Program Q & As EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY SEMESTER PROGRAM For answers to questions regarding application procedures, program information, responsibilities of participants, pre-departure orientation materials, departure and post-departure information, registration, financial matters, grades, credits, withdrawals, cancellations and expulsions, please read THE HANDBOOK FOR STUDY ABROAD. 1) What college or university will I be studying at? Edge Hill University is based in England s north-west, between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester. The North West offers a diverse experience and is full of vibrant cities rich in culture, stunning scenery, colorful countryside, historic buildings and abundant nature. Edge Hill is based just outside the market town of Ormskirk, in the heart of the region. Whether you want bright lights, designer shops, art and culture, top-class sports, seaside resorts or the natural beauty of the Lake District and Peak District, Ormskirk has all this within easy reach. There are two major airports close so it s easy to get here and organize visits home. There are many things to consider when choosing where to live and study, but Edge Hill s locations ensures you will have an experience to remember. 2) Do I have to be a SUNY Oswego student in order to attend this program? No you do not. We accept SUNY Oswego students, other SUNY students and students from private universities. 3) What is the required GPA to attend this program? Students applying to Edge Hill University need a minimum GPA of 2.75. 4) Can people with no language experience apply? There are no language requirements for attendance at Edge Hill University. 5) Does the university provide trips for International Students? Shortly after arrival, the International Office at Edge Hill University provides transportation and entry to the castle in Conwy, Wales. 6) Will there be a pre-departure orientation/arrival orientation? Students will have a pre-departure orientation sponsored by the Office of International Education and Programs on the SUNY Oswego Campus before school ends for the semester. The orientation at Edge Hill University is held shortly after you arrive on campus. Students are given a tour of the campus, issued student ID cards, and introduced to the library. The orientation programme is designed to help students to settle into life in the UK and studying in a new country. It is expected that all international students attend this program as it is mandatory and full of useful information that will make the transition a smooth one for you. 7) What if I arrive earlier than the group or stay on longer after the end of the program? If you arrive earlier or stay longer than the group, you will have to make your own living arrangements for that amount of time. Your program fee only covers the beginning and ending dates of the program.
8) Is housing provided? Housing is provided. You will be housed in one of the student residence hall on campus for the duration of the program. The campus is a safe and secure place to live, with a supportive, sociable atmosphere that will help you feel at home from day one. International students are guaranteed a room if they complete and submit all of the relevant paperwork on time. Because all of the campus accommodations are based on campus, everything you need for studying and leisure time is close by. Teaching and learning facilities, the University Library, Sporting Edge, Student s Union, the Rose Theatre, University Shop and catering outlets are all within a few minutes walk. There are five separate areas of accommodation with over 1,000 students living on campus. Around 300 of these students live in catered accommodation, with the other 700 self-catering, while over 500 rooms have en-suite facilities. 9) Who will I be living with? You will live in a single dorm room, in one of the residence halls housing both British and International students. 10) Is the cost for housing included in the program differential? Yes, the cost of housing is included in the program differential. 11) Are there phones in the residential facilities? There are phones located in the residential facilities. The telephones in your hall will only allow you to call numbers on campus (other residence halls, the International Office, Campus Security, etc.). Your friends and family can call you on the hall phones. They will need to use the international dialing code for the UK, and need to give your name and room number to the person who answers the phone. 12) Should I bring a cell phone, or buy one once I get there? If you bring a mobile/cell phone with you from the states, it can be very expensive to use in the UK, even to send a text message. If you want to use a mobile phone whilst in the UK, it is less expensive for you to purchase a pay as you go simcard from one of the many UK networks. They cost around 5 British Pound Sterling. 13) Do I make my own flight arrangements? The Office of International Education and Programs will put together a group flight if we meet the minimum number of students, which is ten. Students have the option of making their own travel arrangements. You will be provided with the entry and return dates for the program. Edge Hill University will pick you up from Manchester Airport. 14) Will I be met at the airport? Students arriving in Manchester Airport are offered the free meet and greet service by the Centre for International Education. This service can be booked by students who have confirmed their acceptance at EHU and paid their deposit. A representative from the Centre for International Education will meet you in the arrival hall of the airport and show you to the taxi/coach which will bring you to the Ormskirk campus of EHU. 15) Where are the classes held and how often do they meet per week? Each of your classes will generally have one lecture and one seminar per week. You will receive a syllabus and a reading list on the first day of class. You will not have the periodic assessments that you are accustomed to in the States your final essay will largely determine your grade. Your professors will not continually remind you that you need to be reading this or that. Keeping up with the readings is the
student s responsibility. Your time management skills will be tested! Your academic advisor is there to help you in adapting to your new academic environment, so utilize him or her! Students generally call their professors by their first name; this takes some getting used to at first. 16) Are the classes different than those in the United States? Edge Hill University degree programmes follow the traditional British degree system, which usually allow students to complete their degree in three years. Students in the UK follow either a single subject or joint honours programme throughout their degree course. This means that the students focus upon their chosen area of study from the start of their degree. We recommend that if you should select classes from the equivalent year of study in your home country. If, for example, you are in the first year of your degree, you should select classes from the first year of EHU degree programmes. If you have no prior knowledge of a subject, you should not select third year courses as you will not have the background required to have a positive outcome to your study. Louise Davies will assist with this process in the beginning so that you are not taking courses over your level. 17) Will my credit be accepted at my home school? You should keep all module (class) guides given to you by your tutors to take back to your home college. At the end of your semester or year of study an Edge Hill University transcript will be sent to SUNY Oswego where it will be processed and sent on to your home school International Office. It is at the discretion of your home institution to decide how to transfer the credits that you have received while at Edge Hill University. We strongly recommend that you obtain approval from your home institution at the time you are applying to study at Edge Hill University. You will be given an Overseas Off-Campus Study Abroad Approval form for your advisor to complete and return. 18) How do I do my laundry? In the Student Union building there is a laundry facility where you can wash and dry your clothes for a small fee. 19) Where can I receive mail? Students can collect their mail in person from the Student Information Officer in the Student Information Centre. The University also has several post boxes from which you can send mail. These post boxes are located within the buildings on campus and are brown with slots marked internal and external. Stamps for international mail can be purchased from the Post Office in Ormskirk. If you are sending mail home, please take your letter or parcel to the Post Office where it will be weighed to ensure the postage is correct. 20) How will I get to class? You will be able to walk to class from your residence hall. Nothing is too far! 21) What are the public forms of transportation? Situated close to Liverpool and Manchester, where international flights land daily, Ormskirk is well placed for our international students. Many companies offer reduced-rate flights for students and we suggest you contact them as well as your local travel agent to find out what is available. When making plans to get to Manchester or Liverpool airport, you should consider how long it will take and how much it will cost, but try to pick a convenient option. Traveling through London may seem cheaper initially, but it can be very difficult with lots of heavy luggage. We strongly advise you to fly directly into Manchester. It is a major international airport to which many airlines such as KLM have direct flights. If your long-haul flight arrives at London Heathrow or Gatwick, please ask your travel agent about an add-on shuttle
flight to Manchester. The Centre for International Education offers a meet and greet services for students arriving at Manchester airport as well as local train or bus stations. To book the free journey you should contact the Centre for International Education as soon as your travel plans are confirmed. The town s National Express bus station easily connects you to the rest of the UK, while the rail station offers direct trains to both Liverpool and Preston, which are both mainline stations with connections across the country. The capital cities of London and Edinburgh take around 3 ½ hours to get to. Edge Hill Bus Service Edge Hill is committed to green travel and has a free bus service between Edge Hill campus and Ormskirk bus station, situated in the town centre. The bus runs every 15 minutes from Edge Hill s Ormskirk campus to the town centre. 22) What form of currency should I bring? You should bring some British Pound Sterling currency with you for at least the first few days. This will help for when you land and you might want to purchase a cup of coffee or small snack. Most students bring their debit/credit cards with them for their length of stay as they can be used everywhere. Make sure you tell your bank that you will be in the UK and travelling throughout Europe so that they do not block your card once over there. 23) How much money should I bring? Spending habits vary greatly. It is usually recommended that students bring $100 for every week that you are there, but most students won t spend this every week. It depends on how much you want to travel, eat out, shop, etc. Please note that Ormskirk is also less expensive compared to the larger cities. So, when you do go to the larger cities, plan accordingly. 24) Are there internet facilities? Should I bring a laptop? On campus, the library provides students access to their computers and wireless internet. Also, the LINC building is open 24 hours a day, provides access to 200 pc s as well as providing access to media production and media facilities. Wireless access is available across most of the main campus, including the halls of residence. So, students can bring their laptops. However, it is important to remember that electrical outlets are different from those in the US, so you must purchase power adapters. It is recommended that you bring your electrical items to the international office to be checked before you plug them in. 25) What happens if I get sick? There is a health care and counseling unit located on campus in the Wilson Building. 26) How can my parents get hold of me in case of emergency? Parents can call you at the residence hall or they can contact the Centre for International Education during business hours. They can also call Caitlin Pollard, Education Abroad Specialist for England at (315)312-2026 or (315)312-2118. If Caitlin is not available ask to speak to Dr. Joshua McKeown, Director of the Office of International Education and Programs at SUNY Oswego. 27) Will meals be provided for me? If so, how many per week? You will be issued a unicard upon arrival (a plastic card with your name, photograph and your computer username number). Within this card, there is a microchip which contains money to provide you with approximately 12 meals per week. You can use this allowance at various places on campus. 28) Will I need a passport and a visa?
All students travelling overseas must have a valid passport. For now, students taking academic courses do not need a visa. 29) Can I receive financial aid for Study Abroad? Financial aid is available to matriculated students that meet the requirements. Students are encouraged to meet with a representative from the Financial Aid Office at their home university to discuss their options. Students should take the program budget sheet with them to show the current costs of the program.