Warwick Accommodation manage both on and off campus accommodation for Warwick students. You can find out about the accommodation available and apply via their website. The Student Union also offers housing advice.

Cooking

All accommodation has cooking facilities. All kitchens have food storage and preparation space, a dining area, washing-up facilities and are equipped with a refrigerator, freezer, cooker and microwave oven. On campus kitchens will also provide a kettle and toaster, whereas some off campus properties will not.

Smaller cooking utensils and crockery (plates, saucepans, cutlery, etc) are not provided.

Electrical facilities

All residences on campus have square 3-pin plug sockets.

The British electricity supply works on 240 volts/50 hertz (Hz), so if you bring any electrical goods from home you must be able to use them safely on this voltage, or else use an adapter. If you do not use an adapter you risk damaging your electrical goods. Adapter plugs are very inexpensive and can be purchased from shops, supermarkets and electrical retailers.

Television

Each separate residence, such as a flat or bed-sit in one building, including each separate room in a hall of residence, needs an individual licence. It is your responsibility to ensure the TV you are using is licensed. You could be heavily fined if you are caught watching a TV without a licence.

For costs and information on how to buy a TV licence refer to the TV Licensing Website

On campus facilities

The University provides an extensive network of PCs in public access work areas across the campus that can be used by all students. There are also areas with wireless connectivity where students can connect their own laptop computers to the network if they are suitably configured.

All students have access to the internet and will be provided with their own personal email address. Training and help in basic computer use is available in the form of self-study courses, taught courses, and on-line documentation. There is an IT Services Helpdesk available to assist all students.

All campus study rooms (except Staff and Family housing) are connected to a residential network (ResNet) that supports internet access in each room.

See the IT services website for more information about using computers at Warwick.

On campus

The Hair Salon at the Students' Union is for men and women and operates both on an appointment and on a drop-in system. Trained stylists provide professional cutting at very reasonable prices. They also offer beauty treatments.

Off campus

There are hairdressers at the nearby Cannon Park Shopping Centre, and many others in Coventry, Kenilworth and Leamington Spa. Not all hairdressers in the UK have trained stylists for hair weaving, braiding and synthetic hair treatments. Therefore, it is always worthwhile to check with a salon before going.

On central campus the main laundrette is situated at the rear of the Student's Union, and contains coin operated washing and drying machines. Arthur Vick, Bluebell, Claycroft, Heronbank, Jack Martin, Lakeside, Sherbourne and Tocil also have laundrettes and there is one located between Cryfield and Redfern.

Off-campus housing will usually include a washing machine and sometimes a dryer.

The University Post Office is located inside the Rootes Grocery Store. A post box (bright red) is located outside the shop and has regular collections throughout the day. You can also use Post Offices elsewhere e.g. at Cannon Park, in other parts of Coventry or in Leamington Spa.

Letters to destinations within the UK can be sent by first or second class mail. First class usually arrives the next day, second class takes two or three days. Stamps can be bought at post offices or some shops such as newsagents or supermarkets. Post Offices can also give you details on overseas postal rates. You can find more information about the UK Postal Service from the Royal Mail.

Incoming mail will be delivered to pigeon-holes (a rack with small compartments) in your campus residence, to your off-campus house, or if it's internal mail there may be arrangements for you to collect it from your academic department. You should check your pigeon-hole regularly.

Around 1,300 campus rooms have their own phones and there are around 170 phones in residential corridors, which can be used with selected international telephone cards, available from the Rootes Grocery Store and the Post Office on campus.

Public telephones are either coin or card operated. They are widely available and easy to use. Coin operated telephones take 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins.

Some useful telephone numbers to remember are:

999 or 112 Emergency Services (fire, police, or ambulance) or from a campus phone dial 22222 for Emergency Services

118 500 UK Directory Enquiries

118 505 International Directory Enquiries

The international dialling code for the UK is 00 44. The area code for Coventry, which covers the University, is 24 when dialling from outside the UK and 024 when dialling from within the UK. For example when dialling from outside the UK you would dial 00 44 24 7652 3523 for the University of Warwick Main Switchboard. When dialling from the UK, you would drop the 44, and add an ‘0’: 024 7652 3523.

On campus

For information on the shops and food and drink outlets on campus please see Warwick Retail. 

Warwick SU offers a further choice of reasonably priced food and drink in its venues around campus, see more information here.

The Chaplaincy has a Kosher kitchen and the Rootes Grocery store stocks some Kosher and Halal products. For more information about the latest offers visit the Rootes Grocerys store.

Nearby campus

Cannon Park Shopping Centre is within walking distance of the campus, beyond the Claycroft residences. Outlets include a Tesco supermarket (open 24 hours Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday).

For more details see Cannon Park Shopping centre.

Sport is an important part of Warwick life. Whether you enjoy competitive sport, just want to keep fit, or simply have fun trying, there is something for everyone on offer. It's a great way to get to know other students too.

For all the information you need on sport, see Warwick Sport website.

Although Warwick does not offer music as an academic subject, it is still a very important and integral part of student life. The University of Warwick Music Centre is one of the most active, student-oriented music centres in the country, achieving stunning results in various areas of musical performance. Opportunities exist for everybody, at all standards. Some of the groups are auditioned, but the majority are not.

Based within Warwick Arts Centre, the Music Centre is at the heart of campus. Students can also book instrumental and vocal lessons and there is a bursary scheme for assistance towards these costs.

Warwick Music Centre.

Based at the heart of the University, Warwick Arts Centre has a national reputation for its wide-ranging programme. With six venues under one roof, including the Butterworth Hall, theatres and a cinema, there are many ways to become involved. For information on the recent changes to the Arts Centre please see 20:20 Project

Find out more at Warwick Arts Centre or on Twitter @warwickarts or Facebook – Warwickartscentre

Box Office: 024 765 24524

Walking

It only takes 15 minutes to walk from the Westwood or Gibbet Hill sites (the two furthest sites) to the centre of the main campus. From most residences it is only about 5 to 10 minutes walk to academic buildings or Union facilities.

Pedestrians do not automatically have right of way. At a pelican crossing, the pedestrian must push the button and wait for the red light, but at a zebra crossing drivers should give way (although pedestrians should always check that traffic has stopped before crossing)

Be aware cars may be driving faster than you are used to - always look both ways before crossing.

Cycling

If you prefer not to walk, you can buy a second-hand bicycle and sell it again when you leave Warwick.

Read the University Cycling page. It contains important information on cycling safely. You should also read the Highway Code for cyclists here.

In particular remember that you should not cycle after dark or in foggy conditions if you do not have the appropriate lights on your bike, and you shouldn't cycle on pavements but on the left-hand side of the road with the cars.

There is a particularly good cycling path between campus and Kenilworth.

Taxis

Taxis in the UK can be more expensive than in many other countries. They will usually charge more at night and on bank holidays. Always ask for an estimate of the cost before you get in a taxi and check that it has an official licence plate (usually on the car’s rear bumper).

Never use an unlicensed taxi company.

Be aware that some minicabs that stop in the street may be cheaper but are not licensed.

Sit in the back of the taxi and directly behind the driver, whenever possible. If you want, you can ask the taxi driver to wait until you have entered your house safely before he or she drives away.

One of the popular taxi companies who serve campus and Coventry is Trinity Street Taxis whose phone number is 02476 631631.

Trains and coaches

Within the UK, people generally use trains or coaches for long-distance travel. National train operators provide fast and frequent train services between most major cities and towns, but tickets tend to be expensive. Cheaper rates are available with student railcards at certain times of the day. Railcard application forms are available from any railway station or the campus travel agent. You can book many train tickets on the internet and often the price is much cheaper if bought online. The cheapest tickets available are likely to be for advance bookings made at least 3 days before travelling.

Coaches are generally cheaper for long journeys but tend to take longer. Tickets can be bought from any travel agent or on the internet and student coach cards may give discounts for the major coach company, National Express. Another company called Megabus offers cut price tickets. Their service departs regularly from Cannon Park Shopping Centre, adjacent to the Warwick campus.

You will find that train, bus and coach services are less frequent at weekends, particularly on Sundays, and also on bank holidays so do check before you travel. You can find out about train journeys from the National Rail enquiries website. You can find out about coach journeys from the National Express and Megabus websites.

Buses

For short journeys local buses are relatively cheap and frequent. Sometimes when waiting for a bus British people will form a queue.

Two local bus companies (Travel West Midlands and Stagecoach) run frequent services from the campus to and from Coventry City Centre, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth.

For more information on getting to and from the University by bus, see here.

For all buses, a less frequent service operates on Sundays and in the vacations. The cost of a single bus journey is usually around £2/£3 but can vary depending on distance travelled. Termly or annual bus passes are available and are often much cheaper if you travel frequently. Please see Network West Midlands for pricing information.

Buses will often only take the exact fare, especially on Travel West Midlands buses, so ensure you have plenty of change with you.

During your study abroad placement you will receive support from your home university, as well as academic and administrators here at Warwick.

• The Study Abroad Team
• Your Department: the designated Study Abroad co-ordinator, the UG Office and your Personal Tutor.
• Student Services Support: The Student Support Team is able to offer a wide range of services, some of which are available online.

Please remember that all email communications will be to your Warwick email address you will need to make sure that you check this regularly.