From student accommodation to Career in the UK | A guide to studying in UK for International Students
First of all, congratulations to you for securing an offer from a UK University, and moving to one of the best countries for an international education, and a prospective career in the UK! Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many, and this is a very exciting time for you.
We understand moving to uni from your home country can be overwhelming. Getting your student visa in the UK, finding a student accommodation, getting familiar with the area, ordering student starter packs for your room, and so much more.
We have gathered some interesting tips for you to start your journey in the UK seamlessly. You can treat this as your personal UK university checklist!
Plan your finances
Studying abroad is an expensive process. Tuition fees, visa and health insurance fees, travel expenses, rent, and living and maintenance costs, you need to plan all of these before you accept your offer.
The tuition fee will be highly dependent on which degree you plan to pursue, which university you choose and where that university is located. Overall, a masters degree in the UK can cost somewhere between 10,000 GBP – 35,000 GBP. This is a huge bracket, but you can get more information about this on individual university websites.
Generally, you have to pay this fee directly to the university or college in 3 instalments during the academic year.
Organise your visa
If your course lasts longer than 6 months, you may require a Tier 4 visa. All Tier 4 visa applications will require you to pay the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge), along with a visa application fee. This is subject to increase every year. For the 2020/2021 academic year, visa application fee was around £348 if you are applying from outside the UK, and £475 from the inside. The health surcharge fee may approximately be around £470 for the whole year.
Once you do get your visa, do not forget to collect your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) from your nearest post-office within 10 days of your arrival in the UK.
Finalise your accommodation
As a student, you can either choose to live in a student hall, or rent a private property. This is highly dependent on the city you choose to study in. In London, students pay from 150 GBP a week to 500 GBP a week for student accommodation. The average rental cost in the UK is £868 a month per household for private renters.
Once you finalise your university, you can reach out to our experts and they can help you finalise an accommodation that will suit your budget!
Book your travel!
Booking flight tickets is no rocket science, but we want to make you aware about the benefits you can avail as a student. Many airlines such as Virgin Atlantic have student offers that either may give you a discount, or even additional baggage allowance. Do not forget to take advantage of your student life to the fullest!
Open a student bank account
We always recommend students to open a student bank account in the UK to not just keep your money safe and transact easily, but also avoid foreign currency exchange charges.
UK Banks need identity proof, as well as credit rating and this can be a lengthy process. Student bank accounts are a great option, as they offer numerous benefits including an interest-free overdraft of up to £3,000.
To begin with, you can open easy accounts in digital banking apps such as Revolut, or Monzo. These only require online identity verification and can help you manage your transactions till the time you open an account in a British bank.
Get a Student Oyster Card
You can save 30% on Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes with the 18+ Student Oyster photocard. We understand how excited you must be to travel all across the city you choose to study in the UK. It might be useful to get a student oyster card and save some money on public transportation!
Network, Network, Network!
The UK is a diverse hub for international students across the globe. You can only network and make friends if you put in effort and reach out to your peers, alumni, possible employers, and your professors.
Add them on LinkedIn, create a WhatsApp group for your course, become a part of your university’s facebook group. Connect with as many people as you can even before you enter the UK!
We would love to know which university are you planning to join this intake. Feel free to comment below and tell us how excited you are to start your new journey!
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