RDI offers a range of services and support to students to ensure their well-being. For a comprehensive checklist of things to consider before you travel, please click here. 

In Hong Kong

Health and Safety Policy

All staff and students of IBAM will be provided with appropriate information on health and safety risks via the Health and Safety Policy, which will be incorporated into their respective induction processes. The policy gives guidance on what should be done to ensure the safety of staff, students and visitors anywhere in the Midland Management Centre and on the recommended action in the case of an emergency such as an outbreak of fire. The policy is reviewed from time to time to ensure that its provisions cover all circumstances that may lead to accident or injury and it relates to relevant changes in legislation.

RDI also has detailed policy to cover the following areas of student welfare:

• Accident or illness
• Complaints
• Personal property
• Classroom Regulations
• Noise
• Personal Property
• Drugs
• First Aid
• Student Mail

Bank Accounts
Plan ahead!
You will need to open a bank account in the Hong Kong. It is a good idea to plan ahead to try to facilitate this. Before leaving home, check to see if you can open an account with a bank that has branches in Hong Kong.
The main high street banks in Hong Kong are HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of China, Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of East Asia.

Alternatively check to see whether your existing bank or any other bank in your home country has any links with Hong Kong banks.

You should ensure that you bring with you evidence of your home/non-UK address.

Deciding which Bank
There are many banks in Coventry that can provide bank accounts to International Students. Consider:
• How easy it is for you to get to the bank
• The services the bank offer and the charges they make
• What arrangements there are for transferring money from your home country and the cost

Opening a Bank Account
Opening an account can take anything from a few days to a few weeks so it is important to start the process as early as possible and make sure you have all appropriate documentation, as well as sufficient funds to support yourself with while your account is being opened.

Usually you need to take your passport, a letter from the University/RDI IBAM confirming you are a student and something to confirm your address in Hong Kong (e.g. a contract for your accommodation or utility bill). The bank may ask you for information about your bank account in your home country.

Most banks offer only basic banking facilities, usually: a bank card, for withdrawing cash from an ATM (automated cash dispenser), free monthly statements of your banking transactions and interest on the balance held in your account.

Changing Currency
1 HK Dollar (HK$) equals to 100 cents (c). There are coins for values of 10c, 20c, 50c, HK$1, HK$2, HK$5, HK$10 and notes worth HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100, HK$500 and HK$1,000.

Travellers’ cheques and your own national currency may be converted to Hong Kong Dollar at a high street bank or at the airport. If you intend to bring a small amount of cash with you in your home currency, please check before travelling that it can be exchanged in Hong Kong.

Most banks are open at least from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning.

Safety
You should feel secure in your surroundings and be perfectly safe to go anywhere in daylight. At night use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings and be sure to take normal precautions.

Emergency Services
Dial 999 and specify which service you require, either:
• Police
• Ambulance, or
• Fire Service

Learning Resources

Use of the Library
All students may borrow books from the RDI Library on production of their ID card. ID cards will be issued to all students during registration. If you are studying a course accredited by one of RDI’s University partners, as a student of the University you will also be provided with access to the facilities of the University’s library and electronic resources.

Other Resources Available
• Set course texts
• Access to online journals and databases 
• A small number of PCs
• Wifi internet connection
• Prospectuses
• Directories and dictionaries
• Study area

Further information about the resources available and advice on how to use them is available from your Programme Co-ordinator or your Learning Resources Advisor.

All staff and students of IBAM will be provided with appropriate information on health and safety risks via the Health and Safety Policy, which will be incorporated into their respective induction processes. The policy gives guidance on what should be done to ensure the safety of staff, students and visitors anywhere in the Midland Management Centre and on the recommended action in the case of an emergency such as an outbreak of fire. The policy is reviewed from time to time to ensure that its provisions cover all circumstances that may lead to accident or injury and it relates to relevant changes in legislation.

RDI also has detailed policy to cover the following areas of student welfare:

• Accident or illness
• Complaints
• Personal property
• Classroom Regulations
• Noise
• Personal Property
• Drugs
• First Aid
• Student Mail

Please download the Student Handbook here for more detailed information.

Health

Registering with a NHS Doctor for General Medical Treatment
Provided that you are registered on a course lasting longer than 6 months, you are able to receive free National Health Service (NHS) treatment from a local doctor if you register as an NHS patient.

Register with a doctor in your locality as soon as possible after arriving in the UK. Do not wait until you are ill. You can register with any doctor close to where you live. Names and addresses of doctors (also known as General Practitioners or “GPs” in the UK) who give NHS treatment may be found in the telephone publication called ‘Yellow Pages’ or can be obtained at a post office.

If the doctor prescribes medicine, you will have to pay the standard prescription charge for each item.

Dental Treatment

You must be registered with a doctor to get NHS dental treatment. It is not necessary to register with a dentist, but if you are registered with a doctor for treatment, find a dentist practising in the National Health Service and, when you make an appointment, ask if treatment under the NHS is possible. You must give your NHS number.

Hospital Treatment
Unless you come from a country with which the UK has a reciprocal health agreement, you will not be entitled to receive free hospital treatment until you have been in the UK for at least 6 months. You are, therefore, advised to take out medical insurance.

Eye Treatment
You will have to pay a charge for an eye-test on the NHS unless you are a full-time student under 19. If you need glasses, the optician (eye doctor) will give you a prescription. The cost of glasses varies so check with two or three opticians before buying.

For emergency medical advice 24 hours a day phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647

Bank Accounts

Plan ahead!
You will need to open a bank account in the UK. It is a good idea to plan ahead to try to facilitate this. Before leaving home, check to see if you can open an account with a bank that has branches in the UK.

The main high street banks in the UK are Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB and Natwest.

Alternatively check to see whether your existing bank or any other bank in your home country has any links with UK banks.

You should ensure that you bring with you evidence of your home/non-UK address.

Deciding which Bank
There are many banks in Coventry that can provide bank accounts to International Students. Consider:

• How easy it is for you to get to the bank
• The services the bank offer and the charges they make
• What arrangements there are for transferring money from your home country and the cost

Opening a Bank Account

Opening an account can take anything from a few days to a few weeks so it is important to start the process as early as possible and make sure you have all appropriate documentation, as well as sufficient funds to support yourself with while your account is being opened.

Usually you need to take your passport, a letter from the University/RDI confirming you are a student and something to confirm your address in the UK (e.g. a contract for your accommodation or utility bill). The bank may ask you for information about your bank account in your home country.

Most banks offer only basic banking facilities, usually: a bank card, for withdrawing cash from an ATM (automated cash dispenser), free monthly statements of your banking transactions and interest on the balance held in your account.

For further information and advise see the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UK CISA) website: http://www.ukcosa.org.uk.

Changing Currency

The pound sterling is divided into one hundred pence (100p). There are coins for values of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2 and notes worth £5, £10, £20 and £50.

Travellers’ cheques and your own national currency may be converted to sterling at a high street bank or at the airport. If you intend to bring a small amount of cash with you in your home currency, please check before travelling that it can be exchanged in the UK.

Most banks are open at least from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday and major branches are also open on a Saturday morning.

Council Tax

Council Tax is set on property (houses / flats) and the number of adults who live in them and is a way for local authorities to get money for the services they provide, such as libraries, the police and the fire services. There is one bill for each property.

International Students and Full-time students may be exempt from paying Council Tax. For further information, please consult the UK CISA leaflet entitled “Council Tax and International Students”.

Safety

You should feel secure in your surroundings and be perfectly safe to go anywhere in daylight. At night use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings and be sure to take normal precautions.

Emergency Services

Dial 999 and specify which service you require, either:

• Police
• Ambulance, or
• Fire Service

College Emergency number: 07968 746401

Transport

In almost every corner of Coventry there is a bus coming by usually every 15 minutes. As a student you can get a bus pass, which is proven to be a good investment if you use the bus a lot. RDI is on a main bus route and wherever you live you will find no problem in commuting.

There is also the option to take a taxi although this is a more expensive alternative and is recommended for short journeys only! For national travel, it is quicker to use the train and cheaper to use the bus. The choice is yours.

Some telephone numbers that should be useful:

Bus / Rail Enquiries Telephone Numbers

• Local Bus Information (Centro Hotline) 024 7655 9559
• Local Bus Information (Travel West Midlands Hotline) 0870 6082608
• National Bus Information (National Express Hotline) 0870 5808080
• National Bus Information (Flightlink Hotline) 0870 5757747
• General Train Enquiries 0845 7484950
• Train Ticket Bookings (Virgin Trains Hotline) 0845 7222333

Learning Resources

Library Resource Room
Located within RDI’s Midland Management Centre there is a library resource room that you can use for research and study. The room is currently equipped with a number of computers and docking stations for your laptop with wifi connectivity. Other rooms may be available to you for group discussions and syndicate work.

Use of the Library
All students may borrow books from the RDI Library on production of their ID card. ID cards will be issued to all students during registration. If you are studying a course accredited by one of RDI’s University partners, as a student of the University you will also be provided with access to the facilities of the University’s library and electronic resources.

Other Resources Available

• Set course texts
• Access to online journals and databases (e.g. EBSCO Business Source Elite)
• A small number of PCs
• Wifi internet connection
• Laptop docking stations
• Television and video
• Prospectuses
• Directories and dictionaries
• Study area
• Photocopier

Further information about the resources available and advice on how to use them is available from your Programme Co-ordinator or your Learning Resources Advisor.

Private Study

Students may undertake private study in the library where there are rooms provided for this purpose. Alternatively, classrooms may be available when not in use for lecturers. Please see the Registrar if you wish to find out which room(s) you can use.

Useful Checklists

Checklist for your place of study

1)    Have you read and understood IBAM’s schedule of fees?       
2)    Have you secured your accommodation?       
3)    Have your received information on how to get to accommodation from the airport – and how much it will cost?      
4)    Do you know exactly when and where you’re supposed to arrive?       
5)    Do you have a contact number of someone you can call at RDI if you have any problems?       
6)    Do you have a contact person and meeting point when you arrive in Coventry?       
7)    Have you planned you journey from the point of entry to your final destination?       

Checklist for you place of journey

1)    Have you bought travel tickets and insurance?       
2)    Have you made all the necessary arrangements for your family if they are coming with you?       
3)    Have you ordered Hong Kong/British currency & travellers cheques for your immediate arrival expenses?       
4)    Have you checked whether you need permission to transfer money to the Hong Kong/UK?       
5)    Have you checked if your government has restrictions on the amount of money you can take out of your country?       
6)    Have you taken out personal insurance?       
7)    Have you checked what you must declare at customs?       
8)    Do you have the correct visa to enter the Hong Kong/UK?       
9)    Have you weighed your baggage to check it is within the allowance and clearly labelled as your luggage?