British education: A beginner's guide
The British Council gives pre-departure advice to students heading to the UK.
The British Council recently held pre-departure briefings for students heading to the UK for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Maria E. Kallukaren discovered a lot of practical advice at the sessions on how a student need not be at sea on arrival in the UK
It's free, useful and fun. Every year, the British Council hosts pre-departure briefings for students planning to study in the UK. It is holding further sessions in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and in Dubai on Thursday.
A session lasts two hours. And rather than pack all the information into a couple of speeches, the endeavour is to keep interest alive through a number of activities.
These help gauge students' knowledge of the country they will be spending a good chunk of their time in and encourage them to air their worries and apprehensions.
Also keeping in mind a student's tight budget, the emphasis is on how to keep costs down by alerting students to check hidden costs and fees, avail of discounts through their student ID card and learn to budget their money.
The session that Notes attended was led by Stephanie Evans, education UK promotions manager, and Jane East, the assistant education UK promotions manager.
Applying for a student visa
- You must have a confirmed letter of acceptance from the university you are going to study in
- Passport photo
- Visa application form VAF1 (can be downloaded from www.ukvisas.gov.uk/forms)
- Proof of funding to cover university and living costs during the course of your stay
- If you apply with all the documents specified then it normally takes a day to process the visa. This is unless you are called for an interview, in which case you will be given a date when you will be required to come in.
- For more information, refer to the first steps guidance note available in 10- translated languages at www.britishcouncil.org/education/qdu
Documents to carry in your hand luggage
- Copy of the university acceptance letter
- Document showing proof of funding to cover university and living costs
- Certificates of previous educational qualifications
Also carry
- Insurance policy document, in case you have to make a claim
- Some British currency
- List of items in your suitcase (to support your insurance claim in case you lose something).
- Prescription drugs, if any, with a letter/prescription from your doctor
- The address and telephone number of the place where you will be staying
- This is apart from your passport and air ticket
What to pack in your suitcase
- If you could pack only five items, what would they be? For this group exercise, participants came up with a number of interesting suggestions from laptops, DVDs and mobiles to an umbrella and weather-proof shoes.
Most students will in all probability be travelling economy class, which allows only 23 kg of luggage, said Jane East. "So you have to be very careful about what you take," she said. - Clothes. It might be cheaper to buy the bulk of your winter clothing in the UK
- Your national dress for cultural events
- Family photographs, said East, to combat in some small measure the homesickness a student is bound to feel
- As for the students' suggestions, not all of them are as impractical as they sound. A laptop might be a good idea, said Stephanie Evans, considering that it is cheaper in the UAE. And weather-proof shoes are essential keeping in mind the unpredictable English weather
- For information about importing personal effects and goods into the UK try the website of the HM Customs and Excise, UK, www.hmce.gov.uk
- Once you register as a student at your university you will get a student ID card, which gets you discounts in shops, public transport, the cinema etc. "When you go to a shop always check if your ID card can get you a discount," said East.
Buying groceries
One of the activities during the session had participants estimating the prices of basic food items in the UK and comparing them with prices in the UAE.
Here's the comparison.
A large loaf of brown bread
UK: £0.52 UAE: £0.88
A small can of tuna
UK: £0.32 UAE: £0.58
1kg basmati rice
UK: £0.90 UAE: £0.96
200grams of cheese
UK: £1.79 UAE: £1.42
A bottle of shampoo
UK: £1.70 UAE: £1.88
Six eggs
UK: £0.68 UAE: £0.56
Choosing private accommodation
- Check the property out first-hand. Don't rely on photographs shown on the internet.
- How close is it to your university and public transport?
- Find out who your flatmates, if any, are. For instance, if you are a postgraduate student on a one-year masters programme, sharing a flat with undergrads may not be advisable, considering you will have more to study and will need privacy and quiet.
- Sign an accommodation contract only after you have gone through it completely and understood it. In case you are unsure about it take a copy of the agreement to your college accommodation officer or student welfare officer for advice.
- Once you choose a place, ask for a tenancy agreement that will be signed by both you and the owner.
- You might have to pay a deposit before you move in.
Insurance
It is advisable particularly if you are taking valuable possessions such as your laptop. There are student schemes with low premium rates.
Endsleigh is the official UK student insurance company providing possessions, medical and car insurance for international students. For more information log on to www.endsleigh.co.uk.
Taking a health insurance is recommended only if your programme is less than six months in duration.
Students doing programmes lasting six months or more can get treatment from the British National Health Service (NHS), including free doctor's examinations and hospital stay.
He or she should register with a doctor as an NHS patient and take the letter of enrolment at your university as proof of your student status.
Budgeting
Students, who are going to be on their own for the first time will have to get a hang of managing a budget.
Those opting for private accommodation are advised to input the costs of electricity and water - bills are usually sent out every quarter.
"It will be useful to write down whatever you spend money on in the first month," said Jane East.
Opinion
"I hope to get a good exposure to a quality education, British as well as international culture. My fear is that I might not make the best use of the opportunities that I get. I am also nervous about being alone, of cooking and cleaning and doing things by myself."
Anu Suresh
International foundation student at Aston University in Birmingham
Opinion
Ata Bushehri of Iran is going to the UK for a course in general English. He said the session was very useful. But with the London bombings still fresh in people's minds, the session could have addre
