Useful information

Accommodation
The college has no Hall of Residence (college owned accommodation) There is, however, a wide variety of hostel accommodation within the London area where overseas students are welcome, such as International Student House (ISH). International Student House is inexpensive accommodation for international students, which is situated in central London and would be a good place to be based to explore and see the sites of London.
International Student House
Tel: +44 (0)20 7631 8310
Email: accom@ish.org.uk
Website: www.ish.org.uk

By September most student hostels are normally full, therefore it is best to have your accommodation arranged beforehand by a friend or relative. Our Student Advisers may be able to send you information on local availability. The advisers can be contacted on 0207 613 9267, 0207 613 9002 or 0207 613 9191. Lists of hostels are also available from your nearest British Council office. If you do not wish to stay in a hostel you could rent a room in a private house or flat. Prices range from approximately £280-£400 per month.

Clothes
You will need strong waterproof shoes and a coat, warm woollen cardigans and pullovers, cloth trouser and/or skirts – also a hat, scarf and gloves. It is quite usual for women to wear trousers. Most houses in the UK are centrally heated, but you will still need warm night-clothes, pyjamas or night-dresses, slippers and a dressing gown.

Driving in the UK
If you plan to buy or hire a car in the UK remember that new residents may drive on a valid overseas licence for only 12 months from the date of arrival. Depending on your country of origin you must take a driving test or convert your licence during this period, after which you must hold a Great Britain driving licence and appropriate insurance. It is compulsory for anyone riding a moped or motor cycle to wear a regulation crash helmet. You must know the Highway Code. In the UK, you drive on the left.

Health Issues
You should register with a local doctor, also called a general practitioner (GP) as soon as you have settled and have a permanent address. You can get a list of the local GPs from your public library, or a list is also available on the NHS direct website

English Language Tuition

• Hackney Community College is not a Language School. It is a further and Technical Education College and you need to be able to speak, read and write enough English to be able to succeed on your chosen course level 2 or above)
• There is a limited amount of English language support available for students on vocational courses but there are no full-time English Language courses.

A useful website for overseas students is the UK’s International Council for International Student Affairs