Online Handbook

Warwick Pre-University Summer School Handbook

The Department

Warwick Foundation StudiesLink opens in a new window provides the home for the Summer School as well as academic and professional services support and student-facing support for the programme. Our Department offers a range of programmes including the International Foundation ProgrammeLink opens in a new window, Pre-sessional and In-sessional EnglishLink opens in a new window, Summer SchoolsLink opens in a new window and Short Courses.

Before You Arrive

Pre-Departure Briefings

If you were unable to make one of our pre-departure briefings or you would like to re-watch any of the sections you can find the recording of both briefings and our handy FAQs here.

Pre-arrival Forms

As you will have seen in your pre-arrival emails there are a number of forms which you and your parents/guardians must complete ahead of your arrival. The forms are vitally important and you will not be able to join the Summer School without the completion and submission of these forms.

All these documents can be found on our offer holder page here.

Enrolment Form
Student Code of Conduct Form
Parental Consent Form
Image Consent Form
Travel Arrival Details
Pre-order form for Pizza Express
Team Building Activities Parental Consent
Sports and Wellness Hub Parental Consent Form

If you cannot access these forms for any reason, please let us know. We need this information from you urgently if you haven't submitted the information by the deadline. You will be unable to join the programme without advance completion of these forms.

Immigration permission documents

Please note that even though you are sending us these documents in advance, you will still need to ensure you bring your passport and original immigration permission to registration at the Summer School. Even British/EEA students must provide original photographic proof of nationality before commencing study at Warwick (e.g. a passport or own country ID card).

ID Card

You will have received an email with your Warwick ID number on it and instructions on how to register for a Warwick IT account.

1. To register for your Warwick IT Services Account you will need your Warwick ID number, please click here to set up your account.

2. Once you have registered for your IT Services account you will need to upload a photo of yourself for your Warwick ID card. Please click here to upload your photo. You will need your ID card to access facilities on campus such as the Library, Sports Centre and teaching rooms.

Please note: We will need a recent photograph to appear on your ID card - this can be taken on a smart phone and does not need to be a professional photograph. Please read our photo guidance below uploading your photo. You can find our photo guidelines here.

Airport Transfer Pre Arrival Immigration Advice

When coming to study on a summer school programme, the most suitable type of visa is a  Standard Visitor VisaLink opens in a new window. Students requiring a VISA will have been sent a VISA Support letter. Please contact us if you need help: pressadmissions@warwick.ac.uk

If you are a 'visa national', you must apply outside the UK. Visa nationals always need a visa prior to entering the UK. You can check if you are a visa national on the gov.uk websiteLink opens in a new window.

If you are a 'non visa national' you can choose to apply at the embassy in your own country for permission before you leave, or alternatively you can bring all your documents and apply at the border when you arrive in the UK. If you apply at the airport on arrival there is no charge.

Please ensure you bring your passport to registration and your VISA . You will need your passport even if you are a British Passport Holder.

Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us or the Immigration Service at the University: immigrationservice@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

Please make sure you also read the international travel advice for unaccompanied under 18s.

What to Bring

You’ll need to bring all the things you might take on holiday, such as clothes and toiletries and any medications you think you might need e.g. paracetamol or hayfever medication. Remember the weather in the UK can be very variable even in the summer so make sure you bring some warmer clothes and waterproofs/umbrella and sun-cream and hats. You will also need to bring adequate sports clothing and trainers if you wish to take part in any sports activities and smart wear for our evening dinners. You will have access to the campus swimming pool so you may want to bring a swimsuit and towel too. For the London trip you'll need a small bag to take as we cannot take large bags into attractions.

For your studies you will need to bring a laptop or tablet (and a UK plug adapter) and stationery. You should also bring a dictionary with you if you think you may need one as we are unable to provide bilingual dictionaries – a bilingual dictionary may be particularly helpful if English is not your first language. You will have access to IT facilities on campus including free wifi.

Don't forget you'll be responsible for bringing and administering any medication.

You will need a smart mobile phone as you will be in a Whatsapp group with your ambassador/group. Please make sure your phone will work as soon as you arrive in the UK.

A great social programme and all catering (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is included in your fees but you will need to bring some spending money for any additional food, drinks and/or souvenirs you want to buy. It is preferable to bring a bank card if you can rather than carrying too much cash, please note that we cannot keep money for you.

The Warwick campus is also cashless so you will need a card to buy anything on campus.

Please note we are unable to facilitate deliveries or post to the University for the duration of the Pre-University Summer School.

Getting to the University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is just 3 miles from Coventry in the Heart of England.

Travelling by Air:

The closest airports are Birmingham and East Midlands but we are not far from the London airports either (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton). If you would like specific advice on how to get to Warwick University from London airports do get in touch and we will be happy to offer guidance on the quickest route from the airport you are arriving into. Information can be found here.Link opens in a new window

Travelling by Coach:

Information can be found here.Link opens in a new window

Travelling by Train:

Information can be found here.

On arrival at the railway station or the coach station a taxi or Uber will be the simplest way to get to campus and is reasonably priced. The taxi fare is approximately between £10.00 - £16.00 one way from either the railway or coach station to the University. There are always taxis waiting outside Coventry stations too – you can just ask to be taken to The Faculty of Arts Building at the University of Warwick, where we will be registering students. Registration will be from 1 pm - 5 pm so if you are not travelling by air we recommend you aim to arrive between these times. You will be able to check into your accommodation from 3 pm if staying on campus.

Travelling by Car:

Information can be found here.Link opens in a new window

Car Parking:

ANPR car parking is available for visitors on some of the Central Campus car parks. There are various ways to pay including an app, online, machine, phone or text. You can find out more information about where you can park and how to pay plus costs on this linkLink opens in a new window. If you are driving to campus and need to park for the duration of the Summer School, please let us know. Disabled parking spaces are available within all car parks and close to some accommodation areas, please inform us if you require a disabled car parking space (for blue badge holders only).

The Campus

Information about our lovely campus can be found here. Link opens in a new windowMaps of the campus can be found here: Campus Maps (warwick.ac.uk). If you are ever unsure about where a room or building is you can enter the building or room number on the interactive campus map for guidance.

A printable map of the central campus can be downloaded.

Arrival on Campus, Registration and Induction

Registration and Check-in

Upon arrival on Tuesday 16 July, you should go to the Radcliffe Conference Centre. See where Radcliffe is located on campus using our campus map.Link opens in a new window

If driving to campus, we recommend parking in the Radcliffe Carpark. Please ensure you register for parking in advance using this link and the promo code ONXXQ to ensure free parking. You can find more information about parking in the Conference FAQs here.

We will be registering students for the summer school in this location and will also be allocating your accommodation at the same time. You should be able to check-in to your accommodation from 1pm on the day of your arrival. If you arrive earlier due to your flight and need to store your luggage, we can arrange this for you. You are welcome to leave your luggage in Radcliffe Conference Centre with us until you can officially register and check-in (luggage storage will be open from 11am).

On Tuesday 16 July, from 12:30pm-3:30pm we will be registering students for the Summer School and completing passport checks (bring your passport to registration whatever your nationality). We will be able to issue your Warwick Student ID Card once we have completed these checks. Once you have registered, our ambassadors will meet you and take you to the Halls of Residence where they will help you to settle in. You will be assigned a group (maximum 10 students) and each group will be allocated two ambassadors who will stay with you throughout your stay in Warwick.

Please note that parents and guardians are welcome to come with you to registration but will be unable to go to the Halls of Residence with you for safeguarding reasons.

On arrival you will receive an induction pack including your course timetable which will also be available online.

Your ID Card

Your ID card will be issued at registration if you have uploaded your photo in advance. Please keep this card with you at all times as this is your means of proving that you are a Summer School participant at the University of Warwick, it is your library card and your ‘key’ to access some of the buildings on campus. We have provided a lanyard and you should wear this at all times on campus as a means of identification. This card can also be loaded with credits to use for printing. There are details about this here.

Lost Cards Your IT Account

The ITS (IT Services) accounts provided for Summer School participants will not need activating – they will be ready to use. However, the first time you access a Warwick website using your account you will be asked to go through a process to facilitate password reset self-service. This will not occur if you log in via wireless or onto a University managed workstation.

Your IT account is used for Campus Wi-Fi, Open Access Personal Computer Rooms and accessing the library. Your user code and password will be provided with your ID card at registration.

The ITS account self-service password procedure is also detailed hereLink opens in a new window

Please note that by signing our consent form, you have agreed to the University's Acceptable Use IT Policy.

Campus Wi-Fi Welcome Induction Code of Conduct and Rules of the Programme

As part of the introductory talk ,we will be reminding students about the Code of Conduct agreed to and also the information shared with parents outlining rules regarding supervision. We advise you to familiarise yourself with both of these documents before you arrive to ensure that you are clear on your responsibilities as we would like everyone to be able to enjoy the programme.

Timetable

Help During your Stay

Summer School Ambassadors and Staff

You will be given the contact number for your student ambassadors on arrival and they should be your first point of contact in the day and evenings. You will also be in a Whatsapp group with your fellow flatmates and your ambassador and a Lead Ambassador. If you cannot contact your ambassadors you can contact the Lead Ambassadors. This includes if you feel unwell.

In case of emergencies or if you cannot contact your ambassadors contact a member of the staff team - 07823 524593. You should also use this number after 10pm at night. A night manager will be on campus overnight as well as ambassadors and lead ambassadors in case of emergencies.

You can also email preunisummerschool@warwick.ac.uk between 9am - 5pm Monday - Fridays.

Parents who wish to contact the Pre-University Team should email preunisummerschool@warwick.ac.uk or in emergencies or out of office hours call 07823 524593.

University of Warwick Community Safety

24 hour control centre: +44 (0) 24 7652 2083

Emergencies (fire, police, ambulance): +44 (0) 24 7652 2222

If you are off campus and need to call the emergency services the details are below:

T: 999

T: 101 (non-urgent, press for Warwickshire or West Midlands when prompted)

Accommodation, Catering and Facilities

At Warwick all of our single en-suite bedrooms are in our Sherbourne Halls of Residence which will give you a real experience of what it is like to stay in Halls of Residence on a University campus. You will be provided with:

Towels but no toiletries
Wi-Fi access
Bed linen and duvet/pillow

The rooms are en-suite (bathroom included) and each flat has a shared kitchen (you shouldn’t need to use the kitchen much as your breakfasts and dinners are included).

Each flat houses up to 12 people and you will be with your ambassador and your group for the duration of your stay.

Towels are changed weekly (replacements are available if needed, ask your ambassador). Kitchens are cleaned daily and bedrooms and bathrooms are cleaned weekly.

PLEASE NOTE THE FIRE MEET POINT FOR SHERBOURNE HALLS IS THE SHERBOURNE ENERGY CENTRE.

Laundry

You will be able to access laundry services during your time at the Summer School. There are student launderettes on the ground floor of some of the Sherbourne Residences (1,5,7).

The laundries are operated by washco. The wash cycle has a pre-mixed detergent and conditioner so guests don’t need to buy any. The machines are cashless.

You can find out more here Laundry (warwick.ac.uk)

Eating

Breakfast will be served daily from 8.00am – 9.00am in Rootes restaurant apart from on the Saturday 20 July London visit when breakfast will be served earlier and on Sunday 21 July when a brunch will be served between 10am - 12noon to allow students to sleep in after a long day and late night in London.

Lunches are not included as part of the programme, and there will be time available to purchase lunches from the many cafes, shops and restaurants on campus.

There are five evenings when we have group dinners planned but on the other days dinner will be served from 6pm – 7pm in Rootes restaurant.

Included in your fee are also mid-morning and mid-afternoon refreshments on teaching days. These will be provided to you near your classrooms where teaching will be taking place (details on your timetable).

You can also purchase food and drink on campus without any problem. We have numerous cafés, restaurants and an on campus grocery store. Please click here for more information and up to date opening hours. Please remember that the campus is cashless. Please ensure you only buy food and drinks from places with a minimum hygiene rating of 4.

Please note: opening hours may vary during the vacation period.

Post and parcels Facilities on Campus Sports and Wellness Hub

If you are staying on campus, gym and swim access to our fantastic sports and wellness hubLink opens in a new window is included in your accommodation fee. Our hub includes a huge gym, swimming pool, climbing walls, squash courts, badminton courts, bouldering room and many classes and activities. Some activities incur an extra cost.

If you plan to use the swimming pool whilst you are here, please remember to bring some swimwear and a towel in your luggage. Please see the website for details of activities, bookings and opening hours.

You will need to be accompanied in the gym by an ambassador and you will be able to visit during other free time, which will have to be managed in line with staffing ratios with the ambassadors.

Please note, in order to access the gym you will need to ask your parents to complete the online sports and wellness access form.

Library

The University LibraryLink opens in a new window is accessible 24 hours a day. You will have access to the library using your card but will not be able to take books out of the library or use the e-journals (due to licensing arrangements). Here you will also be able to use printing facilities and computers if you need them. You will be able to print in the Library by buying printer credits. The cost varies depending on the kind of printing you are doing: https://printercredits.warwick.ac.uk/Link opens in a new window.

For further help, you can find The Library Helpdesk on the first floor of the library. The Library Helpdesk is open Monday-Sunday 08:30am-21:30pm

You will be provided with all the materials you will need for your course during lectures and seminars and we do not expect you to buy any textbooks.

Teaching, Resources and Personal Development

Our Summer School includes academic taster sessions in five subjects per course, personal development and skills sessions and talks designed to help you understand more about applying for University in the UK.

Academic Taster Session

Your teaching classes will take place in the Zeeman Building, the Maths and Stats Building and the Faculty of Arts Building (FAB). The details will be your course timetable and the ambassadors will help you find the rooms.

You should bring with you your laptop or tablet as all lecture notes will be made available online and you can access Wi-Fi across campus through ‘hotspot-secure’ and your username and password will be supplied with your ID card, we do not expect you to buy any books, you will have access to the library to photocopy, print and use desktop computers.

Please see the website for details of how to connect to the wi-fi on campus.

Also see this page on the website for information on printing within the University.

Personal Development/Skills

The academic skills sessions are intended to develop students’ academic communication and literacy skills through engagement in a discipline-based enterprise project. The project will provide an opportunity for students to develop confidence and competence in communicating in English in an academic context, and to develop their research, critical thinking and analytic skills in an intercultural environment. At the end of the skills sessions, students will deliver a group presentation and receive verbal feedback from academics.

Preparing for University in the UK Online resources Certificates Guest Lecture

We have arranged a great speaker to enrich your experience: Krisi Smith, Co-Founder and Owner of Bird & Blend Tea Co

Krisi Smith is Co-Founder & Owner of the award-winning independent tea company Bird & Blend Tea Co. Krisi wears many hats within the business. Her alternative job title is Chief Tea Mixologist and she is the visionary behind their incredible tea innovation.

She set up the business with her co-founder, Mike Turner, whom she had met at university while studying politics. After working as ski instructors in Canada and not wanting to return to 9-5 jobs working for someone else, they decided to create their own business with a mission to be as ethical and eco conscious as they could.

Krisi always knew that she wanted to make a positive impact on the world and craved the freedom and empowerment to be able to make a real difference. She had a background in the tea industry so decided to take that and run with it to challenge the UK tea industry by creating fun and imaginative blends!

Social Programme

The following Social and Cultural Programme is included in the tuition fee:

Welcome BBQ and Garden Games
Induction, including a campus scavenger hunt
Campus team building event
Boom Battle Activity Centre, Coventry
Guest lecture
A day trip to Oxford including a historic walking tour and a punting tour on the River Cherwell (life vests must be worn for non-swimmers)
Film Night on the Piazza – Johnny English Strikes Again
Karaoke and Disco night
An exciting day trip to London

London Trip

On Saturday 20 July, students and the student ambassadors will take the coach from Warwick to London. Staff will meet you in central London so that you can start to enjoy the sights and sounds of London, our fabulous capital city.

Included in your London trip are the following activities:

Multi-media tour of the Houses of Parliament
London Eye Trip and River Cruise OR The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre
Time in Covent Garden
Two course meal at Pizza Express

Breakfast will be served before students leave on the coach and students can buy their own lunch in London during the free time. Please remember you'll need a small bag for this trip.

Travelling in London Dress Code

There are no formal dress codes for any of our events, although some students have liked to dress up for our farewell event in the past, so you might want to bring a smart outfit. Make sure you will be comfortable for all of our activities including team building and bring sportswear/swimwear if you intend to use the gym.

Have comfortable footwear for the day trips as there will be lots of walking. On the day trips you might also want to consider an umbrella/anorak and sun cream/hat - we'll keep you posted on the weather forecasts on the programme.