Being a Student

Student status documents

You may require a Student Status Letter to prove your eligibility for Council Tax exemption, for example. You can request this letter once you have access to your IT account. Then use the Student Status Document Request form.

International students may require a student status letter in order to set up a bank account in the UK. Some online banks (e.g. Monzo) do not require a student letter to set up an account, however if you would like to set up an account with a ‘High Street’ bank like Barclays, NatWest or HSBC you can request a letter before you have completed your registration by emailing SAS@cssd.ac.uk and letting us know your London term time address, non-UK address and the name and branch of the bank that you intend to use to set up your account.

Student ID number

Your unique Student ID Number is one that you had since you applied to Central. It remains the same and is yours throughout your Registration.

The number is formed of 6 digits, like 123456

Use your number to reference your student record, like when you apply for a TfL 18+ Student Oyster photocard, when you log in to your IT account or even when you contact Academic Registry at Central.

Voting in national elections and polls

As a student, you may be able to register to vote at both your home address and your term-time address.

If you’re not sure if you’re already registered to vote, contact:

• the electoral services team at your local council if you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland if you live in Northern Ireland

Your campus card:

• displays your Name, Student ID Number and Programme Title
• includes the photograph you upload when you complete your online registration task

New students for October courses will be able to collect their card on Campus during their induction activities. 

Your campus card is your responsibility to retain and should be worn at all times when on campus. It remains the property of The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. If at any time you lose your card, you should report this to the Reception Team, via the online service desk. Replacement cards are charged at £5 per card.

The staff working with students at Central strive to develop a positive professional working relationship based on mutual trust.

This ethos prevents us from betraying that confidence by giving your personal information to anyone else and, in this context, parents are no different from other students, friends, family members, carers or husbands/wives/ partners.

Our Contract is with you the Student – both financially and operationally.

Download the Guide to Parent Communication and share with your parents or guardians.

You are able to access information about the school and your course via the link below. This link was also included in your invitation to register email. 

Course Information Guides

You will also find this same information available in your course on Brightspace once your course begins. 

A programme of on campus and online events will take place shortly before the start of your course. 

Events will include our annual How To Central event, IT and Library Inductions, an International Student Welcome event and a Campus and Community Induction. Some events will be mandatory so that Central knows you are prepared and equipped for the year ahead.

Further details about the programme of events can be found on the Induction Week Events webpage. Please this webpage to find the date and time for the events you need to attend and make a note of them in your personal diary or calendar. 

You should also make a note of which events are on campus and which events are online. Microsoft Teams meeting links will be emailed to you in September for the online sessions.

Registering with a GP (Doctor)

It is important to protect your health whilst studying, which is why here at Central we advise you to register with your local doctor (GP) as soon as possible following your arrival in London.

As a registered student at Central you can register with Swiss Cottage Surgery (opens in a new window) once you have moved to London or search for a list of local GPs the area of your London accommodation (opens in a new window).

COVID-19 Vaccination

Vaccination remains the best way to protect us all from severe disease and hospitalisation due to COVID-19 infection. All students and staff are urged to get their 1^st, 2^nd or booster vaccines.   

Full up to date information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found at this NHS webpage (opens in a new window).

Other Vaccinations

All students, but particularly international students, should check that they have been vaccinated against the 4 strains of the meningococcal bacteria which causes meningitis and blood poisoning. In the UK the MenACWY vaccine is called Nimenrix. It is important to be vaccinated because student populations are particularly at risk of infection. For more information please visit the NHS MenACWY vaccination webpage (opens in a new window).

Mumps is also more common in student populations. It is also important that you are vaccinated against Mumps (people born between 1980 and 1990 are not likely to be protected, as they would not have received vaccination as a child). Protection is available through the MMR vaccine (opens in a new window). Please check with your doctor that you have had your MMR vaccinations and if you haven’t we urge you to explore this with doctor before starting at Central. If you are an international student you should arrange to have an MMR vaccine before arrival in the UK.

Students are also advised to ensure that they are up to date with anti-tetanus protection (opens in a new window). This advice applies particularly to Stage Management, Acting, Design and Stage Craft students. Again you can arrange this at your local GP prior to starting your course.