Full-time Professional Circus Training -
Information for International Students

Circus Maniacs warmly welcomes international students.

In the past couple of years most of our full-time international students have come from either Canada or the USA, but we have also received students from Israel and Greece.

Immigration & Visas

Entry into the UK

Check with your nearest British Official Representative (Embassy or High Commission) for the most up to date information.
You may also find UK Visas Students (INF 5) 14/02/06 an extremely useful reference.

Visas

It is the responsibility of the student to obtain a valid student visa before starting a course.

Students without a valid visa will be referred to the immigration authorities and will not be allowed to start a course.

If a student stops attending a course for any reason Circus Maniacs may be required to inform the immigration authorities.

Your initial Visa.
This you will normaly apply for, and pay for, in the local currency of the country where you are applying.

Visa Extensions:
The UK Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) has recently announced that, with the effect from 1st August 2003, a charge will be introduced for considering applications for extensions of leave to remain, (visas) in the UK.

It is therefore particularly important for all new international students, and those returning to the UK to continue their studies, to carry with them in their hand luggage, documents to show Immigration Control that they are entering the UK to begin or continue a programme of study.

The documents should show the start and expected end date of the programme. Your acceptance letter from Circus Maniacs will include this information.

When you obtain entry clearance (your visa) or come through Immigration Control check the date stamped on your passport. You should be given leave to remain in the UK for the duration of your studies.

Police Registration

If you were told by the Immigration Officials to register with the police, you must do this within 7 days of your arrival in the UK.
Take your passport, two passport sized photos and money to cover the £34 fee to:

Nationality Unit
Police Registration Office
Nelson Street
Bristol BS1 2HQ
Telephone 945 5570

They are open Monday to Friday: 8.00am -12.30pm & 1.30pm - 3.00pm. No appointment is necessary.

This requirement will be stamped in your passport.

The law also requires you to let the local police know if you change your address, extend your Leave to Remain (visa), change University or college, change marital status, are given new visa conditions or are issued with a new passport.
There is no additional fee payable in these cases.

Extended leave to remain in the UK for further study (Visa)

The entry clearance sticker in your passport allows you to enter the UK and stay until the expiry date given.
If you need to extend your study period, or you are staying in the UK to do further studies, you will need to make an application for extension of 'leave to remain in the UK' to the Immigration and Nationality Department (IND) before the expiry date.
There will be a charge made for this.

Visas for Travelling

If while you are here you wish to travel to a country other than your own, find out if you need a visa.

If you do need a visa you will have to apply to the London Embassy of that country.
You can obtain a list of European Embassies and contact details from the International Students' Advisory Service, or see www.embassyworld.com for embassy website addresses.

The requirements vary from country to country and according to your own nationality.
Please note most countries do not issue visas within three months of the expiry of your leave to remain in the UK; for some countries this requirement may be six months.

If you do travel out of the country remember to take out health insurance and carry a recent letter from Circus Maniacs confirming that you are continuing as a student, together with financial evidence that you can support yourself.

Living Costs

As well as paying your tuition fees, options and extras that you will need to budget for; you will need enough money for accommodation and living expenses during your time at the College.

It costs approximately £5,000 to live in England for a year. Here are some examples of approximate living costs: -

It is very important to have sufficient money to live on while you are in the UK.

Financing your Studies

You must secure funds in your own country before coming in to the UK. Contact the British Council or the Ministry of Education in your own country for advice.

Public Funds

International students may not claim welfare benefits while in the UK. To do so would contravene immigration regulations.

Employment in the U.K.

Your immigration status may prohibit or restrict you from taking paid employment in the UK.

If you are allowed to work, you will be allowed to take part-time employment up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.
National guidelines and recommendations say that full-time students should be advised not to have more than 15 hours per week paid employment during term-time. Circus Maniacs recommends that you prefereably limit any part-time employment to no more than 12 hours per week during term time, as our concern is any more would adversely effect your training & creation progressions.

Healthcare

If you are a student on a course lasting for more than six months or you are from a European Economic Area country with a reciprocal arrangement with the UK, you will qualify for medical treatment under the National Health Service (NHS).

Consultations with a general practitioner (GP) or hospital treatment are free of charge. A small charge is payable to the dispensing chemist for any medicines prescribed for you by the doctor.

You should register with a doctor (GP) on arrival in the UK. We can provide you with a list.

For further information please check out the 'Medical & Health' page of our web-site.

Finance

Banks

It is advisable to open a bank account as soon as possible after arriving in Bristol. The following major high street banks are close to Circus Maniacs:

National Westminster Bank, PO Box 205, Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol. Tel: 0845 302 1749
Barclays Bank, PO Box 207, Kingswood, Bristol. BS15 2LD. Tel: 0117 9xx xxxx
Lloyds Bank, 102 Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol. BS99 5AE. Tel: 0845 072 3333
HSBC, 79 Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8LH Tel: 08457 404404

In Bristol City Centre Banking Hours 9.30am - 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.
In Kingswood some of our smaller branches may close between 3.30 - 4.30p.m.
Most large banks open on Saturday mornings until lunchtime.

Building Societies as Banks

Some building societies also offer banking facilities.

Halifax, Kingschase Shopping Centre, Kingswood, BS15 8LP. Tel: 0117 948 9401
Abbey, 22 Kingschase Shopping Centre, Kingswood, BS15 8LP. Tel: 055 114 305
Nationwide, 27 Regent Street, Kingswood BS15 8JT. Tel: 1007 - 948 0500

Bank Services

Cards
Most banks will issue you with a combined cash and debit card when you open your account.

Cash Card
This is used to get money from cashpoint machines (also called cash machine, autobank or ATM). You will be given Personal Identification Number (PIN) so that you can use the card.
Make sure you memorise it and don't tell anyone your PIN.
You can usually use more than just the machines belonging to your own bank but you will not be able to use all cashpoints.

Debit Card
This allows you to spend money from your account without having to use cash or write a cheque. It may also be called a Switch card.
Many supermarkets and some pubs and bars allow you to get cash in addition to the purchases you are making. This is called "cashback".

Cheque Book
Cheques allow you to pay for goods and services without having to use cash.
You can also take money out of your account using a cheque.
If you are given a cheque book when you open your account, ask the bank to tell you how to complete a cheque as it may be different to what you are used to.
When your cheque book is almost finished, the bank will send you a new one automatically.

Cheque guarantee card
When you pay for something with a cheque, you will need to show a cheque guarantee card as proof that the bank will pay the money written on the cheque up to a fixed amount.
Most banks will allow you to apply for a cheque guarantee card once you have been operating your account for six months.

Credit card
You may also apply for a credit card e.g. Access, Visa, Barclaycard etc.
Credit cards allow you to spend money even when you have no money in the bank.
You get a bill every month and you have to pay a part of the balance.
If you do not pay the full amount interest builds up on the amount you have not paid, and the interest rate can be quite high.

Types of bank account

Banks offer two main types of accounts - a current account which gives you instant access to your money with a card and/or cheque book and a deposit or savings account which pays you interest on your savings. It is a good idea to shop around and ask friends which bank they found the most friendly and helpful.

You may see student bank accounts advertised at the main high street banks, but these are offered only to permanent residents of the UK.
International students are usually offered a basic bank account, with cash card only; it may be possible to apply for a cheque guarantee card and/or credit card once your account has been open for six months.
Barclays Bank offers an account called "Student Solutions", which provides a cheque book, cheque guarantee and debit card and pays interest on balances providing a balance of £1,000 is kept in the account. If the balance is under £1,000 a £5 monthly charge is made.

Before opening a bank account

Consider the following before opening an account:

Opening an account

To open a bank account, complete an application form (available from the bank) and take it to the bank with any documents the bank needs to see. They will normally ask to see your passport; a letter from the University written to your home address offering you a place to study; proof of your UK address (tenancy agreement or separate letter from the University); and evidence of finances such as a letter from your sponsor or proof that you have savings in your home country.

Once you have opened an account, keep your bank statements safely as you may need them for immigration purposes.

British Currency (Sterling)

Coins:

One penny (1p) - copper
Two pence (2p) - copper
Five pence (5p) - silver
Ten pence (10p) - silver
Twenty pence (20p) - silver
Fifty pence (50p) - silver
100 pence or one pound (£1) - gold
200 pence (£2) - silver with gold edge
Notes: £5, £10, £20, £50. Scottish bank notes can be used legally in England

Wire Transfers

There are a number of locations in Bristol where money can be transferred via Western Union. Western Union is an international money transfer system and can transfer money within minutes country-to-country.
This is particularly useful in emergency situations where money is needed urgently.
Please contact the Western Union agent for costs associated with this service, as these will vary greatly depending on the origination/destination of the transaction. Here are some contacts below:

American Express, 74 Queens Road, 0117 906 5101
Going Places, 25 Penn street, Broadmead, 0117 929 4836
Going Places, 84 Broadmead, 0117 917 2900
The Money Shop, 21 Nelson Street, 0117 987 3927

Budgeting

Please see our page on Budgeting.

Council Tax

This is a local tax payable to The City Council for public services such as refuse collection, maintenance of roads, schools and recreation facilities.
Council Tax is based on the value of the dwelling and the number of occupants.
Full-time registered students and their spouses living in a property occupied solely by students and spouses are, in most cases, entitled to a 100% exemption, and do not have to pay this tax.
However, if you share your accommodation with non-students, then you may become liable.
You may also become liable if you stay on in your accommodation once you have ceased to be a registered student.

Insurance

You may wish to insure your belongings against loss, damage or theft while you are in Bristol.
The Association of British Insurers has useful web pages www.abi.org.uk
(click on "Consumer Information Zone" then "Household and Property Insurance" and then "Home Contents Insurance")
The web pages also contain a list of "ABI Member Companies".

Alternatively you could approach Endsleigh Insurance, a national company based on the Triangle in Bristol who have competitive student policies.

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Office 8a, Kingswood Foundation, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8DB, England. info@circusmaniacs.com
UK Company Limited by Guarantee (not for profit). Reg: 05551548.