Included Program Benefits: Students participating in Loyola’s Study Abroad Program in Newcastle, England will receive roundtrip airfare to Newcastle (two roundtrip tickets for year-long students), tuition and housing in Newcastle, trips, Hostelling Card, Emergency Evacuation insurance, and an onsite coordinator for the Loyola group. 

Program Costs and tips on cost of living: Currently, the U.S. dollar is not very strong against the UK pound, so students should be prepared for things to be more expensive while they are living in Newcastle. The student spending range is typically between $5000 – 9000 per year. This range is impacted by eating out (cooking helps to control costs), how much students shop and drink, and how much traveling they do on their own. Students should buy groceries regularly and cook their meals to help control costs.  Amount of travel certainly does impact spending as well. Students should attempt to plan travel in advance, and stay in hostels.  Trains are the fastest and most convenient way of getting around within the country. Long distance fares can be high but if students plan ahead and book in advance they can get a reduced rate ticket. Loyola provides its Newcastle students with a rail card which gives them a one-third reduction on all tickets.

Health Services, Insurance Information: Students who are not citizens of the United Kingdom may receive benefits from the National Health system if they are attending school in the UK. Students staying under 6 months they are entitled to free immediate first aid and emergency treatment, after which charges are made. If students reside 6 months or more, they are entitled to make full use of the National Health Service.

If a non-resident of the UK wished to visit another country for a short period of time, he/she will have to comply with the regulations and be advised about insurance for that country and period of time. Because American students are not regarded as “ordinary residents” in the UK, they cannot enjoy the benefits of any reciprocal health arrangements that the UK has with the European Union. Therefore, students must have their own health insurance that will cover them in emergencies while they are overseas. 

Students are provided with emergency evacuation insurance, paid for by Loyola. However, this is only valid if your student has health insurance in the United States that will cover them in the case of emergencies overseas.

Link to Consular Information Sheet: It is important for your son/daughter to know as much as possible about the country he/she will be living in or visiting. The U.S. Department of State provides American Citizens with information on each country/territory around the world. Here is the link to the Country Specific Information on the United Kingdom, along with Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1052.html

Visa Procedures/Airline arrangements: Students studying abroad in England for the full year are required to get a student visa from the United Kingdom’s Embassy. In order to get a visa, students must have a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the planned date of exit from the host country. Students should apply for a passport as soon as they know they are applying to study abroad. If the student already has a passport, the expiration date should be checked to ensure that it meets the necessary date requirements. Students must first apply online for a student visa and then will have to go to the Embassy for an appointment. Visas cannot be post dated more than three months before the student plans to leave for the UK. A new requirement for UK visas is that all visa applicants will be required to attend in person to register their biometric data. Biometrics are collected at the offices of the British mission, commercial partner or in certain cases, the host government. Students will have to press fingers on a glass screen, and have a digital photograph taken; no ink, no mess. It takes less than five minutes and will not delay the decision on your student’s visa application. Students must pay for the visa upfront and are later reimbursed when they arrive in Newcastle.

Group flights are purchased for all Newcastle students. The flight is typically out of Newark on British Airways, connects in London, and then continues to Newcastle. When the flights are booked, the students will be given information about the airlines, baggage rules, flight changes, and airports. Students are responsible for getting themselves to the airport to meet the group flight. Our Program Director in Newcastle will arrange to meet the group at the Newcastle Airport, and will provide group transportation from the airport to their housing accommodations. Upon their arrival students will also be given the chance to use the Newcastle Program Director’s phone to call home and let their families know that they have arrived safely.    

Students are allowed to change their return tickets once they arrive in England if they wish. They will have to contact Loyola’s travel agent to do so. There is a change fee incurred and the flights are booked at a group rate so the student will have to find a flight with group seats available. This means that it can be very difficult to change the return flight in December to a later date due to the busy holiday flight schedules. 

Banking/Money Issues:  For students that would like to have access to a bank in England, it is recommended that they open an account with an international bank before leaving the United States. Money can be paid into this account in the U.S. and withdrawn in England using an ATM card. The following banks have ATM machines on the University of Newcastle campus and may have a branch in the U.S.: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, and NatWest.

Students can open an account upon their arrival in Newcastle but they should check into transfer fees and the length of time it will take for checks to clear and for monies to be credited to the new account.  When using foreign checks it can take up to five days for the monies to become available.

Students can also choose to use their domestic bank account, debit and credit cards while in Newcastle. They should check with their bank to make sure that their debit card will work overseas, and find out what fees are associated with using the account internationally (the same applies with any credit cards).  All students should also inform their credit card companies and banks that they will be studying abroad so that their accounts are not frozen when international charges appear on their accounts.

Students will be able to withdraw money from any ATM in Newcastle using a domestic or local bank card. Students should make sure that they are signed up for web banking for all accounts that they will be using overseas. That way they can monitor any fees that are being charged, as well as know their balance in American dollars. 

Packing/Getting Ready: Students studying in Newcastle will have the chance to speak with past Loyola-Newcastle students regarding the latest tips on packing. It is recommended that students bring clothing that can be worn in layers. A typical British day can go from freezing cold to comfortably warm in a matter of hours. It is also strongly recommended that students bring comfortable shoes or boots (preferably waterproof) since students will be doing a lot of walking. Students need to remember that they will have to carry whatever they bring with them and everything they bring will have to come back with them. When packing to go overseas for an extended period of time, the general rule is to pack what you think you will need and then take out one third! It is very easy to overpack without intending to.

In Newcastle, students will be provided with essential kitchen equipment, a new bedding pack including a pillow, sheet, pillow case, comforter and cover. Students may wish to bring a fitted sheet with them.

The electrical output in the UK is 220 Volts AC 50 hz. Generally laptop supplies will be good for 220 Volts. This should be indicated on the laptop, so check before your student packs their computer. Students will need to purchase converts for their electrical equipment, however converts do NOT always protect the equipment so make sure to check the voltage allowance. Most hair dryers and stereos do not do hold up well so it may be necessary to purchase these smaller electronics while abroad. If your student plans to bring their laptop it is recommended that you insure it against any loss. Network access is provided in the student housing and wireless networking is available in various spots throughout the campus.

Communication: Telephones in Britain can be very expensive. Even local calls are chargeable. Many pay phones use phone cards rather than coins and these can be bought at post offices and newsagents. If your student is planning to open a private telephone account in England, they should look out for special deals offered through British Telecom, Mercury, and Cable and Wireless. The Student Advice Center in the Union Society building can give students more information on the companies that supply phone and telecommunication services.

Another option is for students to contact home using a program called Skype. Skype is an internet-based calling system (www.skype.com/download) that enables you to call for free or inexpensively. All that is required is an internet connection and a microphone for the computer. You can call computer-to-computer for free. You can also call from computer to a landline or mobile phone at very cheap rates. This works well in a few combinations—computer to computer, or the student’s laptop to your home/cell phone, or the student’s room/cell phone to your computer.

Finally, your student can always purchase a cell phone. We recommend purchasing a phone overseas because many of the international cell phones that are sold in the US do not work well abroad and you must unlock a certain chip in them to be able to use them abroad at all. It is much simpler for students to buy a phone once there. There are many mobile phone packages available and we would advise students to investigate all costs before signing a contract of any kind. Some programs do offer prepaid calling. Make detailed enquiries before purchasing a phone or signing a contract.

Public Transportation: Public transportation in Newcastle is cheap and reliable. The Metro is Newcastle’s underground railway system. The Metro system serves areas south, east and north of the city and there is a line that runs to the airport as well.  Newcastle also has bus services that serve most areas. If your student uses the buses regularly, they can buy a pass for about £15 (using their Newcastle Student Union card), which will last for three months.

Misc:

• Please make sure that your student’s Loyola bills are paid on time. Otherwise, we will not be able to register students for classes at Loyola for their return semester.
• If you plan to visit your student while they are in Newcastle you should find out when their group trips will be scheduled, so that your visit will not conflict.

Websites:

University of Newcastle Upon Tyne   
UK travel information and http://www.uktheguide.com    
The US Embassy in London 
Currency conversion 
The World Clock