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Presenter: Welcome everybody. Are you all sitting comfortably? My name is David Price and this is our first meeting in a series of presentations called "Countdown to Departure". I know that you have just arrived here for your year-long course prior to going abroad, but it is certainly worth taking the time to consider ... to think about events that will take place a year, or almost a year, from now. I have handed out this useful guide to planning your time abroad. Please follow the suggested timetable closely. It is vital that you get each thing done on time. If you can get things done earlier than we suggest in the guide, that’s great, but certainly don’t leave them later than we recommend. If you do not get these things done on time, it could jeopardise your study abroad or at least delay it by a year.
    Now, we are currently one year from departure, so you should start applying for post-graduate programmes and scholarships immediately--if you haven’t already. Consult your tutors for further advice on these points. You should also calculate a rough estimate of your study and living expenses and consider how to pay for them. We’ll be looking at that in more detail during the next meeting. You should start arranging accommodation abroad as soon as you have accepted a place on a course. Arranging accommodation can be a rather bureaucratic procedure and can take a while. At the same time, ask the university about your options for paying your fees.
    The next point on your timetable is six months before you leave. At that point; you need to check your passport and, if you are going to need a new one, deal with that immediately. Remember that your passport might need to be valid for the whole of the period you intend to be abroad, but that you can often renew your passport at your embassy in the country where you are studying. In any ease, your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after you enter the country where you intend to study. It might seem unnecessary to get your passport in order so early before you go, but remember that you have to get your visa as well. You should do that around six months before leaving too. Bear in mind one final, simple, point. Make sure that your passport has a few empty pages left for visas and stamps.
    Two or three months before departure, you should ask your bank about the options for transferring money to the country you’ll be studying in and setting up a bank account there. You should also start looking at booking your flight to the country you’ll be studying in, in order to get the best rates. The cost of flights varies considerably from carrier to carrier, and even between different travel agencies, and depend a lot upon the time of year you are flying. Booking in advance can save you a considerable sum of money. When you book your flight, you should check with the airline or travel agent to find out what your baggage allowance is. At the same time look into booking your other travel within the country you’re going to from the airport where you will arrive. Don’t forget to buy travel insurance when you book any flights. Finally, still two or three months before departure, make sure that you have an unconditional letter of acceptance from the university you’re going to attend. This is vital as it facilitates entry clearance if into the country.
    Next, about one month before leaving, find out whether you will be entitled to receive free health treatment in the country you are going to and find out how much you will have to pay if not. Look into arranging health insurance if necessary. Also buy currency and travellers’ cheques to cover your first few weeks in the country. Watch the exchange rates and pick a good time, but do not leave it too late. If you are buying travellers’ cheques or a large amount of money or currency, your bank may need a while to arrange this. Another thing to do is to find out what you can take into the country and what items are prohibited. Finally, find out whether your home insurance-policy will cover your belongings while they are abroad. If not, arrange suitable insurance or look into the possibility of arranging a policy in the foreign country.
    The last point on this timetable is two weeks before you leave. At this time, you need to do two things. One is to ask your doctor to write a letter explaining any prescription medicines--what they are and why you are taking them. The second is to request a reference letter from your bank in your own country as this will help you to open a bank account abroad. Now, let’s take a closer look at ...