Pre Arrival Information Welcome to DCU Pre Arrival Information

14 Pages·2014·1.74 MB·English

Pre Arrival Information

Welcome to DCU
Pre Arrival Information
&
Orientation September 2014

International Office
Dublin City University
Tel: 00353 (1)7007411

E-mail: [email protected]
Web address: http://www.dcu.ie/international/
International Student Handbook
Pre arrival International Student Hand book
Accepting your Offer

Accepting your offer and the Keys steps to take!

 Accept your offer either on PAC for masters students Undergraduate students
should complete the Offer acceptance form.
 Notify the International Office that you have accepted your place.
 Ensure that your funding for the year is in place
 Arrange payment of tuition fees, please see our easy to use International
Student Payment System
 Purchase your Health insurance
 Arrange for your Visa if you require one
 Accommodation application
 Arrange your flights
 Arrangements for payment of accommodation
 Confirm Airport pick up service/getting to DCU
 Travellers cheques/Money for initial arrival period
 Arrangements for money transfers to the Ireland

On Arrival
If you come from outside the EU/EEA you will be requested to complete a landing
card with your personal details. You will need to hand this in to the Immigration
Officer at Passport Control in Dublin Airport. You may also be asked for the
following documents which we advise you to have in your hand luggage so they
can be checked quickly and easily.

Important Documents for Non-EU Students to bring:
 Passport
 Entry Visa (if applicable)
 Evidence of Private Health Insurance
 Acceptance letter from the Registry in DCU
 Letter from DCU, stating that you have paid your fees in full

Important Documents for EU/EEA Students to bring:
1. Passport
2. European Health Insurance Card
3. Acceptance letter from the Registry in DCU
The Next Steps
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How to Pay your Fees

Programme Cost and Times for payment (click here)

Contact Details for Finance Office in Dublin City : All matters relating to programme fees are dealt with by the
Finance Office. Email: [email protected]
Telephone: [phone] (International Dial: 00-3531)
Fax Number: 01-7005357
Postal address: Dublin City University, Student Fees Office, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9

International Student Payment System (How to make your payment to DCU from your home country)
PaytoStudy is a service which offers you the opportunity to pay your tuition fees directly from your home
country reducing your international transfer costs and ensuring the university receives the fee payment quickly in
order to issue you with your Visa support letter. If you would like to discuss this with us further please do not
hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

STEP 1
Please visit International Student Payments to register your details online with PaytoStudy.
Here you will receive your payment instructions regarding how to pay your fees.
STEP 2
This website allows you or your parents/relatives to make a payment from your home country to DCU.
Please follow the online instructions. The website will automatically provide you with the total amount to pay and
will provide you with the bank details in your home country into which the bank transfer should be made.
STEP 3
Please note the reference number for making your payment. Please make your payment using this reference
number to the bank account indicated.
If your parents/relatives are making the bank transfer please provide them with the bank details, the total amount
to pay and the reference number for the payment.
STEP 4
Please email your payment receipt to [email protected]. Your payment will immediately issued to DCU and
you will receive an emailing confirming that the payment has been made on your behalf to DCU.

Other Payment Methods
In order to effect speedy and efficient payment to the student account, please quote with all submissions your
1. ID number,
2. programme/course to which you are applying
3. full surname and first name.
4. Please also ensure you keep a receipt of payment, which will state your RP number, which you will be required
to produce at registration.
You can effect payment with one of the following methods

1. CREDIT CARD: All credit cards/laser cards, except American Express, are acceptable please note however a
daily limit of €1,500 applies to all LASER CARDS only.

2. BANK DRAFT
Drafts should be drawn on an Irish Bank to ensure that additional charges [incurred only if the
Draft is drawn on a foreign bank and which can amount to a maximum of €60] are not incurred.

BANK PAYMENT/TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER,
Allied Irish Bank Plc, Swords Road, Santry Dublin 9
Bank Sort Code: 93-22-21
Account Number: 43170288 (DCU)
Bank Swift Code: AIBKIE2D
IBAN: IE12 AIBK 9322 2143 170288
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Health Insurance

All students coming to Ireland must be covered by valid health insurance for the duration of their stay.

Students from EU Member States
Students from EU Member States should apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in their own country
before travelling to Ireland. This card will grant students the same access to Irish medical services as is the case
for Irish citizens. Please keep in mind that the Irish health care system might differ from the health care system in
your own country, and you may be liable for certain payments you would not be expected to cover at home.
Students may also choose additional private cover, though this is not a requirement.

Students from outside the EU
Students from outside the EU are required to have private health insurance in place prior to entering Ireland.
Students may arrange private health insurance in their own country or through an Irish health insurance
company. We would advise all students to review existing schemes offered in their own country for suitability. If
this is not an option, please see details of an arrangement DCU has negotiated below.

1. The insurance system is operated by an insurance broker called O'Driscoll O'Neill in Ireland on behalf of
Medicover. Medicover Medical Expenses Insurance costs €120 for Third level students, which is good
value. The policy is underwritten by ACE Europe.
2. The company can send you an insurance certificate once you pay the amount of €120 by credit card. You
must have a valid Mastercard or Visa to operate this system.
3. Click on: http://www.odon.ie/dcu/
4. Please choose Dublin City University (DCU) on the drop down menu.
5. Make sure you provide your correct email address as your certificate will be sent to this.
6. Make your payment by credit card and you will receive the certificate shortly which you can then submit
to the Visa Office (for visa requiring countries) and retain for evidence with immigration authorities on
arrival in Ireland.

Please note that while DCU has negotiated this arrangement for its students, the University does not accept
responsibility for the purchase of health insurance on behalf of a student. Students are advised to read the
information carefully to allow them make an informed choice and to contact the company directly should any
queries arise.

Health Services on Campus
The DCU Student Health Service has prepared a guide to the Irish Health Service for international students. To
find out more about the health service on campus, click here

Emergency Service
The student health service only operates during working hours and does not provide full 24-hour cover. Students
are advised to register with a general practitioner (GP) on arrival, who is entitled to charge you if you do not have
a European Health Insurance card.
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Applying for a Visa
Visas

You do not require an entry visa for Ireland if you are a EU citizen. However, you should bring with you your letter
of confirmation of a place at DCU and some proof that you have sufficient financial resources for your stay.
If you are not an EU citizen, the situation varies, so please contact your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate to find
out whether or not you require an entry visa or you may enquire from the Department of Foreign Affairs at the
address provided below. The Department also provides a list of countries whose citizens require visas for Ireland.
To check if you require a Visa to enter Ireland, please view the following links on the Department Of Justice &
Equality
Visa Section, Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 13/14 Burgh QuayDublin 2
Website: www.inis.gov.ie
Telephone (within Ireland): Lo-call 1890 551 500
Telephone (from outside Ireland): + 353 1 6167700
Email: [email protected]

Do I need an Irish Visa?
A - The "Ireland Visa Requirements" document consists of three lists – Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedule 3.
Schedule 1 lists those countries whose nationals do not require a visa to enter Ireland.
Schedule 2 refers to Visa waiver programme countries.
Schedule 3 refers to Transit Visas. Nationals of all countries listed in Schedule 3 require a visa to transit through
Ireland.
Schedules 1, 2 and 3 can be found in S.I. No. 345 of 2011. Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (No. 2) Order 2011

Applicants are asked to supply the following information when applying for a visa to their local Irish Embassies:
 Valid passport number
 Date of issue and expiry of passport
 Date, place and mode of arrival in Ireland
 Letter from the University indicating that you have been offered a place in DCU
 Letter from University indicating that the fees have been paid in full
 Evidence of sufficient funds to cover living and other expenses for the proposed stay
 Recent passport photographs
 Visa application fee (non-refundable)
 Proof of medical insurance
 In some cases proof of English, such as an IELTS or TOEFL certificate is required
Unfortunately the University has no control or influence over visa issues but will advise where possible. After you
have been granted a Visa to enter Ireland, please view this page on the Departments website regarding entering
Ireland
These documents should be sent to your local Irish Embassy. Visa applications can take between 2 and 8 months
to process, so it is advisable to secure a place early at the University, in order to avoid disappointment.
Unfortunately the University has no control or influence over visa issues but will advise where possible. After you
have been granted a Visa to enter Ireland, please view this page on the Departments website regarding entering
Ireland
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Immigration/Permission to Remain
Permission to remain in the state

GNIB Registration
All Students from a Non EU member state are required to obtain a registration of Permission to remain in the
states, this includes applicants that may not have been required to obtain an Entry Visa to Ireland.

Fee for Certificate of Registration

27 May 2006, the Irish government introduced a new fee of €300 for Certificates of Registration, which all
students from non-EU / non-EEA countries are required to pay when applying for Permission to remain in the
State based on their full-time student status. All non-EU / non-EEA students must register with their local GNIB
Office within 7 days of arrival into the State. Your local GNIB Office is the one closest to your address in Ireland.
An information leaflet can be downloaded from: http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=31. Please note that
on arrival, your passport will be stamped for up to 3 months, although in most cases the stamp only covers
students for four weeks. You are then required to register with the GNIB within four weeks.

An immigration certificate of registration is a document that is issued to a non-EEA national who registers with
his/her local immigration registration officer. The credit-card sized document is issued by the Garda National
Immigration Bureau and includes the person’s photo, residency details and date of expiry. At present, legally
resident non-EEA nationals who have entered the State with the intention of residing in Ireland for a period of
more than three months must register with their local immigration registration officers.

The fee is paid at the time of registration with your local immigration registration officer and you will receive more
detailed information on this process during Orientation.
Immigration
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Future Students

Dear Future Student of DCU,

Preparations for your study period in Dublin will now be well underway and we hope you will have a safe journey
to Ireland. At this stage, you are probably beginning to look at the practical issues surrounding your time at DCU.
Please find below some pre-arrival information to assist you with your preparations and your first days in Dublin
prior to the beginning of your studies at DCU.

Your DCU Student ID Number
Your 8-digit DCU Student ID Number was indicated on the top of your Offer Letter. Please familiarise yourself with
this number as you will need it at Registration and throughout your student life at DCU.

Accommodation
Finding suitable accommodation in a foreign country can sometimes be difficult and we would recommend that
you organise this as soon as you have been made an offer to study at DCU.

You first need to decide on whether you would like to live on or off campus. Each student will have his/her own
preference and both forms of accommodation have advantages and disadvantages.
In terms of cost, a single room on or off-campus will be approximately the same. Sharing a room with other
students is usually less expensive.

We often find that students studying for one year (on a postgraduate programme or a Study Abroad programme)
prefer to book on-campus accommodation; students coming into the first year of a three or four year programme,
tend to live on-campus for the first year and then explore possibilities of moving off-campus with friends.

The following details the possibilities of both on- and off-campus accommodation.

On Campus Accommodation
DCU’s Accommodation Office will assist students in choosing the most suitable type of on-campus accommodation
for their period of study in Ireland. The on-campus accommodation facilities provide options ranging from standard
accommodation to more luxurious. Full details are available at: http://www.dcu.ie/accommodation
Please contact the staff at Campus Accommodation Ltd and they will assist you further. Please note that on-
campus accommodation cannot be booked until you have been made an offer to study at DCU.

Off Campus Accommodation
There is plenty of accommodation available in the vicinity of DCU. Students can choose from private student
apartments, renting a house with fellow-students or living with a family. Please remember that you should allow
yourself ample time to search for a suitable accommodation type to meet your needs (2 weeks should suffice).

The following websites may be of assistance:
http://www.daft.ie (recommended by students – all types of accommodation available)
http://shanowensquare.com (e-mail: [email protected]) (student apartments)

When you arrive at DCU, you will also find notices displayed around the University providing information about
properties to rent in the vicinity of the University. The ‘Evening Herald’ newspaper also has a substantial rental
section, which may be of assistance. Please note that these are private landlords and DCU cannot guarantee the
suitability of any accommodation off-campus. You can also display your own notice on The ‘International Office
Message Board’ if you would like to find other students to share accommodation. The following list of hostels,
guesthouses and B&Bs may be of use if you need temporary accommodation when you arrive in Ireland.

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Short-term Accommodation
Hostels & Bed & Breakfasts
Guesthouses
Hostels Abbey Court

29 Bachelors Walk
Almanii B&B
Dublin 1
217 Swords Road,
Tel: [phone]
Whitehall,
Fax: [phone]
Dublin 9.
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]
Website: www.abbey-court.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.almanii.com
Avalon House
55 Aungier Street EGAN’S HOUSE
Dublin 2 7-9 Iona Park Dublin 9
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.eganshouse.com
Website: www.avalon-house.ie

Dublin International Youth Hostel
If you have secured accommodation in the DCU
61Mountjoy Square
Residences, please keep in mind that the earliest official
Dublin 7
move in date is Sunday 14th of September from around
Tel: [phone]
lunch time. If you have different flight options, you are
Fax: [phone]
advised to book a flight which arrives later in the day
email: [email protected]
rather than early in the morning as students arriving
Website: www.anoige.ie
early will need to wait for the office to open in a waiting

area. Likewise, if you arrive before Sunday 14th of
Barnacles
September , you may need to book a local hostel or
Temple Bar House
B&B until you can move into your room on campus.
19 Temple Lane South
The following websites are good for finding short-term
Dublin 2
accommodation in Dublin:
Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]
www.daft.ie (look under Short-Term)
E-mail: [email protected]
www.dublintourist.com
Website: www.barnacles.ie
www.goireland.com

Jacob’s Inn

21– 28 Talbot Place

Dublin 1

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.isaacs.ie

Isaac’s Hostel

2/5 Frenchman’s Lane

Dublin 1

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]
International Student Welcome Service
E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.isaacs.ie
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Arrival in Ireland
The International Student Welcome Service will operate on Sunday, 14th of September 2014. This service is
geared at all students arriving at Dublin airport on this day, and includes students with accommodation on campus
and students who have secured accommodation off-campus.

Student volunteers will be based at the airport from 7 am – 7pm to assist new arrivals with initial information and
in identifying the most suitable means of transport. Volunteers will also meet students arriving on campus to
provide practical information, such as identifying nearby shops, explaining the local bus system, how to travel to
the city centre, where to go out etc.

Airport Pickup Service

We are organising an airport pickup service for international students on Sunday, 14th of September 2014. This
pick-up service will only be available to students staying on campus or in the Shanowen Square / Hall apartment
complex which borders onto the DCU campus.

To avail of this service, students who have secured accommodation either on campus or at Shanowen Square /
Hall must ensure that accommodation is ready for move in on that date. Students staying elsewhere on the night
of 14th of September and students who arrive on a different date are advised to use public transport.

Airport Collection & Orientation Event Registration.

If you wish to be avail of our Airport collection Service and confirm your attendance for our Orientation Events
please complete our on-line airport collection and orientation event form (click here) , please sign up between
1st of March— 31st August 2014
Please note that Dublin airport has two terminals. We will be checking terminal details in preparation for the
pickup and you do not need to worry about this particular detail just yet.

Once you have submitted the form we will add you to our arrivals list and meet you at the airport on that day
between the hours of approximately 7.00am and 7.00pm. We will contact everyone wishing to avail of the service
again after 3 September with more details.

Arriving outside the scheduled Welcome Service Times
If you are arriving on any other date or outside the times during which our volunteers are at the airport, here is
some useful advice. The easiest way to get to DCU is by taxi, which will cost around €15-20 depending on the
number of people travelling and items of luggage.

You can also take a bus, but you will need to walk a considerable distance from the nearest bus stop to DCU.

If you need to get into the city centre from the airport, you can do so by bus. Use numbers 41 or 16A heading into
the city centre (always double check with the bus driver). Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus, but you need
exact change. We would recommend that you purchase a Dublin Bus “10 Journey Travel 90” smart card at the
airport as one of these cards allows you to travel for 90 minutes for approximately €1.90 (there are ten tickets in
one of these handy packs, and the total cost is approximately €21.50 - you can reuse the smart card until all 10
journey have been used up). You can also avail of Dublin Bus Airlink service, 747 or 767 from Dublin Airport to the
Dublin City Centre.

For details on Dublin Bus fares and regulations, please visit:
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Fare-Information/
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Orientation & Registration
The International Student Orientation will run parallel to the general DCU Orientation programme for new
students. The full preliminary schedule with details of the venues will be available on our website from the 1st
July 2014, http://www4.dcu.ie/international/orientation.shtml

Once you receive this schedule, you should carefully identify the sessions relevant to you as follows:

All Exchange Students and Study Abroad Programme Students must attend all relevant orientation sessions from
Monday until Thursday. The official Welcome Session begins on
Monday, 15th of September at 1.30 pm , Venue to be confirmed. The
venue will open at 1.00 pm and you are encouraged to arrive on time to
pick up your Information Welcome Pack at the entrance and settle into
your seat. Sessions begin at 1.30 pm sharp.

An Orientation for Postgraduate Students will be held on Friday, 19th
September 2014. The morning is specially designed for international
students and you will join local postgraduate students for further
sessions in the afternoon. Sessions begin sharp at 10 am. Full details will
be emailed to you in early September. You are also invited to join us for
a tourism presentation and a bus tour of Dublin on Thursday, 18th
September and a trip on Saturday, 20th September 2014.

Undergraduate Students should follow their class specific orientation as
outlined in the general DCU Orientation Programme scheduled for the
week from 15th –19th of September (this will be published on the DCU
website in early August and we will email you around that time). In
addition, the International Office invites you to a special session aimed at
undergraduate and postgraduate international students on Friday, 19th
of September 2014. Please arrive by 9.45, venue to be confirmed. The
session will begin at 10 am and you may leave at 1 pm.

Please complete the on-line airport collection and orientation event
form (click here) by the 31st August 2014

Registration/Programme Timetable
Student Registration for new students will take place as follows:

Exchange and Study Abroad Programme Students: registration will be
arranged as part of the orientation week. You will be advised of the
exact procedure during Orientation.

Registration
Postgraduate Students: DCU has an online registration process for all
undergraduate and postgraduate students. Details will be emailed to you by the
University in late August. Please remember that this process will be organised by the Registry. Please note that
some timetables may not be available until the week prior to the academic year. Information on how to access
timetables online will be provided during Orientation Week.

Access to Services before Registration
Prior to Orientation, there is nothing you can do academically. If you arrive early, you should use this time to get
to know Dublin and your surroundings as much as possible. The city has much to offer at all times of the year,
whereas the campus can be extremely quiet. Enjoy a few days and don’t worry about the academic part until the
Orientation days.

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