News

If you are applying for financial support after the deadlines in May and June, you should have access to at least some financial support (basic Maintenance Loan and Tuition Fee Loan) shortly after you enrol on your course.

If you applied late, you are likely to be given an initial assessment, with your application being fully assessed as soon as possible afterwards. You still need to send in the evidence they require as proof of household income.

Racism and homophobia should not happen, but it still does. Nobody should suffer because of who they are and nobody should put up with it. You can do something about it.

If you, your family or friends are having problems because of your 'race' or skin colour, this is a racist incident.

If you, your family or friends are having problems because of your sexuality, this is homophobia.

Transphobic incidents are hate incidents against people who are or are perceived to be transgender.

Some types of these incidents, such as verbal abuse and threats are obvious. Other examples, such as damage to your property, bullying or rude gestures are harder to identify.

If you believe you have experienced a racist or homophobic incident, even if you have no proof, report it.

The Student Support and Wellbeing Service have recently become aware of a local student recruitment agency ‘Overseas Consultancy Agency’ who claim to be working on behalf of this University to recruit and advise international students about studying in the UK. This is not true. This Agency does not work for Northumbria University in recruiting students to study or providing Immigration advice on its behalf.

Students should be aware that any students using this agency or any other external agency for immigration advice do so at their own risk and expense, and we cannot guarantee to resolve any difficulties you may encounter from using the agency’s services.

(Please note that this announcement does not relate to employer recruitment agencies)

The Student Support and Wellbeing Service is regulated to provide immigration advice under the Office of the Immigration Commissioner (OISC) and further information on those regulated can be found on their website at: www.oisc.gov.uk     

If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Welfare & International team located in the Student Support and Wellbeing Centre.

As part of Northumbria's induction programme for new EU and international students on Saturday 18th September, a number of speakers gave information about life at Northumbria and living in Newcastle. If you were there or you missed the presentations on the day, you can view them again by clicking on each from the list below:

Welcome to new students from the Welfare & International Support team

Living, shopping and socialising in Newcastle

Welcome to Northumbria Students' Union

Sport with Team Northumbria

Erasmus scheme at Northumbria

HSBC Bank - opening a bank account

Apply as soon as possible for your financial support for 2011/12 online at Student Finance England if you haven't already . Remember that undergraduate tuition fees in 2011/12 are £3,375.

You can now change or update details relating to your course, institution and loan amounts online. This means students no longer need to complete a paper form detailing their changes. You can make changes at any time – you don’t need to wait.

You can access your account online at: Student Finance England  (SFW or SFNI)

Student Finance England (SFE) have warned that students across England are at an increased risk of being targeted by scammers using ‘phishing’ emails at the start of term. 

Student are being urged to remain vigilant and not disclose any personal or bank details in response to email requests that look like they are from either Student Finance England or its parent company, the Student Loans Company. 

Student Finance England say “Scammers exploit the increased contact from the Company at the start of term, and some students may fall victim to an email request that looks to be from Student Finance England or the Student Loans Company asking for confirmation of bank details. 

“However, we will never ask students to confirm their bank details via email. If they do receive such a request, they should forward it on to us to investigate.   

Top five ‘scam email’ tips:  

1. Be aware:Phishing scams are common at the three main instalment payment dates in September, January and April. Remember: Student Loans Company/Student Finance England will never ask you to confirm your bank details via email and remember: you won’t get paid until you register and attend university and allow 2-3 working days for your payment through the BACS system.

2. Contact us:If you receive an email which you believe to be a phishing email from the Student Loans Company or Student Finance England, email: security@slc.co.uk. Note that we won’t respond to emails sent to this address.

3. Prevention:Your email details may have been taken from a social networking site so avoid disclosing your email address or hide them on your page.

4. Stay calm:Anyone who has already given their details should stay calm but should change their account password as soon as possible and contact our security team.

5. Further info:Students requiring further advice on using online services safely should visit the online security page at: www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or www.getsafeonline.org.