Pre-Arrival Guide
Arriving at a new school in a new country can seem very daunting. To help students and parents prepare for this, we have put together a comprehensive pre-arrivals guide that can be found below.
IMPORTANT:
Before you arrive in the UK, you must email admissions:
- Your arrival date and time
- Your flight details
- And let us know if you need a taxi from the airport*
- Ensure you have completed the CAT4 aptitude test
*we will add the cost of this taxi to your next invoice.
Pre-arrival Guide
What to bring
There are a some important documents and essential items that every student must bring with them to CATS Cambridge. We have created a helpful list on this page to make sure you have them all.
Things students must bring with them
Passport, visa and course documents
Passport (with visa if required).
Copy of visa decision letter from UKVI (this can be the digital copy).
CAS statement (confirmation of acceptance for studies) or COE (certificate of enrolment).
Boarding pass or flight ticket (especially if using eGates)
Supporting documents
Originals (not photocopies) of the supporting documents for your visa application, plus evidence of finances used for your visa. These will be listed on your CAS Statement. You should also bring a copy of your insurance documents.
Medication
Any medication you need to take. Carry a letter (translated into English) from your doctor explaining what the medicine is and what it is for.why you have been prescribed the medicine and what it is for. Bring any prescriptions for glasses or contact lenses.
Funds for the first two-weeks
You will need funds for your arrival and first two weeks at College to cover books and taxis, most students will need around £200. If you are self-catered you will need around £500.
Parental consent form
Your parental consent form, completed by your parents or guardians.
UK power adaptor
Bring sufficient UK power adaptors for your electronic items.
Clothing
CATS Cambridge has a business casual dress code. Students are expected to dress smartly and appropriate for a workplace environment. All students will require one smart business style suit for formal events, interviews and conferences. You will need appropriate gym/exercise clothing.
Mesh laundry bag
Your mesh laundry bags are used to protect delicate fabrics in the wash and separate clothes items.
Head Torch or Torch
Head torch affixed to the head for visibility at night or in dark conditions. This is for reasons of safety. It can be purchased online on arrival.
If you have any questions on which items you need to bring, please don’t hesitate to contact us at studentcommunications@catscambridge.com
Advice on laptop or tablet computers
Students have flexibility in choosing their device, but should prioritise the following:
- Productivity Suite: The English language version of Microsoft Office must be installed. We use MS Teams for assignment setting and expect Office products (Word, Excel and PowerPoint in particular) to be used for essay writing, research, and presentations.
- Research and Writing Tools: A minimum 13-inch touchscreen. We also recommend having a compatible stylus or pen for note-taking and easy navigation.
- Performance: At least 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5 processor (or equivalent), and a 500GB solid-state drive (SSD) for smooth multitasking.
- Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi capability for internet access.
Additional Considerations
- Apple Users: If you choose an Apple product, ensure that the English language version of Microsoft Office is installed (refer to Microsoft Account and Office on the Web for more information).
- Tablet Users: A separate, connected QWERTY keyboard and a compatible stylus (e.g. Apple Pen, S Pen) are necessary for tablets.
ICT & Computer Science - Students: A laptop is mandatory due to the nature of these subjects.
Things students should not bring
Bed linen
This will be provided in your Boarding House
Large amounts of cash
Do not carry this on you or in your personal belongings.
Uninsured high value items
We advise against bringing any uninsured high-value items such as jewellery or expensive watches.
