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Scotland Programs 2019/20
UCEAP Arrival and Orientation Information
Fall 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contact details for UCEAP Edinburgh Study Centre
Social Media – Keeping Connected
UCEAP Orientation in Scotland
(a) Date & Venue (b) Orientation Accommodation (c) How to get to UCEAP orientation (d) Orientation Programme
Host Institution Orientation
(a) Travel to host institution (b) University of Edinburgh orientation (c) University of Glasgow orientation (d) University of St Andrews orientation
Arriving early? Ideas for Edinburgh, Glasgow & St Andrews
Luggage, mobile phones, money and jet lag – useful tips from previous participants
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Contact details for UCEAP Edinburgh Study Centre
The UCEAP Edinburgh Study Centre will be your point of contact whilst in Scotland. You will meet staff during your orientation but feel free to pop into the office prior to that if you arrive early and need help. Staff will be here to assist you throughout your time here with any academic or health-related matters. UCEAP Edinburgh Study Centre 25 Buccleuch Place Edinburgh, EH8 9LN Tel : +44 (0)131 662 8988 Email: [email protected] Emergency Cell number: (only available if dialling from inside the UK) 0800 434 6557
Social Media – Keeping Connected Be sure to connect with UCEAP Scotland via our website and our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media accounts! There you’ll find great articles, student testimonials, tips and photos relating to studying abroad in Ireland and the variety of events held for UCEAP Ireland students throughout the year! Simply click on the links to find out more information.
UCEAP Scotland Facebook UCEAP UK & Ireland Instagram
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UCEAP Orientation in Scotland All students attending universities in Scotland must attend UCEAP orientation in Edinburgh. Full participation in the UCEAP orientation is required for all UCEAP students as it is an integral part of the student contract. Failure to attend the whole UCEAP orientation could result in dismissal from the program.
All students must read, in full, the UCEAP Program Guide and pre-departure checklist as well as this document. These contain essential information relating to your time abroad:
Pre-Departure Checklist Scotland Program Guide
(see link in Pre-Departure Checklist)
(a) UCEAP Orientation Date & Venue UCEAP orientation will take place in Edinburgh in advance of your host orientation and host accommodation move-in date. Please find below the date, location and start time. Please note the hotel venue for your orientation. You can find directions on how to get to your correct orientation venue in section c) How to get to UCEAP Orientation
Your Scottish Host University
UCEAP Orientation
Location
UCEAP Orientation accommodation
See Map
Check in at UCEAP
orientation accommodation:
UCEAP Orientation
starts at:
UCEAP Orientation ends & onward travel to host
institution:
Glasgow
Edinburgh, Scotland
Premier Inn Market Street 33 E Market St
Edinburgh EH8 8FR
From 2pm on the 6th of September, 2019. You should be able to leave your bags at the
hotel if you arrive earlier.
3pm sharp in the reception of your respective hotel.
Morning of the 8th of September. Students can have breakfast in
the hotel before making their way to
the host
city/accommodation.
Edinburgh
Premier Inn Market Street
OR
Premier Inn
Princes Street
St Andrews
Premier Inn Market Street 33 E Market St
Edinburgh EH8 8FR
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(b) Orientation Accommodation:
UCEAP has pre-paid the 2 nights of your UCEAP orientation for you at the Premier Inn (Market Street or Princes Street), so you are not responsible for these two nights’ accommodation. You will be staying in twin rooms with another UCEAP student. If you have any special requirements please let the Edinburgh Study Centre know immediately. If you require any additional nights, please arrange and pay for this directly with the hotel. Students studying at Glasgow and St. Andrews will stay in the Premier Inn located on Market Street. Students at the University of Edinburgh will be informed in July which hotel location they have been assigned to.
Premier Inn Market Street Address: 33 E Market St, Edinburgh EH8 8FR Telephone: 0871 527 9644 Website: Premier Inn
Premier Inn Princes Street Address: 124 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4AD Telephone: 0871 527 9358 Website: Premier Inn
Check-in for both hotels is from 2pm onwards but if your room is available, the hotel will let you check in early. Alternatively, please ask to store your luggage in the locked storeroom. Check-out for both hotels is by 12 noon.
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(c) How to get to UCEAP Orientation:
Getting from the Airport to the Orientation Hotel:
1) Edinburgh Airport to Premier Inn Market Street
By Taxi: Around £25-£30. Hassle-free and definitely worth the money with lots of luggage! Please note that you do not need to give the driver a large tip, £1 or £2 is enough.
By Bus: The Airlink 100 busses run directly from the airport to Waverley Train Station every 10
minutes, costing £4.50. There is space for luggage, but if the bus is busy it could be restricted for space. Get off at the final bus stop (Waverley Bridge). The hotel is less than a 10 minute walk from here. See Map A below.
By Tram: You can get a tram directly from Edinburgh airport to the city centre. This will cost you £5 and you must purchase a ticket before boarding the tram. You should get off at Princes Street. You will then need to walk to the hotel, this would also take about 15 minutes so if you have lots of luggage it may not be the best option. See Map B below.
Map A Map B
2) Edinburgh Airport to Premier Inn Princes Street By Taxi: Around £25. Hassle-free and definitely worth the money with lots of luggage! Please note that you do not need to give the driver a large tip, £1 or £2 is enough.
By Bus: The Airlink 100 busses run directly from the airport to Waverley Train Station every 10
minutes, costing £4.50. There is space for luggage, but if the bus is busy it could be restricted for space. Get off at the bus stop Princes Street, and the hotel is less than a 5 minute walk from here. See map below.
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By Tram: You can get a tram directly from Edinburgh airport to the city centre. This will cost you £5 and you must purchase a ticket before boarding the tram. You should get off at the stop Princes Street, and the hotel is about a 5 minute walk from here. See map below.
If you are travelling to Edinburgh from another city in the UK and would like information on how to get to the orientation hotel please contact [email protected]
REMEMBER – DO NOT ARRANGE FLIGHTS TO SCOTLAND THAT HAVE A LAYOVER IN IRELAND
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(d) UCEAP Orientation Programme
Your UCEAP Orientation will start at 3pm sharp in the hotel reception. We will then take you to the meeting room. There will be a few quick welcomes from UCEAP staff and the opportunity to meet other UC students on your program. We will then have a short Health and Safety presentation followed by an early group dinner as you will all be tired and jet-lagged!
Day 2 will start with breakfast in the hotel before Group 1 goes to visit Edinburgh Castle, Scotland’s number one visitor attractions. In the afternoon, Group 1 will have their Academic and Cultural presentations. Group 2 will begin their day with Academic and Cultural presentations, and then visit the castle in the afternoon. At the end of the day, we will have another group dinner together. Day 3 is when you make your way to your host city/accommodation. UCEAP will either give you a train ticket to your host city or £10 for a taxi to your accommodation. You must check out of your hotel by 12 noon.
UCEAP orientation is for UCEAP students only. Friends and family will not be able to participate in UCEAP orientation meetings or activities but there are plenty of attractions in Edinburgh to see whilst you are busy. You can check the Edinburgh tourist website for an idea of what is available.
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Host Institution Orientation
(a) Travel to Host Institution Students going to Glasgow and St. Andrews: UCEAP will pre-purchase a train ticket for you from Edinburgh to Glasgow or St. Andrews respectively. You do not need to arrange this travel yourself. Your train ticket will be valid for any train to your destination on the last day of your orientation. You will be given instructions at orientation on how to get to the correct train to your new host city. UCEAP students will be housed at various residences around Glasgow and St. Andrews. Our advice is that upon arrival in your host city, you take a taxi to your accommodation. A taxi should cost you no more than £15. You will be with other UC students so if you are heading in the same direction it will be cheaper to share a taxi. Students going to Edinburgh: If you are staying in campus accommodation or in a private residence in Edinburgh city centre, UCEAP will give £10 towards a taxi fare to take you to your accommodation. Further information will be given at UCEAP orientation.
(b) Host University Orientation You must attend the mandatory orientation sessions at your host university. These will range from meeting with advisors, registering for classes, campus tours and society fairs. These are a great way to familiarise yourself with your new university and what will be offered to you throughout your stay! Not all host institution orientation dates have been finalised yet: please check the links below regularly for updates on your host’s Fall 2019 orientation schedule.
University of Edinburgh University of Glasgow
University of St. Andrews
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(c) Arriving Early? Ideas for Edinburgh, Glasgow & St Andrews If your visa permits, arriving in advance to allow yourself to acclimatise is an option but not required. However please note: if you do arrive early, you are responsible for your accommodation arrangements. If you wish to add extra nights in advance of the orientation, please contact your orientation hotel directly. A hotel room or bed & breakfast accommodation in Edinburgh, Glasgow or St Andrews would cost £50-100 per night. Alternatively, you may want to stay in cheaper accommodation at one of the hostels mentioned below. These are usually dorm room beds that range from around £16 - £25 per night and may or may not include breakfast.
Edinburgh Accommodation Hotels: IBIS Hotel: (Royal Mile or South Bridge) Website: https://ibis.accorhotels.com
Premier Travel Inn: (Haymarket, Lauriston Place, Princes Street, Market Street, or York Place) Website: www.premierinn.com
Travelodge: Edinburgh City Centre, St Mary’s Street Website: www.travelodge.co.uk Hostels: Budget Backpackers, 37-39 Cowgate, Tel: 00 44 131 226 6351 Email: [email protected] http://www.budgetbackpackers.com/
High Street Hostel, 8 Blackfriars Street, Tel: 00 44 131 557 3984 Email: [email protected] http://www.highstreethostel.com/ Royal Mile Backpackers, 105 High Street, Tel: 00 44 131 557 6120 Email: [email protected] https://royalmilebackpackers.com/ Sightseeing
Edinburgh is probably best known for its Castle but as we will be visiting here during UCEAP orientation, check out some other sights instead! Try taking a walk up Calton Hill to look at the panoramic view of Edinburgh or visiting one of our five free National Art Galleries (at The Mound, Queen Street or Dean Village). A particular
favourite of ours, is the newly re-furbished National Museum of Scotland! http://www.nms.ac.uk/
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Glasgow Accommodation
Hotels: IBIS Hotel: Glasgow City Centre, 220 West Regent Street Website: https://ibis.accorhotels.com Premier Travel Inn: Glasgow City Centre, George Square Website: www.premierinn.com
Travelodge: Glasgow Central, 6-11 Hill Street Website: www.travelodge.co.uk Hostels: Euro Hostels, 318 Clyde Street, Tel: 0044 141 222 2828 Email: [email protected] https://www.eurohostels.co.uk/glasgow
Clyde Hostel, 62 Berkeley St, Tel: 0044 141 221 1710 Email: [email protected] https://clydehostel.co.uk/
Sightseeing
Glasgow has a lot to offer in the way of tourist attractions and many sights have free entry! For example, check out the recently re-furbished Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery, which is located just next to the University, or the stunning Glasgow Cathedral. The Riverside Museum of Transport is fascinating as well as the Science Centre, both located on the Clyde. If you like clothes shopping and afternoon tea, you will be spoilt for choice here!
St. Andrews Accommodation Bed & Breakfasts: Hotel accommodation in St. Andrews can be very expensive and so the more affordable option would be to stay at a Bed & Breakfast. A wide variety of options can be found here: http://www.standrewsbandbs.co.uk/bed&breakfasts.htm Sightseeing As St. Andrews itself is a small town and as you will have plenty of time to discover it during your time there, you might wish to jump on a train or bus to Edinburgh or Glasgow to take in sights. In Edinburgh, the Castle, Holyrood Palace and the many free National Art Galleries and National Museum of Scotland are well worth visiting. The charming fishing village (and seafood-lover paradise!) of Anstruther is a mere 30 minutes by bus from St. Andrews.
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Luggage, Mobile Phones, Money and Jet Lag
Useful Tips from Previous Participants
LUGGAGE Travel light!
Students routinely say how they wish they had brought HALF of what they actually did for their time in Scotland… Every year many students seem surprised at how far and how many times they have to move and carry their suitcases. In Scotland, you will notice a lot of stairs, uneven pavements and no elevators. You should also expect to have to lift and carry your bags quite a bit on the journey from the airport to orientation accommodation, and, in all likelihood, at your host university as well (very few host university residences have elevators). It is worth trying to travel as lightly as possible! One solution for students who do have a lot of things they wish to bring for the semester is to arrange to have the heavier items shipped directly to their host university. Please check with your host university directly after arrival if this is permitted. Students who decide to do this will have to ensure they have the correct delivery address (and in particular the postcode) for any shipment. Items like bed linen, duvets or blankets take up a lot of room in your suitcase, so it is much better to purchase them here. Many halls will have a scheme where you can buy these items. It is also worth noting that many students do tell us that they buy more clothes than they expected to while on their year abroad (bargains are available here, contrary to expectation!). So please take note and bring as little with you as you can. It can be very cold and windy here, so make sure you have thick socks and clothes that will keep you warm. Hats and scarves are a must!
MOBILE PHONES We encourage you to get a British SIM card while you are in Scotland. Most students will buy a cheap handset (no more than £30) with a British SIM card as it is cheaper and also if an emergency occurs (when Wi-Fi and data will go down) we will be able to contact you easily. The other option is to unlock your US phone. Some newer models (for example the iPhone 6) are now automatically unlocked. This means you can purchase a British SIM card (normally £10) and use your current phone. You will need to ring your US cell company before arrival to unlock it and whether this can be approved. Sometimes unlocking your phone can void the warranty. We will cover mobile phones, SIM cards, and how to buy them in more detail during your orientation.
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MONEY Please make sure your US bank knows that you will be abroad for a while! You don’t want to try your card while here only to have the purchase rejected because your bank thinks someone outside the country has stolen your account details. In order to open a bank account in Scotland you will need a letter from your host university, proof of new UK address and your passport. Opening a bank account can, believe it or not, take a few weeks and so you need to make sure you have enough money available to get you going until your account is accessible. Many students choose not to open an account and draw down from a US credit or debit card. Please check rates and fees for international transactions with your home bank prior to departure. During UCEAP orientation in Edinburgh, we will talk about different banks and money matters. Tipping: We do not tip here in Scotland as much as you may be used to doing in California. Generally speaking, if you were to go to a formal restaurant then it is customary to leave 10% as a tip. If you are in a café and receive table service, leaving small change is acceptable but not necessary. Bar staff do not receive tips at all. In taxis, we would round up the fare to the nearest £1 or perhaps give £1.50 for longer journeys.
JET LAG Before the flight:
Try to get plenty of rest and hydrate.
It can sometimes help to start adjusting to your new time zone a few days before travelling. Setting your watch ahead and shifting your meals can train your brain into the new time you will be in.
While on the flight:
Stay away from coffee and alcohol!
It’s best while flying internationally to drink water, as hydration is key to fighting jet lag.
Make yourself comfortable; even if that means you bring a pair of pyjamas to wear for the flight.
Depending on the time of your flight, you might want to forgo the dinner they serve, as it will probably be in the middle of night in Scotland. It’s okay to snack, but try to wait until breakfast is served.
Try to sleep on the plane! Even if you only get a few hours, this will help you upon your arrival in Scotland.
After the flight:
Try to stay awake until evening (always aim for 8-9pm) the first day as this will help your body adjust to the new time more quickly.
Continue to drink lots of water.
Get sunlight. Yes, the British Isles may be known for clouds but sunlight will help those circadian rhythms get into their new time zone!
Combating jet lag can take a few days. With these steps, you should be able to tackle it well.
