sotong guide 2014 book one

Pre-Departure Information

9 Pre-Departure Admin 9 Accommodation Tips 9 Financial Matters 9 Shopping&Packing

2014BOOK

IMPERIAL COLLEGE SINGAPORESOCIETY

SOTONG GUIDE

Published byImperial College Singapore SocietyPrince Consort RoadLondon SW7 2BBUnited Kingdom

©2014 Imperial College Singapore Society

All rights reserved. No part of this publi-cation shall be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means, whether elec-tronically or physically, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The publisher shall not be liable for any damages as a result of the use of the infor-mation contained herein. All care is taken to ensure that the contents of this publi-cation are free from errors.

http://union.ic.ac.uk/osc/singapore/

Hello from



HI THERE! Being a university freshman (or fresher) is somewhat akin to returning to Secondary 1 all over again, especially when you’re going to somewhere thousands of miles away from home to further your studies. So it is perfectly understandable if you feel blur like a sotong right now. Don’t worry, for this is what the Sotong Guide is all about!

The Imperial College Singapore Society (ICSS) Sotong Guide is a series of two guidebooks specially for you, prepared by your seniors who best understand how you are feeling now. The Sotong Guide will guide you through your preparations in Singapore, settling into Imperial and life in London. This is the first book in the series.

In this book, we are focusing more on the preparations you need to complete before arriving in London. You will find outlines of important pre-departure administrative work, tips on packing for life as an overseas student in London, accommodation tips, and advice about almost anything you may have in concern.

In addition, you will find a brief introduction of ICSS, what we do and what you can expect as a member, alongside with contact information and ‘helplines’ that you may find useful in due course. If you have any comments or queries, feel free to get in touch with us via email or Facebook. Join the Freshers’ Facebook group if you have not!

Lastly, we hope that you will find this guide useful and we look forward to see you joining the Imperial family! 32nd Executive CommitteeImperial College Singapore Society

WHAT’S INSIDE?BOOK ONE

Pre-Departure Admin 05Financial Matters 17Accommodation Tips 19Shopping&Packing 30ICSS 43What’s next? 52

THE SINGAPOREAN FRESHER’S

ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO

LIFE IN LONDON

AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE

04

Before you depart for London, there are some essential medical matters which you will need to settle.

Attend a medical checkup at your preferred travellers’ clinic to obtain

a chest X-ray. Some clinics are able to provide you with a smaller version of the chest X-ray.

a. Purpose of the chest X-ray is to prove that you do not have tuberculosis (TB).

b. The chest X-ray should be placed in your carry-on baggage as custom officers may request to look at it.

Next, ensure that your vaccination against Meningitis C and MMR

(measles, mumps, rubella) are up-to-date. If you are unsure, bring your health booklet along with you to check with the clinic staff.

These vaccinations are available at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Travellers’ Health and Vaccination Clinic.

At the clinic, you may request for a printed copy of your vaccination records with the National Immunisation Registry (NIR).

a. Vaccinations may take up to three weeks to take effect, so complete your vaccination early.

b. Bring this copy of your vaccination records along with you as they are required when you register with a doctor in the UK.

c. As the meningitis C vaccination will not be stored in the NIR, you may need to request for a separate vaccination certif-icate.

MEDICAL MATTERS

Overview of Pre-departure AdminOn your first arrival in London, you will need the following to satisfy the immigrations requirements:

2Chest X-ray

3Tier 4 (General) Adult Student Visa

4ATAS certification (only for selected courses)

5For NSMen, you will need your Exit Permit as well.

1 Medical certificates showing that you have the required vaccinations

TTSH Travellers’ Clinic+65 6357 [email protected]

06 | Sotong Guide Book 1

Checklist!

Medical report Chest X-ray

Documents can be requested at most travellers’ clinics

Meningitis C and MMR vaccination recordsVaccinations are available at TTSH Travellers’ Clinic

The Imperial College Health Centre is located on the ground floor of Selkirk Hall, Southside. All Imperial College interna-tional students who will be studying for at least six months in the UK are covered under the National Health Service (NHS) medical care.

Dental ServicesIt is advisable for you to go for a dental checkup before leaving for London, as dental care is more expensive in London and NHS only subsidises a portion of it.

At the Imperial College Dental Centre, a simple dental examination and treatment cost £17.50, while fillings or extractions cost £48.

OpticiansOptician services and eyecare products are generally more expensive in London, so do visit an optician in Singapore for an eye check-up before departing for London.

Ensure that your spectacles are in good condition as a pair of spectacles in London could cost as much as £50.

Ensure that you have an adequate supply of contact lenses and contact lens solution, as these are generally more expensive in London. Furthermore, it may be difficult to find your favourite brands in London.

Imperial College Health Centrehttp://goo.gl/hA1nNy

07

ATAS CERTIFICATE APPLICATION

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) was implemented for students taking a

PhD, MSci or MEng course in a few specific fields, namely (with their JACS code):

Ô Materials Science (F2)

Ô Physics (F3)

Ô Mechanical Engineering (H3)

Ô Aerospace Engineering (H4)

Ô Chemical, Process and Energy Engineering (H8)

Ô Materials Technology (J5)

To check if you need ATAS certification, refer to your course code on UCAS. If your course code begins with any of these JACS codes, you will need to apply for ATAS certification.

E.g. The UCAS course code for MEng in Chemical Engineering is H800; its JACS code is the first two characters in the course code, i.e. H8.

For PhD/doctoral level students and Visiting Research Students who will be in the UK for more than six months to do research counting towards a postgraduate qualification in another country, check the ATAS website to see if your course needs the ATAS qualifcation.

Do I need an ATAS Certificate?


1Check that you have the following ready:

� Contact details

� Passport details

� Full details of previous studies

� Full details of all previous/current employment (if applicable)

� Previous ATAS certification (if any)

� Programme of study you are applying for in the UK

� JACS code and research proposal (if applicable)

� Full names and contact details of two referees, whom you must have known for at least 3 years, and at least one must be an academic from your country of origin

� Information on method of funding for your studies

� Details of any optional modules you wish to take (if you are doing Mres or a taught Masters course)

� Names of optional modules you think you might do as part of your course (for MSc students only). For details of modules available to you, check your postgraduate prospectus or contact your department.

� Information about modules offered on your course, in particular the advanced level modules (for MSc and MEng students)

2Register for an account at:

https://www.atas.fco.gov.uk/public/welcome.aspx

3Fill in the online application form.

4Submit and print your application.

The entire application process takes up to 20 days (or sometimes more than that). You are advised to begin the application early, but only after confirming your place in Imperial College London.

Therefore, it is advised that you start your ATAS application early, probably up to 1 month earlier than your friends who do not need ATAS certification.

If you require ATAS certification but do not have one, any visa application you make will be automatically rejected. Therefore, please double-check if you need ATAS certification, to avoid wasting time and effort!

Checklist!

09

Note: Ô Fill in all your information correctly! If your ATAS does not match your university

offer, or the text in the application form is different from the one in your offer letter, you may be refused a visa. (Especially the JACS code)

Ô If you entered your JACS code wrongly, start again with an alternative account under a different email address.

Ô Alternatively, you can complete and submit the form first, then register again using the same email address (with the correct JACS code). Email ATAS to inform them that you have done this, quoting your ATAS ID number. ATAS will then withdraw your incorrect application.

For more information... Ô Imperial College ATAS Information

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/international/studentsupport/visas/atas

Ô Foreign & Commonwealth Office, ATAS https://www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Imperial College International Student [email protected]

ATAS [email protected]


Before you begin...

You will be applying under the Tier 4 (General) Adult Students category.

Take special care not to apply to the Child Students category.

Your application is considered under a points-based assessment system, which means that you will have to accumulate a certain number of points by fulfilling certain criteria in order for your visa to be approved.

The details below specify the criteria. As a Tier 4 (General) student, you must have 40 points in the points-based assessment:

Ô 30 points for having a valid Confirma-tion of Acceptance (CAS) for studies.

Ô 10 points for evidence of sufficient maintenance funds to cover your course fees and living expenses.

What will happen? � Online application and printing of online application

� Scheduling an appointment with the visa application centre

� Attending the appointment with required documents

� Tracking of visa application

� Collection of Visa

� Scanning and uploading of Visa onto Imperial College Student e-Service account

UK Border Agency:http://goo.gl/d5yqhY

VISA APPLICATION

Need further help?Imperial College has a trained team of experts to assist you with visa applications.

Imperial College International Student [email protected]://goo.gl/27TpYw

11

Before the visa appointment...

1Get your CAS number. Log in to your account on the Imperial College

Student e-Service.

Upload a scanned image of your passport (the page with your photograph) under the ‘Personal Details’ tab.

Your CAS number will be released to you a few days after you have uploaded the scanned copy of your passport.

2Prepare all necessary evidence of funds. (see page 12). This is a spon-

sorship letter (if you are on scholarship), or a bank statement (If you are self-funded).

3This year on, you can apply online at: http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk

Unlike previous years, this year’s applica-tion is fully online.

The Imperial College International Student Support has created a screen-by-screen guide on how to fill in the online application. Please visit this website for the guide: http://goo.gl/ik6TfQ

4Schedule an appointment at the visa application center.

You should have been able to book your visa appointment upon completing your online visa application. For more details, visit:

http://goo.gl/7vG9ve

5Prepare for your visa appointment. Bring the documents as listed on

page 11.

The address of the visa application center is:

20 Cecil Street, #11-02 to 05Equity Plaza, Singapore 049705(near Raffles Place MRT station)

6Once you get your passport and visa, upload a scanned image of your visa

on the Imperial College Student e-Service.

Things to Note Ô Only apply for your visa about 3 months before your course start date, as that is the

earliest you can apply.


At your visa appointment...Applicants with Singapore citizenship are considered low risk. You may not be asked to show most of these documents.

However, the UK Border Agency might request these documents, which you will need to submit by a certain date.

Bring along:

� Your printed appointment letter

� Your printed visa application form (from the online application)

� Your passport

� Two passport- sized photographs (45 mm by 35 mm, colour) on a plain cream/light grey background

The UK Border Agency photo guide is available here: http://goo.gl/rmp4rD

Make sure your photograph satisfies the criteria in the photo guide, as applications have been rejected due to unsuitable photographs.

� ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

The following documents may also be requested:

� Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number

Imperial College will only release your CAS number after you have uploaded a scanned copy of your latest passport.

If your CAS number still does not appear after you have uploaded a scanned copy of your passport, send an email to [email protected].

� Academic certificates

� Evidence of funds (see page 13)

� Your NRIC

Ô Be punctual for your appointment

Ô Enter the application centre alone

Ô Switch off your mobile phone

In the visa application process, the term sponsor refers to your visa sponsor (i.e. Imperial College London) and not your financial sponsor

13

If you are on scholarship, your evidence of funds would be your scholarship letter, stating that the organisation will sponsor the full course fee and your living expenses.

Make sure your letter is:

Ô A original copy, i.e. not scanned or photocopied. If need be, request for more copies of the original letter from your scholarship provider.

Ô Stamped and signed.

If you are self-funded, your evidence of funds is a bank statement, or your bank book showing the minimum required funds available in it.

minimum sum=

tuition fees of £22950 to £35000+

living expenses of £9180

You will need to have this money in your account for at least 28 consecutive days, with the 28th day being no more than 1 month before your visa application date.

If the funds are in your parent’s name, you must submit:

Ô Your birth certificate confirming your relationship with your parents

Ô A signed letter from your parent, agreeing to fund your studies and confirming your relationship with him/her

If the funds are in your legal guardian’s name, you submit:

Ô Your legal guardianship documents

Ô A signed letter from your guardian, agreeing to fund your studies and confirming your relationship with him/her

If you have already paid for your tuition fees, this should be mentioned on your CAS (official receipt of the payment is not required and will take time to obtain) and a bank book showing funds to cover living expenses for 9 months (£9180).

What is “Evidence of Funds”?

Things to Note Ô If your passport is going to expire, apply for a new passport before early July and upload a

scanned copy to the Student e-Services to obtain a CAS number linked to your new pass-port. It would be troublesome and expensive to transfer your visa to another passport.

Ô If you are unsure of any aspect of your application, ask the staff at the counter or you may be required to pay S$600 for a second application.


How long will the application take?

With ATAS clearance... Without ATAS clearance...

The processing time for a PBS Tier 4 visa is typically 15 days, but can take up to 30 days.

Ô If you application is successful, you will be informed to proceed to the visa applica-tion centre to collect your passport. Alternatively, your passport will be mailed to you (depending on which mode of collection you indicated during your visa appointment).

Ô If your application is not successful, immediately inform the Imperial College Interna-tional Student Support by email. Also, attach a copy of the refusal notice. Await assis-tance from the International Student Support.

Week

2

Apply for ATAS online1

Complete ATAS online application

5

6

7

9

Prepare documents for visa

ATAS certificate obtained

Apply for visa online

Book an appointment

Attend visa appoint-ment

Collect or receive your visa

Week

2

1

5

3

Prepare documents for visa

Apply for visa online

Book an appointment

Attend visa appoint-ment

Collect or receive your visa

International Student Support

[email protected] http://goo.gl/27TpYw

15

Without ATAS clearance...

EXIT PERMIT APPLICATION

Things to Note Ô Apply early as checks will take approximately 3 weeks if you are randomly selected to

submit evidence of your overseas studies.

Ô If you receive the message “You are only allowed to apply for a three year exit permit even if you are on a four year course. Extend your exit permit in your third year”, simply renew your exit permit when it expires.

Ô For pre-enlisted or disrupted servicemen, check with CMPB or MINDEF for details.

NS Call Centre (24-hour)1800 367 6767

Apply for exit permit at http://www.ns.sg.

If asked to submit evidence of overseas studies, follow the given instructions.

1

2

STEP

STEP


COMMUNICATIONS

SIM Cards Ô There are numerous phone and mobile

data plan providers in the UK – O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile… just to name a few.

Ô Most Singaporeans use giffgaff, powered by the O2 network, because of its good value for money and free calls and texts to other giffgaff users.

Ô If you’re wondering where to get your SIM card, don’t worry; we’ve got it all covered! You will be given a giffgaff SIM card during Sojourn (ICSS orien-tation camp).

Ô Keep it well, activate it online before you leave for London, and there you have it – a phone plan ready for use the moment you touch down in London.

Internet

Ô London and Imperial College are well-equipped with free wifi hotspots, so there is no need for you to purchase mobile internet for your laptop.

Ô Many halls of residence in Impe-rial require you to use a LAN cable. Although this is usually provided by the halls, you may want to bring your own LAN cable to London as a spare.

17

Cost of Living

Over the course of 39 weeks, an average student would spend anywhere

between £8000 and £12000 on rent and living expenses, excluding tuition fees.

Students based in London would spend around £80 to £100 per week on living expenses, but this would vary depending on how much you socialise and dine out. A breakdown for weekly expenses is as follows:

Ô Groceries: £30

Ô Dining out: £30

Ô Travel: £10 (£25 if you take public transport to college)

Ô Miscellaneous: £10

NOTE: This has no relation to the number you filled in as your daily expenses in your visa application.

The course fees for 2014 entry (Year 1 students) are as follows:

Course Tuition Fee

Engineering £25500

Medicine £35000

Biomedical Sciences £24750

Chemistry £26000

Physics £25000

Mathematics £22950

Life Sciences £25500

Taking Cash to LondonBased the above breakdown, do a self-eval-uation and decide how much money you would need for the next nine months.

This figure would come in useful when you purchase a bank draft or standing order. Bank drafts are usually valid for 3 to 6 months. Some students will open a HSBC bank account from Singapore before departing for London.

How much do I need?For the first few weeks in London, you would need some cash while waiting for your bank draft to clear. £500 is a conserv-ative amount for two weeks’ worth of day-to-day necessities and some initial shopping.

The rates from money changers in Singa-pore are usually much more favourable than those in the UK. Therefore, we recom-mend that you do any form of foreign exchange in Singapore. This also means your bank draft should be purchased in Singapore and made payable in GBP.

If you plan to travel...If you plan on travelling around Europe anytime within the year, it would be advisable to bring some Euros in cash to take advantage of the better exchange rates found in Singapore. You can also exchange pounds for Euros in the UK before you travel.

FINANCIAL MATTERS


In SingaporeIf you choose to open your bank account in Singapore, you can only choose HSBC. This is also by far the most expensive option, so please take note if you are doing this.

Steps to take (HSBC Account):

1Make sure you have a HSBC Singapore account.

2Bring along your passport, IC and student visa to set up a HSBC UK

account. However, there is a one-time administrative fee for this method, unless you are a HSBC Premier customer, for whom this method is free (but you need to maintain a sum of money in your account!)

3After the initial setting-up, however, you can switch the account to an HSBC

Premier UK Account, which requires a lower minimum deposit.

For more details, please refer to the HSBC website: http://www.hsbc.com.

sg/1/2/home

In LondonIf you are opening an account in London, you should ideally book a bank appoint-ment once you reach the UK, as appoint-ment slots get taken up very quickly in the first few weeks of term (especially for bank account branches near Imperial).

However, before you attend your bank appointment, check that you have the following:

Ô Bank drafts

Ô Passport

Ô College acceptance letter

Ô Statement of attendance specific to the bank you are going to.

This letter should include:

� Address of the particular branch of the bank you are opening your bank account at

� Updated accommodation address on the Student E-Service

*The last two items can be requested online from Imperial nearing your arrival in London.

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT

Aunty Sotong says…

Mai kanchiong la. Look out for more details in book 2!

19

ACCOMMODATION TIPSRegardless of whether you are an under-graduate or postgraduate fresher, choosing your home for the next few years would be one of the most important processes in your university life.

Here are some advice and tips to guide you through the decision process.

Which is the right hall for me?Unlike the halls of residence in NUS/NTU which are found on campus, halls in Impe-rial are dispersed over different parts of London. There are 6 main areas in which the halls are located, in order of proximity to the South Kensington campus:

Ô Princes Gardens (Southside, Eastside and Weeks)

Ô Beit Quadrangle (Beit) Ô Evelyn Gardens (Bernard Sunley,

Fisher, Holbein, Southwell and Willis Jackson)

Ô Wilson House Ô Pembridge Gardens (Pembridge) Ô Parson’s House Ô Xenia


HALL COMPARISON

*Eastside, Southside and Weeks Halls are part of the Princes Gardens cluster.

*Holbein-Willis Jackson, Fisher, Bernard Sunley and Southwell are part of the Evelyn Gardens cluster.

Hall of Residence Capacity Room types Price Range(per week)

Nearest Tube station

Travel time to Imperial(South Kensington campus) by foot

Travel time to Imperial by public transport

Eastside 454 En-suite: single, twin, premium, deluxe

£130.00 - £253.00 South Kensington

5 minutes N/A

Southside 407 En-suite: single, twin, premium, deluxe

£130.00 - £253.00

Weeks 66 Standard single £157.00 - £169.00

Holbein-WillisJackson

185 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: twin

£103.00 - £189.00 Gloucester Road

20 – 25 minutes N/A

Fisher 152 Standard: single, twin, triple £59.00 - £117.00

Bernard Sunley 89 Standard: single, twin, triple £76.00 - £172.00

Southwell 184 Standard: single, twin En-suite: twin

£102.00 - £178.00

Beit 334 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: single, twin

£118.00 - £206.00 SouthKensington

Less than 5 minutes N/A

Wilson House 392 Standard: single, twin £115.00 - £160.00 Paddington/Edgware Road

25 – 30 minutes 25 minutes

Pembridge 96 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: single, twin

£89.00 - £155.00 Notting Hill Gate

30 – 35 minutes 25 – 35 minutes

Xenia 149 Standard: single, twin En-suite: single

£110.00 - £208.00 Waterloo 75 – 85 minutes 20 – 25 minutes

Parson’s House 40 Standard single £124.00 Barons Court 50 – 60 minutes 35 – 45 minutes

21

Hall of Residence Capacity Room types Price Range(per week)

Nearest Tube station

Travel time to Imperial(South Kensington campus) by foot

Travel time to Imperial by public transport

Eastside 454 En-suite: single, twin, premium, deluxe

£130.00 - £253.00 South Kensington

5 minutes N/A

Southside 407 En-suite: single, twin, premium, deluxe

£130.00 - £253.00

Weeks 66 Standard single £157.00 - £169.00


185 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: twin

£103.00 - £189.00 Gloucester Road

20 – 25 minutes N/A

Fisher 152 Standard: single, twin, triple £59.00 - £117.00

Bernard Sunley 89 Standard: single, twin, triple £76.00 - £172.00

Southwell 184 Standard: single, twin En-suite: twin

£102.00 - £178.00

Beit 334 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: single, twin

£118.00 - £206.00 SouthKensington

Less than 5 minutes N/A

Wilson House 392 Standard: single, twin £115.00 - £160.00 Paddington/Edgware Road

25 – 30 minutes 25 minutes

Pembridge 96 Standard: single, twinEn-suite: single, twin

£89.00 - £155.00 Notting Hill Gate

30 – 35 minutes 25 – 35 minutes

Xenia 149 Standard: single, twin En-suite: single

£110.00 - £208.00 Waterloo 75 – 85 minutes 20 – 25 minutes

Parson’s House 40 Standard single £124.00 Barons Court 50 – 60 minutes 35 – 45 minutes


Hall of Residence Laundry Shared bathroom Bike Storage Garden Lift Wifi in room Remarks

Eastside Essentials (convenience store) and Eastside Bar at Princes Gardens

Ethos Sports Centre (college’s gym) right next door

Southside

Weeks


Small outlets of local supermarket chains (Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer) are a two-minute walk away from Evelyn GardensFisher

Bernard Sunley

Southwell

Beit Beit Quad is home to Imperial College Union and numerous college bars

Wilson House Small outlets of local supermarket chains (Waitrose, Tesco, Marks & Spencer) are a five-minute walk away from Wilson House

Gym membership at St Mary’s Hospital for 5 pounds throughout duration of study

Pembridge Tesco is a three-minute walk away. All four major banks have branches nearby.

Xenia Close to famous sightseeing locations like LondonEye and Big Ben

Parson’s House Close to two major shopping malls

23

FACILITIES COMPARISON

Hall of Residence Laundry Shared bathroom Bike Storage Garden Lift Wifi in room Remarks

Eastside Essentials (convenience store) and Eastside Bar at Princes Gardens

Ethos Sports Centre (college’s gym) right next door

Southside

Weeks


Small outlets of local supermarket chains (Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer) are a two-minute walk away from Evelyn GardensFisher

Bernard Sunley

Southwell

Beit Beit Quad is home to Imperial College Union and numerous college bars

Wilson House Small outlets of local supermarket chains (Waitrose, Tesco, Marks & Spencer) are a five-minute walk away from Wilson House

Gym membership at St Mary’s Hospital for 5 pounds throughout duration of study

Pembridge Tesco is a three-minute walk away. All four major banks have branches nearby.

Xenia Close to famous sightseeing locations like LondonEye and Big Ben

Parson’s House Close to two major shopping malls


HALL SNAPSHOTS

Eastside Hall (double room)

Fisher Hall (double room)

Wilson House(single room)

Beit Hall(single room)

25

APPLICATION PROCESS

HOW TO APPLY?If you have accepted a course offer from Imperial, you should have received an email containing instructions on applica-tion for halls of residence.

Here is a reprise of the key pointers:

Ô Log on to Student Rooms Online (http://goo.gl/EjLbsj) using the provided login details.

Ô Fill in your options accordingly. Remember to utilise your five options wisely!

Ô Choose your priority: room type or price.

Ô Generally, unless you are really hard-pressed for money, we recommend choosing ‘location’ for a higher chance of getting the hall you want.

Ô Submit your application and wait for the results to be emailed to you.

Remember to apply by 25th July 2014, to be guaranteed a place in Imperial halls.

What happens next?Once all undergraduate students in the cohort have applied for accommodation, STROL will allocate halls and rooms randomly according to the your priority and choices.

You will receive an email in September indicating your allocated hall.

Once you have been allocated a hall, immediately proceed to the down-pay-ment of 250 pounds. You are strongly advised to pay immediately as the window for you to pay is very short, and once you miss that window, your offer will be withdrawn.

Can I appeal for another hall if I don’t like my allocation?Unfortunately, appeals will not be entertained, unless they are for medical reasons. If you are strongly against your allocated hall, you may have to consider rejecting the offer and applying for private accommodation.


As much as you may be eager to get a hall, don’t be kiasu and apply too early! Applica-tion for halls is NOT on a first-come-first-serve basis. Relax, drink some kopi and take the time to think through the options.


POSTGRADUATE ACCOMMODATION

Unlike undergraduate accommodation, there are not many halls in Imperial that cater to postgraduate accommodation.

Most Singaporean postgraduate students would choose to form housing groups and rent an apartment or house.

There are also private-run student halls that cater to students’ needs, much like the undergraduate halls.

Silwood Park Halls

The Silwood Park hall cluster is available to students whose studies are based at Silwood Park campus. It consists of five halls:

Ô Brian Flowers Hall Ô John Smith Hall Ô Southwood Halls Ô Mary Flowers Hall Ô William Penney Hall

For more details, please visit: http://goo.gl/syWseR

Non-Imperial Halls of Residence

Gradpad

Gradpad is a cluster of postgraduate student halls run by a private-owned company. Well-established and offering high-quality hall services, it has been recommended by Imperial to be one of the popular student options. Gradpad halls are catered and serviced.

For more details, please visit: http://www.gradpadlondon.com/.

Other popular optionsIn addition to Gradpad, popular private hall options for Imperial postgraduates include the following:

Ô Lee Abbey (http://www.leeabbey-london.com/)

Ô Du Cane Housing (http://ducaneha.org.uk/)

Ô International Students House (ISH) (http://www.ish.org.uk/)

Ô Zebra Housing (http://www.zebra-

housing.com/)

27

Apartment/House Rental

By far, this is the most popular option among Singaporean postgraduate students. Find a few friends who will be studying in Imperial as well, look up apartment choices on London’s property agent websites, and send an email to the agent expressing interest in a house you like – and this may well be the first step to finding your home in London.

For a list of property agents with established records of providing accommodation for Imperial students, please refer to this website:

http://goo.gl/n9kQR1

Imperial Home Solutions is a website specially for students in search of private housing. You can log on to this website with your college user ID and password, and use it to find current property offers.

http://goo.gl/UeTSTx

If you have any questions about private house searching, feel free to drop us an email at [email protected]. We would be more than happy to help you as much as possible.

POSTGRADUATE ACCOMMODATION

Aunty Sotong says… Typical rent for a house in Central London can cost anywhere between 120 and 220 pounds per week per person.


BITS AND PIECESEvery country has its own culture, lifestyle and perks; the same applies to the United Kingdom, and to London in particular. Though the information covered in this section are probably the nitty-gritty details, you would find them useful in the near future!

Name of country United Kingdom

Constituents England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

Time Zone Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) (in autumn and winter)GMT +1 (In spring and summer)

Time difference fromSingapore

-8 hours (without Daylight Saving Time, in autumn and winter)-7 hours (with Daylight Saving Time, in spring and summer)

*Clocks in the UK are adjusted forward on the last Sunday in March for Daylight Saving Time, and adjusted back on the last Sunday in October.

Currency Pound Sterling

Country code +44

*Your UK phone number will be +44(your phone number). When someone calls your UK number from another country, he/she would need to include the country code in front. When someone calls you from within UK, however, he/she can replace ‘+44’ with ‘0’.

Geographical area 243,610 square kilometres (that’s around 350 Singapores!)

Police number 999 (Emergency)101 (Non-emergency)

Power adapter type 3-pin plug (same as Singapore)

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Image credits: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/lgcolor/ukcolor.gif

Capital City London (Greater London)

Geographical Area 1579 square kilometres

Population 8.308 million

Main modes of transport

London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Tramways, London Overground, London Buses, cycling

Official government organisation for transport

Transport for London (TfL)http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

Typical temperatures and weather(by season)

Spring (Mar – May): 3 to 17 ºCSummer (Jun – Aug): 12 to 25 ºCAutumn (Sep – Nov): 5 to 19 ºCWinter (Dec – Feb): 2 to 10 ºC [may or may not snow!]


SHOPPING & PACKINGThis is likely to be your first time leaving Singa-pore for a prolonged duration, and you are prob-ably tempted to bring your whole room or home with you. But you know that’s not possible, so what should you bring and what should you leave behind?

Actually, most of the things you’ll need can be found in both Singapore and London, and not everything is more expensive in London than in Singapore. So, the rule of thumb is to not over-pack! Only bring what you think you need, or what you really want to.

The next few sections are meant to help you decide whether to buy certain things in Singapore or in London. Common items you will need are divided into three main areas:

Ô For yourself

Ô For college

Ô For daily living

In addition, we will provide our recommendation for selected items. These are tips from seniors on what items you should buy in Singapore and what you should buy in London.

Have fun packing!

FOR YOURSELF

Clothing in London is not as expensive as you would have imagined (sometimes, it might even be cheaper than in Singapore!). You just

need to visit the right shops at the right time to get the best deals. Just like in Singapore, random sale periods are held frequently throughout the year, and these are excellent opportunities for you to stock up your closet at affordable prices.

Sweaters, wool jumpers

Wool jumpers are useful for the cold outdoors, while cotton ones are more suited for indoor use. You may wish to take one or two sweaters with you over to London and put them on before walking out of the airport.

We advise buying the bulk of your sweaters in London for the variety, suita-bility and quality. For as low as £10, you can get an acrylic sweater. A typical wool jumper costs around £30 in London.

autumn & winterCOLLECTION

When you arrive in London in late September, the temperature will be some-where between 8 and 16°C. There will be a higher than usual amount of rainfall in October. During the coldest months of winter, the temperature drops below –5°C.

Layering is the way to go during winter, as it would help keep you warm outdoors while allowing you to adapt to changing temperatures in and out of buildings. Here are some of the items which you may want to prepare before leaving Singapore.


Thermal wear

Nylon tights

Jackets

Scarves, gloves

For those who might be more sensitive to the chill, do not fret. There will be a wide variety of Heat Tech thermal under-garments at affordable prices from Uniqlo once you’re in London too. They would probably come in more useful for winter ski trips. It might be good to consider bringing a set of woollen long-johns too for when the weather gets a lot colder.

For ladies who would like to wear skirts and dresses, you may wish to bring a few nylon tights over. Again, there is no need to bring too many pairs as you can purchase them after you arrive in London.

For those who are more sensitive to cold environments, you may wish to buy a scarf and a pair of gloves in Singapore. Put them on before leaving the airport.

When getting a jacket, make sure you get one that is waterproof and windproof, as rain in London can be rather unpredict-able. Hooded jackets are recommended for occasional unexpected showers or when the strong wind gusts render umbrellas impractical.

When in London, you may consider investing in a good leather jacket for the warmer autumn days.

You may want to bring a jacket in your hand luggage in case you need to wear it once you walk out of the airport. However, we recommend buying them in London as there is a much greater variety in terms or functionality, design and price.

Winter coats

This is one item we strongly recommend you to buy in London, as there is a wider choice in terms of functions and design, all at more reasonable prices. For 50 pounds, you can get a very effective winter coat that is not thick, puffy and hard to trans-port.

Aunty Sotong says...

Take one of each item over and buy the rest in London. (except for winter coats)

For ladies who might want to continue wearing skirts in winter, you can buy a few pairs of thermal stockings and wear them as an inner layer under your usual tights.

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Although there are not a lot of occasions where formal wear is required, you may want to buy it in Singapore as it might be difficult to find affordable formal wear on a short notice.

Some occasions that require formal wear include freshers’ ball, various boat parties, alumni nights and internship interviews.

Medics may require formal clothing on a more frequent basis, as there are patient visits and simulated patient interviews.

spring &summerCOLLECTION

When the cold season is finally over in April (or March if you’re lucky), it’s time to switch over to a lighter set of clothes. If there is that extra bit of space in your luggage, you could throw in some of your favourite T-shirts.

London prices for comparison...

formalCOLLECTION

For the gentlemen: a formal suit, a few long sleeved shirts, ties, leather shoes.

For the ladies: a few evening dresses, dress shoes.

Item Price

Long sleeved shirts £15 – £30

T-shirts £6 – £30

Blouses £15 – £30

Jumpers, cardigans £8 – £35

Jeans £10 – £50

Bermudas, shorts £15 – £30


Most students studying in Imperial College travel by foot. When buying shoes, ensure that they are sturdy and comfort-able enough for walking.

As the first few months in London tend to be wet, you may want to consider buying waterproof shoes.

During the wetter months of the year, you may find leather boots or hiking boots useful in keeping your feet warm. It would be better to find boots in London as you will find a wide variety at a more reason-able price.

For those who enjoy an active lifestyle, you may wish to buy your cross trainers, soccer boots, etc. in Singapore.

Take your slippers or sandals with you, as there is less variety in London. When moving about in halls, slippers are very convenient. Furthermore, you can wear them during spring or summer!

footwear

Casual shoes Waterproof boots

Sports shoes Slippers, sandals


When buying boots, look for thermal properties, water resistance and comfort when walking.


Buy this in Singapore.

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Toiletries take up a lot of luggage space and weight, so you might just want to take a week’s worth with you to London. All of these are readily available and reasonably priced in supermarkets or convenience stores in London. Chances are that you will be able to find your favourite inter-national brands of shampoos, shower gels and facial washes in London as well.

Ô Shampoo

Ô Soaps

Ô Shower gel

Ô Toothbrush

Ô Toothpaste

Ô Face and body moisturiser

Aunty Sotong says… Moisturiser and lip balm are good to have, as London air can be very dry (as compared to Singapore).

Ô Sanitary pads

For the ladies, sanitary pads in London are of lower quality. For those who are particular, you may wish to stock them up while you are in Singapore.

toiletries

bags

hangers Some halls of accommodation provide a few hangers, while others don’t. You may want to take a few hangers with you over to London and buy the rest there when an opportunity arises.

Some shops such as Topman or Primark give out free hangers with any purchase. Just let them know that you are a student in need of hangers. If you’re lucky, you can get as many as 10 hangers per transaction.

For school: A small bag for your daily commute – large enough to fit your files, notes, laptop and the occasional textbook.

For travel: A backpack for short holidays – not too small to fit your clothes, not too big as a hand baggage.

Aunty Sotong says… Branded bags are probably cheaper in Singapore, so get them first before going to London. However, if brand is not your priority, many shops in London sell bags with good design and decent quality at reasonable prices.


PensPens are readily available in London, but you might not be able to find the brands which you are used to. If you are lucky enough, your trusted brand of writing instruments (including their refills) can be bought in London at twice the price.

If you are not picky with the type of pen you use, free pens are available at various fairs held throughout the year.

Pencils and ErasersBeing an Imperial College student means that you’ll most likely need pencils and erasers for graphs and sketches. We recommend buying pencils and erasers in Singapore.

Include pencil lead in your packing list if you are using mechanical pencils, and pencil sharpeners if you are using wooden ones.

HighlightersFor those of you who love to make your own notes with colour codes, do buy your favourite highlighters in Singapore and bring them over.

RulerBring as many as you need, especially if you know you are the kind who loses your rulers easily.

Sticky NotesYou can easily find free sticky notepads at career fairs in Imperial, so there is no need to bring them.

Writing PadsThis item is an exception, such that it would be better to buy writing pads in London. While they are more expensive than in Singapore, prices are still reason-able if you buy them in large stacks. If you are bringing writing pads, consider putting them in your hand luggage as they might drastically increase your luggage weight otherwise.

Stationery

This is something we strongly recommend you to buy in Singapore and bring over to London,

as stationery in London are typically double the price of that in Singapore (i.e. you see the same number on the price tag, but in pounds). However, there are still some exceptions.

FOR COLLEGE

37

Files, Ring Binders and DividersAlthough marginally more expensive in London, you might want to get them in London instead due to their bulkiness and weight.

Correction Tape or FluidIf you are the kind who uses correction tape or fluid, do get them in Singapore as they are not common in the UK.

T-Squares, Flexi Curves and Scaled RulersIf you still keep your rulers from secondary school, JC, Polytechnic or IB days, and you have the space to spare, do bring them along.

Courses like Civil, Aeronautical and Mechanical engineering may require special drawing equipment. In that case, you can borrow them from your seniors or ask your tutors in Imperial if they have any to spare (when the time comes).

TextbooksTextbooks are generally more expensive in London, but you can find cheap second-hand ones of decent quality on Amazon.

Your department will give you a reading list, of which most items can be found in the Imperial College libraries. Some departments also have a textbook resale service, via which you can buy used text-books from seniors in your course.

NotesFor some courses, you may want to bring selected past notes with you, if you find it relevant and useful.

Textbooks and NotesTextbooks are generally more expensive in London than in Singapore. Check with your department or with seniors who are studying the same course if there is a list of recommended textbooks.


ElectronicsIn general, electronics are more expensive in London than in Singapore. If you are thinking of buying big-ticket items like laptops or cameras, the next electronics trade show in Singapore should give you the best cost savings.

CalculatorsFor examinations, calculator models are specific to each department. You can bring your current calculators along, and then check with your department if you need to buy a new one for your course.

LaptopsBring your laptop from Singapore. Ensure that your laptop is in good working condition, and/or you have international warranty for your laptop.

The annual IT and electronics fair in Singa-pore is a good time for you to get a new laptop if you need to. Focus on getting a laptop with a good processor and specs.

LAN CableDepending on your hall, you may require a LAN cable to access the internet. (See Accommodation for details on halls.) Some halls provide LAN cables as well. However, bring one of a suitable length from Singa-pore, just in case.

Thumbdrives and HDDsWhile Dropbox and Google Drive may be useful, consider bringing a good old thumbdrive or external hard disk. This will come in useful for projects in the future.

Printers, Scanners and MonitorsLarge electronic devices are easily purchased in London at reasonable prices over Amazon.

Printing and scanning stations are easily accessible in Imperial, and your depart-ment may give you free printing credits at the start of the year - sufficient to last you through at least the first term. Hence, you would most likely not require your own printers and scanners.

Extension Plug and AdaptersBring an extension plug from Singapore for convenience, as well as travel adaptors if you intend to travel around Europe.

Aunty Sotong says… The power socket in the UK is the 3-pin type, same as Singapore’s. However, the power socket in many European countries is the 2-pin round type.

Aunty Sotong says… Some departments do not even allow students to use their own calculators in exams; so do check with your department.

39

FOR DAILY LIVING

When it comes to kitchenware, do not jump at the cheapest ones as you will soon find yourself having to find another one. Instead, buy good-quality ones to last

you through the years.

Cutlery

As these are often sold in sets, you may wish buy them over in London and

split them with another friend. 16-24 piece cutlery set costs around £8, while a 12-16 piece dinner set costs around £10.

Bring your own chopsticks as they are rarer and more expensive in London.

Saucepans and PotsLeave these at home as they are too heavy and bulky.

Go for non-stick, high-quality pots. These can easily be found in sets, so share them with a friend if needed.

Woks and Rice CookersLeave these at home as well. (Unless your parents and relatives insist!) Decent rice-cookers can be found in London for around 15 to 20 pounds.

Make sure you buy flat-based woks as most halls use electric induction hobs.

SeasoningsYou might want to take some of your favourite seasonings or foodstuffs (such as chilli, pastes or spices) over to London.

These tend to be pricey and can only be found in Chinatown. However, note that oyster sauce, dark sauce and light sauce can be found in London at affordable prices, so you could leave them in Singa-pore.

Remember to learn to cook your favourite Singaporean dishes – it will gain you much popularity and fame among your friends!

Comfort FoodBring along your supplies of Milo, kaya, chicken essence and Singaporean snacks because they can only be found at China-town and prices tend to be double of that in Singapore.

Food

BRAND X

Kitchen


Bed sheets, pillows and pillow cases can be purchased over in London at affordable prices. However, bolsters are impossible to find, so put one in your luggage if you wish.

Take one or two small locks with you as some of you will need to lock your cabinet in the kitchen.

Basic MedicationPack some basic medication into your luggage. These include flu tablets, paracetamol, charcoal pills (for diarrhoea and food poisoning), traditional lozenges,

inhaler etc.

First-Aid KitIt might be ideal to bring along a first aid kit containing plasters and antiseptics for cuts and bruises.

Chinese Herbs and MedicineIf necessary, buy any Chinese herbs and medicine in Singapore. There are a few Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners in London, but they are very expensive.

VitaminsIt would be good to have some vitamins on hand to help you stay healthy, espe-cially during your first winter in London.

Medication Bedding

Locks


If you are more used to wooden spatulas, bring one from Singapore.

Bring Tupperware (if your luggage has space) as they are very useful for storing food (especially if you plan to make lunchboxes the night before)

Bring Strepsils if you know you will need it, because Strepsils (and any other cough lozenges) are double the price in London.

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HaircutYou may wish to have a haircut before going to London. A typical haircut will cost approximately £10 to £15 in London. A professional salon cut will cost you anywhere from £40 to £80.

Flight BookingIt may work out cheaper and more flexible if you book a one-way flight from Singapore to London. All subsequent flights can be booked as a return trip from London to Singapore.

If you are thinking of booking a return trip from Singapore to London, you may wish to book a open return ticket. Most students should be able to leave London as soon as their examinations and projects are over. Depending on your course schedule, this is usually earlier than the last day of term.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Passport-Sized PhotosTake a few passport-sized photos with you. These services are not cheap in London – four photographs for £10. It is also useful to have a scanned image of your passport-sized photo.


PACKING TIPSChecked BaggageA number of airlines provide extra weight allowance for students upon request. For example, Singapore Airlines may allow an additional 5 kg to 10 kg of checked baggage if you call them in advance and tell them that you are a student. Some-times, you may need to negotiate for that extra weight, but they may give in after a few calls.

Due to local health safety reasons in the UK, checked luggage must not exceed 32 kg per piece.

Some airlines may also allow you to check in two pieces of luggage. If you are travel-ling alone, it is advisable not to have more than one trolley bag. There are a number of London Underground stations which are not equipped with lifts or escalators.

If you exceed the weight allowance by a little, you can try checking in earlier. Most check-in staff would close one eye if the weight is less than 3 kg above the limit.

Aunty Sotong says... Checked baggage allowance for SIA and Emirates flights is 30 kg. Remember to weigh your luggage before going to the airport!

Vacuum BagsYou can purchase vacuum bags of various sizes from Daiso to maximise the luggage space. Daiso sells them for only $2 each. Remember to measure the internal dimen-sions of your luggage before buying!

Fragile ItemsMusic instruments and sports equipment can be checked-in as fragile items. Check with your respective airlines for further information and fees.

Hand BaggagePack the items which you will absolutely need on the first day in your hand baggage or at the top of your checked baggage.

For hand baggage dimensions, most airlines follow the guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In general, hand baggage should have a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm including all handles, side pockets, wheels etc.

The maximum weight varies from airline to airline. Most airlines set their maximum at 7 kg. As this is not strictly enforced, you may be able to pass through as long as your hand baggage looks compact. Laptops are generally not included in the hand baggage limit and does not count as an additional piece of hand carry.

Aunty Sotong says... British Airways has a generous limit of 23 kg for hand baggage, in addition to 23 kg of checked baggage.

If you are taking any laptops, tablets, etc. with you, ensure that it is easily remov-able and replaceable from your hand baggage for security checks.

WHAT IS ICSS?

T he Imperial College Singapore Society (ICSS) is a student led organisation

steeped in rich culture and tradition. Every year, it flaunts a member population in the hundreds, bolstering its reputation as one of the largest Singapore student commu-nities outside of the country itself.

Why ICSS?Why join a Singapore society when you come all the way to London for an over-seas education? Living overseas, as you may soon find out, would leave you longing for home or in need of academic/non-academic support.

As a member of ICSS, you will be in a family where you can expect support from peers and seniors, and a ‘home away from home’. We organise trips and events to expose members to life in the United Kingdom, in addition to presenting Singapore to other students in Imperial. From smaller-scale leisure activities to flagship events, you can be sure of finding something you like to do in ICSS, whilst enjoying the company of your fellow overseas Singaporeans.

ICSS EVENTSOne-off EventsEvenly spread throughout the year, these activities are a break away from the hectic univer-sity life and a chance for you to hang out with your fellow Singaporean community - while trying out new things in London and the UK! Some are geared more towards promoting interaction amongst ICSS seniors and juniors; some are to commemorate special occasions and festivals; while others are simply a chance to chill out.

Key EventsBeing the biggest events in the ICSS calendar, these serve the purpose of bringing together ICSS members to spend quality time together and promote the spirit of ICSS, within and beyond the Imperial College Singaporean community.

ICSS EVENTS

Sports @ ICSS

Interest Groups

Interest GroupsICSS puts the welfare of its members at heart; as an ICSS member, you can look forward to a palette of sports groups and interest classes, conducted by fellow ICSS members.

ICSS 32ND EXCOWho are we?In short, we are...

Imperial College Year 2s, coming from many different backgrounds and courses

Sotongs (once upon a time)

A bunch of fun-loving and cheerful people in ICSS!

The people behind the ICSS events you see throughout the year

Your first-step ICSS hotline

Part ninjas, part saikang-warriors

Last but not least, a dedicated committee that looks forward to bringing the best of ICSS to you in the upcoming academic year :)

President: Clive [email protected]

Vice-President: Leon [email protected]

Secretary: Lim Wei [email protected]

Major Event Officer:Choo Jia Huim a j o r e v e n t @ic-singsoc.net

Treasurer: Maung [email protected]

Events Officer: Lincoln [email protected]

Sports Officer: Poh Yu [email protected] Events Officer:

Kanneganti [email protected]

Liaison Officer: Chan Jing [email protected]

ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVESFearing that you will have no familiar faces in university? Fret not; these friendly seniors are here to help! If you have any questions about life in Imperial and your respective courses, drop them an email and they will be more than happy to chat with you.

Course(s) Academic Rep Email

Aeronautical Engineering Gary Chew [email protected]

Biochemistry Liwei Yap [email protected]

Biology, Ecology, Environmental Biology Audrey Lee [email protected]

Biomedical Engineering Ashwin Kumar [email protected]

Biomedical Science Lim Jia Min [email protected]

Chemical Engineering Sarah Quek [email protected]

Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry Maung Thet [email protected]

Civil Engineering Cheah Pei Zhen [email protected]

Mathematics, Computer Science, Computing

Daren Sin [email protected]

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Goh Jia Ying [email protected]

Electrical and Information Engineering Benjamin Ni [email protected]

Materials Science and Engineering Gao Yulin [email protected]

Mechanical Engineering Loh Guo-Yang [email protected]

Medicine Pay Leon Han [email protected]

Physics Jeremy Seow [email protected]

FRESHERS’ EVENTSF rom now till a couple of weeks after

your arrival in London, we have prepared a line of events specially for you! Take out your planners and mark out the following dates…

Pre-Departure Talk6th July 2014 (Sunday), 5pm – 10pm, The Treasury

An introductory talk by the ICSS Exco, to give you a headstart on preparations for life in London and Imperial. You will also get to meet your seniors from various courses, ask questions about anything and everything, and register for events (e.g.: Sojourn) and services (e.g.: duvet delivery).

Sojourn 201415th – 17th August 2014 (Friday – Sunday), Sentosa

The ICSS equivalent of your university orientation camp. Have 3 days’ worth of sun, sand, sea and fun with us, and get to know your new college mates better! Majority of your Singaporean seniors would tell you that Sojourn is THE Freshers’ Event to attend!

UKBound 20146th September 2014 (Saturday), Butter Factory

An annual Pageant show for all students heading to the various universities in the UK. Come celebrate one of your last few nights in Singapore with new and old friends as you support your schoolmates in this battle of wit and beauty. It’s BOUND to be a blast!

Pre-Departure Talk

Sojo

urn

UKBou

nd

FRESHERS’ EVENTSWarwick Summer Games (WSG)23rd August 2014 (Saturday), Raffles Junior College

An annual sporting event hosted by the University of Warwick Singapore Society to bring all UK universities together for a full day of friendly competition. Take this opportunity to find out more about the various sports interest groups in ICSS and simply have fun.

Hyde Park PicnicDate to be confirmed, Hyde Park (London)

Tired of the freshers’ rush upon arrival? Come have a breather with us at Hyde Park, the royal park right at Imperial’s doorstep! Enjoy the sunshine, food and games, and seize the opportunity to just relax with fellow Singaporeans.

Hyde Park Picnic 2014

FRESHERS’ SUPPORTW hat will your first week in London

look like? Here’s a quick overview of what to look forward to in your first week.

1st to 3rd October 2014: Imperial College Orientation Programme (optional)

4th to 5th October 2014: Arrivals Weekend

6th to 12th October 2014: Welcome Week (+ Freshers’ Fair)

What do we have for you?Nearing departure date, the more practical aspects of life in London may start getting on you, and you might get intimidated. Fret not, you will find ample help avail-able as time passes! Most of these are still in the process of planning, but eventually you can look forward to the following:

• Duvet Orders and Delivery

What’s more important than a good, thick duvet to keep you warm during the harsh winter days? We will be collecting orders for duvets during Pre-Departure Talk, so that you can get it the moment you arrive in London.

• Halls of Residence Write-ups

We have given you an overview of halls in Imperial, but that’s not all. Keep a lookout on the ICSS webpage; you will soon find reviews, written by your seniors, about the respective halls. If you need first-hand truthful opinions about each and every hall, look no further!

• Airport Pick-up Service

The weekend before start of Autumn Term is known as “Arrivals Weekend”, as this is when most of the Imperial freshers will be arriving in the halls of residence. We will be catering shuttle buses to fetch you from the airport to your respective halls if you are arriving in London during “Arrivals Weekend”.

• Hall Walkabout

Within “Arrivals Weekend”, you will get to go on a Hall Walkabout - an orien-tation tour around the area near your hall, conducted by seniors who lived in the same hall as you. This is the perfect chance for you to shop for daily necessi-ties (like kitchenware and bedding) and explore your area.

If you have any other doubts or troubles, feel free to approach any senior. We have all been in your shoes before; so we will do our best to make your transition into overseas university life more comfortable.

HELPLINESIn the case where you have any urgent questions or problems that you would like to discuss more personally, here are some helplines you can access almost any day, any time:

General ICSS email: [email protected]

President: Clive ([email protected])

Vice-President: Leon ([email protected])

Liaison Officer: Jing Yi ([email protected])

Find us on the official ICSS webpage: https://www.union.ic.ac.uk/osc/singapore/

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imperial.singsoc


WHAT’S IN BOOK TWO?We hope you’ve enjoyed reading the first book of the Sotong Guide series and found the pre-departure administration details useful. Now, you’re probably excited to know what’s in the upcoming book.

As the day of departure draws nearer, you would be wondering what life in London is really like. Book 2 will thus focus more on Life in London - everything from security to travel tips to the best cafes and restau-rants in London! Stay tuned for Book 2, coming up in July / August!

Stay connected! You should now be eagerly anticipating the start of your overseas life in London. Join the freshers’ Facebook group to get to know other freshers and get updates on upcoming events!

Ô http://goo.gl/HmxoBc

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

SHARE THIS BOOK! If you have friends who will be joining you at Imperial College next year, do help us spread the word about the Sotong Guide series!

Ô http://goo.gl/9IR7At

Comments or feedback? If you have wish to provide comments or feedback on this publication, send us an email at [email protected].

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NOTES

THE SINGAPOREAN FRESHER’S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFE IN LONDON AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE

sotong guide 2014 book one

Documents

guide useful

chest xray

accommodation tips

predeparture information

imperial family

imperial college04before

financial matters

book onepredeparture