What's included in allied services?

• Forex purchase (cash + travel card combination at competitive rates)
• Student accommodation: on-campus (where available) or vetted off-campus options
• Mandatory health insurance: OSHC (Australia) / GIC (Canada) / Health Surcharge (UK) / equivalents
• International SIM card with first month's data + calls
• Flight booking guidance (student fare optimisation, baggage allowance)
• Pre-departure briefing: banking, transit, accommodation move-in, cultural orientation
• Airport pickup coordination where available via KC's destination partners

How does KC's allied services process work?

1. 1

   Visa approved — kick off allied services

   Within 1-2 weeks of visa approval, KC walks you through the allied-services menu. Most components are optional individually; many students take the full bundle.

2. 2

   Accommodation booking

   On-campus housing where available (start the application as soon as you accept the offer; spots fill fast in Australia / Canada / NZ). Off-campus options via vetted student-accommodation providers (Yugo, Scape, Iglu in Australia; Unite Students in UK; etc.) at student-friendly rates.

3. 3

   Forex + insurance + SIM

   Forex bundle (cash + travel card; conversion rates 0.5-1% above interbank typical) timed to your travel date for best rate. Health insurance booked per country requirement. SIM card ordered for delivery on arrival or pickup at the destination airport.

4. 4

   Pre-departure briefing + travel

   90-minute group briefing 1-2 weeks before departure covering: bank account opening at destination, transit from airport to accommodation, registering with the university's international student office, cultural orientation, emergency contacts. Flights typically booked 4-6 weeks before departure.

Who is this for?

All KC students typically take 3-7 components of the allied services package depending on preference. Working professionals appreciate the time savings of bundling. Younger students appreciate the structured pre-departure briefing. Students whose family is travelling internationally for the first time appreciate the end-to-end coordination.

What's actually in the pre-departure briefing?

Practical setup: opening a local bank account (typically online before departure for UK / Canada; in-person on arrival for Australia / Germany / Ireland), getting your tax file number / SIN / equivalent, understanding the public transport system, picking up emergency contacts. Cultural orientation: small practicalities like tipping norms (US yes, UK / Australia / Ireland minimal), housing etiquette (quiet hours, recycling), university culture. We don't lecture; we share what previous students wished they'd known.

Is on-campus accommodation worth it?

First semester / first year, usually yes — easier integration with classmates, no commute, university handles maintenance + bills. After year 1, many students move to shared off-campus apartments at lower cost (typically 20-30% cheaper). On-campus availability varies by university; popular universities (UofT, UBC, Melbourne) have housing shortages — apply early.

Do I need to buy forex through KC?

No — you can use any RBI-authorised forex dealer (Thomas Cook, BookMyForex, online banks). KC's forex partnership offers competitive rates and synchronised loading of travel cards (avoids the 'card not yet activated' problem on arrival). Useful for first-time international travellers; experienced ones may have their own provider.