Practical Information

We understand that joining our Pre-University Summer School means travelling and living independently away from your parents/guardians. The information on this page is to reassure you and your family about the support and safety measures that we have in place for the programme.

If you accept a place on the course, then you will also be invited to attend an online Pre-Departure Briefing session ahead of the course - this will provide another opportunity to speak to the team and understand the support that will be in place throughout the Summer School.

Travelling to Warwick

The University of Warwick is in the centre of England, easy to reach by rail, car or plane from all parts of the UK and abroad. Ideally located on the border of the West Midlands and Warwickshire, providing easy access to the major cities of Coventry and Birmingham. The campus is located three miles to the south west of Coventry City centre. It is one hour by train from central London. The best airports to travel to would be Birmingham International Airport or London Heathrow Airport.

Airport Transfers

Airport transfers must be booked separately (at additional cost) and will be open for booking in April.

There will be airport pick-ups on Tuesday 16 July from London Heathrow and from Birmingham International Airports. There will be airport drop-offs on Friday 26 July to London Heathrow, dropping off at 10am and to Birmingham International Airport, dropping off at 9am.

Birmingham Airport is the nearest to campus so if you can travel there it will shorten your journey to campus considerably.

Should I book my flights yet?

We recommend waiting to book your flights until you have your visa if you require one.

Weather

The weather in the UK can be very changeable, even in the summer! It can be hot and sunny or rainy and chilly and everything in between.

We advise you to bring a range of clothes, lots of layers and don’t forget your umbrella, anorak and sun cream and sunhat, just in case.

Spending money

The majority of costs are covered by the programme including breakfast and evening meal each day, and travel (excluding travel to and from the University at the start and end of the programme).

You will need some extra spending money for some lunches, additional food and drink and any shopping you would like to do during your time in the UK.

Dietary requirements

We can cater for special dietary requirements, but we must be informed of these requirements in advance of your arrival at the programme. We will contact you to collect any dietary information once you have secured your place on the programme, but if you have serious allergies or any queries about dietary requirements, please contact a member of our team at pressadmissions@warwick.ac.uk

Safeguarding

During their time at the Pre-University Summer School, students will be looked after by a core team of staff trained in safeguarding students of this age. Key staff involved in the delivery of the Summer School will also be fully DBS* checked.

In addition, students will be allocated Student Ambassadors, current Warwick students (minimum of one ambassador per group of 12 students) who will accompany the students on social programmes and trips and stay overnight in halls to ensure the safety of the students, whether on campus or elsewhere.

Students will also be provided with emergency contact details of Warwick staff and support services who will be contactable 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Parental Consent and Code of Conduct

We will require parents/legal guardians of every student to sign a parental consent form confirming that the student can participate in the Summer School and agreeing to the code of conduct. They will also need to provide the details of a contact in the UK for the duration of the programme.

In addition to parental consent, all students will be required to sign a Code of Conduct to ensure their safety and that of others on the programme. Students are required to sign this prior to arrival, so that they are aware of what they are signing up to before they join the programme.

We will also host an Induction session for the programme, which will set out very clearly the expectations of students in terms of cultural awareness and etiquette, and the University’s expectations in terms of active participation in the course and standards of behaviour for students on our courses.

There will be zero tolerance if students break the code of conduct. Parents will be informed and asked to make arrangements to remove the student from the programme at their own cost.

Safety - On and Off Campus

The University takes campus security very seriously and we have a community safety team who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year protecting the wellbeing of students, visitors and staff on campus, including the provision of emergency first-aid.

On trips, we will ensure that everyone is aware of safety and security issues by giving a talk to all students. Everyone will also be expected to adhere to the code of conduct, which is there to ensure that our students and visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Student ambassadors will also accompany students on trips.

Health and Welfare

We take students’ health and welfare on the programme very seriously. Our dedicated staff team will be able to offer advice to students should they need medical assistance, counselling or are feeling homesick.

If a student becomes unwell during the programme, we will support them in receiving medical assistance etc, and will liaise with parents/guardians if there are any issues which may hinder participation in the programme.

General fitness

We expect that students who are travelling to join our programme are sufficiently well enough, physically and mentally, to do so. This will enable the students to get the most out of our intensive programme packed with activities, including sight-seeing and day trips. If a student has been unwell prior to the programme, we ask that you make us aware prior to arrival so we can assess their suitability for the programme and put appropriate support in place if required. Please note, we may require medical evidence that the student is well enough to travel and participate in the programme.

We can make reasonable adjustments for those students who have disabilities. Please contact a member of the team at the earliest possibility to discuss any additional needs of the student.