Life in UK

Coming to study in the UK is likely to be one of the most exciting adventures of your life, so be prepared! You may find the experience of coming to live in a different country confusing at first.

Traveling to the UK

Don't be surprised if, after the initial excitement of arriving in the UK wears off, you find it strange or begin to miss home. You won't be alone – other new students will be feeling the same. Such emotions will quickly pass as you begin to get caught up in the bustle of student life, make new friends and find exciting new interests.

Before you leave

When you have accepted a place on a course at a UK school, college or university, your institution may send you information to help you prepare for your arrival.

Important

Read this carefully – it may tell you more about the institution and the local area, and include practical information such as opening times of offices, local travel advice and important steps you need to take (such as applying for accommodation, or registering for your course).

The British Council runs pre-departure briefing programmes that tell you about immigration and passport control procedures, how to get to schools, colleges and universities, financial matters, budget planning and cultural differences. Please contact your local British Council office for more information. Your nearest UK Embassy or High Commission can also advise you on what documentation you will need.

When booking your travel, try and make sure you arrive at a time that will enable you to get a transfer to your institution or accommodation. Aim to arrive on a weekday (Monday – Friday), rather than at the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) or on a public holiday, and try to arrive in the morning; as trains, coaches and taxis may not run throughout the night and will give you time to reach your final destination and settle in during working hours when transportation links are most frequent and facilities such as banks and shops are open.

Note

Speak to the international office at the school or college where you will be studying to find out how best to travel to your institution.

Arriving in the UK

Before arriving in the UK, you must ensure you have the right documents and enough Sterling currency to cover any expenses when you arrive. Make sure you carry the following items with you in your hand luggage as you may need them before you collect your checked in luggage:

your valid passport, with visa or entry clearance if you need it. your travel tickets money – carry cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards – preferably in a money belt or a very secure inner pocket health documents, if required your letter of acceptance from your institution documentation to show that you have enough money to pay your fees and meet your living costs for the duration of your course originals (or certified copies) of any degree certificates or technical qualifications you have.

Note

When you are leaving home, allow plenty of time to check in for your flight and to pass through security controls – there can be long queues at busy times, as security at international airports is very stringent.

Reaching your destination

Your institution may operate a 'meet and greet' service, where a representative from your school, college or university will collect you from the airport or nearest railway station and take you to the institution or your accommodation. If this is not the case and you need to make your own way, check with your institution as to the best way to get there. You should be able to access the timetables of onward travel services in advance on the web, to work out the best way to get to your institution.

Warning

Although it does not happen very often there are some bogus taxi drivers in operation. These taxi drivers may approach you at the airport or other busy locations. Traveling in an unlicensed vehicle means that you will not be insured for your journey and generally the fare will be much higher than that from a licensed cab. An official taxi (whether it is a black cab or a minicab) has to display their license number plate, in addition to the vehicle registration number plate, on the back of their vehicle, so look out for it.

Note

Taxi drivers in the UK do not expect tips, although more and more people are giving tips, generally rounding up the fare to the nearest pound and asking the driver to keep the change.

Many schools, colleges and universities run special introduction programmes for international students before term begins. A typical programme would involve a tour of the institution, an overview of the facilities available and help with registering for your course.

Accommodation

You should try to arrange your accommodation in the UK before you leave home. Ultimately, you are responsible for arranging your own accommodation but your school, college or university are likely to help you. Many institutions have student advisers or accommodation officers who can give you information on how to find accommodation.

If you’re studying English, nearly all English language centers can help you arrange suitable accommodation. The type of accommodation available will depend on where you study: it may be halls of residence or a hostel, or lodging with a UK family. Living with a UK family is the most common option and will give you the opportunity to practice English in a supportive environment.

Important

If you are planning to bring a lot of personal belongings with you, it is advisable to arrange insurance. Along with your travel insurance it is advisable to arrange contents insurance, which can be arranged once you arrive in the UK.

Boarding

Independent boarding schools offer a relaxed, home-like atmosphere. Pupils stay in bedrooms or dormitories on the school site, living under the same roof as residential house staff and their families. Younger pupils usually share a room with up to four others of a similar age; older pupils may have a study-bedroom to themselves.

Independent schools are complete communities. As well as the pupils, many of the teachers and care staff, such as the school nurse, also live at the school. At evenings and weekends, you'll have access to all sorts of leisure and social activities. You can join school sports teams, drama groups, choirs and bands; learn to play an instrument, dance or play a whole host of games. Schools often also arrange trips to local theatres, museums, tourist and sporting attractions as well as other places of interest.

Note

A UK independent school provides a complete package. As well as your lessons, you will get the use of science and practical laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art equipment; fantastic sports fields, gyms, swimming pools, music rooms, drama studios and a whole variety of other opportunities. You'll be living and studying in amazing buildings, often with a fantastic history and containing libraries that have been built up over centuries.

Most international students coming to study at a UK college or university will be entitled to at least one year’s accommodation in an institution-owned property. Around 30 per cent of international students studying at further education colleges live in accommodation owned by the college.

Important

If you are a higher education student coming to the UK for the first time, accommodation provided by your college or university is probably the most suitable choice, which is why it is taken up by more than half of the international students on degree courses in the UK. Your institution will try to match your needs with the options available.

Privately owned accommodation

If you choose to rent accommodation that is privately owned, the options are shared flats/houses, lodgings, bed-sits (a single rented room with living, sleeping and sometimes cooking facilities) or private hostels. Prices can vary considerably and your institution housing office may be unable to help you if you run into problems with the landlord.

Contacting home

The UK's excellent communications services make it easy for you to keep in contact with friends and family back at home. The UK’s postal service and telecommunications network are fast and reliable and you will find that your school, college or university, and your local library and high street internet cafés, all provide easy access to e-mail and the internet.

Living costs

When you are planning your budget for living in the UK, it is not just your course fees that you need to take into account. You also need to calculate your everyday living expenses including your food, accommodation (rent and other bills), books and equipment, and clothes - making sure that you have enough left over for leisure activities and socializing.

The cost of living varies between different regions of the UK; London, for example, is more expensive than average and costs may also be high in other major UK cities. Of course, the cost of a pair of jeans can vary hugely, depending on how important fashion and designer labels are to you. Just as if you were at home, you need to be sensible about what you really need and what you can actually afford.

Budgeting for the year

At boarding schools and some international study centers, accommodation and meals are included in your fees, but if you are on a course at a further education college, higher education college or university, you will probably need to budget for rent and also for buying and cooking your own food. Even if your institution has a canteen, you will usually need to pay for the meals you eat there separately from your rent.

You should always plan your living expenses over 12 months, even if the academic year is shorter, as you may have to pay accommodation and other costs over the holidays. It's also worth checking what bills you are expected to pay and which are included in your rent, as this can have a big effect on your budget.

Note

Online budget planners can help you to work out how much money you will need throughout the year. You will find it helpful to look at this before you arrive in the UK

Note

You may also find it useful to check out the websites of UK shops and supermarkets that sell a range of products, such as www.tesco.com and www.debenhams.com, as this can give you a basic idea of UK prices for food, clothing and other essentials you will need throughout your time here.

Leisure and socializing

How much you spend on your leisure time and social activities can also vary hugely depending on what you choose to do. If you go to the cinema once or twice a week, dine in expensive restaurants every evening and make regular trips to the theatre or the ballet, you will spend much more than if you take advantage only of the entertainment arranged by student societies.

Cheaper options

If you're going to be living on a budget, there are several tips for value buying. Outdoor markets are good for fresh food and cheap clothing and you will often find these close to areas where there are large numbers of students. Larger supermarkets where you can buy in bulk are generally cheaper than smaller local shops and stores and many sell good quality clothing, household goods and electrical equipment as well as food and other provisions.

Student discounts

Many shops, theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries offer special reductions for students and special student fares are often available on buses and trains. To take advantage of these, you will usually need to prove membership of the National Union of Students (NUS), an organization that represents the interests of all students in the UK, which can be arranged by your institution.

Health care

Studying in the UK offers many benefits in addition to receiving a world class education, one of which is access to affordable high-quality health care services.

All international students on full-time UK courses that last more than six months can take advantage of the UK's National Health Service, including free consultation with doctors and free hospital care for you and your family. Read more about health care in the UK.

Life and culture

At home in your own country, there are lots of customs, habits and social rules that you probably don’t think about because you are so used to them These vary from culture to culture and that is one of the things that makes being in another country so interesting and thought-provoking. You’ll notice differences in the way people dress, greet each other, practice religion, eat, behave in different situations, express their opinions, and even how they treat animals or have expectations of punctuality.

It is a good idea to prepare yourself for any cultural differences by reading as much as you can about the UK before you leave. Try to think about what you’ll need to tell others about your own cultural needs too.