Welcome!

Hello and welcome back to Your Midwinter International News! Today we are highlighting support available over the festive break and lots of local warming activities to keep you entertained during the coldest days of the year. For those staying on campus or in Penryn over the next month, we've got plenty of suggestions below to keep you cosy during December. 

Don't forget to email us at internationalcornwall@exeter.ac.uk if you have any events or information you would like to share with your fellow students. We hope to see some of you at our upcoming Christmas Intercultural Café's (see the slide below), but otherwise have a very merry festive break and we'll see you in 2025!

Natalie Battelle & Rose Robinson

International Student Advisers, Cornwall

Staying on Campus over the Winter break?

On our Christmas in Cornwall page, you can find lots of useful information on what is happening on Penryn Campus over the holidays. Opening times for services like Student Support, the Compass Student Helpdesk, Penryn Info. point and library are all covered along with links to local events and activities on campus.  The SU also has a seasonal signposting page that offers blogs on wellbeing in the holidays and links to helpful information plus there is a winter on campus page with facility opening times including food and drink on campus.

Most Christmas events will be listed on the events on campus page but here are a few to look out for of you're keen to meet other students staying on campus over the break:

🎄The Intercultural Café Christmas Celebration on Wednesday 11 December 15:00-16:30 in the International Student Lounge in Tremough House. All are welcome so, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, come and try Christmas-themed snacks, drinks and decoration making, and chat about winter traditions from your culture.

🎄Meet and Mingle on Wednesday 18 December 15:00-16:30 in the Students’ Union, Penryn Campus. You can meet other students spending the Winter holidays on campus and enjoy free drinks and festive snacks.

🎄Christmas at the SU, Monday 23 December, 11:00-14:00 in the Students Union, Penryn Campus. You can join the SU for a cosy and festive afternoon of games, music and snacks. Find out more

There are Christmas events locally too. You can find out what’s on in Falmouth here and Truro Christmas events here. In particular, Falmouth has a Festive Weekend on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December which will include The Poly Christmas Market and free entry to the National Maritime Museum.

Wellbeing Support over the holidays

You can access support via Spectrum Life 24/7, they offer a helpline, online portal and specific treatments like counselling.

If you want to talk to the helpline or access talking therapies you can call/text:

Phone UK based:  0800 0318227 

International number: 00353 1 518 0277 

Whatsapp: Text “Hi” to 07418360780 

You can also download the Spectrum Life App by searching for it in your app store or there is an online self-help portal you can access both using the code FXPlus when asked for your ‘organisation’

Togetherall online community – is a 24/7 online digital mental health support service that is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Professionally trained Wall Guides monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members. You also have access to tailored self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, weight management, depression and more. Log in using your University email.

You can find a variety of information and resources on our wellbeing pages too.

Our Urgent Support page gives you information on what to do in a medical or mental health Emergency. If there is an immediate emergency and you require the police, ambulance or fire services call 999.

Use Safezone to contact safety and support on Campus

SafeZone is a quick and easy way of connecting you to the safety and support team when you are on campus. You don’t have to remember any numbers and it allows you to send additional details like your exact location and photos.

If you’re studying alone, or outside of regular hours you can also “check in” with the safety and support team through the app. You can ask the app to do this automatically if you want. This will make security aware of your presence and can be used to share your location in an emergency.

On Cornwall Campuses once you have downloaded the App from the Apple or Google store you will need to select FX Plus as an organisation after you’ve logged in using your Exeter credentials. Find out more about Safezone here.

Are you eVisa ready?

The BRP card system is ending in December 2024 as UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) move to an online system from 01 January 2025. If you have a BRP card but don’t already have an eVisa, you will need to create an online account in order to access one. For more information see our webpage here. Stuck or confused? Attend or watch a recording of one of our eVisa webinars.

Need help with your eVisa? Come to our eVisa drop in:

🗓️10am-12pm, Wednesday
📍International Student Advice Office, ground floor, Peter Lanyon Building.

Campus Highlights

To get a full list of events go to Events on Campus,  but here's a few coming up that we think you won't want to miss:
 

2 Hour Wildlife Boat Trip!
Join MarineWatch for a highly subsidised wildlife boat trip!  We're teaming up with Wet Wheels Southwest to find the unique marine life of Falmouth Bay - fingers crossed as we head into winter for large cetaceans and lots of seabirds.

• 7th December, 11am - 1pm, Haven Marina, North Quay, Falmouth
• 2 Hour Wildlife Boat Trip! 11am-1pm

Christmas Vintage Clothing Sale
Get ready to shop for some stylish vintage Christmas outfits at this in-person sale by Rojo Vintage and Olaf’s Retro

• 10th & 11th December, 10am-5pm, Upper Stannary
• Christmas Vintage Clothing Sale Tickets, Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
• Christmas Vintage Clothing Sale Tickets, Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Intercultural Café Christmas Celebration!
Come and enjoy some festive snacks, share winter traditions from your culture, and make some Christmas decorations!

• 11th December  3 - 4:30pm, International Student Lounge, Tremough House Penryn Campus
• Intercultural Café Christmas Celebration! Tickets, Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

Festive Fun Run
Join us on a festive fun run / walk around campus!

• 11th December, 1pm - 2pm, The Students' Union, Penryn Campus
• Festive Fun Run

Festive Film Night at the Multifaith Chaplaincy
Join us at the Penryn Chaplaincy to get in the festive spirit - heart-warming movie and hot chocolate guaranteed!

• 12th December, Multifaith Chaplaincy Penryn Campus
• Festive Film Night at the Multifaith Chaplaincy Tickets, Thu 12 Dec 2024 at 18:00 | Eventbrite

Jummah on the Penryn campus
Each Friday students and staff meet for Jummah in the Muslim Prayer Room on campus.

• 13th December 12:45 - 13:45
• Jummah on the Penryn campus Tickets, Fri 13 Dec 2024 at 12:45 | Eventbrite

ResLife Trip - Ice Skating at the Eden Project
Trip to the Eden Project plus a session on their ice rink! All transport and tickets included. Meet us at Penryn Campus Bus Stop.

• 15th December 10:30am - 5pm, Meet us at Penryn Campus Bus Stop.
• ResLife Trip - Ice Skating at the Eden Project Tickets, Sun, Dec 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite

Intercultural Cafe: Winter Holiday Meet and Mingle
Free festive drinks and snacks! Meet and make connections with other students who will be spending the winter holidays on campus!

• 18 Dec 2024 15:00 - 16:30, The SU Penryn Campus
• Intercultural Cafe: Winter Holiday Meet and Mingle Tickets, Wed 18 Dec 2024 at 15:00 | Eventbrite

Christmas at The SU
Join us for games, Christmas music, and hot chocolates in the SU

• 23rd December, 11am-2pm, The SU Penryn Campus
• Christmas at The SU

To find out about all of the events happening on campus, follow this link: Events on Campus – FX Plus

The Arabic Conversation Club is a fun, informal fortnightly space open to all staff, students and members of the public to come and learn Arabic in an engaging and creative way. No prior experience or knowledge of Arabic is required. Follow @arabicconversationcornwall on Instagram.

Please sign-up to attend via the form here to receive the calendar invite, or contact Rae Preston (Exeter) if you have any questions.

Proof of age PASS card

If you’ve ever used your BRP card to prove your age when visiting pubs, bars and other age-restricted venues, you will need to use a different form of ID now that the UK government is phasing out BRPs and moving to the eVisa system. We would strongly discourage students from carrying their passport around with them, so a good alternative is the PASS card. It’s issued by CitizenCard and is an identity card that you can use to prove your age or identity. It only costs £18 and you can apply online. You’ll just need your passport to verify your identity for the application process. The best part is, it’s easy and affordable to replace if you do lose it.

BRP expiry date

The BRP card system is ending in December 2024 as UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) move to an online system from 1 January 2025. The UKVI have advised that students should keep their expired BRP card, as it may be helpful for future applications to stay in the UK.

From 01 January 2025, you’ll be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP card. Make sure you have created your UKVI account, so that you can access your eVisa.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Visitors

The ETA scheme affects travellers coming to the UK for short stays as a Visitor (not those with visas). It is being rolled out to more nationalities from January 2025. For more information please watch the video below.