ABOUT UK

Hundreds of thousands of international students study in the UK each year, making studying in the UK the number two choice for international students in the world, second only to the USA. For students worldwide that would like an English-language education, what better place to study than the country where the language oriented?

General Climate Conditions

The UK has a reputation for having cold, wet and dreary weather. Although this may be true for some times of the year, the UK is actually much better than what most think its to be – and can have some great weather during the summer months.

If you wish to get the most out of the UK, then the times to visit are the summer months when days are long (the sun generally rises at 4 am and will set at 9 or 10 pm at night) and you can expect warmer temperatures. Generally, there are four distinct seasons to the UK; summer, winter, spring and autumn.

Autumn/Fall

If you come from a part of the world where seasonal changes are not very dramatic, you will be enthralled by fall. Autumn arrives in September, with dipping temperatures and shortening days, all as a pre-cursor of the winter to come. Temperatures during autumn are generally be anywhere from 5 to 15°C, but fall can provide beautiful weather, especially in light of the long dreary winter ahead.

Rainfall

The UK is an island, so it receives a large amount of rain. It can rain during any season and on any given day – so bring your umbrella!

Students from EU Countries

Students from a country of the European Union (EU) or one of the other listed countries do not need a visa or prior entry clearance. Those countries include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland*, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway*, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

Student Accommodation

During your stay in the UK, you will have a variety of accommodation options available to you. Your choices will depend largely on whether your college or university has halls of residence, what city you are located in, and the amount of your monthly budget.When you sign up for a particular college or university, you will need to indicate that you will require accommodation (unless you have something pre-arranged). Do not assume that you will automatically be given accommodation, but generally as an international student you will be given priority over other students. One very important tip – once you have been accepted into a program, start looking and arranging accommodation right away! Places fill up very quickly and demand generally exceeds supply.

Halls of Residence

Halls are a great way to meet new people. They are large buildings, sometime divided into flats where you will have either a single room or share with another student. The room itself may be basic, and if it does not have an en-suite bathroom, communal ones will be provided. Generally the hall will provide basic furniture such as a bed, desk and chair and the rest you will have to supply. Most halls of residence have a canteen where food is supplied (at a cost) to students. As an international student the food may be unfamiliar, but a good way to immerse yourself in the culture of the UK. Halls are either single or mixed sex, so if you have a preference for either you will need to make this very clear to your university from the beginning when choosing where to live. Apart from the rooms, there are also communal areas that could have a bar (it is legal to drink alcohol at 18 in the UK), TV, pool table, etc…

Self-Catered Halls

Many international students prefer the self-catered option because it allows them the freedom to cook their own food and on their own schedule. Self-catered halls are very similar to standard halls of residence, but there is also a communal kitchen available to all hall residents. Be warned, though – communal kitchens can become places where only the stout of heart dare to venture!

Flats / Houses

Typically students live in halls during their first year, as it makes adjusting to campus life much simpler and helps in making friends. In their second and third years, some students opt to move into a house or flat which is not part of the university. If you do move into a flat or house, you will have to sign a tenancy agreement, which is a legal document outlining the terms of the tenancy. Be very careful to make sure you fully understand the terms and issues of the contract, and if you do have any doubts talk to your international student advisor who can assist you further. A flat or house is generally more expensive than any other option, and you may find it hard to find accommodation that is close to your campus. However many students like the freedom to live where they choose, live with whom they like and choose the type of place they want to live in. With halls, you don’t have this flexibility.

Working after degree completion

Like the USA, students who complete a degree program in England are allowed to apply for a one year extension to their visa to allow them to gain work experience in the UK, without having to obtain a work permit. Students studying in Scotland are now able to extend their visas and work for two years after completing a degree at a Scottish university, helping to make Scotland a particularly attractive destination for international students.

Multicultural Nation

The UK is known for having a multicultural society with all religions and faiths represented in some way. With a racial, ethnic and religious jumble, the UK is very open to new traditions and cultures – something that is a great thing for students from other countries! You can also be sure that a place of worship will be easily accessible for most major religions

Why study in UK

Hundreds of thousands of international students study in the UK each year, making studying in the UK the number two choice for international students in the world, second only to the USA. For students worldwide that would like an English-language education, what better place to study than the country where the language oriented?

With an excellent higher-education system and hundreds of world-class universities in the UK promises a rich experience for international students. Our Study UK resource is intended to help you learn more about studying in the UK as an international student, and includes sections on choosing the UK as a destination, choosing a location within the UK, learning more about the country, its history and culture, and adapting to life in your adopted country.

International students have always been an important presence in the UK, and the numbers have been growing steadily. The UK has worked hard to capitalize on the growing demand for English-language instruction and the post-9/11 visa hurdles in the US. The top ten countries sending students to the UK are:

Worldwide Recognition

The degrees and qualifications from UK higher education institutions are known around the world as of high quality and of world class. The standard of excellence is set by some of the older universities with recognizable names, like Oxford and Cambridge, but the tradition of excellence is seen in many of the universities and colleges throughout the UK. When looking for work in the future, this can be to your advantage

Education Cost is Lower

The cost of education for an international student in the UK can be lower then what it is in to the USA and other countries. Some courses in the USA can be $25,000 plus a year in tuition fee alone. Tuition fee for the majority of UK higher education institutions is in the region of £6,000 to £10,000 a year – considerably less!

Work Opportunities

International student in the UK typically allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during school term, and up to full-time when school is out of term. Of course, you should always check with your international advisor at your school before starting any part time job – you do not want to be in violation of your visa, and rules change all the time. Also, it is not always easy to find a job, so relying on work income to fund your education is not a good idea. Unless you have employment set up through your school before you arrive, you should plan to fund the entire first year of your studies without any employment income.

Gateway to Europe

With the addition of the Channel Tunnel and low cost airlines such as Easy Jet and Ryan Air, Europe is easier to reach from the UK than ever. You can reach most areas of Europe from the UK within a few hours by train or direct flight. For example, if you are studying in London or Manchester and you want a weekend away in Italy, you can fly Ryan Air direct to Rome, Milan, Pisa, and Genoa, Venice or several other cities in Italy. The direct flight would take around two hours and cost anywhere from 30 to 100 pounds, depending on when you travel and when you book.