visa application at wisma mca 19th floor-things u need to bring along must be 1 set of original and 1 set of photocopy.
1. Unconditional Offer
2. CAS Letter (electronic copy is acceptable, vfs officer told me its optional but best to hand up for faster process)
3. Documents/Certificates/Transcripts that u used to apply for ur programme
4. If u r sponsored -> Funding Documents
5. Self Sponsor -> Bank Statements/Fixed Deposit Receipts/etc, must show proof that u can cover ALL ur expenses (tuition fees, self maintenance cost,etc), REMEMBER get a letter/official bank statement with letter head from the bank
5.1. A translated birth certificate and a signed letter by ur parents to stat that they are funding for ur studies
6. Passport size photo of urself (MUST be white background)
7. Your PASSPORT !
8. Appendix 8: Tier 4 General Student Form
9. Printed copy of the visa application result (sign at the last page)
10. The checklist at cherriedpie's post

I will share some useful info to u all, this is applicable to my city - Newcastle

Setting up of bank accounts and financial matters

Due to the banking procedures in UK, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that students bring along sufficient pounds when they first arrive. Pounds deemed sufficient for the first month expenditure should be a good gauge. It is typical to wait approximately 5 working days before the bank account is set up from the day you fill in the forms. This only means you can deposit money, bank draft etc. You can expect to wait approximately 2 weeks before you debit card will be sent to you by post and another couple of days before the pin for the card arrives.

There are 4 major banks in Newcastle, namely

1) HSBC
2) Natwest
3) Lloyds TSB
4) Barclays

Out of the above mentioned 4, Natwest offers the most convenient means for International students to set up bank accounts. Students can directly turn up at the bank and fill up necessary documents along with your passports, accomodation offer and registration letter.

For HSBC, students are required to apply online before setting up an appointment with the local branch when they arrive over here to set up the bank account. For banks such as Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC, an official letter from the school documenting the course of study and period of study is required and this can be obtained from the International Office.



Food and Cooking ( This is a sample guide for the City of Newcastle)

English food consists largely of fried and baked food. It is highly recommended that meals are self prepared as opposed to eating out. (eating out costs above £2, though there are places offering not-so-nutritional food for £1 up; normal eateries will set you back easily by about £2 for a sandwich and £1 for a can of Coke)

Overseas students generally share the cooking, sharing and washing up, by eating meals together , it is possible to survive quite well on £14/person/week for all 3 meals.

The usual grocery items (food and staples), are available from a wide range of supermarkets located in and around the city centre with a few scattered in the suburbs.

Asian foodstuff and utensils are readily available at the several Chinese supermarts located mostly in China Town. These include dried shrimps, pre cooked dim sum, spring rolls, Chinese vegetables, cooking sauces, instant noodles etc. (the price is generally 10% to 30% more expensive than back home ).
Such supermarts usually offer a 5% to 10% student discount.

Fresh meat , vegetables and fruits are readily available in Grainger’s Market (Newcastle) at costs lower than that of supermarkets. Grainger’s market is the local version of the wet market. It would be of interest to note that chicken and turkey breast meat here is more expensive than thighs and wings.

Another alternative for cheap grocery shopping are NETTO Supermarket and Hutchison's Green Grocers in Fenham. These are no frills places and for the sake of comparison, £5/- at Hutchisons will get you vegetables and fruits you might not be able to carry home alone.

Rice cookers can be bought over here but cost slightly more (30%) than in Malaysia, one might consider purchasing them jointly with fellow Malaysians and saving the hassle of bringing it all the way from home.
Communication Issues

Mobiles

Mobile line subscriptions here are comparatively more expensive than back home.
One main difference here is that network providers charge a lot more for cross network calls to users of other networks.

Mobile tariffs (subscription plans usually 12 -18 months) usually cost between £20 pounds to £35 monthly for 100 to 200 outgoing minutes respectively. Most phones usually come free with the plans. Phones and plans can be purchased from shops in town. Alternatively, they can be purchased from websites. A list of recommended websites can be found below.

Mobile Phone Operators

    * O2
    * Orange
    * 3
    * The Carphone Warehouse
    * phones4u
SMS’s are charged at around 10 pence to 15 pence and incoming calls are free. Some pay-as-you-go cards charge a connection fee. Please check with the appropriate service.For those light users, pay-as-you-go cards are also available although calling charges are higher than subscription.
Residential

Residential (land) lines are generally cheaper to call out from than when using a mobile phone but still more expensive than using landlines in Singapore. Calls to mobile users are charged higher than to other landlines.
Land lines are very useful for calling home to Malaysia while using International Calling Cards, this is especially so from 7pm to 9am (UK time) , when call charge drops to 6 pence /hour.
Calling cards are available at £13 to £14 (Sing Society price) for a calling value of £25. This allows one to call home for up to 1300++ mins (using landline/ mobile phone) or 90++ mins when using public payphone.
To connect up, you will require a connection jack , which if you’re lucky, would already have been installed by one of the previous occupants, else cabling charges can go up to £80. If a jack is present, all you have to do is contact British Telecoms (BT) and your line is activated for a monthly subscription.

Internet Connection

You may either use the university computer clusters (which allow laptop docking) or your personal internet connection at home to access the world wide web.
Dialups and broadband are both available for those who wish to have personal connections and require an activated telephone line to use. Broadband is available from around £25 / month (unlimited usage at 512 kbps) without contractual period while dialup costs lesser.
You may wish to share connection costs with other students staying with you.


.**::Important Note::**.
It is wise to buy computer peripherals and hardware in Malaysia (e.g. Thumbdrives, optical mouse, network cables, webcam, portable hard drives for backing up your assignments etc), as such stuff usually cost a good 20% to 50% more here.
One good way of keeping in contact with family members is by internet conferencing ie Skype.

Student flights (ISIC card) and the extra baggage allowance.

Personally, I have a very bad experience with MSL TRAVEL MALAYSIA.
I would like to share my personal experience to you all. I have been thinking of bringing up this issue to the Tribunal Court.

I have given my details to MSL travel , my full name. I did a phone survey, by calling them and asking them the price to Newcastle by Emirates. Which I found its expensive, so I rejected them and I said I will consider first (Just to politely reject them).

There's an officer named BEN, he found out from my details that I have already booked with another agent (STA TRAVEL MALAYSIA) on the same date and same flight that I enquire about. Unbelievable, the officer helped me to book without asking my permission. That caused the Emirates to cancel my booking due to double booking.

SUMMARY:
I did not accept the offer given by BEN (MSL).
I'm just asking for the price.
I have given my full details.
He purposely make my booking canceled as he found out I have booked at STA travel.
It is very unethical and it is a civil offense, I'm going to report to the Consumer Tribunal once I'm free enough to do so.
Once I realized this, my price for flight went up tremendously, and I have to fork out large amount due to this officer named BEN (from MSL)

Note:
I hope you guys can take this issue seriously and never reveal your full name to them, they will help you book even you did not accept their price just to cause your booking being canceled.

Please be reminded that I do not have any association with the agency and this is purely my personal experience from dealing with agents.

What To Take to University

This is a descriptive inventory of nearly everything you could possibly want to take to university with you. It has been compiled from suggestions given by people already at university to prospective students and freshers. Using this as a guide, rather than a prescriptive list, hopefully you shouldn't forget anything vital! (And if all else fails, you can always buy them when you get there!)

Not everyone will need nor want to take everything on this page. Please do not edit something out of the list simply if you yourself will not be taking it - leave the items there for people decide themselves if they will take it or not.

One thing I would like to point out is that before I left for University I was actually quite embarassed about the amount of stuff I was taking. DON'T BE. People will turn up with two car loads so if there is something you want to take, take it. I personally left my guitar effects pedal and amp at home and I am REALLY regretting it!

Buying all this stuff can get costly and often you need to shout for some help. It's different for each individual, but try asking friends and families for their unused coffee machine or toaster - you'll be surprised. Sometimes you can link it with a birthday and get the masses of stuff you need. It can be tricky to ask. I used UniWishList.com to compile my list and found it a nice, easy way to ask your uncle and aunts too. After all, it can feel like moving into a new home.

Do remember you won't need everything on this list; some people will need stuff that others don't (i.e. if you're in catered halls you won't need a frying pan)! You can always go home and get it (unless you're in another country or in Scotland when you come from Reading...) or buy it when you get there! Taking stuff you don't need is a total waste of car space, and you'll need it!
Contents
[show]

    * 1 Academic
    * 2 Bathroom Items
    * 3 Bedroom Items
          o 3.1 Bedding
          o 3.2 Other Stuff
    * 4 Clothing
          o 4.1 Everyday
          o 4.2 Formal
          o 4.3 Other
          o 4.4 Fancy Dress
    * 5 Cycle Items
    * 6 Decorative Items
    * 7 Documents
    * 8 Electrical Items
    * 9 First Aid Items
    * 10 Kitchen Items
          o 10.1 Appliances
          o 10.2 Equipment
          o 10.3 Storage
          o 10.4 Tableware
          o 10.5 Other
    * 11 Laundry and Housekeeping Items
    * 12 Miscellaneous Items
    * 13 Personal Items
    * 14 Stationery Items
    * 15 See Also

Academic

    * Reading List
    * Academic Diary / Wall Planner / Calendar
    * Relevant Old Text Books and Notes
    * Dictionary
    * Thesaurus
    * Exam results/certificates (Some Universities use these during your induction.)
    * Voice recorder if you have difficulty concentrating in lectures. (Do remember you'll have to make time to listen to it again, and ask for permission to record.)
Bathroom Items

    * Hand Towels
    * Bath Towels
    * Flannel
    * Wash Bag
    * Toothbrush
    * Toothpaste
    * Mouthwash
    * Floss
    * Cotton Buds
    * Cotton Pads
    * Make-up Remover
    * Nail Varnish Remover
    * Sanitary Towels/Tampons [For the females among us] - [Or males with nosebleeds]
    * Soap
    * Shower Gel
    * Shampoo
    * Conditioner
    * Dry Shampoo. Look for brands such as Batiste, or if you're well off, Lee Stafford. (Just in case you don't have time for a shower before a lecture, or get up late! Alternatively a hat works fine and you can shower later!)
    * Hair Gel/Wax
    * Hairspray
    * Body Lotion
    * Body Scrub
    * Razor/Epilator/Hair-Removing Equipment
    * Shaving Cream
    * Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant
    * Body Spray
    * Toilet Roll
    * Air Freshener
    * Bathroom Scales
Bedroom Items
Bedding

    * Sheets
    * Duvet/Quilt (a lot of unis sell these on move-in day, but do check if they are provided, as they sometimes are!)
          o Duvet/Quilt Cover
    * Pillows
          o Pillow Cases
    * Mattress Protector [not only if you have incontinence issues, but if you have a drunken mishap during the night ]
    * Blanket
Other Stuff

    * Cushions (so that your bed is both a bed and a sofa)
    * Cuddly Toys
    * Hot Water Bottle
    * Sleeping Bag
    * Inflatable Bed
          o Airbed Pump
    * Take something to eat for your first night's meal, as it might be a bit hectic.
Clothing
Everyday

    * Normal, Casual Clothing
    * Clean Underwear
    * Comfy Shoes
    * Onesie
    * Dressing Gown
    * Pyjamas
    * Slippers
    * Flip-flops (for communal showers/summer & 'beach' parties)
    * A warm coat, gloves, scarf, hat and a brolly (so many students pack in sunny September and get caught out/cold when Autumn/Winter starts to bite)

Formal
    * Dark Suit/Evening Dress (suitable for black tie events)
    * Smart Shoes/Heels
    * Clothing Suitable for Interviews for Part-time Jobs

Other
    * Special Clothing for Matriculation (e.g. Oxbridge - this should be specified by the uni)
    * Swimwear
    * Gym/Sports Clothes & Trainers

Fancy Dress

Take any suitable tools and items that will come in useful for a costume. It's best to get them in advance otherwise you may pay over the odds.

    * School Tie (for the school discos you're BOUND to have!)
    * Face Paints
    * Glitter
    * Scissors
    * Glue
    * Paper Clips
    * Sticky Tape
    * Bin Bags
    * Sewing Kit (safety pins!)
    * Bedsheet (seriously so useful! Togas, ghosts, whatever but its worth having.)
    * Possibly clothes/accessories for:
          o 80s Theme
          o Beach/Full Moon Party
          o Cowboy Theme
          o Emergency/999 Theme
          o School Disco
          o Halloween/Christmas/Easter/Valentines
          o Pink Theme (e.g. LGBT Nights)

Cycle Items

    * Bicycle - but not too expensive "You know you want to"
    * A very good lock, ideally a "D Lock"; cable locks are considerably inferior (don't forget to lock the wheel if it's removable)
          o Puncture Repair Kit
          o Pump
          o Allen/Dave Keys (those bits of metal with a hexagonal cross-section) - not essential but handy for tightening/removing parts.
Decorative Items

    * Posters often a stand at the freshers’ fair
    * Photos
    * Postcards
    * Rug
    * Throw
    * Cushions
    * Beanbag
    * Fairy Lights- these are sometimes not permitted in the University's Halls of Residence though as they are a fire hazard and safety hazard.
    * Disco Balls
    * Lava Lamps
    * Mood Lights (Can be an effective way of setting a romantic mood.)
    * Plants
    * Air Purifier (If you're like me and your room is always in a mess, it is possible to keep it smelling and feeling clean even though the cleaner last came over a month ago.)
Documents

    * Passport Photos (at least four, and keep some on you). Also scan some on to your computer to get quick reproductions for less (especially for ID that doesn't really matter)
    * Passport
    * Driving Licence
    * National Insurance Number
    * NHS Medical Card
    * Details of your vaccination history
    * Insurance Documents
    * TV Licence (Not needed if you plan to use your TV only for watching DVDs/Playing Games etc.)
    * Support Notification
    * Any Information from your LEA, the SLC (Student Loans Company) or Student Finance Direct
    * Your Unconditional Offer from the University
    * Any documents regarding your accommodation
    * Cheque Book
    * Paying-In Book
    * Bank or Building Society details
    * Travel Discount Cards (16-25 Railcard etc)
    * CV & References
    * CRB Check - Applicants copy (if required by your course)
    * Exam Certificates
Electrical Items

    * Extension leads Get Surge protected ones to protect valuable equipment
    * Socket converter (if you are an international student)
    * Computer/Laptop
          o Charger
          o Mouse
          o Speakers
                + Connector Leads
          o Printer (you will most likely get printer credits at your library, so don't go buying a new expensive one!)
                + USB Lead
          o External Hard-drive
                + USB Lead
          o USB Pen-drive
          o CD-R/RW (for creating hard back ups)
    * Mobile Phone
          o Charger
          o USB Lead
          o Headphones
    * Digital Camera
          o USB Lead
          o Memory Card
          o Battery
          o Charger
          o Lenses, filters, etc. if you have a DSLR
    * Television
          o TV License
    * DVD Player
          o DVDs & Storage?
    * Digibox
    * Games Consoles
    * MP3 Player/iPod
          o USB Lead (Charger)
          o Mains Charger
          o Headphones
          o Docking Station
          o Speakers
    * CD Player
          o CDs
          o CD Case/Rack
    * Headphones
    * Alarm Clock
    * Desk Fan
    * Rechargeable batteries
          o Charger
    * Hair Dryer
    * Hair Straighteners/Curling Tongs
    * Iron
          o Ironing Board (Small tabletop one, perhaps? Or just use the table itself if it's clean, but make sure you put a towel down first! Some unis do provide ironing boards.)
First Aid Items

    * Prescription Medication
    * Painkillers
    * Plasters
          o Blister Plasters
    * Antiseptic Wipes
    * Antiseptic Cream
    * Bonjela
    * Cold/Flu Remedy
    * Throat Lozenges
    * Anti-allergy Tablets
    * Hydrocortisone Cream
    * Afterbite (for insect bites/stings)
    * Mosquito repellent
    * Cold/Hot Pack
    * Safety Pins
Kitchen Items
Appliances

(beware: if you are sharing you may end up with many of the same appliance in one house). Also some universities do supply these in varying states of working order for those in university accommodation

    * Mini-Fridge - beware: the vast majority of universities don't allow mini fridges in hall rooms (but if you make friends with the cleaners / bedders it shouldn't be an issue from past experience), if you're desperate to have cool drinks/milk in your room then it might be a better idea to invest in a cool box and some freezer packs
    * Coffee Maker
    * Kettle
    * Toaster
    * Toasted Sandwich Maker
    * Rice Cooker
Equipment

    * Small Casserole Dish
    * Small Frying Pan
    * Wok or Large Frying Pan (with lid)
    * Large Saucepan (with lid)
    * Small Saucepan (with lid)
    * Flat Baking Tray (for Oven Chips!)
    * Tin Opener
    * Bottle Opener
    * Corkscrew
    * Vegetable Peeler
    * Garlic Crusher
    * Pastry Brush
    * Egg Cups (or perhaps shot glasses - 2 in 1!)
    * Cheese Grater
    * Wooden Spoons or Spatulas
    * Masher
    * Microwavable Bowl
    * Measuring Jug
    * Pizza Cutter
    * Sieve (You can just use a colander for draining water)
    * Colander
    * Whisk
    * Chopping Knives
    * Chopping Board
    * Lemon Squeezer
    * Kitchen Scissors
    * Apple Corer
    * Kitchen Scales

Storage

    * Tupperware (Plastic tubs for storing left overs. Write something on the lids and the tubs to prevent them going missing.)
    * Sandwich Bags
    * Biscuit Tin

Tableware

    * Glasses (Wine Glasses, Shot Glasses, Pint Glasses, tumblers, high-ball)
    * Cutlery (Knives, Forks, Spoons) Tip - Taking just 1 or 2 of everything will encourage you to wash them straight away
    * Crockery (Plates, Bowls, Mugs, Cups)

Other

    * Apron
    * Oven Gloves
    * Tea Towels
    * Baking Foil
    * Greaseproof Paper
    * Cling Film
    * Marigolds/Washing-up gloves
    * Bin Bags
    * Recipe Book
Laundry and Housekeeping Items

    * Washing Powder
    * Fabric Softener
    * Laundry Bag
    * Clothes Horse
    * Coat hangers
    * Febreze
    * Washing-up Liquid
    * Cillit Bang
    * Sponge
    * Cloth
    * Kitchen Roll
    * Scourer
    * Cleaning Equipment (though often provided by universities)
    * Washing-up Gloves
    * Black Bin Bags
Miscellaneous Items

    * Tissues
    * Loose Change (for washing machines)
    * Extra Storage – Boxes, Shelves, Hanging pocket organizer, etc.
    * Holdall or Weekend Bag
    * Torch (wind-up ones are best!)
    * Pen Knife
    * Safety Pins
    * Small Sewing Kit
    * Small Tool Kit
    * Matches/Candles
    * Lighter
    * Watch - always good for suddenly realising you've got a lecture in 2 minutes!
    * Hooks/Sticky Hooks
    * Door Wedge
    * Board Games
    * Cards
    * Balls/Frisbees
    * Sports Equipment
    * Musical Instrument(s)
    * Umbrella
    * Local Taxi Number
    * Local Map
    * Tray
    * Super Glue - very useful for fixing things
    * Carrier Bags
    * Store Cupboard Ingredients (Oil, Spices, Tin and Packet Food)
    * Alcohol. For the love of god take some wine and spirits and invite some neighbours over to make friends!!!
    * Money!!
    * Small safe for valuables / documents
    * Traffic Cone (interesting conversation starter; may also be used to hang excess coats) Its better to pick this up along the way on a drunken night than intentionally take one with you though..
    * Small Plastic Drawer Tower - Argos often have them- invaluable extra storage space.
    * Spare Birthday Cards, for when you forget
Personal Items

    * Nail Clippers
    * Nail Scissors
    * Nail File
    * Tweezers
    * Hairbrush/Comb
    * Hairclips
    * Hairbands
    * Perfume
    * Make-up
          o Brushes
          o Small Mirror
    * Jewellery
          o Jewellery Box
    * Nail varnish
    * Moisturiser
    * Lip Balm/Chap Stick
    * Prescription Glasses
          o Copy of Prescription
    * Spare Pair of Glasses
    * Contacts
          o Contacts Solution
    * Brace/Retainer & Accessories

    * Earplugs - for those noisy nights (people keeping you up) and for nightclubs if you have ear problems like me v_v
    * Condoms. It's always good to have a lot on hand.
Stationery Items

If you are staying in halls, the information you receive from your university should tell you what will be provided in your room. Many rooms will already have a noticeboard, for example, so you won't need to buy one. Some students recommend taking only the bare minimum in terms of stationary, and then buying the rest as and when you need it after you've settled in.
    * Noticeboard
          o Push-pins
    * Book Chair
    * Lined Paper
    * Printing Paper
    * Jotter or Reporter Pad
    * Pens
    * Pencils
    * Highlighters
    * Permanent All-Surface Markers (useful for marking what's yours!)
    * Ruler
    * Eraser
    * Sharpener
    * Tipex
    * Pencil case
    * Pen pot (ones with multiple pots can store paperclips, staples, etc. as well as the usual pens and pencils)
    * White Tack or Blu Tack
    * Scissors
    * Sellotape
    * Hole Puncher
    * Stapler
    * Staples
    * Treasury Tags
    * Paper Fasteners
    * Paper Clips
    * Post-it Notes or Flag Markers
    * Sticky-back Labels
    * Pins for sticking things to any cork boards provided
    * Elastic Bands
    * A4 Ring Binders
    * Lever Arch Folders
          o Hole-reinforcers
          o Paper/Plastic Wallets
    * Clipboard
    * Envelopes
    * Stamps
    * Calculator (especially if you're doing maths, but even if you're doing English Literature)
          o Spare Batteries