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Study abroad in the UK
Studying in the UK is a unique and exciting experience. The UK is flooded in history, and time spent in the capital will show this in all its glory.
Country overview
By day or night, London has something to offer for everyone, and is a magnet for international students.
As well as the hustle or bustle of London, the UK has places of beauty and tranquillity. The Lake District and Cornwall will give that much needed break at the weekends. Other student towns, namely Oxford and Cambridge, are also absorbed in history, and the architecture and beauty will astound you.
Living in the UK, you will never escape the love of sport. The majority of pubs up and down the country will almost always be showing one event or another – most notably the nation’s favourite – football. Trying to get some highly demanded tickets and soaking up the atmosphere at a live game will be an experience you won’t forget.
Students in the UK will benefits from discounts for a variety of products and services, with a discount card from NUS. From theatres to shops and museums to holidays, you will benefit financially from study abroad in the UK.
Education overview
UK universities are regarded as amongst the finest in the world. The THE – QS World University Rankings Top 100 Universities include no less than 19 UK institutions, 8 of which appear in the Top 50. World famous names such as Cambridge, Imperial College and Oxford, synonymous internationally with education and learning, underline the quality of the UK higher education system.
There are more than 130 institutions in the UK that are able to grant undergraduate degrees to students, in addition to a further 500 colleges that are able to offer educational programmes of differing kinds. A huge range of courses, from accountancy to zoology can be taken, and in a variety if locations and surroundings.
At the undergraduate level, scholarships are very difficult to obtain in the UK. There are no schemes administered by UK Government organisations and only partial funding offered by individual universities and colleges. All undergraduate applications for UK universities must be made through UCAS, who give a current figure of 300,000 international students from 180 different countries in the UK.
Pros and cons | |
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World class reputation for quality undergraduate degrees
High cost of tuition and living expenses
International student accommodation
More than half of international students travelling to the UK take up university housing. You will generally be living close to your place of study, will meet other international students, and have university security manning the property.
You will find typical Halls of Residence in UK institutes – 5 to 10 rooms per corridor – either en suite or with a shared bathroom. A kitchen and communal living area will be shared, and often be single sex. They are usually safe, and often secured by staff or security. Social events are also often organised by the group running the Halls.
It is common in the UK to live in university housing for the first year, maybe two, but may be difficult to secure a place after this. Most students tend to move to the private sector, where outside of London, shared houses can be rented for very affordable prices.
Weather/Climate
The UK has a temperate climate. Summers tend to be hot, with little rain – temperatures rising into the 30’s. Winters tend to be fairly cold with more rain and quite dreary. Spring brings a welcoming fresh feel to the air, whilst in Autumn, the golden leaves make for picturesque parks and scenery.
Transport
The UK has a very good transport network. Planes, trains, buses and coaches connect all cities and run with regularity. Travelling by car is also easy, with good roads, connections and signposts to most places.
Public transport is also very good. The underground in London – built pre-war – is a great network connecting most towns, and running every day. There is also an extensive bus network. Towns further north, tend to have more economic and environmentally friendly trams to help you get around.
Cost*
| Item | Price |
| souvenir t-shirt | £10.00 |
| loaf of bread | £0.45 |
| coffee in basic café | £0.50 |
| two pints of milk | £0.60 |
| litre of petrol | £0.80 |
| coffee in Starbucks | £2.00 |
| pint of beer | £2.25 |
| Takeaway fish and chips | £4.00 |
| CD | £12.00 |
| dormitory room in backpacker hostel | £15.00 |
| hire mountain bike per week | £60.00 |
*WorldGuide Index from Lonely Planet
Useful info
Dialing code: 44
Currency: pound sterling (£)
Time zone: GMT/UTC 0 (Greenwich Mean Time (British Summer Time during daylight savings)
