All posts by Samantha Jane Logan

Editor of the International Students' Bulletin.
Student voice

Call for participants

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International Student Well-being Research Project

Can you help?

Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University are conducting a study about the challenges and positive experiences of being an international student at Sheffield Hallam University.

 Participants are needed to take part in Focus Groups to be held at the Owen Building in the afternoon of Tuesday 26th May (Focus Group 1: 1.30pm – 2.30pm, Focus Group 2: 3pm – 4pm) and Wednesday 27th May 2015 (Focus Group 3 – 2.30-3.30). You will only need to attend one Focus Group.

The Focus Group will be small (only 4-6 students) and will be relaxed and informal. They will take only one hour.

This research is important to improving the experience of international students.

Dr Emma Kirkby-Geddes would like to hear from you if you would like to take part.  Please email Emma directly e.e.kirkby-geddes@shu.ac.uk.

Social activities, Student voice

SHSU Indians Society

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A message from the society:

‘Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union (SHSU) Indians Society also known as Desi Indians began in April, 2015 with the guidance and support from SHSU. It was created with a basic aim to bring together all students at SHU together and promote the rich Indian cultural facet, to explore the variety and variance in India, where language and food undergo change for every step taken. This society will promote Indian festivals, food, culture, sports, music and traditions amongst all students in Sheffield Hallam University giving them an opportunity to learn and accustom them to know more about eastern culture.

SHSU Indians also aims for students to get to know and explore Sheffield, by arranging trips around the city, as Sheffield is filled with places for tourist attractions, sporting events, and food festivals.

SHSU Indians also is dominantly present on social networking websites like Facebook and Instagram. The Facebook page named SHSU Indians is a very good online platform to connect with all students and spread the message of any event conducted by the society.

The first event which the society initiated was the online photography competition, where in all the members of the group where asked to upload photos and the theme being “Your most amazing photo” and the photo which gets the maximum likes would be declared as the winner. The society received a decent response to start with, the winner of the competition being Tam Do with 29 likes for her photo captioned as “Catch me of you can”.

The Facebook page would also be shared with the admission authorities in India, so that they can provide it to all Indian students arriving in Sheffield for the first time. SHSU Indians society will aim to help, resolve and guide any issues and concerns posted by new joiners on the page regarding accommodation, travel or university issue. The society will direct them to the correct channel to help them setup their life in Sheffield with minimum hassles and maximum support.

Establishing the society is only part of the journey, however support and guidance from the university and students will act as a major factor for the success to achieve the objectives. The society aims to get maximum registration from all the students. Please do register on the Hallam Students Union website under the cultural tab, Indian. The steps to register have been posted on the Facebook page. In case of any issue please post your queries on SHSU Indian group on Facebook or you can email on shsuindians@gmail.com.’

Exchange/ Erasmus, Student stories

Camilla Hurley – Studied and worked in Spain

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Camilla studied at Universidad de Oviedo for 1 semester, she then completed her work placement with TUI Travel in Palma de Mallorca.

“Studying and working abroad was the best experience ever and choosing to do my degree at Hallam was the best decision ever made.  Studying International Business with Spanish has allowed me to spend 18 months in Spain as part of my degree.

Before I moved abroad I was very nervous and I had no idea what to expect as I had never even to Spain before.  However, as soon as I got there I was having such an amazing time meeting people from all over the world.  There was nothing to worry or be concerned about because it was a new experience for everyone there.  Returning back to England after the full 18 months was a bit strange, after spending so long as part of another culture you will pick up mannerisms from that Country.

Generally the University system with regards to lectures and seminars is the same in both the UK and Spain, however, the grading system is slightly different.  All of my classes were in Spanish so at first it was a slight challenge but after a while it all became that little bit easier.

The working culture in Spain is a lot more laid back that it is here in the UK.  Everyone is so friendly and willing to help you with whatever worry or doubt you may have.  I made friends from all over the work and also of all different ages.  Working in Spain is a lot different than in the UK and it is something that you need to adapt to in order to make the most out of the experience.”

 

Welcome

This week’s news

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Friday 10 April 2015

Social
Student voice
Employability
Support
Immigration

Best wishes,

International Student Support Team
Student voice

Commonwealth Student? There’s still time to register to vote!

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If you are a student originating from a country within the Commonwealth, you have the right to vote in the General Elections this May.  Don’t waste this precious opportunity to have your say and also represent those international students who don’t have the right to vote.

Commonwealth_of_Nations

If you are not sure if your country is part of the commonwealth, you can check here.

How do I vote?

1. First you need to register online: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Fill out the online form, leaving the national insurance number blank. You must do this as soon as possible so there is enough time for it to be processed.  The deadline for registering is 20 April 2015.

2. You will then be sent a letter from the Returning Officer who is the official person responsible for running fair elections. This letter will ask you for proof that you are a citizen of a Commonwealth country. Send back a photocopy of your passport.

3. You will then be registered on the electoral role as a voter. You will be sent a polling card a month before the election. Start thinking about who you’ll vote for!

4. VOTE on 7 May 2015.

You can find more information about voting as a commonwealth student here and there is also a commonwealth student vote Facebook page.

And remember… the deadline to register to vote in the general election is 20 April 2015.

Student voice

SHU GoGlobal blog competition

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Now–Friday 26 June 2015

Share your experience of going global to inspire others and you could win an iPad mini.1798880_642887015833414_8849657337390631202_n

The SHU GoGlobal blog competition is to create an online blog about your experience of internationalising while being a student at Sheffield Hallam University. Internationalising is the process of gaining an understanding of other cultures and developing a global outlook.

The brief is to create an online blog which records the best stories from your time at Sheffield Hallam or your study/work experience abroad and the impact the experience has had on you and your future.

You can read the competition rules at www.shu.ac.uk/global

Social activities

Varsity is back

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Lets all get behind Team Sheffield Hallam and win back our title!

University of Sheffield have defended their Varsity (http://sheffieldvarsity.com/) title two years in a row now and it’s about time we won it back! In order to do that we need the players to play at their best but even more importantly we need all of you to get behind Team Sheffield Hallam.

 

Tickets are on sale now and can be bought from Pod4 (the HUBS), Hallam Active (City and Collegiate campus) and on the Students’ Union online shop ( https://www.hallamstudentsunion.com/shop/varsity/).

The showcase events this year are:

 

Sports Park (Rugby, Cricket, Archery) – 15 April at the Sports Park

Boxing – 18 April at the Octagon

Ice Hockey Final – 22 April at the Motorpoint Arena

 

Tickets won’t stay around for long so make sure you get yours today!

Employability, Immigration

Want to work in the UK after your studies?

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Would you like some visa advice?
If yes, then book a place on our Working in the UK after studies workshop.

We will look at all the possible visa routes for international graduates into full time work including:

• Tier 2 Scheme
• Tier 1 graduate entrepreneur
• Tier 5

The workshop will also focus on how to improve your employability and how you can make the most out of your time at Sheffield Hallam University. We will explain the visa rules and how to maximise your chances of success.

The next workshops will take place in the Careers and Employability Centre (unless otherwise stated):

To attend, you must book your place in advance by following one of the links above.

Immigration

Is your visa due to expire soon?

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If you do not book a one-to-one appointment to see an immigration adviser at least 2 weeks before your visa is due to expire, then we may not be able to assist you with your application and you will have to send your documents off yourself.

You must attend a group session before you can book a one-to-one appointment.

It is important that you attend a group session at least 2 months before your visa is due to expire. You will be unable to get a CAS application form if you have not attended a group session.

The next group sessions will be taking place as follows:

April

  • Tuesday 14 – 10am
  • Thursday 23 – 2pm
  • Tuesday 28 – 10am

May

  • Thursday 7 – 2pm
  • Tuesday 12 – 10am
  • Thursday 21 – 2pm

Please come to the Student Services Centre, Level 5 Owen or Heart of the Campus to book on to a group session.