Welcome to your Bloomsbury Institute community. Studying for a degree is a life-changing experience, and we are so excited to be on this journey with you.
Hello!
Induction
Your induction includes fun activities led by our current students and provides you with key information you will need to get the most out of your time studying with us.
Induction activities hosted by SEWS take place during the week before your classes start, the Academic administration team will be in touch to invite you along to them. In the meantime, you can take our online induction course to find out more about us.
Enrolment
Enrolment is the process you need to complete in order to become an official Bloomsbury Institute student. All new students will receive an invite with a specific date and time of when their enrolment is taking place, so please keep an eye on your inbox.
It’s natural to feel nervous about starting studies but we never want you to feel overwhelmed. Our short online resources are designed to help you to come to grips with some of the terminology and resources used in higher education.
You can find more introductory materials, including your syllabus, information about SEWS services and your Student Handbook in the Induction course on Canvas, our virtual learning environment. You can access Canvas once you have enrolled.
Transition to Higher Education course
What is a lecture? How is it different to a seminar? How do modules work?
Higher education is full of unique terms and phrases that you may not be familiar with. The Transition to Higher Education course aims to explain some of the more common terminologies used in higher education and help you to find out what studying at Bloomsbury Institute will be like. You are encouraged to complete as much of the course as you feel helpful.
Digital Skills course
You’ll use Canvas a lot as a student, so it’s definitely worth getting to know it early! Canvas is our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This platform is used by staff and students to support you throughout your modules and courses. You can access it here on the web, or through the Canvas mobile app once you have enrolled.
You can take part in our Digital Skills course to get to grips with the digital programmes and skills you’ll need throughout your studies.
Housing
Do you know where you’re going to live whilst studing? We do not provide accomodation but we can help you to secure a home. Please see our accomodation page for more information.
Registering with a doctor's surgery
You’ll need to register with a GP’s surgery so that your medical support can be provided.
Register to vote
If you are relocating to London to study with us, please do remember to join your local Electoral Register. To be eligible to vote in UK elections you must be one of the following:
- a UK or Irish citizen
- a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
- or an EU citizen living in the UK
and aged 18 or over.
Electoral Registers are managed by local authorities, so if you are already on an Electoral Register elsewhere in the UK, you must join your new local authority’s Electoral Register in order to vote in it. Students can be on multiple Electoral Registers but must only vote in one.
Arrive early if you can
By arriving early, you will give yourself time to settle in London and make the most of your time here.
Accommodation
While we do not provide accommodation as an Institution, there are many places around London where you can stay for the academic years you will be studying with us.
How to get from the airport
One thing to ensure is that when you are coming to the UK you know how to get from the airport into Central London. Transport for London (TfL) manages public transport in London, you can use their Journey Planner to plan your way around.
Students can also pay a concessionary fare on TfL services, see the FAQs section below for more information about how to receive a student Oyster card.
eVisa
Get access to your online immigration status (eVisa)
An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status in the UK. Your immigration status, the conditions of the type of permission you have to enter in the UK. To get access to your eVisa you need to create a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account at https://www.gov.uk/get-access-evisa
Accessing NHS services
You are entitled to register with a local General Practitioner (GP) for medical check-ups and consultations on the NHS. NHS services are free, but you will need to pay for prescriptions from the doctor and other specialist services. To register with a GP practice, you will need a letter proving your enrolment as a student, which you can request through SSP.
Bank Account
You may wish to open a bank account for the duration of your course. You can do this by submitting a request on your Student Self-service Portal (SSP) for a bank letter. Please clearly state in the request that the letter is required to open a bank account and write the name of the bank you wish to open an account with. It can take up to 5 working days for letters to be issued at the beginning of the academic year, so please ensure that you have sufficient funds to use until you open a bank account.
Mobile phones
You have plenty of choices when it comes to phones. You can choose from either a prepaid SIM card or a phone contract. If your phone is unlocked and operates on the GSM network, then you’ll have the freedom to choose any network provider in the UK. There are many network providers to choose from so it is advisable to undertake some research online or visit a mobile phone shop to discuss your options.
Work rights
Students who come to study in the UK might also think about gaining some work experience or supporting themselves financially by working during their studies. International Students with a Student Visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during the holiday period.
It is important to be aware of your work rights in the UK.
If you are working in the UK and are:
- Being treated unfairly
- Not being paid properly- this includes National Minimum Wage and Holiday Pay
- Not being allowed time off, or proper breaks
- Not being provided with appropriate equipment to do your job
- Being transported in unsafe vehicles
- Being threatened with or subjected to violence.
- Receiving little or no payment for work
You need to come and speak to a member of the Student Engagement, Wellbeing & Success Team (SEWS).
We are committed to protecting our students from labour exploitation. You can read more about your rights as a worker on the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Auhority (GLAA)’s website.
Apply for a National Insurance number
You’ll need a National Insurance (NI) number to work in the UK. Once you have applied for an NI Number, you will receive a reference number immediately. It can take up to 4 weeks to be issued with a permanent NI number through the post but you can use the reference number until the permanent NI number is issued.
Frequently asked questions
Current and alumni students may obtain a statement of student status letter to confirm their BIL registration, you can request a statement of student status by logging into SSP.
Before you start chasing up your loan, it’s a good idea to check that your application has gone through properly. You can do this by logging in to your Student Loans Company account. You can also download copies of any letters you have been sent.
Payment is released automatically when your confirmation of attendance is received. It usually clears in your bank account within three to five working days.
Students can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard from the TfL website. The registration fee is £25 (non-refundable).
If you lose the card you would need to report this to academic administrators for a replacement and pay a fee of £10 for a new one. You can contact them via  academic.admin@bil.ac.uk
You can access your academic timetable via the TermTime portal.
Please submit an SSP request if you have any questions about your schedule or any teaching related matters.
There are a number of services at Bloomsbury Institute that are here to support you as a new student and throughout your studies including:
Contact the Student Engagement and Wellbeing Success (SEWS) team via sews@bil.ac.uk or call them on 020 7078 8840.
The SEWS Team operate with an open-door policy, so there will always be someone available for you to have a chat with.
Contact Dr Nadia Michail , our Disability & Wellbeing manager, via disability@bil.ac.uk or call her on 020 7078 8796.
All these student services that Bloomsbury institute has to offer can be found right here
The Let’s Grow programme provides a variety of support services. Reach out to the Let’s Grow team for assistance with job applications, internships, placements, and CV writing. The programme also helps you explore what success means to you. Additionally, international students can access tailored support through Student Circus. For more information, contact employability@bil.ac.uk