course Tutor. Thank
You!
Thank you to Tae-Eun, who drew the drawings of the Houses of Parliament and The
National Gallery. We would love to have more drawings – please see Katy Shaw if you are
good at drawing (or email shawc@wmin.ac.uk)!

USE THIS PAGE TO WRITE NOTES

(last updated August 2009)
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EFL

2. WHO TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IF ...............................................................................................................2

3. TEACHING AND CLASSROOMS ......................................................................................................................4

4. PLACES AND SERVICES TO FIND AND USE IN THE UNIVERSITY .............................................................5

5. CULTURAL PROGRAMME AND VISITING LONDON......................................................................................9

6. GETTING INVOLVED OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY .......................................................................................10

7. LOOKING FOR JOBS ......................................................................................................................................13

8. INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS .............................................................................................................15

10. BANKS ..............................................................................................................................................................20

11. INSURANCE .....................................................................................................................................................21

12. SCHOLARSHIPS ..............................................................................................................................................21

13. HEALTH (WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ILL) .....................................................................................................22

14. TELEPHONES ..................................................................................................................................................26

15. TRAVEL ............................................................................................................................................................27

16. RELIGION ......................................................................................................................................................32

17. TIMETABLE ......................................................................................................................................................33

18. CLASSROOM LANGUAGE..............................................................................................................................34

19. PLACES TO VISIT IN LONDON.......................................................................................................................36

20. USEFUL FACTS ...............................................................................................................................................38

21. IMPORTANT DATES ........................................................................................................................................39

22. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE...........................................................................................................................40

1. INTRODUCTION: WELCOME AND STAFF DETAILS

EFL Coordinator Team: Wells Street Room 112

Caroline Caygill – Coordinator – Groups

Rose Nicols – IELTS Coordinator

David Robson – Coordinator – Full-time Courses

Rebecca Sewell – Coordinator – Part-time Courses (afternoons and

Look at the Intranet: www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-1462, for more information.

(see map on the back)

English as a Foreign Language 1 Student Handbook 2009-2010

• you want to extend your You should go to www.westminster.ac.uk/page-4596 for

English as a Foreign Language 2 Student Handbook 2009-2010

Get a solicitor (a lawyer) to see you in the police station

English as a Foreign Language 3 Student Handbook 2009-2010

Teaching and Classrooms

English as a Foreign Language 4 Student Handbook 2009-2010

4.2 Learning Advice Centre and Learning Advisor Service

Learning Advisor Service

For more information or to download helpsheets, visit the LAC website:

English as a Foreign Language 5 Student Handbook 2009-2010

4.4 Computer Rooms

Location of computer rooms:

4.5 The Deep End

4.6 School Registry

English as a Foreign Language 6 Student Handbook 2009-2010

The Gym is at 309 Regent Street.

Therapeutic Massage, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Therapy, Herbal

Patients are treated either by experienced practitioners or by advanced level

English as a Foreign Language 7 Student Handbook 2009-2010

4.11 Student Welfare

English as a Foreign Language 8 Student Handbook 2009-2010

The EFL department offers free lunchtime classes/lectures in a variety of areas:

The website is: www.timeout.com

English as a Foreign Language 9 Student Handbook 2009-2010

International Student House (ISH) (free membership to University of Westminster

International Student House is an independent charity in central London. They provide

Adult Education Classes

English as a Foreign Language 10 Student Handbook 2009-2010

Do buy a copy of FLOODLIGHT. It costs (approximately) £4 from most newsagents

Some examples in the West End:

• Charing Cross Library, at 4 Charing Cross Road, WC2

Sports and Leisure Centres (outside the University)

English as a Foreign Language 11 Student Handbook 2009-2010

English as a Foreign Language 12 Student Handbook 2009-2010