Finance What is the cost of living in the UK?
This will vary according to where in the UK you decide to study. London and other big cities will be more expensive than other areas. The Education UK website gives a general guide to the cost of living in the UK, but you should ask the institution where you choose to study for more detailed local costs of living. You can download the British Council publication, 'Studying and Living in the UK' from their website.
http://www.educationuk.org
How much cash should I bring?
We strongly advise against bringing large amounts of cash and recommend that you bring most of your money as Travellers' Cheques. Keep your Travellers' Cheques in a different place from your passport. To avoid carrying large amounts of cash for your tuition fees, pay your fees in advance, by bank transfer. Alternatively, bring a cheque or bankers' draft payable to the institution. In cash, you should carry enough money to pay for: transport from the airport to your final destination; one or two nights' stay in 'bed and breakfast' accommodation (in case you cannot immediately access your pre-booked accommodation); food; telephone calls home; and any other expenses for the first week (bus fares, stationery, social events and so on). ?200-250 should be enough in most parts of the UK; slightly more in London. We also recommend that you take out travel insurance before you leave home to cover you for your journey and the first week of your stay in the UK.
How do I open a bank account in the UK?
The British Council publication, 'Studying and Living in the UK' provides information about banking in the UK. You might be able to prevent tax being deducted from your interest - ask your bank or building society for form R105 when you open your bank account. Check banks' websites and publicity materials. Some mainstream banks offer accounts and services that meet these principles and there are also a few specialist banks that operate in accordance with them. Once you have opened a bank account in the UK, always let your bank know in writing and as soon as possible if you change your address.
How can I get details of scholarships that are available?
You should contact your local British Council office about any scholarships that are available to students from your country wishing to study in the UK. British Council offices in the UK are not involved in the scholarship process and therefore do not hold information or scholarship application forms. Please note also that the scholarships administered by The British Council are allocated more than one academic year in advance of the start of the course, so you should start enquiring at least eighteen months in advance.Try the following website for further advice:
http://www.internationalgraduate.net/funding.htm
Can I claim welfare benefits?
If you enter the UK as a student, immigration conditions mean that you cannot normally claim welfare benefits. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note, 'Welfare benefits and international students'.
Working in the UK
Can I work while I study in the UK?
Most students on courses of more than 6 months will be given a passport sticker that allows them to work part-time during the term (up to 20 hours a week) and full-time during the vacations. However, for immigration, you must be able to show that you can afford to study and live in the UK without needing to work. You must be able to show other sources of funding apart from your part-time work. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note, 'Working in the UK during your studies'.
Can my husband/wife/son/daughter work while I study in the UK?
This will depend on the amount of time you are given to study in the UK. If you are given 12 months or more, then your husband/wife/son/daughter arriving in the UK with you should be given a passport sticker which allows him or her to work. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note, 'Dependants of international students'.
Can I stay in the UK to work after I have finished studying?
This will depend on whether you meet the requirements for any of the schemes that the Government operate. At the moment, the schemes that are most significant for students who have finished their studies are:
* Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme (for those who have studied and lived in Scotland)
* Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme (the Government changes the list of courses that qualify students for this scheme regularly; the list is very limited and changes regularly at short notice) * Work Permit scheme (for jobs where noone suitable can be recruited, and occupations where there is a shortage of qualified workers)
* Training and Work Experience Scheme (for work-based training for a professional or specialist qualification, or work experience)
* Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (for those with exceptional skills and experience)
* the Innovators scheme (for entrepreneurs) For further information from UKCOSA about these schemes, download the Guidance Note, 'Working in the UK after your studies'.
Do I have to pay tax if I work while I study in the UK?
You can find information about how the tax system in the UK applies to international students on the website of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group at www.litrg.org.uk
You can find further information about tax matters on the website of the Inland Revenue at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/students
Will my qualifications be recognised in the UK?
You can check the equivalence of your country's qualifications with those in the UK by contacting the National Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC). The international recruitment staff at the institution where you wish to study may also be able to advise you.
http://www.naric.org.uk
How can I find out about different courses of study in the UK?
The internet is a good place to obtain information about an institution and the courses it runs. For example,The British Council website www.educationuk.org allows you to search for courses. Hotcourses and UCAS are websites that can help you to search and apply for courses in the UK. Prospects provides details of postgraduate research and study opportunities in the UK. Many institutions have details of their courses on their websites. You can also find contact details for an institution and write or email them to ask for the 'prospectus', a booklet which provides information on the institution and the courses it offers. The institution will send you a copy free of charge. Many British Council offices outside the UK hold copies of prospectuses from UK institutions. Click here for a list of university and college websites. To find your nearest British Council office click here. For further information about this topic, see the British Council's range of Education Information Notes.
What information should I check about the institution I want to study at?
UK immigration permission is now granted only for study at institutions which are listed in the Register of Education and Training Providers, compiled by the UK Government Department for Education and Skills (DfES). It is very important that you check whether the institution you want to attend is in the Register before you make your immigration application. If the institution is not in the Register, your application will be refused. The following education and training providers are automatically included in the Register:
* those that receive public funding;
* institutions that are accredited through the British Council, the British Accreditation Council, or the Association of British Language Schools;
* institutions that have been inspected and approved by government inspection bodies. All other institutions have to apply to be included in the Register. However, their inclusion provides no guarantee of the quality or standard of their courses.
For more information about the Register of Providers, please see the DfES website at www.dfes.gov.uk/providersregister
How do I know which institutions offer UK degrees?
There is an official list of institutions offering recognised UK degrees on the Department for Education and Skill's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/
How do I apply for a place on a course at an institution in the UK? For undergraduate degree level courses, applications to universities must be made through a central admissions system called the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The UCAS website contains a great deal of information specifically for international students. You can even apply on-line. If you are interested in postgraduate courses, visit Prospects Web, a website for graduates. For other courses, check the institution's prospectus for the correct way to apply and the application deadlines.
http://www.ucas.com
How do I find somewhere to live in the UK?
You will need to arrange some form of accommodation before you arrive in the UK, even if it is only temporary. For further information from UKCOSA about this topic, download the Guidance Note on 'Accommodation '.
http://www.studentaccommodation.org
Can my children go to school in the UK while I study in the UK? If your children are aged between 5 and 16, they can attend state primary and secondary schools in the UK, as long as they are here as your dependants. You will not have to pay for this. However, schools may sometimes refuse places to children if they consider their stay in the UK will be too short, or if they have no more places.
Can I get free health care for myself and my family while I study in the UK?
If you are on a course lasting 6 months or more you can get treatment from the National Health Service (NHS) from the beginning of your stay. You will not have to pay for hospital treatment, but you may have to pay for some dental treatment and a standard charge for medicines prescribed by a doctor, depending on your income. This also applies to your husband or wife and children. Children under 16, or under 19 and in full- time education, do not normally have to pay for any treatments.
Can I use my driving licence from home to drive in England, Scotland or Wales?
This will depend on where your licence was issued. You may be able to drive using your current licence for up to 12 months and then take a test. Alternatively, you may be able to exchange your licence for a British licence or apply for a provisional licence and then take the test. |
