Helping you feel right at home
Studying abroad can be exciting and daunting in equal measures. Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) aims to make all students feel at home as soon as possible. From assistance with finance and immigration to making friends and meeting people, we'll do our best to help you in any way we can.
British Life & Culture
Lifestyles and culture in the UK can seem strange, so we've compiled a little guide to British life some of the more common aspects to help you settle into living and studying here.
RUSU works in partnership with the University to welcome new students arriving at the University from Friday 30th September 2011.
Arrival
Current students will meet you at the train station and assist with your transfer to the University Campus. Once at the University you will need to register at the Carrington Building, after which you are welcome to visit the Students’ Union. The Students' Union will be open during the weekend and offers a great opportunity to eat, relax, shop and start meeting other students, both from the UK and from overseas.
Events & Activities
Walking tours of Whiteknights Campus and Reading Town Centre will also be available during the weekend to help you find your bearings and social events have been organised which are a fantastic way to meet other international students as well as some UK Students. Visit the Welcome Programme 2011 events page for full details of all the activities taking place.
Your Students Officers
RUSU's Student Officer Team are also very eager to meet you and will be on hand during the welcome programme to help with any issues you may have. Find out more about your current Student Officers and their responsibilities.
Need help?
If you have any questions or are worried about anything, please do not hesitate to contact us or come and speak to a member of our Student Advice team, who are located in the Students' Union building.
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Sports, Societies & Representation Groups
There are many ways to meet like minded people at university and one of the most common is to get involved with sports, societies and representation groups. Each group is run by students who organise regular events specifically for their members. Getting involved with student activities is another great way to develop new skills and broaden your university experience.
Sport
Sport is an international language and a fun way to meet new people. Popular sports in England include football (soccer), cricket, hockey (field), rugby and tennis but RUSU also runs many other competitive and recreational sports. Visit the RUSU sport pages for more information. If you’re interested in joining a sport but have some questions make sure you come along to Freshers' Fayre on Thursday 7th October, where you can meet members of sports clubs you're interested in.
Societies
Societies are another great way to make friends and gain new experiences. There is the Afro Caribbean Society, Cyprus Society, Jewish, Latin American, Muslim and Malaysian, Bruneian & Singaporean Societies... just to name a few of the many societies at RUSU that unite and support students from similar backgrounds as well as raising awareness of other cultures. To view the full list, visit the RUSU societies pages, for details. Come along to the first day of Freshers' Fayre, on Wednesday 6th October where you can meet members of the societies that interest you.
Lib & Rep Groups
That brings us to liberation & representation (Lib & Rep) groups. These are also student-led groups who work to support under-represented members of the campus community. A full list of these groups and more information about each can be found on the Lib & Rep Group homepage. Of particular interest to International Students might be the International Students at Reading University (ISRU) Group, who often work in conjunction with societies to offer a range of inclusive activities for all students. They also provide a voice for International Students and campaign on their behalf.
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RUSU's Student Advice service supports all students with academic, housing, and money issues as well as providing immigration advice for International Students. To find out more about the Student Advice Service, visit the RUSU Student Advice pages.
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