Decided to expand your horizons and study abroad? The UK, for one, has over 150 higher education institutions you can choose from. A melting pot of cultures, studying in the UK will give you a unique experience of traditional and innovative teaching techniques evident in its education system.
After applying to the university you want to study in, the next steps are to worry about finances and look for student accomodations. The UK is new, unfamiliar territory. The last thing you want is to begin your college journey severely unprepared.
To help you transition easily from your home country to the UK, we’ve come up with a comprehensive list of helpful tips. Here’s everything international students need to know as you prepare to study in the UK:
Budgets and Finances
It goes without saying the preparing your finances is the first thing you need to do once you’ve successfully applied to a UK university. International students are bound to pay more for tuition fees and school expenses, so make sure to look for grants and scholarships that could help relieve costs.
Students from EU countries are eligible for Student Finance. They can apply for a loan to pay for their fees now and pay it back later. Students from outside the EU, however, don’t have this opportunity. To alleviate expenses, you can try looking up scholarships open to international students in your chosen university.
There are a number of apps you can download to help you calculate your expenses in advance. Don’t forget to include your budget for your tuition fee, meals, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses. It won’t hurt to prepare a hefty pocket when you’re about to study overseas.
How to Access Health Care
The UK is going to be your home for the next few years. You need to know a great deal about living overseas so that you know what you’ll expect once you get there. Health care, for example, is not readily available for international students. You need to pay their National Health Service (NHS) surcharge.
Paying the NHS surcharge gives you access to the UK’s health service. Like its residents, you can consult with a medical professional, receive emergency treatment, and even receive psychiatric treatment for free. But this doesn’t mean that all treatments are covered under the surcharge.
Among the services not included in the NHS surcharge are: dental and optical care, vaccinations, and prescription medication.
Sorting Your Accommodation
Another important aspect that you need to arrange before flying to the UK is your living arrangement. Will you be living with someone you know? Will you be boarding in one of the university dorms? Or will you rent a room from a private landlord?
The first thing you need to do is to contact the university and ask about available rooms or dormitories. If there are no vacancies, your second option is to look for halls of residence. These student accommodations are owned privately, and they can have any number of amenities depending on the rent.
In these living halls, you will learn to share communal spaces with other students. Your meals can be self-catered from a local canteen, or you’ll have to learn to cook your meals yourself. Living in dorms is also the opportune moment to make friends and create connections before the school term begins.
Studying in the UK is definitely an experience. Make it a memorable one by coming fully prepared. Study without worrying about your finances, health insurance, and accommodation by planning these in advance.
