Postgraduate and MBA Guide 2013

7/27/2019 Postgraduate and MBA Guide 2013

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www.educationuk.org

Your Guide to UK Education 2013

Postgraduate and MBA



www.educationuk.org

1

I n t r o d u c t i on

IntroductionWelcome to Your Guide to UK Education 2013: Postgraduate and MBA

Maximise your potential

A postgraduate education in the UK gives you

the skills and knowledge to become a leader

in your field. You’ll learn from top academics

in world-class facilities and come away with

qualifications respected by employers all

over the globe.

This guide helps you find information about the

opportunities available at postgraduate level,

including MBAs.

Find your way

The first section, ‘Studying in the UK’, explainsÔ

the different types of courses you can take at

postgraduate level. It includes details of entry

requirements, application methods, course costs

and fees, scholarships, teaching methods and

student support.

‘Coming to the UK’ looks at the process ofÔ

applying for a visa and the requirements you

will have to meet to get permission to enter

the country. It also helps you plan your arrival

in the UK.

‘Life in the UK’ tells you what it is like to liveÔand study in the UK. It features information

on opening a bank account, finding

accommodation, taking a part-time job and

staying healthy.

‘Institution profiles’ contains details of manyÔ

colleges and universities that offer postgraduate

courses. Each entry gives you an overview of

a college or university’s location, facilities and

academic profile.

‘Choose your subject’ helps you understandÔ

the different academic disciplines offered by

UK universities and colleges. Each subject area

has an introductory chapter, which includes the

views of a current international student, and

department profiles from academic institutions.

The section at the back of the book contains aÔ

list of British Council offices around the world

and a glossary of educational and academic

words and phrases.

Your Guide to UK Education 2013: Postgraduate

and MBA has a companion volume, Your Guide

to UK Education 2013: School, College and

Undergraduate, about courses at other levels.

You can find both guides at British Council offices.

You can also check the latest information on the

Education UK website (www.educationuk.org).

Good luck with your study plans – we hope to see

you in the UK soon.

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Y o ur Gui d e t o U K E d uc at i o n 20 13P o s t gr ad uat e and M B A



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Choosing to study in the UK as an

international student is a wise choice – and

one that hundreds of thousands make

every year. The UK’s postgraduate courses are

recognised worldwide for their excellence, and the

range and quality, together with the academic staff

and facilities on offer, mean students have access

to some of the best teaching in the world.

There are two systems of higher education in the

UK: one for England, Northern Ireland and Wales,

and one for Scotland. They’re fully compatible

with each other and offer students internationally

recognised qualifications (see ‘Postgraduate

courses’ on page 7 for more information).

A quality education

The UK’s educational institutions are renowned all

over the world for innovative teaching techniquesand high academic standards (see ‘Quality assured’

on page 26). World-renowned libraries, high-quality

teaching staff and cutting-edge research will all

help you reach your potential, both in and out

of the classroom.

There is a huge range of postgraduate

opportunities, and you can choose between

studying a taught course or carrying out an

original piece of research. Postgraduate study can

be academic or related to a particular career or

industry. Teaching formats vary from large grouplectures to one-to-one tutorials.

You’ll be challenged to think critically and

independently, and explore topics for analysis and

debate. You’ll develop excellent team-working skills,

and if your course includes a practical element

you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience.

Whatever you choose to study, your time in the UK

will do wonders for your English language skills.English is the international language of business,

science, IT and the internet, so this will be a great

way to improve your career prospects.

Why study in the UK?Top-quality teaching and research, combined with flexibility and innovation



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Whatever your tastes in music, sport,

art and food, you will find them

catered for in the UK.

If you enjoy a fast pace of life, you

can choose to study in one of the

UK’s many exciting cities. Or, if you

prefer more peaceful surroundings,

you could opt for a university ina town or out-of-town campus.

See ‘About the UK’ (page 46) to

find out more.

Lots to explore

The UK offers spectacular scenery

for walking, climbing, cycling,

mountain-biking and running.

You could scale the mountains,

experience the moors and hills,or explore the thousands of

miles of UK coastline. As the UK

is relatively small, it’s easy to get

Value for money

Most UK degree courses are not

as long as those in the US, which

means you’ll be committing less time

and money to your studies without

compromising on quality.

Many UK institutions or government

organisations also offer scholarships

or bursaries to help with the costs

of studying. See ‘Find a scholarship’

at www.educationuk.org

You may also get the opportunity

to boost your income while you

are in the UK. Check whether you

can work during your studies at

www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/

working-during.php. (Also see

‘Working during and after your

course’ on page 60.)

If you plan to work in the UK after

finishing your course, bear in mind

that the rules on this are changing.

To remain in the UK, you will need to

have a firm offer of a job, paying a

minimum salary, before your student

visa expires.

It’s also likely that you’ll be eligible

for free healthcare under the UK’s

National Health Service (NHS), as

well as reduced-cost medicines,

dental treatment and eye tests.

See ‘Staying healthy’ on page 62

for more information.

Vibrant UK lifeThe UK boasts an incredible mix of

cultures, held together by a strong

sense of identity and tradition.

The UK’s world-renowned libraries,high-qualityteaching staffand cutting-edgeresearch will helpyou reach your

potential

© V

i s i t B r i t a i n / P a w e l L i b e r a

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r i t i s h C o u n c i l



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around using the national air, rail, coach and bus

networks – often at student discount rates.

Studying in the UK also gives you the

chance to discover the rest of Europe, with

the Channel Tunnel, affordable flights and

regular ferries making travel easy. You may

need a ‘Schengen’ visa before visiting other

countries in Europe. Find out more in the

‘Travel’ section on page 50.

Choosing what to study

For help with choosing a postgraduate

programme, see the different subject

chapters, starting on page 173. You can

also see profiles of UK institutions from

page 67. Your local British Council office

will have lots of information and advice

about studying in the UK (see page 394 for

a list of addresses). You can find additional

information at www.educationuk.org

For most postgraduate courses, you will

need to apply directly to the institution.

For some courses and research places,

you can apply through the UKPASS system

(www.ukpass.ac.uk). To find out more about

applying for a postgraduate place, see

‘Application methods’ on page 20. Once youarrive in the UK, you’ll be given plenty of

support. For example, many institutions arrange

for you to be collected from the airport and

have a dedicated international students’ office.

See ‘Here to support you’ on page 64.

Having decided where, when and what you

are going to study, you can look forward to an

exciting time as a postgraduate student in the UK.

Not only will you be broadening your academichorizons, but the wide range of cultural and

sporting pursuits available will ensure you have

the experience of a lifetime. © V

i s i t B r i t a i n / D a n i e

l B o s w o r t h



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© B


To take a postgraduate degree

in the UK, you usually need

an undergraduate degree or

equivalent qualification from the UK,

or the same level of qualification

from your home country in a relevant

subject area. There are three main

levels of postgraduate study:

certificates and diplomas, master’sdegrees, and doctorates.

Some postgraduate courses specify

that you must have completed one

or two years’ professional experience

between your undergraduate and

postgraduate degrees.

Your institution will also usually

expect you to have English languageskills of about 6.5 on the IELTS

(International English Language

Testing System) scale.

If you need a Tier 4 (General) visa

to study in the UK, your institution

must be licensed as a ‘Highly Trusted

Sponsor’ by the UK Border Agency.

Visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

and search for ‘Tier 4 register

of sponsors’.

Under the Tier 4 (General) studentvisa rules, for most higher education

courses, you will be able to stay in

the UK for a maximum of five years.

PhD students and those studying a

few specific courses that take longer

to complete will be allowed to stay

beyond this.

If you are not sure how the

qualifications you have gained inyour home country compare with

UK qualifications, you can get advice

from UK NARIC, the national agency

There are threemain levels ofpostgraduatestudy in the UK:certificates anddiplomas, master’sdegrees, and

doctorates

Postgraduate coursesTake your studies to a higher level



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responsible for providing information

about qualifications from all over the

world (www.naric.org.uk). Your local

British Council office and your chosen

institution will also be able to help.

For most postgraduate courses

in the UK you apply directly to

the universities that interest you.For some courses you can apply

using the UKPASS service

(www.ukpass.ac.uk).

Certificates and diplomas

Postgraduate certificates

and diplomas are offered in a

huge variety of subjects, from

education, to management, to

network engineering. These areoften accepted as professional

qualifications. They usually take a

year to complete, studying full-time.

At some institutions, you may be

asked to register for a postgraduate

diploma as the first stage of a

master’s programme.

Some diploma courses enable you to

transfer to a master’s when you’ve

completed them, while some master’s

courses will give you a diploma ifyou decide you don’t want to write

the dissertation.

Master’s degrees

There are two kinds of master’s

courses: taught and research. And

you can enrol on a conversion

master’s if you want to move into a

new subject area – for example, law.

Taught master’s programmes

The structure of these programmes

varies from course to course and

© J

o h n C o o p e r / I k o n P a r t n e r s h i p

WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK

www.educationuk.org

British Council

www.britishcouncil.org

UK NARIC

www.naric.org.uk

Graduate Management

Admission Council

www.gmac.com

UKPASS

www.ukpass.ac.uk

UK Border Agency

www.ukba.homeoffice.

gov.uk

Learn English

www.learnenglish.

britishcouncil.org



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you a solid grounding for a career

in business and management. (See

pages 12 and 343 for details on

studying an MBA and page 215 for

information on other master’s courses

in business and administration.)

Research master’s

If you study a research master’s, you

won’t normally attend lectures but

will instead devote the whole year to

research. Some courses allow you

to take a taught element as part of

the course, but your final mark will

mainly be determined by the quality

of your dissertation. It is usual forpeople to have a master’s degree

before they progress to a doctorate

(PhD) programme.

institution to institution. Some courses

are made up of core modules and

optional choices, while others provide

a less flexible ‘set menu’ of learning.

Teaching is usually through seminars

and tutorials, while assessment

can range from examinations,

vivas (interview-style exams) and

assessed projects, to group work

or coursework, with the weighting

of different elements varying

between courses.

You will probably also have to write

a long essay or dissertation as part

of your final assessment. There are

no grades for most master’s degrees

– you simply pass or fail – although

outstanding graduates may pass with

merit or distinction. If you fail you

can generally retake all or part of

the course.

Once you have passed, you will be

entitled to have letters after your

name, depending on the subject – MA

for arts courses, MSc for science

courses, MEng for engineeringcourses and so on (see box on page

10). Some four-year undergraduate

courses (in subjects such as

engineering) result in master’s

degrees, but these are not considered

postgraduate qualifications.

Business studies courses are

particularly popular. The Master of

Business Administration (MBA) is thebest-known business qualification,

but there are plenty of other

postgraduate courses that will offer

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS – A QUICK GUIDEÔ

Have you got the qualifications you need for your course? Here’s a quick guide to the

entry qualifications that UK colleges and universities are likely to ask for.

English language courses

Admission to English language courses is flexible and based on your level of ability.

If you are required to apply for a Tier 4 (General) visa and want to study an English

language course alongside your main postgraduate course, you’ll need to satisfy the

college’s entrance requirements and will usually need a minimum International English

Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or equivalent.

Postgraduate programmes

For entry to a taught postgraduate course (master’s degree, PG Cert/Dip), you’ll needan undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant area. In addition, an IELTS score

of 6.5 or 7.0 or equivalent is usually required, unless you are a native English speaker.

Your university can choose to assess your English language ability themselves. If

you don’t have the level of qualifications or experience required to begin a master’s

degree, you can top up your qualifications with a pre-master’s course. On successful

completion, you may be guaranteed entry to your chosen master’s course (see

‘Pre-master’s courses’ from page 185).

For a PhD programme, you will need a UK master’s degree or equivalent from your

home country. Alternatively, you may be able to register initially for a Master of

Philosophy (MPhil) or Master of Research (MRes) course with an undergraduate

degree, then transfer to the PhD programme later if you have made good progress.

MBA

Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses usually require a UK undergraduatedegree or equivalent, or a professional qualification. Most MBA courses also require

two or three years’ management experience, and possibly also a good score in the

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

There are no gradesfor most master’sdegrees, althoughoutstanding

graduates maypass with merit ordistinction



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Doctorates

A research degree at PhD level is

the ultimate opportunity to pursue

your specialist interest. You will be

expected to identify and develop

your topic under the supervision

of one or possibly two tutors. To

be successful, you will need to

demonstrate strong commitment

and intellectual independence. There

are a number of routes to gaining a

doctorate. The PhD by research is

the most common, but professional

doctorates and New Route PhDs are

becoming increasingly popular.

PhD by research

Although you would usually be

expected to have a master’s degree

before progressing to a PhD, it may

be possible for you to start a PhD if

you have a first-class undergraduate

degree or a significant amount of

relevant work experience. In this

case, you would enrol as an MPhil

student, and then demonstrate that

you are capable of transferring to a

PhD programme.

Doctorate-level study requires

serious commitment – it can take at

least three or four years of full-time

study to complete a PhD. At first,

you will engage in research, and in

your final year you will write your

thesis. This is an essay or report,

usually about 80,000 words long

that is based on an original idea and

explains the methods, results andconclusion of your research. You will

be assigned a supervisor with whom

you will agree your topic.

In most practical arts subjects it is

now possible to undertake a practice-

based research PhD, which allows you

to substitute the long dissertation

for a practical assessment. Some

subjects that allow you to do this

include architecture, choreography,

composition and computer music.

You will work on a creative project

that forms an original investigation

and be required to write an analytical

thesis contextualising your work.

New Route PhD

A New Route PhD provides a more

formal structure than a standard

research PhD and includes taught

modules, and an advanced

research project. This gives you an

opportunity to broaden and deepen

your subject knowledge. You will

also often have the opportunity for

interdisciplinary study.

This qualification is available in 17

core subject areas. Find out more

about New Route PhDs by visiting

individual universities’ websites.

Professional doctorate

These are doctorates for students

who are interested in a professional

rather than an academic career,

and usually require a master’s

degree. They often incorporate both

coursework and research.

The award has a specific subject in its

title, for example Doctor of Education(EdD), Doctor of Clinical Psychology

(ClinPsyD) or Doctor of Business

Administration (DBA).

MASTER’SÔ

DEGREES

Here are the abbreviations

used to describe some of

the most popular master’s

degrees:

LLM Master of Laws

MA Master of Arts

MArch Master of

Architecture

MBA Master of Business

Administration

MEd Master of Education

MEng Master of Engineering

MFA Master of Fine Art

MLitt Master of Letters

MMus Master of Music

MOrth Master of

Orthodontics

MPA Master of Public

Administration

MPH Master of Public Health

MPhil Master of Philosophy

MRes Master of Research

MSc Master of Science

MSocSc Master of Social

Science



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m i n i m u m



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The Master of Business

Administration (MBA) is

the most popular business

qualification with students from

countries across the world. At any

one time, there are about 12,000

international students studying

full-time for an MBA at UK universities

and business schools.

Joining an MBA programme in

the UK will help you develop key

management skills and give you

the ability to analyse complex

problems, and make strategic

decisions. You can choose from

hundreds of programmes that

range from general courses to

those tailored to particular careers,such as agribusiness, business and

finance, oil and gas, construction,

health, hospitality, transport and

technology. Many MBA courses

have links with industry to ensure

that they are relevant to future

employment.

Some students choose to study

while they continue to work and

some work from home using materials

provided by their institutions. Thesecan be paper-based, on CD-Rom or

accessible via the internet.

Choosing your MBA

There are many UK institutions that

offer MBAs. Courses vary, so you

should be careful to select one that

matches your exact needs.

The Association of MBAs (www.mbaworld.com) provides a list of

accredited providers in the UK (and

around the world).

You can choosefrom hundredsof programmesthat range fromgeneral coursesto those tailored toparticular careers

MBAsBoost your chances of succeeding in business



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information about each accredited

programme, including whether the

institution can deliver it through a

local provider in your own country.

The structure of MBA courses varies

from institution to institution, butyou will find that most courses

follow a standard format, with three

distinct stages:

You may also want to consider the

reputation of your MBA programme,

as many employers will take note of

the institution where you studied.

There are numerous commercial

rankings available, and the

Research Assessment Exercise ranks

business and management studies

research at UK institutions (see

page 220).

Do as much research as you can

into both the course and the

institution, and make sure they

provide everything that you’re

looking for. Ask yourself whether

you’re interested in a course that

focuses on broad basic areas of

business or one that specialises in

a specific area.

Check also whether your chosen

institution has links with industry.

Ask to see the career profiles

of alumni and take note of the

opportunities that former students

have had since graduating. For

example, what salaries do they now

earn? This is an excellent way ofdiscovering just how successful an

institution’s graduates have been.

Tuition fees, living expenses and

the length of the MBA are also factors

to consider.

Structure of MBA courses

The Association of MBAs categorises

the courses it accredits into full-

time, part-time, distance/openlearning, modular and blended –

the latter offers a mix of classroom

and online learning. It provides

© C o m s t o c k I m a g e s / T h i n k s t o c k

© J o h n n y G r e i g U K / A l a m y



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Stage 1

A general (or core) programme to give you an

introduction to a broad subject area (for example,

finance, economics, marketing, human resources or

business strategy).

Stage 2

Electives, where you are able to choose those

areas that interest you most. These may

be drawn from options such as corporate

responsibility, innovation, employment relations or

entrepreneurship.

Stage 3

A project or dissertation, which you’ll usually base

on your original research and which may be an

in-company project that you do in conjunction with

a work placement.

Course costs and finance

Costs vary greatly between various MBA courses,

much more than for other programmes. Tuition fees

can range from £10,000 to more than £50,000.

Prices for UK courses can be found in the MBA

courses section, from page 348.

Student profile

Nearly 90 per cent of MBA students on full-time

programmes in the UK are international students.You will encounter an enormous range of

nationalities: 76 countries have 10 or more

students studying a full-time MBA in the UK.

The average age of an MBA student is 31

for full-time courses and 35 for part-time.

On executive programmes, which are aimed

at senior management, students tend to be

in their late 30s to early 40s. About one in 12

MBA students studies for an executive MBA.Find out more about MBAs, including a list of

institutions that offer them, in the MBA subject

guide, which starts on page 343. © M a t W r i g h t / B r i t i s h C o u n c i l



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Good English language

skills are essential if you

are thinking of studying at

postgraduate level in the UK, and

many international students take an

English language course before they

start. The demands of a postgraduate

degree require confidence in both

verbal and written English.

If your English language score is just

below the required level, you may

be able to attend a pre-sessional

English course at your institution

a month before your postgraduate

course starts.

These language courses can also

be open to students who meetthe requirements, but want to be

confident about their level of English

before their course begins.

Student visas

If you need a Tier 4 (General) visa

to study in the UK, you may have

to demonstrate that your level of

English is of a high enough standard

when you apply.

For postgraduate courses, you must

be able to show level B2 on CEFR(Common European Framework of

Reference for Languages), which is

equivalent to 5.5 on the IELTS scale.

Most universities make their own

assessment to check that you meet

the B2 standard. Alternatively they

may require you to take a Secure

English Language Test (SELT).

If you want to attend an Englishlanguage course on a course lasting

no longer than 11 months, consider

applying for a student visitor visa.

If you need a Tier4 (General) visato study in theUK, you may haveto demonstratethat your level ofEnglish is of a high

enough standardwhen you apply

English languageMeet the standard required for postgraduate study



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a t W r i g h t / B r i t i s h C o u n c i l

Examining board Qualifications

Cambridge ESOL

ESOL Helpdesk, University of Cambridge, ESOL

Examinations, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU

Tel +44 (0)1223 553997

www.cambridgeesol.org

[email protected]

Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), Certificate in Advanced English

(CAE), First Certificate in English (FCE), Preliminary English Test (PET), Key

English Test (KET), Business English Certificates (BEC), Cambridge Young

Learners English Tests, International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

City & Guilds

1 Giltspur Street, London EC1A 9DD

Tel +44 (0)20 7294 2885

www.cityandguilds.com

[email protected]

International ESOL Diploma, International ESOL, International Spoken ESOL,

English for Office Skills, English for Business Communications, Access

Certificate in English Language Teaching (ACE), ESOL for Young Learners,

Spoken ESOL for Young Learners

Edexcel

190 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BH

Tel +44 (0)1204 770696

www.edexcel.com

IGCSE in English as a Second Language, IGCSEs in English Language A

and English Language B

English Speaking Board (ESB)

9 Hattersley Court, Burscough Road, Ormskirk L39 2AY

Tel +44 (0)1695 573439

www.esbuk.org

[email protected]

ESB Certificate in EFL (ESOL) at Entry Level 3, ESOL Skills for Life, ESB ESOL

for Work, Family Learning. ESB also has contextualised assessment tasks for

embedded ESOL courses in childcare, health and social care, business studies

and hospitality

Institute of Linguists Educational Trust (IoLET)

Saxon House, 48 Southwark Street, London SE1 1UN

Tel +44 (0)20 7940 3100

www.iol.org.uk

[email protected]

Certificate in Bilingual Skills (CBS), Diploma in Public Service Interpreting

(DPSI), Diploma in Translation (DipTrans), International Diploma in Bilingual

Communication (IDBC)

International English Language Testing

System (IELTS)

British Council Information Centre

58 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6BB

Tel +44 (0)161 957 7755

www.takeielts.britishcouncil.org

[email protected]

IELTS is the world’s most popular language test for education and work. It is

designed to assess the English language ability of candidates who need to

study or work where English is the language of communication

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

International Qualifications (LCCI IQ)

Education Development International, International House,

Siskin Parkway East, Middlemarch Business Park,

Coventry CV3 4PETel +44 (0)24 7651 6500

www.lcci.org.uk

[email protected]

English Language Skills Assessment (ELSA), English for Business (EfB), English

for Commerce (EfC), First Certificate for Teachers of Business English (FTBE),

Foundation English Language Skills Assessment (FELSA), Junior English Tests

and Senior English Tests (JETSET), ESOL International Qualification, Practical

Business English, Spoken English for Industry and Commerce (SEFIC), WrittenEnglish for Tourism (WEFT), Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign

Language (CertTEFL)

Pearson Language Tests

80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL

Tel +44 (0)845 543 0243

www.pearsonpte.com

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic), Pearson Test of English

General (PTE General), Pearson Test of English Young Learners (PTE Young

Learners)

Test of English as a Foreign Language

Educational Testing Service

P.O. Box 6151

Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA

Tel +1 609 771 7100

www.ets.org/toefl

The TOEFL internet-based test is offered 30-40 times a year at more than

4,500 authorised test centres worldwide. The paper-based test is offered six

times a year in areas where internet-based testing is not available

Trinity College London

89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP

Tel +44 (0)20 7820 6100

www.trinitycollege.co.uk

[email protected]

Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE), Integrated Skills in English

(ISE), Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life (SfL – available in the UK only),

Certificates in ESOL for Work (EfW – available in the UK only), Spoken English

for Work (SEW)



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More than 550language providersare accredited bythe British Councilthrough theAccreditation UKscheme, providing aguarantee of quality

UK visa rules can change, so always

check the UK Border Agency website,

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Teaching excellence

The UK has a tradition of excellence

in English language teaching and

you will be joining a community of

more than 600,000 English language

students from around the world.

More than 550 language providers

are accredited by the British Council

through the Accreditation UK scheme.

This is managed by the British

Council in partnership with English

UK, providing a guarantee of quality.

When you choose an accredited

centre, you can be sure your

institution will meet high standards.

Qualifications and

examination boards

To study English in the UK you may

be asked to sit a test that will assess

your level of ability. The three main

tests are IELTS, the Test of English as

a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the

PTE Pearson Language Tests.

Each system assesses four key areas:

listening, speaking, reading and

writing. For IELTS, you’ll be given a

grading in nine bands, from 1.0 (the

lowest, describing someone who may

know a few isolated words of English)

to 9.0 (the highest, describing

someone who is fluent).

If you want to enrol on apostgraduate course and are not

a native English speaker, an IELTS

score of at least 6.5 to 7.0 is usually

required. You may also be required

to get a PTE Pearson Language Test

score of 66 to 70, or 97 to 103 in a

TOEFL. You can find more information

about IELTS, including details and

locations of test centres, and the

dates of the next tests, at www.ielts.

org. To find out more information

about TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl.

For details of Pearson Language

Tests, see www.pearsonpte.com

Teaching methods

No matter which level of course you

choose, accredited English language

providers, with years of experience

working with students from all over

the world, are available to teach you.

The teaching style is mainly practical,

featuring role-playing exercises

and group discussions, and you will

be encouraged to communicate

in English. You’ll use technology

and language laboratories to study

independently.

Course length ranges from a few days

to a whole year, you may be assessedby continuous assessment to exams.

You can find a list of British Council

accredited English language schools,

together with links to their websites,

on the British Council website (www.

britishcouncil.org/accreditation).

Language and study skills courses

are offered by many universities and

colleges alongside academic courses.See ‘English Language’ (page 175) for

more on English language courses

and the institutions that offer them.



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Type of course Description Teaching method

General and Intensive English Courses at various levels, from complete

beginner upwards. Courses are available for

both adults and children

Varies, depending on the centre, the level of

the course and the age of the students, but the

main aim is to develop your communication

skills in English. Activities may include

discussions, problem-solving, simulations and

practising specific language topics

For an intensive course, you can study general

English on a one-to-one basis with your own

teacher

A home tuition course offers immersion in thelanguage: you live as a paying guest in your

teacher’s home

English for Academic

Purposes (EAP)

Designed to develop the language and skills

needed for academic study

Focuses on developing skills such as essay

writing, note taking, seminar participation,

academic reading, library work, using a

computer and subject-specific vocabulary

Pre-university entrance

English courses

Designed to prepare you for study at a specific

UK institution, these cover EAP plus particular

study skills for your chosen course. You may

need to take one if your English is below or

only just at the level required for your course

Focuses on developing skills for your chosen

course, such as essay writing, note taking,

seminar participation, academic reading, library

work, using a computer and subject-specific

vocabulary

English for Specific Purposes Courses are tailored to suit the needs of

particular professions, including art, banking,

computing, electronics, engineering, fashion,

international trade, management, marketing

and public relations, medicine, office work,

airlines, science and technology, teaching,

and tourism

Emphasises developing skills needed in specific

professional settings, from basic telephoning,

report writing and presentation skills, to

business negotiation and using complex

technical language

Exam preparation courses These courses prepare you for a particular

exam, such as IELTS, which can then be used

for employment and education purposes

around the world

Varies from one course to another but aims

to provide students with the techniques

needed for improved performance in the exam.

Students may have the opportunity to practise

the test and to look at reading, writing, listening

and speaking exam papers

English for Young Learners English courses for students typically aged

five to 17

Learning through fun, activity-based

lessons rather than formal grammar orvocabulary lessons

Vacation courses These are run from June to August (UK summer

vacation) or March/April (UK Easter vacation)

and often include holiday activities. Courses are

available for both adults and children

Varies from course to course but the main aim is

to develop your communication skills in English.

Activities may include discussions, games,

problem solving, visits, project work, simulations

and practising specific language topics

English Plus courses Courses include extra study or activities away

from the school such as work experience or

a sport, and may lead to formal vocational

qualifications such as NVQs in floristry or

sports coaching

Depends on the course. For example, English

with work experience could be some weeks

of study followed by some weeks working

in a local business. English with sport might

mean English lessons in the mornings and golf,

football or horsemanship in the afternoons

Teaching English as a Foreign

Language (TEFL) and Teaching

English to Speakers of Other

Languages (TESOL)

Training courses for those who wish to teach

English to others. Courses are available for

those with no experience or for existing

teachers who wish to extend their knowledge

and skills

Courses combining practice and theory are

available at certificate and diploma level.

TEFL/TESOL can be studied up to postgraduate

research level



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Once you have decided

where, when and what

you want to study in the

UK, the next step is to submit your

application. You can find out about

the application process in the

libraries of British Council offices.

They will be able to provide you with

all the information you need througha wide range of useful resources.

A full list of British Council offices

around the world can be found on

page 394.

If you are a Tier 4 (General) visa

student, you will only be able to

study at an institution that is known

as a ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’. You

can see a list of these on the UKBorder Agency’s website (www.ukba.

homeoffice.gov.uk). Search for ‘Tier 4

register of sponsors’.

Finding out who to approach

Unlike the undergraduate application

procedure, postgraduate admissions

are not centralised for most

institutions. In most cases you will

need to apply directly to the college

or university you want to attend.

Many institutions allow you to apply

online via their websites.

For some postgraduate places, you

can apply online using UKPASS. This is

a service run by the Universities and

Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

With UKPASS, you can apply for up to

10 programmes. You can find details

of the universities and colleges that

UKPASS deals with on its website

(www.ukpass.ac.uk).

Some types of postgraduate

course have a different application

Departments willoften allocateplaces on a first-come, first-servedbasis, so try to getyour application inby the end of April

if your course startsin the autumn

Application methodsHow to get on the course you want



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Although you can apply to as many

courses as you like in any one

year, it’s recommended you make a

shortlist of about six to eight. Some

courses fill up quickly, particularly

law and medicine, so apply well in

advance of the advertised deadline.

Departments generally start receiving

applications from the beginning of

the academic year before the year

in which students wish to study. They

will often allocate places on a first-

come, first-served basis, so try to get

your application in by the end of April

if your course starts in the autumn.

This is particularly important if you

are applying for funding.

Details of courses, including master’s

degrees, PhDs and MBAs, are

available online at www.educationuk.

org, along with profiles of the

institutions that offer them.

Studying for a UK

qualification in your

own country

If you want to study on a UK coursebut stay in your own country, your

application will still be handled by the

university or college in the UK.

Contact details of the English

language institutions that run distance

learning courses can be found at

www.educationuk.org/english. You

can download and print off application

forms from most institutions’ websites;some allow you to submit your form

by email. You may also be able to

apply via the UKPASS service.

procedure. For postgraduate

teaching courses, you apply through

the Graduate Teacher Training

Registry (www.gttr.ac.uk). Its website

has information about the institutions

you can apply to. You can also use it

to submit and track your application.

If you are applying for a practice-

based music course at a UK

conservatoire, use the Conservatoires

UK Admissions Service (www.cukas.

ac.uk). For some postgraduate social

work courses, you should apply to

UCAS (www.ucas.com).

Submitting your application

The procedures for applying vary

from one institution to another. While

some have dedicated postgraduate

admissions offices, others will expect

you to apply to the department that

teaches your course.

In general, you will need to complete

a detailed form setting out your

academic qualifications, work

experience and reasons for wanting

to do the course (a ‘personalstatement’). If you are applying for a

research place, you may be asked to

outline a proposal or research plan.

You may also be asked to attend an

interview in the UK, or take part in

one over the telephone or on Skype.

It is important to have good

academic references to support your

application. Choose your refereeswith care, discuss your plans with

them and ensure they can write a

reference promptly.

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WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK

www.educationuk.org

Conservatoires UK

Admissions Service (CUKAS)www.cukas.ac.uk

Edexcel International

www.edexcel.com/

international

Graduate Teacher Training

Registry (GTTR)

www.gttr.ac.uk

UCAS

www.ucas.com

UKPASS

www.ukpass.ac.uk

National Council for

Drama Training

www.ncdt.co.uk

The Council for Dance

Education and Training

www.cdet.org.uk



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AUK degree will give you a

head start on the career

ladder, thanks to state-of-

the-art facilities and the reputation

of UK universities as world leaders

in innovation.

In many other countries postgraduate

programmes last two years or more.Many UK programmes last just one

year, saving you time and money

without compromising on quality.

For postgraduate places, course

costs and tuition fees are set by the

university, so check with institutions

for their exact fees. In particular, fees

for MBA courses vary greatly.

Depending on your nationality, you

may be eligible to pay ‘home’ fees at

the same rate as UK students.

If you are not a European Economic

Area (EEA) national it is likely that

you will have to pay the ‘overseas’

rate. Whatever your nationality,

check UKCISA’s information sheets

at www.ukcisa.org.uk for more

information about tuition fee rates.

Some institutions offer bursariesto talented students, which may

cover the cost of fees or pay the

difference between home fees

and international fees. You can use

Education UK’s Search facility to

find out about scholarships in your

subject area. You will find this on

www.educationuk.org

Fee rangePostgraduate fees for students who

are eligible to pay ‘home’ fees start

at about £3,500 a year. For other

There are manysources of fundingfor internationalpostgraduatestudents. However,competition forthis funding can

be intense

Fees and scholarshipsWhere to find help with funding for your studies



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For other postgraduate places, you may be

able to get help through a number of grants,

awards and scholarships. The British Government

and other UK organisations offer a range of

international student scholarships and awards,

which show the UK’s commitment to sharing the

excellence of its universities with students from

around the world.

To find out if you’re eligible to apply for a

scholarship or a financial grant, start by asking your

Ministry of Education or local British Council office.

They will have information about UK and country-

specific award schemes. Here are some of the main

ones available.

The British Chevening Scholarships

These cover all or part of the cost of a

postgraduate course and are awarded topotential future leaders and decision-makers

from around the world. You can learn more at

www.chevening.com

students, fees start at about £10,000 and may

reach more than £50,000 for programmes that are

in high demand, such as MBAs or science courses

involving extensive laboratory work. You can find

more information about fees for MBA courses in the

MBA section starting on page 12.

It is a good idea to check in advance whether

your course has costs on top of tuition fees – for

specialist equipment or research materials, for

example. This may be the case for subjects such as

medicine, law, finance and science.

For some creative arts courses you may need

to rent your own studio space and provide

your own materials. Make sure you also budget

for essential course items, such as textbooks

and stationery.


Fees for English language courses can vary

enormously, so start your research by checking

course costs with individual institutions. A week’s

tuition at an accredited English language school

can cost £150-£200 for a general English course

without additional benefits, to more than £1,000 for

more specialised, tailored or intensive tuition.

Some UK universities offer free English languagecourses to students registered on undergraduate

and postgraduate courses. These are usually

included as part of the programme on postgraduate

foundation and pre-master’s university courses.

Applying for funding

There are many sources of funding for international

postgraduate students. These can cover both fees

and living expenses. Competition for this funding

can be intense.

Some postgraduate places come with funding

attached, called studentships (see page 25).

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WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK has sections on fees and scholarships

www.educationuk.org

British Council, Funding Your Studies

www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies.htm

Scholarship programmes

www.scholarship-programs.org/positions/united-kingdom

UKCISA Information Sheet Sources of funding for

international students

www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php

Hotcourses Scholarship Search

www.scholarship-search.org.uk

International Education Financial Aid

www.iefa.org

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship

Plan (CSFP)

CSFP awards can cover travel to and from the UK,

tuition fees and living expenses for one to three

years. The CSFP is primarily for postgraduates from

developing Commonwealth countries. You can find

out more at www.csfp-online.org

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

This is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth

Scholarship Commission (with funding from the UK

Department for International Development) and

UK universities to support scholarships for students

from developing Commonwealth countries. To

apply, you should be of high academic calibre and

wish to study a subject of developmental relevance

to your country. For more details visit cscuk.dfid.

gov.uk/apply/shared-scholarships/

Unesco Fellowship Bank Scheme

If you are planning to study education, the natural

sciences, the social sciences, humanities, culture,

communication and information, or informatics,

you can apply for a United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) grant

through your local National Commission.

Unesco cannot consider individual requests for

funding. See www.unesco.org for more information.

Royal Society Fellowships

These enable key post-doctoral scientists from

a selection of countries to carry out research in

the UK. Further details and a list of participating

institutions are available on the Royal Society’s

website at royalsociety.org/funding

Research programmes

Scholarships for research programmes areavailable from Research Councils UK (www.

rcuk.ac.uk). The organisation provides funding

for applied and pure sciences, medicine, social

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t W r i g h t / B r i t i s h C o u n c i l

SCHOLARSHIPS ONLINEÔ

You can search for scholarships online at the British Council’s

Education UK website. It will give you details of thousands ofscholarships appropriate to your country of origin, level of study,

subject, and the UK institutions at which you hope to study.

To search online, visit www.educationuk.org and click on the

‘Scholarship’ tab in the search box.



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sciences, arts and humanities, as well as through

British Council schemes.

Studentships

Studentships – specific areas of study with funding

attached – can be found via a number of websites,

including www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk and

www.scholarship-programs.org

Charities, trusts and other grant-making

organisations

Many charities and trusts provide postgraduate

students with grants and other forms of funding.

Financial help is often reserved for students

from poorer backgrounds, or for those who have

achieved academic excellence.

You can find out more about these charities andtrusts at your library, online, or by ringing the

Educational Grants Advisory Service’s student

advice line: +44 (0)20 7241 7459. Useful

© M a


publications include The Educational Grants

Directory , Charities Digest , The Grants Register

and The Directory of Grant Making Trusts.

Other websites have versatile and accessible

systems to help students examine their funding

options. KnowUK (www.knowuk.co.uk), for example,

has a database that includes the contents of TheEducational Grants Directory and The Guide to

Grants for Individuals in Need .

The direct approach

Many institutions offer postgraduate scholarships,

so find out whether any awards are available to you.

Other sources of funding include the Association

of Commonwealth Universities (www.acu.ac.uk)

and Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (www.scotlandscholarship.com). Visit www.educationuk.org/

scholarships for more information on funding for

international postgraduate students.



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Safeguarding the quality

of education is taken

seriously in the UK, which

is why it is a world leader in the

setting of education standards. All

UK institutions are monitored by

government-appointed agencies.

The quality of teaching is checked

regularly and recognised UKqualifications must satisfy strict

criteria. English language and

professional qualifications have

their own quality systems.


The British Council and English UK

(www.englishuk.com) are partners in

the world’s largest English language

teaching (ELT) quality assurancescheme, called Accreditation UK.

English language schools on the

scheme are inspected regularly to

ensure all aspects of their services

meet rigorous standards.

Look out for the ‘Accredited by the

British Council’ logo (see right) in

information sources, including the

English language subject profiles on

pages 179-183, to see which centres

are registered. You can also find alist of accredited centres at www.

britishcouncil.org/accreditation

Other English language

course accreditations

Several other organisations vouch

for the quality of particular English

language courses in the UK. These

include the British Association of

Lecturers in English for AcademicPurposes (www.baleap.org.uk) and

the European Association for Quality

Language Services (www.eaquals.org).

Quality assuredThe UK maintains rigorous standards of education



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Higher education institutions

Government authorisation

To award degrees, UK universities and colleges

must demonstrate a commitment to quality

assurance and show they have strong systems

for safeguarding academic standards.

In the UK it is illegal to offer degrees or related

qualifications without proper authorisation. This

authorisation – held by 159 institutions – may be

granted by a Royal Charter, Act of Parliament or

the Privy Council.

You can find a list of the UK’s higher education

institutions with degree-awarding powers at

www.bis.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees

Quality assurance

UK universities and FE colleges are self-governing

institutions with full legal responsibility for the quality

and standards of their programmes and awards.

All UK universities have quality assurance systems,

including external examiners. Methods vary from

country to country within the UK, but a 2011 study,

the Review of external examining arrangements in

universities and colleges in the UK , found that the

overall systems were working well.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher

Education (QAA) is an organisation set up and

funded by the UK higher education sector. It

checks how well UK universities are meeting their

quality assurance responsibilities.

The QAA usually reviews individual institutions

every five to six years. It also advises institutions

on how to develop their systems to ensure

they are delivering a high-quality experience tostudents. You can read the QAA’s review reports

of individual institutions on its website

(www.qaa.ac.uk).

© U K S t o c k I m a g e s L t d / A l a m y

© R o s e m a r y R o b e r t s / A l a m y

WEB LINKSÔ

Accreditation UK

www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation

Department for Education

www.education.gov.uk

UK Government information on universities

www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

www.bis.gov.uk

Register of Regulated Qualifications

www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk

Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)

www.qaa.ac.uk

Department of Education, Northern Ireland

www.deni.gov.uk

CollegesWales

www.collegeswales.ac.uk

Scotland’s Colleges

www.scotlandscolleges.ac.uk

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

www.scqf.org.uk

Scottish Executive

www.scotland.gov.uk



www.educationuk.org

28

S t u d yi n g

i n

t h e

U K

© M a


The QAA usually reviews individualinstitutions every five to six years. It alsoadvises institutions on how to develop theirsystems to ensure they are delivering ahigh-quality experience to students

Research Assessment Exercise

The four higher education funding bodies in the UK

collaborated on the Research Assessment Exercise

(RAE) 2008. This assessed the quality of research

being carried out at UK universities, which, in

turn, decided how funding should be distributed

in 2009-10. The research was scored on a scale

from 4* to unclassified (see box to the right for a

detailed description).

The exercise used an expert review assessment,

in which distinguished academics reviewed the

work of their fellow researchers. Some assessment

panels also included experts from industry and

professional bodies.

The 2008 RAE quality assessment results are listed

in this guide in the ‘Choose your subject’ chapters

(from page 173) and are also available in Your

Guide to UK Education 2013: School, College andUndergraduate. For a detailed breakdown of the

results, see www.rae.ac.uk

Accreditation

A course that leads to a vocational or professional

qualification may be accredited by the trade

or professional organisation for the sector.

IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology)

accreditation, for example, is an internationally

respected benchmark.

Educational institutions should be able to tell you

which of their courses have industry accreditation.

RAE GRADES: WHAT THEY MEANÔ

4* Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance

and rigour.

3* Quality that is internat ionally excellent in terms of originality,

significance and rigour, but that nonetheless falls short of the

highest standards of excellence.

2* Quality that is recognised internat ionally in terms of originality,

significance and rigour.

1* Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality,

significance and rigour.

Unclassified Quality that falls below the standard of nationally

recognised work, or work that does not meet the published

definition of research for the purposes of this assessment.



C

omi n g t o t h e U K

© Paul Rapson/Alamy



www.educationuk.org

30

C omi n g t o t h e U K

You may need a student visa

to study in the UK. This gives

you permission to enter the

country and stay for the duration

of your course, usually with a bit of

extra time at the end so that you can

collect your results and attend your

graduation ceremony.

The following pages explain the

application process and offer

guidance on how to get the entry

clearance you need. The regulations

change frequently, so it’s important to

check the UK Border Agency website

(www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk) for the

latest information when you apply for

your visa.

Do I need a visa?

You can find out if you need a visa

on the UK Border Agency website.

Applying can take some time, so it is

important to apply well in advance of

the date you intend to travel. You can

also find out about visa processing

times in your country on that website.

If you plan to study in the UK for more

than six months, for most courses

you will need a Tier 4 (General) visa.

Student visitor

If you are over 18 and intend to stay

in the UK for less than six months

you can apply for a student visitor

visa. If your English language course

lasts up to 11 months, you’ll need an

extended student visitor visa.

Only do this if you are sure youwon’t want to stay for longer than

six months (11 months for English

language courses) and do not need

As the regulationschange frequently,it is importantto check theUK Border Agencywebsite for thelatest information

when you apply foryour visa

Help with your visaUnderstanding UK immigration procedures



www.educationuk.org

31


(Go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.

uk and search for ‘Register of Tier 4

sponsors’.) The register is designed

to give you peace of mind that you

are applying to an officially registered

institution.

An approved course

To qualify for a Tier 4 adult visa,

you must be planning to study

full-time on a course that leads to

an approved qualification, or take a

recognised Foundation Programme

as a postgraduate dentist or doctor.

You can also come to the UK to work

as a student union sabbatical officer

if you are elected to this post at the

institution where you are studying, or

where you recently finished studying.

To find out more about acceptable

courses, go to www.ukba.homeoffice.

gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying

Enough money

To get the remaining 10 application

points, you will need to show

evidence you have paid all or part

of your course fees and (if relevant)

accommodation fees to your Tier 4sponsor; and/or you are receiving

official financial sponsorship; and/

or you have enough money to cover

your course fees and living costs.

If you are bringing dependants, you

need to show you have enough

money to support them too. The

amount of money depends on where

in the UK you will be studying, andwhether you have already been

studying in the UK. Check the UK

Border Agency website for more

to earn money during this time, as

you won’t be able to extend your visit

or work in the UK with this visa.

Prospective students

You can apply to come to the UK as

a prospective student, to help you

decide which course to study or if

you plan to start a course of study

within six months. You will be able to

apply for a Tier 4 (General) visa while

you are in the UK.

How do I enter the UK on a

Tier 4 (General) visa?

The UK’s points-based system aims

to be objective and transparent. To

study full-time you’ll need 40 points

to qualify for a Tier 4 (General) visa.

You can use the UK Border Agency’s

online points calculator to check

whether you are eligible. To qualify

you will need:

Confirmation of acceptance for

studies (CAS)

This unique reference number,

provided by your future university,

college or school, confirms you havean unconditional offer of a place

on a course with a licensed Tier 4

sponsor. It includes details of the

course and your qualifications, and is

worth 30 points towards your visa.

A licensed sponsor

When an institution offers you a place

on a course, it becomes your Tier

4 sponsor. You can apply to studyat any institution on the UK Border

Agency’s register of sponsors, except

those classed as legacy sponsors.

© J

o h n C o o p e r / I k o n P a r t n e r s h i p / B r i t i s h C o u n c i l

WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK

www.educationuk.org

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

www.fco.gov.uk

UK Border Agency


gov.uk

UKBA Visa Services

www.ukvisas.gov.uk

UKCISA advice on

immigration and visas

www.ukcisa.org.uk/

student/immigration.php

UKCISA on Twitter

@UKCISA

UKBA Points Calculator

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.

uk/pointscalculator

UKBA Register of Tier 4

Sponsors


gov.uk/business-sponsors/points/

sponsoringmigrants/

registerofsponsors



www.educationuk.org

32


information (www.ukba.homeoffice.

gov.uk).

Valid supporting documents

The documents you submit to

support your visa application must

be original (not photocopies) on the

official letter-headed paper of your

institution. They will usually include

certificates of your qualifications and

the results of any English language

tests you have passed to be accepted

for study in the UK.

If your documents are not in English

or Welsh, you must send the originals,

with a fully certified translation,

including the translator’s name,

signature and contact details, and the

date they translated the letter.

You must also show you have held

the money the UK Border Agency

estimates you will need to cover

your fees and basic living costs in

your bank account for a period of at

least 28 days ending no more than a

month before you apply.

In most cases you will need to supply

bank statements or other documents

such as a pass book, letter from your

bank or building society, or letter

from a financial institution regulated

by the home regulator confirming

funds or a loan.

The UK Border Agency publishes

local lists of companies it will notaccept statements from, so check

that your evidence is acceptable

before you apply. UKBA will also not

accept mini-statements from ATMs

(cashpoint machines). However,

students from certain ‘low-risk’

countries will usually be exempt from

having to provide this evidence at

the time of application, although they

must still have these documents and

must submit them to the UK Border

Agency if requested to do so. The

bank account should be in your name

or in your parents’ name(s). If you use

evidence of funds in your parents’

name(s) you must also provide

your birth certificate and a letter

of consent from your parents.

How do I apply for a

Tier 4 (General) visa?

You will have to provide a 10-digit

finger scan and a digital photograph.

This biometric data is a standard part

of the process for British Embassies

and visa application centres run by

commercial partners VFS Global and

WorldBridge Service.

You also need to complete the

application form VAF9 – PBS Migrant

and either Appendix 8 (General)Student or Appendix 9 (Child)

Student . You can get the forms

from your local British Embassy or

download them (www.ukvisas.gov.

uk). In some countries the application

form must be completed online.

At the time of writing, it costs £289

(payable in your local currency) to

apply for a student visa from outside

the UK.

Complete the application form and

add your supporting evidence and

VISA CHECKLISTÔ

1. Application form VAF9 –

PBS Migrant and PBS Migrant

guidance notes

2. PBS Appendix 8 (General)

Student or PBS Appendix 9

(Child) Student

3. Your passport or travel

document

4. The visa fee

5. Your biometric details

6. A recent passport-sized

photograph

7. All supporting documents

as specified in Tier 4. For

details, visit www.ukba.

homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-

immigration/studying/

adult-students/evidence



www.educationuk.org

33


application fee. Go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

and click on ‘Where to apply’ to find out which visa

application centre you should use and how to apply

in your country of residence.

Then take or send your form(s), visa fee and

supporting evidence to the application centre.

You must also arrange to provide your biometrics,

which is usually done at the centre.

It can take anything from 24 hours to several

weeks to process your application and issue your

visa, depending on where you live. Check the

latest information at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

visas-immigration/general-info/processing-times

If you have to make your application online, go

to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk and select the link

under the ‘Help and support’ panel on the right of

the page. If your home country is not on the list

of supported countries, do not apply using this

method as your application will not be accepted.

What if there’s a problem?

If the UK’s entry clearance officer (ECO) isn’t

satisfied with the evidence you have given or if you

have been denied entry clearance, immediately

contact the school, college or university that

you applied to, to find out what to do next. Ifyou can’t get through, telephone UKCISA on

+44 (0)20 7107 9922, between 1300 and 1600

(UK time) or visit www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_

sheets/immigration_uk.php#ec_refused

What happens next?

Once you have got your visa, check it carefully.

Make sure it says ‘Tier 4 Student’ and that it is

valid for slightly longer than the full length of

your course. If there are any errors, tell yourvisa application centre at once so they can be

amended in good time. Your permission to be in

the UK expires on the date indicated on your entry

© D

a v i d P e a r s o n / A l a m y

clearance. Make sure that your course will have

finished and you will have left the UK by this date.

Errors can be costly later on.

What happens when I arrive?

Only travel to the UK on or after the ‘Valid from’date of your visa and make sure you leave by

the ‘Valid until’ date. When you get to the UK,

you will pass through immigration control. If you



www.educationuk.org

34


are travelling from outside the EU,

an immigration officer will usually

stamp your passport to show

when you arrived. They may ask to

see some of the documents that

you presented to get your entry

clearance, so make sure you have

these with you.

If you arrive within the dates of your

visa, and the application information

you have given is accurate, you

shouldn’t have any problems at

immigration control.

Can I change my visa status?

It is vital you apply for the right kind

of visa. If you need to come to the UK

before your Tier 4 course starts (for

example, for an interview or exam),

explain this to the ECO when you first

apply for your entry clearance and

back it up with relevant documents,

such as the letter inviting you for

an interview.

Once the ECO is satisfied that you

intend to study if you are offered

a place, and that you meet theimmigration requirements, they

will give you entry clearance

for six months on a prospective

student visa.

When you have travelled to the UK

and enrolled on a course (you must

do this before the expiry date of

your Prospective Student visa) you

should apply to switch into the Tier 4(General) visa category. At the time

of writing, a postal application made

in the UK costs £394.

Can I bring my family?

Government-sponsored students

who are studying a course that is

more than six months long, as well

as postgraduate students who are

doing a course that is at least 12months long at a higher education

institution, can bring their spouses or

civil partners, and children under 18

to the UK. To qualify you must show

that you can support your family

financially. For each dependant, you

will need to show you have £450 a

month (£600 in inner London) for up

to nine months.

Your family members should also

apply for entry clearance. The ECO

will need to see evidence of your

Some postgraduatestudents bringtheir spouses, orcivil partners, and

children under 18with them to the UK



www.educationuk.org

35


arrangements to support and accommodate them,

together with your marriage certificate, and a birth

certificate for each of your children. If your family

is given permission to stay in the UK, it will normally

be for the same period as you have been granted.

If they apply at a different time to you, make sure

they have a copy of your passport and your visa.

The ECO will need to see the page that shows your

name, entry clearance sticker and how long you

are allowed to stay. For more information, see the

UKCISA Your family’s immigration information sheet

and ‘Family Matters’ on page 40.

What happens once I’m living in the UK?

Your institution must keep accurate attendance and

enrolment records. It will report to the UK Border

Agency if you do not attend your course, if it stops

being your immigration sponsor, if there are any

other significant changes in your circumstances,

or if it suspects you are breaking the conditions of

your permission to stay in the UK.

Can I work during my studies?

Students with a Tier 4 (General) visa on postgraduate

courses at a higher education institution can work

up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time

in holiday periods, provided they are not filling a

permanent full-time vacancy. But you can’t be self-employed, work as a professional sportsperson or

entertainer, or set up and run your own business.

Regulations about working can change so it is

important to check UK Border Agency guidance

on working before you take a job, as breaking the

rules could have serious consequences. Find out

more at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

Can I stay in the UK after my studies?If you have a Tier 4 (General) visa, you can stay in

the UK until your visa expires, this will normally be

for the full length of your course, and for some time

after your course finishes (depending on the type

and length of your course).

At the end of that time, you must leave the UK

unless you have applied to extend your stay or to

switch to another immigration category. If you want

to work in the UK after your studies, you may be

able to remain:

as a skilled worker under Tier 2 if you haveÔ

graduated in the UK and you have an offer of

work from a Tier 2 sponsor

as a graduate entrepreneur under Tier 1 if youÔ

have been identified by your UK university as

having developed world-class innovative ideas

or entrepreneurial skills. Check whether your

university takes part in this scheme, and visit the

UKBA website for more details

under Tier 5 via the Youth Mobility Scheme orÔ

as a temporary worker. In most cases Tier 4

students must leave the UK and apply for a Tier

5 visa from their home country. Go to the UKBA

website and search for ‘working Tier 5’.

There is more advice on working after your studies

at www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/working_after.php

Can I travel elsewhere while I’m

studying in the UK?

Your Tier 4 visa will allow you to leave and re-enter

the UK, but you will need to check whether you need

a visa for the country you want to visit – this will

depend on which country you come from. You might

need to obtain a Schengen visa in order to visit

Europe. Speak to a welfare officer or student adviser

at your institution before you plan a trip abroad.

All details, including costs and procedures,Ô

correct at April 2012. Always check the UKBA

website for the latest information.

© V

i k t o r C a p / A l a

m y



www.educationuk.org

36


Name Jingsi Li

Home country China

Course MA Anthropology

I applied for my visa about two months before

I came to the UK. I had some help and advice

with it because I went to an international

undergraduate school in China.

There was a teacher in the school who helped us

to prepare the documents to ensure we got our

visas. He would tell us what mistakes students

usually make and what you should pay attention

to, so that was really helpful.

The visa requirements have changed since

I applied. I had to give a lot of details about

how much my mother and father earned every

month and what their work was. But now it’s

more simple. You need to check the updated

information to see the latest requirements.

I looked at the UKBA website for information. It

gives very official instructions for how to apply.

Also, there are some websites designed to

help students apply for overseas universities.

You can find people on these who share their

experiences and any problems they’ve got,

including tips on applying for visas, graduation

and living abroad.

Coming to the UK was worth the effort of getting

the visa, because of the experience I’ve had

and everything I’ve achieved. It’s not only about

gaining knowledge – it’s also about learning

through experience.

Back in China I was always just a daughter, living

with my family and being taken care of all the

time. Now, I can live independently without a

problem. You get used to living with people of

many different backgrounds and cultures. It’s

like a global network and I’m sure it will have an

affect on the path my life takes, so it’s definitely

been worth it.

Look out for this symbol over the

next few pages to see more of my

tips on applying for a UK visa.

Getting a Tier 4 visa

Step 1Work out if you

need a visa

Step 2Find out which

visa you need

Check the UKBorder Agency

website (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk)to see whether you

need a visa

You will need a Tier 4student visa unless youare coming to the UK fora course that lasts less

than six months orcoming for an Englishlanguage course that

lasts less than

11 months



www.educationuk.org

37


Applying for your visa

Step 3Check that you

are eligible

To qualify for a Tier 4(General) visa, you musthave a confirmation of

acceptance for studies for

an approved course at alicensed institution, enoughmoney for your fees and

living costs, and validsupporting documents

Make sure your institutionsends you a confirmationof acceptance for studies.This shows that the college

or university wants you

Depending on whichcountry you come

from, you may needto submit your

application in personat a visa application

centre or online

Step 6Submit yourapplication

Step 4Complete your

applicationforms

Step 5Provide your

biometric data

Make sure you have theright amount of moneyin your bank account

You will haveto provide a

10-digit finger

scan and a digitalphotograph

Depending onwhich country you

live in, you apply online(www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk)

or use the VAF9and Appendix 8application form



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38


Using your visa

Make sure you know howlong your visa lasts for. Ifyou are doing a foundationcourse, you may need to

apply for another visa tostart your academic course

The applicationfee is currently

£289. Check theUKBA website

for updates

It may takeseveral weeks foryour visa to comethrough. You cancheck processing

times on theUKBA website

Make sure theinformation is correct

and tell your visaapplication centre ifthere are any errors

Use the resources on the web.The UK Border Agency website(www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk)has official instructions onhow to apply

Step 9Check itcarefully

Get a lot of people tocheck the English versionof your documents, evenif they have beentranslated professionally.

The quality of languagecould affect yourchances of getting a visa

Step 8Get your

visa

Step 7Pay for yourapplication



www.educationuk.org

39


Living in the UK

Make sure youcome on or

after your visa's

'valid from' date

Your institution will letthe UK Border Agencyknow if you don't seem

to be sticking to theterms of your visa

Depending on yourinstitution and course,you may be allowed to

undertake a limitedamount of employmentduring your studies – it’s

important to stick to

these rules

Step 10Travel to

the UK

Step 12Know your

limits

Step 11Attend your

course

Make sure you know whatyour visa allows you to do.Visas from certain countriesmay not allow you to travelto the rest of Europe while

you are studying



www.educationuk.org

40


You may want to bring your

family with you when you

come to study in the UK.

If so, it makes sense to come on

your own first to organise a place to

live and find out about schools for

your children.

The advice and information belowdoes not apply to European

Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss

nationals and their family members.

Please see UKCISA’s Information

Sheet for EEA nationals at

www.ukcisa.org.uk

Although many international

students do bring their families

with them when they come tostudy in the UK, this is not always

possible, so it is important that

you factor this into the decisions

you make and that you get specialist

advice if you have any concerns

about these arrangements. In

some countries, visa advisers can

help fill out your visa application

to maximise your chances of

getting entry clearance for your

immediate family.

Who can I bring?

As an international student in

possession of a valid Tier 4 (General)

visa, you may be able to bring your

spouse or civil partner and any

children under 18 to the UK with

you, provided the postgraduate

course you are studying lasts at

least 12 months.

Each of your family members

(or you) has to show that they

have the resources to support

Each of your familymembers (oryou) has to showthat they havethe resources tosupport themselvesfinancially and

provide a homefor themselves

Family mattersThe relatives you can bring to the UK



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41


However, you and your family will be eligible for

free health care and subsidised dental treatment

through the National Health Service (NHS). You can

find out more in the ‘Staying healthy’ section (page

62) and at www.nhs.uk

Contact the UKCISA students’ advice line on

+44 (0)20 7107 9922 for further advice about

bringing your family to the UK.

themselves financially and provide a home for

themselves, as well as proving they won’t stay

in the country longer than you do. You can find

more details in the ‘Help with your visa’ section

on page 30.

Can my family visit me?

Your parents, other relatives or any other

family members who have not come with you

to the UK can visit you, for example to attend

your graduation ceremony or simply to make a

visit. They will need to apply for a visitor visa and

should check the UKBA website for details and

the application form.

Child care

Some of the bigger universities will have

nursery facilities on site, which are used by

the children of lecturers and teaching staff

as well as the children of students, and are

often competitively priced. Alternatively, your

international student office will be able to help

you find local child-care facilities.

Can my family study?

Children between the ages of five and 16 receive

a free state education while they are in the UK. It is

compulsory for children under 16 years old to be in

full-time education.

If your children are aged between 16 and 19 they

can attend a further education college, but they

might have to pay.

Can my family work?

Family members older than 16 will probably be able

to work full-time if your postgraduate course lasts

at least 12 months.

What about welfare benefits?

You won’t usually be able to claim benefits for your

family while you are here.

© M

o r g a n L a n e P h o t o g r a p h y / A l a m y

© V

i s i t B r i t a i n / B r i t a i n o n V i e w

WEB LINKSÔ

UK Border Agency

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

UKCISA INFORMATION SHEETS

Your family’s immigration

www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.php



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42


The idea of living in a different

country might seem

overwhelming at first, but

preparing carefully for your arrival

in the UK will mean you can begin

this exciting new chapter of your

life with confidence – and there is

a plenty of support available. From

registering with your institution tochecking your travel arrangements,

it is essential to do some planning

before you set off.

Research

Once you’ve accepted the place

on your course, your university

or college will send you plenty of

information to help you prepare

for your arrival in the UK. This willinclude insights into your institution

(including the all-important

registration details) and your local

area, as well as all the travel and

accommodation options available.

If your institution offers pre-departure

briefings in your country, don’t

miss out.

The British Council runs similar

sessions in many countries where

it has an office. These coverimmigration and passport control

procedures, how to travel, financial

matters, budget planning and cultural

differences. Your nearest British

embassy, high commission or British

Council office will be able to tell you

what documentation you’ll need to

take with you to the UK.

Arrange travelCheck what time you’ll arrive in the

UK. Outside London it’s rare for

transport to run throughout the

From registeringwith your institutionto checking yourtravel arrangements,it is essential todo some planningbefore you set off

Your arrivalStarting your life in the UK



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43


night, so aim to arrive in the UK in the morning

or afternoon. That way you’ll be able to travel to

your university or college when transport is most

frequent and facilities, such as banks and shops,

are open.

Some schools and colleges arrange for students

to be met at the airport and driven to their

accommodation, so check to see whether this

is available to you.

Taking the plane

No matter where you are studying, the UK is

very well serviced if you’re flying in from abroad.

With more than 40 airports and excellent rail

and coach links, it doesn’t matter whether

your institution is in the heart of London or the

Scottish Highlands.

London, for example, has five international airports:

Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and London

City. Other cities with international airports include

Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh,

Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff.

Most airports have both international and domestic

flights, as well as their own well-staffed rail or

coach stations that can take you to nearby towns

and cities where connections can be made forfurther travel.

The international office at your university, college

or school will tell you which is the best airport to fly

to, and the best route to take from there.

Airport security

The UK enforces rigorous security measures at

its international and domestic airports. There

are strict rules about what you can carry in yourhand luggage. Many seemingly innocent items,

such as scissors and matches, will be confiscated.

If in doubt, ask your airline. It’s also essential to

© i m

a g e b r o k e r / A l a m y

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t o c k / T h i n k S t o c k

DOCUMENTS TO KEEP WITH YOUÔ

1. Your valid passport, with the valid entry clearance if you need

it (see page 32)

2. Your travel itinerary

3. Money (cash, traveller’s cheques, credit cards)

4. Health documents, if required

5. The letter of acceptance from your institution

6. Documentation to show you have enough money to pay your

fees and meet your living costs for the duration of your course

7. Originals (or certified copies) of any degree certificates

or technical qualifications you have and English languagecertificate if appropriate.



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leave plenty of time to check in

and pass through security control

before boarding connecting flights –

remember there can be long queuesat busy times.

Ease your arrival

If your institution doesn’t provide an

airport collection service, make sure

you check timetables so you can

arrive safely on your own. For more

travel information, see page 50.

If you need to spend your first nightsomewhere else, before continuing

on to your institution, you should

arrange your accommodation before

If your institutiondoesn’t provide an

airport collectionservice, makesure you checktimetables so youcan arrive safelyon your own

© B


you leave home. On no account

accept an offer of accommodation

from a stranger.

If you need help with transport

or accommodation issues when

you arrive, you can ask at an

official tourist information office

or information desk. However, if

you contact your institution well in

advance it should be able to provide

you with all the information you

require, such as maps, timetables

and details of places to stay. Then,when you arrive in the UK, you’ll be

more than ready for your adventure

to begin.



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With the next Commonwealth

Games and Rugby

World Cup, and annual

favourites such as Wimbledon and

the Edinburgh Festival in the UK, the

next few years will be an exciting

time. Many cultural activities will

run alongside these events. And

the Olympic Park, which hosted the2012 London Olympics, is being

transformed into one of the largest

urban parks in Europe.

In 2010 approximately 30 million

tourists visited the UK – and with

good reason. The country has a long

history of welcoming visitors from

other cultures. London is the most

densely populated and ethnicallydiverse part of the country, but you

will find people from different areas

of the world throughout the UK. The

international student community is

part of this rich culture and you are

likely to encounter people from many

backgrounds, cultures and beliefs.

A fun way to explore the UK is with a

university society or your students’

union. International student societies

regularly organise day or weekendtrips to cultural sites, sporting events

and famous UK attractions. These

offer opportunities to explore new

areas in a friendly and social group.

Enjoy your stay

With world-famous football teams,

cricket clubs, art galleries, theatres

and music venues all over the UK,

there is bound to be something tointerest you. The UK has some of

the world’s best sporting venues,

including Cardiff’s Millennium

There are hundredsof music venueslocated all aroundthe UK. In Londonyou can see aband every nightof the week

About the UKFour countries, one nation



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sea-life centres. Cornwall’s Eden

Project is a scientific wonder, and

historic sites, such as the Neolithic

monuments at Stonehenge and

Avebury in Wiltshire, and the Jorvik

Viking Centre in York, shed light

on the UK’s past. You can find

information about the UK’s latest

exhibitions at www.culture24.org.uk

There are theatres and cinemas in

most UK towns. You could also visit

the world-famous Edinburgh Festival,

which takes place in August and early

September, and catch the latest in

comedy, drama, film and books.

You can check out some of the UK’s

best landmarks and attractions usingthe Education UK interactive map. Go

to map.educationuk.org and click the

icons to explore.

Stadium for rugby and football;

St Andrews Links for golf; Lord’s

Cricket Ground; the All England Lawn

Tennis Club, home to the Wimbledon

championships; and Old Trafford, the

home of Manchester United football

club. England alone has more than 90

professional football clubs, so you are

never far from one of them.

There are hundreds of music venues

around the UK. In most cities, you can

see a band every night of the week.

Even in some of the UK’s smallest

towns, you will find live music. If

you enjoy performing yourself, your

university will be able to help you find

a band, choir or orchestra to join.

The arts scene

You could visit an art gallery every

weekend for a year and still not

see all that the UK has to offer.

For cutting-edge modern art, start

with the Tate galleries in Liverpool,

London and St Ives. If your interests

are more specialised, you can find a

list of all the UK’s art galleries at

www.britisharts.co.uk/artgalleries.html

Whatever your interests, the UK has

a museum to match and many of

them are free. York has the National

Railway Museum, while in Bradford

there’s the National Media Museum.

There are industrial museums around

Bristol, Sheffield and Derby, and

agricultural museums from Midlothian

in Scotland to Kent in south-east England, while Birmingham,

Greenwich, Hull, Portsmouth and

Liverpool boast major maritime and

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l l i e M i l l i n g t o n / G e t t y I m a g e s

CLIMATEÔ

There are four distinct

seasons in the UK: winter,

spring, summer and autumn.

Temperatures seldom

fall below 0ºC or rise

above 32ºC. The hours of

daylight range from 16 a

day in June to just eight in

December. The weather can

be very varied.



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WEB LINKSÔ

CULTURE

Education UK

www.educationuk.org

VisitBritain

www.visitbritain.com

Discover Northern Ireland

www.discovernorthern

ireland.com

ARTS, MUSIC AND THEATRE

British Arts FestivalsAssociation

www.artsfestivals.co.uk

eFestivals – an online guide

to festivals

www.efestivals.com

Edinburgh Festival

www.eif.co.uk

NATIONAL PARKS AND

COASTLINE

National Parks

www.anpa.gov.uk

The National Trust

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

MEDIA AND NEWS

BBC

www.bbc.co.uk

The Guardian

www.guardian.co.uk

The Telegraph

www.telegraph.co.uk

A taste of the UK

The food in the UK reflects the many

ethnic influences in its society. Most

supermarkets sell Asian, African,

Caribbean and Latin American

ingredients, and you can find

restaurants offering dishes from

around the world, including Chinese,

Indian, Thai, Mexican, Italian and

French cuisine.

Most universities have subsidised

restaurants, cafes and bars, which

are often run by the students’ union.

Your union card will also give you

discounts at local eateries. If you

live in a hall of residence, you may

get a cooked breakfast and dinner

as part of the package, but if you

prefer to cook your own food you

can choose self-catering university

accommodation.

Urban living

London, the capital of England, is the

UK’s largest city with a population

of nearly 8 million people. Brimming

with culture, shops and nightlife,

London attracts about 30 milliondomestic and international visitors a

year and is a major draw for students.

Besides London, cities such as

Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester,

and Newcastle – and the UK’s other

capital cities, Belfast (Northern

Ireland), Edinburgh (Scotland) and

Cardiff (Wales) – all have modern

city centres with shops, nightlife andvisitor attractions. They also boast

vibrant multicultural communities with

synagogues, mosques, temples and

churches, and specialist food shops.

You will find most cities have ‘student

areas’ where it is cheap to live.

Historic cities

The UK’s historic smaller cities such

as York, Bath, Canterbury, Exeter, and

Chester provide a different student

experience. Several are home to

some of the UK’s oldest buildings.

In York, for example, you can visit

the 900-year-old cathedral, wander

around the ruins of the 13th-century

castle and see the remains of the

city’s Roman walls.

In some cases, the universities

themselves may have an equally

impressive history, which can be

reflected in the way they are run

today. Durham, Cambridge and

Oxford, for example, are collegiate

universities, where students live and

learn in small colleges, some of which

date back 800 years.

Coastal cities

With thousands of miles of coastline,

the UK offers plenty of places tostudy by the sea. Seaside cities such

as Portsmouth, Liverpool, Cardiff

and Brighton, and towns such as

St Andrews in Scotland, Aberystwyth

in Wales and Falmouth in Cornwall

are all home to institutions that

can offer you a wide range of

undergraduate degrees.

As well as giving you easy accessto beaches and coastal walks,

these places have their own

unique characters, shaped by their



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With thousands of miles ofcoastline, the UK offers plentyof places to study by the sea

© i

S t o c k / T h i n k S t o c k

proximity to the sea. From the vibrant

alternative arts scene in Brighton to

Liverpool’s historic docks, you’ll find

something to spark your interest.

You could even learn to surf at

Europe’s first artificial surf reef in

Bournemouth.

As most coastal towns are smaller

than the UK’s inland cities, they often

have a friendlier community feel.

However, their locations can also

mean they are less easily accessible

and less culturally diverse than other

parts of the UK.

Campus universities

Not all UK universities are in towns.

Some, like the University of Warwick

and the University of East Anglia,have campuses that provide student

accommodation, teaching facilities,

libraries, shops and entertainment

venues all in one place.

Being on campus can mean you

miss out on the life and culture you

would experience if you were living

in a city or town. However, there are

advantages: you don’t need to rely onlocal towns and services, you can find

your way around quickly, and it can

be easier to meet other students.

UK FACTS AND FIGURESÔ

Area 244,820 sq km; 960km from north to south; 480km across at its widest point.

Highest point Ben Nevis in Scotland, which rises 1,344m above sea level.

Population 62.3 million (2010); 84 per cent live in England, eight per cent in Scotland,

five per cent in Wales and three per cent in Northern Ireland.

Density The UK has 246 inhabitants per square kilometre on average. England has the

highest population density.



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The transport infrastructure in

the UK is excellent, so, once

you’ve safely arrived, visiting

the major tourist attractions and

discovering some of the nation’s

diverse heritage will be easy.

You could get a train to Stratford-

upon-Avon, the birthplace ofShakespeare; a coach to Stonehenge,

the neolithic site; or a domestic

flight to Edinburgh to check out its

vibrant international theatre festival.

Nowhere is too far away and you can

move between city, countryside and

coastline in a matter of hours.

Student discounts

Students can get discounts on trainand bus fares in the UK. If you are in

full-time education or under the age

of 26, you can buy a 16-25 Railcard.

It costs £28 a year and gives you

a third off rail fares across the UK.

Visit www.16-25railcard.co.uk

In addition, for £10 a year, the

Coachcard gives you up to 30 per

cent off coach travel and access to

special offers. For more details, see

www.nationalexpress.com

Megabus offers low-cost travel to

more than 60 towns and cities across

England, Scotland and Wales, and

is famous for offering £1 (plus 50p

booking fee) fares around the UK.

EasyBus offers low-cost transfers

from London airports. See www.

megabus.com and www.easybus.

co.uk for more details.

An International Student Identity Card

(ISIC) will prove you are eligible for

You could get a trainto Shakespeare’sbirthplace, a coachto Stonehengeor a flight to theEdinburgh Festival

TravelExplore the UK



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You can usually buy single tickets or

weekly and monthly passes for these

journeys. Intercity coach travel with

companies such as National Express,

Megabus and easyBus will take you

longer distances. Coach companies

also offer special tours to popular

destinations all over the UK.

Look out for special offers (tickets

from London to the coast can

cost as little as £1) and ‘travel and

admission’ package deals to music

venues and festivals.

Taking to the road

The UK has an extensive network

of well-maintained motorways and

roads linking towns and cities.As a student, you can drive a car or

a motorbike in the UK for up to 12

months if you have a valid licence

a range of student discounts. Go to

www.isic.org for more information.

Some travel agents, such as STA

Travel, cater especially for students,

offering budget deals.

Taking the train

The train is the fastest and most

efficient way to travel in the UK. There

is a modern rail network that covers

all the main cities, as well as smaller

regional towns.

Most trains are air-conditioned,

and some have electrical sockets

so you can charge your laptop and

phone. There will often be a wireless

internet network that you can either

access for free or for a small fee.

Train travel is a good option if you

have work to catch up on, as many

seats have tables.

To plan your journey across the UK

by rail, use the VisitBritain journey

planner (visitbritain.transportdirect.

info). You can buy tickets at any

train station or online. For best-

value tickets, book in advance andmake sure you travel outside peak

hours. You can book tickets and get

information on routes, fares and

times at www.nationalrail.co.uk or

www.thetrainline.com

Bus and coach

Bus and coach is the most affordable

way to get around the UK, but may

take longer than the train.

Local buses run regularly and will

get you around cities and towns.

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WEB LINKSÔ

VisitBritain

www.visitbritain.com

Discover Northern Ireland

www.discovernorthern

ireland.com

HOST UK

www.hostuk.org

National Rail

www.nationalrail.co.ukThe Train Line

www.thetrainline.com

16-25 Railcard

www.16-25railcard.co.uk

National Express

www.nationalexpress.com

Megabus

www.megabus.com

easyBus

www.easybus.co.uk

Ryanair

www.ryanair.comeasyJet

www.easyjet.com



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from your own country (or an International Driving

Permit) and are at least 17 years old (16 years old

to drive a moped).

After this time you must apply for a UK licence,

or, in some cases, you may be able to exchange

your licence for a UK one. For further information

about driving in the UK see the Driver and Vehicle

Licensing Agency (DVLA) at www.dvla.gov.uk

Remember that people drive on the left side of the

road in the UK and that it’s illegal to use a mobile

phone when driving. You must also wear a seatbelt.

Check out the Highway Code at www.direct.gov.uk/

highwaycode

There is a network of cycle lanes in the UK and you

can plan your journey at www.cycle-route.com.

The UK is small enough to cross comfortably in a

week by bike and its hills are not too demanding.

Always take extra care when sharing a road with

fast traffic. A bicycle can also be a good way to get

across campus and save money on bus fares – look

in local newspapers or on www.gumtree.com for a

cheap secondhand one.

Air travel

Budget airlines, such as easyJet and Ryanair,

often offer domestic flights that are cheaper than

long-distance rail fares. There are also cheap

flights to other European cities from airports

across the UK. However, you may be required to

obtain a ‘Schengen travel’ visa before visiting other

countries in Europe. Check with the embassies of

the countries you wish to visit.

Travel in the capital

The bus and tube – underground train – network

in London is one of the largest in the world. Invest

in a prepaid Oyster card, which allows you to save

money travelling on London’s buses, trams, tubes,

trains and boats.

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You’ve chosen the university

or college you’re going to

study at and have officially

accepted an offer, so the next step is

to decide where you are going to live.

Most universities will guarantee

international postgraduate students

a place in university-managedaccommodation for at least your

first year, provided you are travelling

alone. You will be given a deadline to

apply for housing (usually some time

in July or August). The university will

either provide you with a brochure

outlining the options, or you will be

asked to search an online database

and, in some cases, apply online.

What are the options?

Depending on the size of the

university you have applied to, you

may be offered one or all of the

following options:

Flats and houses

This includes living accommodation

where several students have their

own study bedroom and share

kitchen facilities. Some flats and

houses also have a communaldining area or lounge and bathroom.

Shower and toilet facilities may

be shared.

Studios

These are single rooms with small

kitchens, living and sleeping areas,

and private bathrooms (‘en suite’).

Halls of residenceThese are accommodation blocks

on the university campus with rooms

reserved for postgraduate students.

You will probablyshare with otherinternationalstudents, becausehome postgraduatestudents aren’tguaranteed a

place in universityaccommodation

AccommodationFind a home in the UK

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day and usually cater for vegetarian,

halal and kosher diets.

What to expect

Most student bedrooms contain a

single bed, desk, chair, wardrobe,

bookshelf and wastepaper bin.

Some will also have a lamp. If you

are in an en-suite room you will

also have a shower cubicle, sink

and toilet – otherwise you may

have a sink in your room and

share a toilet and shower with

other residents.

If your accommodation is self-catered

and you are sharing with other

students, you will also have a shared

kitchen. The kitchen is good a place

to socialise with your housemates

and learn how to cook food from

different cultures. You will usually

be assigned a cupboard in which to

store your food.

Most shared houses and flats will

also have a common room or lounge.

This will have comfortable chairs

and may have a television, DVDplayer and music system. Some

bigger blocks of shared flats or halls

will also have coin-operated laundry

facilities in a separate room, while

others may have a washing machine

in the kitchen.

Communal living

The people you share with will

come from a variety of culturesand backgrounds, and you may

find they behave differently in

relation to things such as noise,

Most universities allocate a mix of

male and female students to each

residence. However, if you ask for

single-sex occupancy, the university

will usually do its best to meet your

request. You will probably find you

are sharing with other international

students, because postgraduate

home students aren’t guaranteeduniversity accommodation.

Prices will vary depending on factors

such as whether catering is provided,

whether your room has an en-suite

bathroom, how recently the building

has been refurbished, the proximity

to the university and the number

of people you share with. The cost

usually includes gas, water, electricityand internet connection. If you have

been given a catered option, it will

also include two cooked meals a

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WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK

www.educationuk.org/International-student-accommodation-in-the-UK

UKCISA Accommodation for International Students information sheet

www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/accommodation_overview.php

Accommodation for Students

www.accommodationforstudents.com

tidiness, food preparation, personal

and communal space, study

practices or socialising. It is useful

to approach this experience with

an open mind and a respect for the

needs of others.

Get to know your housemates

as soon as possible. It is also

important to agree at the start

how you will all use the shared

fridges, cupboards and cooking

arrangements. For example: will

you share any food, such as bread

or milk, or will you each buy your

own? Are there any foods that

need to be kept apart for dietary

or cultural reasons? Will you cook

together or separately?

Bringing your family

Most universities will have a

limited number of self-contained

flats for married postgraduate

students and their families. But the

demand for these is high and it

is unlikely you will be guaranteed

a place in university-managed

accommodation. You may find iteasier to travel alone to the UK and

for your spouse and children to join

you when you have found a place to

live (see page 40).

Private rentals

After your first year of study, you

may need to find somewhere

else to stay. The accommodation

office at your university will beable to provide you with details

of available flats and houses, and

approved landlords.

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Your living costs will depend

on where you to choose

to live and study in the

UK. Generally, it costs more to live

in London and the south-east of

England than in other parts of the UK.

Your institution will be able to

provide you with more information

on living costs, but you can expect

to pay anything between £5,000 and

£10,000 a year. You can also ask your

institution about any scholarships and

awards that may be available to you to

help fund your studies (see page 22).

Basic costs

If you’re studying in the UK on a

Tier 4 (General) visa, the UK Border

Agency requires you to show that

you have £1,000 per month if you are

living in London and £800 per month

if you are living outside London.

This is the minimum to cover your

rent, food, bills and basic expenses.

In addition you must show that you

can cover your course fees for the

first year, or the whole course if your

course lasts less than a year.

Your rent will depend on where you

are living. Sharing a private house

may look cheaper, but you will need

to pay bills as well as your rent.

Renting a single room in London is

likely to be more expensive than in

other UK cities. Bear in mind that

most landlords will expect a deposit

in advance (usually equivalent to amonth’s or six weeks’ rent), which is

returned at the end of your stay if the

property has not been damaged.

Fees for halls of residence often

include lighting, heating and water

bills as well as telephone and internet

access. For more information on

how to find a place to live in the UK,

see the ‘Accommodation’ section(page 53).

As well as rent, you will need to

budget for your weekly groceries,

including food, laundry and toiletry

items. If your rent is quoted as

‘exclusive of bills’, you’ll also need to

set aside some money to pay for your

gas, electricity and water.

Use the international student

calculator on the educationuk.org

homepage to help plan your budget.

Living costsWhat you might spend on the basics

WEB LINKSÔ

EDUCATION UK

Budget planning in the UK

www.educationuk.org/

Budget-planning-in-the-UK

International student

discountswww.educationuk.org/

International-student-

discounts

UKCISA

Advice for international

students

www.ukcisa.org.uk

NATIONAL UNION OF

STUDENTS (NUS)

Organisation that campaigns

on behalf of students

www.nus.org.uk

UKCISA INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT CALCULATORHelp with managing your

money for your UK studies

international.student

calculator.org.uk



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There are also student discount fares on trains and

buses. Find out more at your students’ union or at

www.nus.org.uk

Health and educational benefits

All international students on a full-time UK course

lasting more than six months can use the National

Health Service. See the ‘Staying healthy’ section on

page 62 for more information. If you have children

who are where as your dependents, education in

state schools is free for five- to 16-year-olds.

Money-saving ideas

When you start your course, there will be a list

of books and equipment you need to buy. Study

materials can be expensive, so check what is

essential with your institution.

You can buy many things second-hand – look on

campus noticeboards or check out auction sites

such as eBay (www.ebay.co.uk).

Shop at local markets for fresh food and affordable

clothes. You can also save money by buying

food in bulk at supermarkets, where you’ll find

inexpensive clothes and household goods. Cheap

clothes, books and household items can be found

in the UK’s many charity shops.

If you are buying a mobile phone, check the

details of the package you’re being offered. Some

may seem cheap but come with high monthly

subscriptions or call charges.

International phone cards and Skype are two of the

cheapest ways to call home. Skype is an internet

service that allows you to make low-cost phone

calls or to speak PC-to-PC free of charge.

For more information on the best ways to make

international telephone calls from the UK, visit

a website such as www.moneysavingexpert.com

Other possible costs

If you live with people who are not full-time

students, you may have to pay Council Tax. This is

a charge for community services, such as police,

fire brigade, rubbish collection, street lighting

and leisure facilities. You can find out more about

Council Tax at www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_

sheets/council_tax.php

If you own a television in the UK, you must pay an

annual television licence fee. Even if you watch

programmes on a laptop or a mobile phone at

the same time as they are broadcast on TV, you

must still be covered by a licence. A licence costs

£145.50 and there are no plans to change this

until 2016-17.

Halls of residence usually have a licence for

communal areas, but you will usually have to buy

your own licence if you have a TV in your room.

For more information, see www.tvlicensing.co.uk

Student discounts

One of the great things about being a student in

the UK is the many discounts. The students’ union

at your institution will organise social events and

trips that cost very little or nothing at all.

The area around your university or college will alsocater for students, so you’ll probably find cinemas,

nightclubs, restaurants and theatres that offer

student discounts.

In your leisure time there are plenty of free things

to do, such as visiting one of Britain’s many free

museums and galleries. See www.visitbritain.com/

en/cheap-and-free-Britain for ideas.

An NUS extra card, which costs just £11 a year,gives you discounts on books, clothes, sports

equipment, CDs, travel, computer equipment,

cinemas, concerts, restaurants and much more.

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There are several things you

can do to manage your

finances effectively when

you come to study in the UK. From

opening a British bank account, to

finding the best credit card for your

needs and even sending money

home, this section gives you the

information you need to makearrangements that will work for you.

Why open a UK bank

account?

Opening a UK bank account lets you

pay in money, use debit cards for

purchases, withdraw money from

cash machines (ATMs) and pay bills

by standing order or direct debit. It

is safer, cheaper and more efficientthan using cash or accounts in your

home country. You may also be

eligible for a credit card.

Choosing a bank

Many banks will offer you free gifts,

such as money, iPods, shopping

vouchers and travel discounts, if you

open a student account with them.

However, banks’ services, such as

overdraft facilities and the interest

they charge, are much moreimportant than gifts and can save

you money in the long term.

Choose a bank that is local to you.

Some banks have student financial

advisers and a branch on campus.

You can compare the benefits offered

by each bank independently at

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/

yourmoney

Check whether the bank has

telephone and internet banking.

Setting up yourbank account maytake a few weeks,so make sureyou have enoughmoney to live onin the meantime

Managing your financesStay in control of your money



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your money to the UK to pay your

course fees.

If you need help, you can ask the

international students adviser at

your institution or download the

British Bankers’ Association’s leaflet

International students: opening a UK

bank account at www.bba.org.uk/

download/1805

Prepaid credit cards

If you are on a tight budget you may

want to consider a prepaid credit

card that will only allow you to spend

money that you have pre-loaded on

to it. The advantage of this is that you

can ensure you don’t get into debt,

while having a card that enables you

to make purchases over the phone

and online.

These cards are available to

everyone and don’t require

credit checks, so you don’t have

to worry about having a good credit

history. There can be charges and

set-up fees attached to different

cards, so it is worth comparing thefull range of what’s available on

price-comparison websites such

as moneysavingexpert.com

Sending money home

Before sending any money home,

make sure you know what the

charges are and how long it will take.

There are many money-transfer

services available. You can comparedifferent rates and fees using the

independent FX Compared service

(www.fxcompared.com).

Managing your account in this way

can save you time and help you keep

on top of your finances. If you are

opening an internet-based account,

make sure you can withdraw cash

from an ATM when you want to.

With some internet-based accounts,

you can only withdraw money after

transferring it to another bank

account first.

Cheques are less common than

they once were in the UK, but some

landlords may want you to pay your

rent this way, so find out whether a

chequebook is available.

Opening a bank account

Different banks have different rules

about the documents you need to

open a bank account. But in most

cases, you’ll need proof of identity

(passport or national photo ID card),

your address in your home country

and in the UK, and an acceptance

letter from your institution. You may

also need references and statements

from your home bank.

Setting up your account may take a

few weeks, so make sure you have

enough money to live on in the

meantime. If you can, bring cash

in pounds sterling, or a common

currency such as dollars or euros.

For larger amounts of money,

travellers cheques, credit cards or

cash cards are the safest options.Check if you can use your cash cards

from your home bank in UK cash

machines and how you can transfer

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WEB LINKSÔ

EDUCATION UK

International student bank

accounts

www.educationuk.org

British Bankers’ Association

www.bba.org.uk

The Money Advice Service

www.moneyadviceservice

.org.uk

UKCISAAdvice for international

students

www.ukcisa.org.uk

UKCISA INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT CALCULATOR

Help with managing your

money for your UK studies

international.student

calculator.org.uk

Financial comparison sites

moneysavingexpert.com

moneysupermarket.com

www.fxcompared.com



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Working while you are

studying in the UK can be

a fun way to meet other

students and improve your English

at the same time as earning a bit ofextra money. If you are in the UK on a

visa, before you take a job check UK

Border Agency guidelines on working

to see what is allowed under the

terms of your visa.

The UK has a minimum wage (in 2012,

this was £4.98 an hour for workers

between the ages of 18 and 20, and

£6.08 an hour for those aged 21 orover). If you’re lucky you may be able

to find a job that pays more than the

minimum wage.

The amount you earn will depend on

the type of work you do and the part

of the UK you are working in. You

should never accept a job that pays

less than the minimum wage.

Getting a job

The careers advice centre or the

students’ union at your college or

university can help you find a job.

They can show you where to look

(local newspapers, recruitment

agencies, magazines, job centres,

websites and campus noticeboards).

They’ll also give you help withessentials such as writing CVs and

job applications, and preparing for

job interviews.

Work during and after your courseA boost to your career and budget

WEB LINKSÔ

EDUCATION UK

Working while you study

in the UK

www.educationuk.org/

working-while-you-study-

in-the-UK

UK BORDER AGENCY

Guide to working in the UK


gov.uk/visas-immigration/

working

UKCISA

Working in the UK during

your studies

Working in the UK after

your studies www.ukcisa.org.uk



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few months of your course for

up-to-date information.

If you are a national of a country

outside the EEA and Switzerland,

you’re in the UK on a Tier 4

(General) visa and you want to

stay on after your studies to work

in the UK, you may be able to apply

under the Tier 2 (General) route

for skilled workers. You will need to

have a firm offer of a job (usually

paying over £20,000 a year) from

an employer who has a Tier 2

sponsor licence. Go to www.ukba.

homeoffice.gov.uk and search for

‘Tier 2 register of sponsors’. You

could also apply under the Tier 1

Entrepreneur route if your universityis part of the scheme.

If your degree is sponsored by your

government or an international

scholarship agency, you will need

permission from your sponsor to

stay longer in the UK before you

can apply to any UK employment

or visa-extension schemes.

Check with your sponsor or with a

suitable adviser before you make any

definite plans.

For many students, university

campuses themselves provide

good opportunities for casual,

part-time work. There are often

shifts available at the union bar, or

opportunities to get involved with

running events and entertainments.

Ask your fellow students and tutors

to see what’s available.

Many UK universities also have

partnerships with local employers

who want students to work for them.

Some universities run an online

service to help students find work

and employers find staff. Once

registered, you can find part-time

and holiday work that fits around

your studies. Check whether your

university offers this type of service.

Try not to let part-time work interfere

with your studies, and reduce your

hours if possible around exam time

to give yourself the best chance

of succeeding.

Working after your studies

As you near the end of youruniversity studies, you may be

thinking about whether you can

stay on to work in the UK. The UK

Border Agency’s rules on whether

you can stay in the UK to work

after your studies can change, so

check the latest UK Border Agency

guidance (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.

uk/visas-immigration).

You can also discuss your options

with an adviser at your institution

or contact UKCISA during the last

Many UK universitieshave partnershipswith local employerswho want studentsto work for them

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o c h e n T a c k / A l a m y

BEFORE TAKING A JOB:Ô

If you’re in the UK on a visa, make sure that you have the right visa sticker in your1.

passport – one that permits you to work.

Check the number of hours you are able to work with UKBA.2.

Apply for a National Insurance (NI) number. This is for the UK’s social insurance3.

programme that provides payment to people who are unemployed or retired. Your

number will ensure your contributions are properly recorded. See www.direct.gov.uk/

nationalinsurance for information on how to apply for your number.

Make sure you have enough time for your studies.4.



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Hopefully, the time you spend

studying in the UK will be

a happy, healthy period of

your life. But if you do become ill

and require treatment, you will have

access to the UK’s well-established

health-care system, which will be able

to provide all the help you need.

The UK’s National Health Service

(NHS) is the world’s largest publicly

funded health service. Paid for by

national taxation, it provides care for

anyone who is resident in the UK –

everything from routine treatments

to major surgery. Most care is free at

the point of use, although there are

some charges for prescriptions and

dental treatment.

As an international student you can

access the NHS if your course lasts for

at least six months. If your course is

shorter than six months you can only

get certain types of NHS care free.

If you are from the EEA (European

Economic Area), a Swiss citizen, or

studying full-time in Scotland, you’ll

get NHS care no matter how long

your course lasts. Europeans needto make sure they are in possession

of a valid European Health Insurance

Card (EHIC).

Check with your institution or see the

Keeping healthy information sheet on

UKCISA’s website (www.ukcisa.org.uk/

student/info_sheets/keeping_healthy.

php) for more details.

Before leaving home

If you think that you may not be

entitled to full treatment on the NHS,

Staying healthyKeep well while you study

WEB LINKSÔ

EDUCATION UK

Health advice for UK

international students

www.educationuk.org

UKCISA INFORMATION

SHEETS

Keeping healthy

Welfare benefits

www.ukcisa.org.uk

NHS Choices

www.nhs.uk

SKILL

National Bureau for Students

with Disabilities

www.skill.org.uk



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this was £7.40), unless you’re under 19 years of

age and in full-time education. If you have a medical

condition that requires repeat prescriptions, you

can save money by buying a prepayment certificate

(in April 2011, this was £29.10 for three months and

£104 for 12 months) to cover the cost of unlimited

prescriptions. There are no prescription charges in

Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Other treatmentYou can use your NHS card to register with a dentist.

If you’re eligible for NHS treatment, you’ll receive

treatment at a reduced rate, but check that the

dentist accepts NHS patients. Some dentists only

take private patients, who pay full rates. The costs

of eye tests and glasses are not covered by the NHS.

Health tips

You can buy remedies for minor illnesses, such as

headaches and colds, in supermarkets, chemists

and local shops without a prescription from a

doctor. If you’re not sure about what to take,

you can always get free advice from a qualified

pharmacist at any chemist. There is also lots of

advice about symptoms, treatments and staying

healthy on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk

Medical emergencies

If there is an accident or some other medicalemergency, call 999. It’s free, and you can call

on any telephone. An operator will ask you which

emergency service you require (fire, police or

ambulance). Ask for the ambulance service and

be prepared to tell them exactly where you are.

Keeping fit

Many council-run facilities, such as swimming

pools and leisure centres, offer discounts to

students, so check whether there are any specialoffers in your area. Most universities have gyms

that you can use for a small fee per visit or join

by paying a monthly subscription.

you should purchase health insurance before you

travel to the UK, or treatment could be costly.

If you are receiving medical treatment in your

own country, or are disabled, bring your current

prescriptions and a doctor’s report with you

(make sure these are translated into English).

Some medicines that you can get over the counter

in your home country may only be available

on prescription in the UK. However, getting a

prescription is straightforward once you have

registered with a doctor (see below).

When you arrive in the UK, you may need to

produce health certificates to prove you are

immunised against illnesses such as measles,

mumps, rubella, meningitis C, polio, diphtheria and

tetanus. If you’re from a country where there is a

high risk of tuberculosis (TB), you may also need

a chest x-ray report.

Ask the British embassy or high commission in

your home country which inoculations you need to

enter the UK. It is also a good idea to bring medical

information, such as your blood type and medical

history, with you to give to your doctor in the UK.

Register with a doctor

It makes sense to register with a doctor, commonlyknown as a GP (general practitioner), within the first

two weeks of arriving in the UK, as this will make it

easier to see the doctor when you need to. You will

need your passport, proof that you are a student

(enrolment letter or student card) and proof of

your address. Your university or college may have

a doctor’s surgery or health centre on campus, or

you can find one using NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk

Once you have registered, you will receive anNHS medical card. It’s free to see a doctor but in

England you’ll have to pay a nominal charge for

each medicine you are prescribed (in April 2011,

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UK universities and colleges

are well equipped to offer

practical advice and guidance

on any challenges you may face.

Student welfare services are on

hand to offer help with finding

accommodation, extending your

stay, providing emotional support –

whatever you need to make the mostof your stay.

On arrival

Student services at your university or

college will help you with areas such

as accommodation, student visas and

legal requirements, even before you

reach the UK.

On arrival, your institution may senda representative to meet you at the

nearest airport or railway station.

Alternatively, it may provide you with

travel information to enable you to

make your own arrangements well

in advance.

Settling in

When you arrive on campus, you

can take part in an orientation

programme. This will familiarise you

with your institution, the local areaand life in the UK. Typically, it will

include a tour of the campus, an

explanation of the institution and its

rules, and social events where you’ll

meet staff and other students.

During your studies

Many UK institutions have specialist

international advisers to support you

throughout the year and they willusually be your first point of contact.

Local religious or cultural groups may

also offer support.

Many UK institutionshave specialistinternationaladvisers to supportyou throughoutthe year

Here to support youLooking after your welfare



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representing students andÔ

campaigning

arranging entertainmentÔprogrammes and social activities

running restaurants, bars andÔ

shops

providing information on studentÔ

travel, sport and leisure facilities

offering advice on welfare issuesÔ

and part-time work, as well as

listing jobs.

International students can stand forelected students’ union posts, which

include the post of international

officer, while in the UK.

Student welfare officers

All UK institutions will have a range

of welfare services providing advice

and support. The welfare officers will

help you with any problems you have

regarding, for example, your finances,

child care or personal issues. Many

institutions also have professional

health-care staff on site.

Support from older students

Having someone close to your own

age to talk to, who has gone through

everything a year or two earlier, can

make life easier for international

students. Many colleges and

universities appoint older students to

help new arrivals settle in and offer

ongoing support. They may also place

older students in halls of residence

corridors otherwise occupied only by

first-year students.

Students’ unions and the NUS

The National Union of Students

(NUS) represents the interests of all

students in the UK. All universities

and most larger colleges have a

students’ union, which is effectivelya local branch of the NUS. You can

pick up your union card from your

local students’ union when you arrive.

The card entitles you to a range of

privileges and discounts such as

cheaper cinema tickets; money off

in shops, pubs and restaurants; and

various other offers that you can find

at www.nus.org.uk/nus-extra

Students’ union services and

activities vary from one institution to

another, but may include:

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WEB LINKSÔ

Education UK

www.educationuk.org

Citizens Advice Bureau

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

HOST

A network of UK residents

who welcome adult

international students into

their homes for short visits

www.hostuk.org

National Union of Students

(NUS)

www.nus.org.uk

UKCISA – UK Council for

International Student Affairswww.ukcisa.org.uk

Postgraduate and MBA Guide 2013

Documents

Transcript of Postgraduate and MBA Guide 2013