The international
student experience
QMU has a growing
and vibrant
international
community which is
sure to enrich your
student experience.
Our friendly international team
welcomes you
We recognise that studying in a different
country is often a completely new
experience for international students and
we are keen to ensure that we make your
transition to living and studying in a new
country as easy, informative and
welcoming as possible.
Our International Office staff will be your
first point of contact at QMU if you are
interested in studying with us here in
Scotland’s capital city. You can meet the
team at numerous events which they
attend overseas each year, or chat with
them through Skype, phone or email. The
team members are approachable and
responsive and want to ensure that you
have all the information you need before
you move to Scotland.
For more information on events that our
International Office team will be attending
during the forthcoming months, please
visit our website at www.qmu.ac.uk/
study-here/international-students/
Orientation programme and social events
Before joining us, you will receive our
pre-arrival guide. This is designed to
answer any questions you may have prior
to departure and also prepares you for
your journey to QMU. To help ease you
into student life and help you become
familiar with your surroundings, we host a
comprehensive international students’
induction programme prior to your course
start date. This will include information on
settling in and what you can expect
during the year ahead, as well as an
opportunity to meet some of your fellow
students. We organise a tour of the city
of Edinburgh, which is very useful and
always great fun. To help you make
friends and enhance your student
experience, we also organise a
programme of social events throughout
the year. We recognise that studying in a
different country may be a totally new
experience for our international students.
We hold drop-in sessions throughout the
year to ensure that you have access to all
the information you need to make your
time at QMU enjoyable and successful.
Accommodation
Staying on campus is a great way to
meet people and make new friends
quickly. It also means that the teaching,
learning, support and leisure facilities at
QMU are easily accessible to you. We
would recommend that you apply for a
place in our accommodation as soon as
possible. For more information on
accommodation, see pages 34-35.
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Visa and immigration advice
As an international student, depending
on the country that you come from, you
may require a UK Tier 4 Student Visa to
study with us. The University can provide
you with advice, support and guidance
before applying for your student visa, as
well as answering any questions that you
may have during your studies. We can
also provide guidance on extending your
student visa if required and on the
options if you wish to work in the UK
upon completion of your studies. The
Scottish Government also has a website
offering advice to students studying in
Scotland - visit www.talentscotland.com
Employment while you study
If you require a UK Tier 4 Student Visa to
study with us, you will normally be
allowed to work for up to 20 hours a
week during term time and full-time
during holiday periods. We advise you to
refer to any restrictions stated in your
passport or visa documentation and
check that the employment meets your
visa criteria.