Here is some information from the wider university service areas.
The Student Support Services and International Experience Team will be closed on Wednesday 21 June due to staff training.
The International Experience Team daily drop-in will also therefore be cancelled, so please make arrangements to come to Tuesday or Thursday’s session.
Our team and the reception will re-open at 8.45am on Thursday 22 June.
At this time of the year, you are probably thinking about your plans for finding a job after completing your studies. The following announcements are important for international students who wish to stay in the UK after graduating and want to find out about work visa rules.
Special Working in the UK after studies – internships
On Friday 7 April we hosted a fantastic event on the Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa scheme. The session was attended by over 50 international students. This visa scheme enables international graduates to work as interns in the UK after graduation.
The event featured Zenia Chopra from the company “Access Tier 5.” We also had a great talk by a SHU international graduate, Castor Merino. He shared his experiences of working in the UK under the Tier 5 GAE scheme and with a Tier 2 (General) visa.
The slides from “Access Tier 5” presentation are available here.
We filmed the event and we will update this post with a link to the film shortly.
Special Working in the UK after studies – Tier 2 (General)
When: 23 June Time: 4-5.30pm Where: Adsetts 6620
This is a special and unique event focused specifically on the Tier 2 (General) work visa rules. Tier 2 (General) is one of the most popular visa categories for international graduates who wish to work full time.
We will concentrate specifically on the Tier 2 visa rules and explain eligibility rules. We will cover topics such as salary thresholds and eligible jobs. There will also be a Q&A session. We will also have SHU international graduates who have successfully got Tier 2 work visas. They will share their tips and experiences. You will have the opportunity to ask them any questions you may have.
This promises to be a popular event so book your place now!
Working in the UK after studies – All work visas
When: 31 May Time: 3-4pm Where: Owen 942
This is a presentation covering all the main types of work visas which are relevant for international graduates including: Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur, Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme, Tier 2 (General), Tier 5 Youth Mobility, Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange. It is relevant for international students who are currently here on Tier 4 visas and wish to learn more about the range of work visas available, and the eligibility criteria. The presentation will look at each visa criteria in detail and there will be time for a Q & A session at the end.
We will also launch our new online resource all about work visas! We will showcase the interactive materials, which includes case studies, videos and tips to maximise your success.
The University will be closed between 14 – 18 April, but the libraries at City (Adsetts) and Collegiate will remain open 24/7.
Here are some tips from the Library:
The University will re-open as normal from Wednesday 19 April.
The Guardian Higher Education Network revealed the shortlist for the Inspiring Leader 2017 award, and Professor Chris Husbands was one of the nominees!
This award honours a leader who has brought out the best in their team and achieved exceptional results. They champion innovation and collaboration, deliver real change, and inspire the higher education community.
Here is what the Guardian judges said about the Vice-Chancellor:
“Professor Chris Husbands was an inspiring leader of the Institute of Education – hugely knowledgeable about education practice and policy and unafraid of speaking the truth to power. He has now moved to Sheffield Hallam where university staff speak highly about his energy, commitment and vision.”
The eventual winner was Karma Nabulsi, professor of politics at University of Oxford, but we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Husbands for this recognition of his work.
Are you an international student interested in working in the UK after graduation? If so, then we have the events for you!
We have two fantastic workshops that are fast approaching that can help to give you the information that you need regarding the visa application process, from eligibility to documentation.
January is a difficult time of year for many of us, with cold weather, long hours of darkness and the next holiday a long way off. There is a need to recover from the financial impact of Christmas and New Year’s resolutions that are starting to slide.
There are ways that you can beat the January blues and get your year off to a great start!
Eat well
Omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish, flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds can help combat low mood as can folate, which is found in cabbage broccoli and sprouts. Low blood sugar can affect energy and mood so don’t skip breakfast! Healthy recipes can be found online.
Exercise and sleep
Regular moderate physical activity is effective in managing mild to moderate anxiety and depression. This does not have to be formal exercise and can include going for a 30 minute brisk walk several times per week. It is also important to establish a regular pattern of sleep – maintaining a consistent getting up time will help with this.
Connect
Avoiding contact with others has an adverse effect on mood. Countless studies have found that face to face contact is essential for our wellbeing. Arrange to speak to family and friends regularly.
The following organisations can help you to achieve some of the above as well as offering advice and support in relation to mental health and wellbeing:
Mental Health
Samaritans or email jo@samaritans.org
Prevent Suicide
Big White Wall
Hallam Volunteering
Student Wellbeing
Hallam Active
Happy new year from everyone in the International Experience Team, we wish you every success in 2017!
The new year is a great time to reflect on the past year and make new resolutions, whether it’s cutting down a little bit on sweets, or being more organised with your coursework.
We have some fantastic resources that can help you plan out the next semester and really help to hone your writing skills well into the new year.
The Bridge is a skills hub that has a variety of information and activities designed to help you think about different ways of working and approaching assignments. It covers a range of topics, from self-organisation right through to referencing, meaning we have you covered every step of the way!
As you may know, Christmas and New Year are coming up, and this means that the University will be closed for a period for festive celebrations!
Sheffield Hallam University will close on Friday 23 December and re-open on Tuesday 3 January due to the festive period, meaning that the International Experience Team and Student Services Reception will also be closed.
Both Adsetts and the Collegiate libraries will still be open – as they are 365 days a year, 24/7 – but will have no helpdesk support available.
Christmas can be a lonely time, especially if your friends are travelling home, leaving you in Sheffield over the festive period. However, there is support available if you need it, and you can find all the useful contact details in the leaflet below. Click on the images to open full-size versions.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the International Experience Team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Whether you’re spending Christmas at home or in Sheffield, we hope you have a fantastic time with friends and family, looking back over the last year and getting involved in the festivities.
We have some great activities to keep you busy over the Christmas break, including trips to Nottingham and Leeds, so make sure you don’t miss out!
See you all in 2017!
Marie Vickers, the International Student Support Officer within the Faculty of ACES will be leaving the University on 22 December.
I’m sure you’d like to join us in wishing Marie all the best in her new job and thank her for all her help within ACES that she has given our international students!
If you usually go to Marie with any enquiries, then you can contact the following staff for help –
Linda Wood – Media Arts and Communication
Anita Whitworth – Art and Design
Nicholas Smith/Sue Hall – Computing
Stephen Wilson/Christy Bannister – Engineering
If the above don’t include your course, then contact your faculty helpdesk and they will be able to provide you with the correct Student Support Officer details.
