When you get off the plane and go into the airport, the first thing to do is to show your passport and the letter the College has supplied you with to the Immigration Officer. You will find that there are two different queues of people waiting to go through passport control. One queue is for British Nationals and EU passport holders and the other is for everyone else.

You must make sure you join the right queue. When it is your turn to show your passport you will be asked why you have come to Britain and also whether or not you have enough money to cover the cost of your stay here. You may also be asked to show proof that you have been accepted onto a course at the LSCI in London and it is strongly advisable to have this information on hand.

When the Immigration Officer has checked your documents, he/she will put a stamp on your passport stating the length of time you can stay in Britain. Students are usually given 1 year unless they are enrolled on a short course.

Do not worry if you know you will need to stay longer than the stamp says. You will usually be able to extend your stay, but this has to be organised later..

If the Immigration officer refuses your entry and you have no entry clearance you may be removed immediately, or be given a very short period of temporary admission. If this happens, you should seek help immediately from LSCI in London or from the UK Immigrants Advisory Service who have offices at most major ports of entry. If your entry is refused and you had obtained entry clearance, then you cannot be removed until after your appeal has been heard.

UK Immigrants Advisory Service Offices
Heathrow: 0208 759 9234
Gatwick: 01293 33385

After passing through passport control and collecting your luggage you will pass through customs. Again you will find queues. You will either have to pass through the green passage - which means you have NOTHING TO DECLARE, or the red passage - which means you have GOODS TO DECLARE.

If you are carrying more than the permitted duty or tax free allowances, or any prohibited goods, you must pass through the red passage. If you are not sure about what you can or cannot bring into the UK you should check with your local British High Commission, before you begin your journey.

Even if you go through the green passage, the customs may ask you to open your luggage.

Keep important papers in your carry-on luggage, with photocopies in your other baggage. Label your baggage inside and out with your name and both your home and UK addresses and telephone numbers. Use the address and the phone number of the College office, if necessary. To prevent inconvenience in the case of lost luggage, keep in your carry on luggage all of the items you would need for one night's emergency stay in a hotel. Towards the end of your flight, the airline personnel will give you forms to complete for UK immigration use and for UK customs. It is forbidden to bring certain items into the United Kingdom. Simply follow the directions on the form. If necessary, ask the flight attendant for clarifications.

Present your passport, student visa and evidence of financial support to the immigration officer at the airport. After questioning you about your plans in the United Kingdom, the immigration officer will decide how long you will be allowed to stay. After this, you will be directed to the Customs Service for inspection of your luggage.

Travelling within London
If you have to travel to and from the College five days a week and are not within walking distance, get a Travel card. With a Travel card you may use buses and tubes in the area covered by your card. As a one station tube ride in the Central Zone can cost £1.50, a Travel card is obviously worth having if used every day. A weekly Zone 1 Travel card (£20 at this date), for example, would allow the holder 7 days of travel without restrictions on time of travel or on number of journeys. Check with the College Office for student discount application forms etc.

Accommodation
If you book a place in the College residence, please make sure that you let the College know when you intend to arrive at the Hall of Residence. Remember that you will have reserved a bed for an entire semester. You will not be able to move into a room in the hall of residence for a week and then expect to leave when you have found other accommodation. LSCI will have booked that place for you and will be required to pay for it, even if you have vacated it. The College will therefore hold you to your contract and you will have to pay for the place you reserved.

The cost of living in London
It is impossible to be precise, about the cost of living, but the following information, which relates to 2003 should be a useful guide. A single student living in London would need at least £600 per month to cover basic expenses like rent, food, heating, lighting, public transport fares, medical cover, and other necessities. A great deal depends, however, on the individual.

ESTIMATED COST OF LIVING IN THE UK, 2002/2003

Deposit on rented accommodation	£200-£400 (one month's rent)
Heat and light (if charged separately)	£20-£40 per month
Food (if not included in accommodation)	£30-£40 per week
Personal hygiene items, cosmetics, etc.	£10-£12 per month
Shirts and tops, light sweaters, light shoes	£20 and under
Raincoat and other outwear, boots	£50 and under
Winter coats	£90 and under
Small electrical appliances (e.g. hairdryer, kettle)	£20 and under
Textbooks (second hand books available for as little as £1)	£10-£15 or more
Newspapers	20p-50p per issue
Magazines	50p-£2.50
CDs	£12-£15
Television licence	£101 per year per household
Phone card (for use in public phones)	Choice of £2, £5, £10 or £20
Restaurant meal	£5 per head minimum, £12 per head.
Cinema ticket	£4-£10
Theatre ticket	£10-£30
Concert ticket	£5-£30
Swimming pool use	£2.50
Tennis/squash court	£3 per hour