PRE-DEPARTURE
Before departing to the United Kingdom, awang/dayang must remember to:
- Contact the Public Service Department to confirm/booking of flight ticket.
- To ensure passport and visa validity.
- To reserve/book accommodation if needed as well as accommodation at the place of study (The International Students Office will be able to offer this service).
- To obtain information on custom and immigration’ s regulation from British High Commission in Brunei.
- To obtain a complete medical check-up.
- To prepare important names and addresses for the pupose of contact.
- Avoid bringing food which has been prohibited by the Custom & Excise authority, for example, raw meat and other type of food which may raise suspicion of the custom officer on duty at the airport.
- To inform the Brunei High Commission in London through the Public Service Department of the arrival date and the need for transportation upon arrival by completing the form which can be pbtained at the Public Service Department in Brunei.
CHECK-LIST OF THINGS TO BE BROUGHT
- Name tag that can be recognised by the greeting officials in the UK.
- Important documents surat as testimonial from the Public Service Commission, offer letter from the University, proof of payment and school transcrips or result as well as CAS letter.
- Names, addresses and contact numbers of education officers of the university with whom you can contact upon arrival.
- Medical document including original x-ray and prescriptions (if any).
- Several passport size photographs.
- Adequate and appropriate winter clothing
Important matters to take note before departure:
- Valid passport and visa (until the completion of course), flight ticket, cash and other relevant documents.
- Goods or foodstuff which might be examined by the Custom Officer attention should be seperate from goods which do not need any examination
- Baggage must be padlocked and must be clearly labelled.
ADVISE ON REACHING YOUR DESTINATION
On arrival at your destination in the United Kingdom, our advise to you is:
- To wear your name tag (if any) so that it is easy for the High Commission official who will be meeting you to recognise you.
- Officials from the High Commission will be at the airport to meet and greet you on the day of your arrival and then to bring you from the airport to the High Commission for briefing.
- While at the Immigration/Custom’s desk, you must remain calm and be self-confident. When asked by the officer, take your time to answer, do not rush in giving your answer and most important do not panic. Answer briefly and clearly, and show all the relevant document to support your arrival to the United Kingdom.
- On arrival, contact your family immediately to inform that you have arrived safely in the United Kingdom.
- Contact the International Students Office at your university to inform them of your arrival and to obtain information on any matters pertaining to your course.
- In order to receive your monthly allowance, you have to open your bank account in the UK immediately. You may choose any banks of your choice which is nearest to your residence or university or you can ask the opinions of your friends. For those of you who have a bank account with HSBC in Brunei Darussalam, this is an advantageous for you as you can transfer your money between your account without any problem.
- To register yourself with the National Health Service (NHS) at the university or to the nearest General Practitioner (Clinic). Get the relevant information from the International Students Office of your nearest GP. Registration with the NHS will ensured you to obtain a free-medical assistance if you were in need of one. Please ensure that the GP which you registered with is the one nearest to your place of residence.
- For those of you who will be transiting, most of the time you will not be required to go out of the arrival terminal. To get to your connecting flight, you will proceed to the next terminal through a terminal transfer, either by coach or through the underground transportation.
REGULATION TO BE ADHERED TO
You must adhered to the rules and regulations as stated in your letter of offer for scholarship under the In-Service Training Scheme and also as stated in Bond Contract which you have signed with the Government. You’re also required to observe the following:
1. Updating Address of Residence.
You must immediately inform the Recruitment & Training Department in London if you moved to a new address, change of address as well your telephone numbers in the UK.
2. Change of Bank Account
You must not change your bank account without first obtaining the consent from the Recruitment & Training Department in London. If you change your bank account without obtaining the consent first, there is likely that you will be unable to receive your monthly allowance. For your information, your monthly aloowance will be paid direct to your bank account from the Finance Office of this High Commission.
3. Examination Result
You were required to submit a copy of your Term/Semester examination result to this Department once the result has been released. With regard to the result of the final year examination, the result must be submitted to this Department at least within one week after the official result has been released. This matter has to be emphasised due to most Universities/Colleges in the United Kingdom are bound by the Data Protection Act. Failure to submit your result, will affect the payment of your allowances. However, in most cases, we will require you to submit a Letter of Consent giving us consent to obtain your academic matters from the university. If you have submitted the Letter of Consent, then we will be writing to your university requesting for your examination result and academic progress report.
4. Claims/Payments process by the Recruitment & Training Department in London.
Claims/Payments process by this Department are as follows:
- Tuition Fees and Examination Fees (if any) as well as Registration Fees for Professional Courses. Please forward the letter from the University to the Recruitment & Training Section upon arrival.
- Subsistence Allowance, Accommodation Allowance or Top-Up Allowance (as in the case of a Chevening’s Scholar)
- Clothing Allowance once in every 3 years.
- Flight Ticket
- Study Visits and Research which are made compulsory by the university (subject to the approval of the Director of Public Service).
- Medical/Dental claim approved by the NHS./
- Travelling claims/visa which has been approved.
Note : Flight booking will be made by this Department for officers who are entitled to receive their biennial leave entitlement in year two of their 3 year course and also for officers who has completed their studies by completing the Flight Form which can be obtained on this website.
5. Leaving the United Kingdom
You must inform this Department in writing if you intend to go out of the United Kingdom whether for vacation abroad or going back to Brunei Darussalam.
6. Council Tax
The British Government has stated that fulltime students will not be charged with the Council Tax. In order to get this exemption, you have to obtain a Certificate of Exemption from your place of study and to apply for an exemption at the local council office. For your information, in order to get a full exemption, all residents in one residence must be fulltime students.
DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE RECRUITMENT & TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
The following documents must be submitted to the Recruitment & Training Department upon arrival:
- A copy of Letter of Offer from the University/Institute.
- Two (2) Passport size photographs.
- Copy of Passport (Page 1 & 2)
- Payment voucher of allowance which has been paid in Brunei (if available). A copy is needed to avoid any double payment by the High Commission if late confirmation was received.
- Borang D.
- Borang Maklumat Peribadi
- Letter of Consent.
