INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE

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Like many people, I grew up watching British

TV shows and reading books set in the UK.

Still, nothing could have prepared me for the

experience of being in the place and being

immersed in the British lifestyle. Before I came

to the UK, I spent hours searching the internet

for tips on all aspects of the move, from the

visa application to the quirks of UK culture.

This guide puts all that information into

one easy-to-reach place.

This guide is designed to help you from the

moment you decide to go to the UK all the way

until after you arrive. If you’re still unsure if Britain

is right for you, our guide on why to choose a UK

university will help you make your final decision.

After you sign up for your course and book your

plane ticket, we have tips to guide you through

the process of getting a visa. Our top ten packing

tips will help you decide what items will be

most useful to bring with you on your journey

abroad. We also have a couple different guides

that cover searching for accommodation. This

includes an overview of what to expect when

you’re navigating the student accommodation

market and an article that highlights the benefits

of sharing a house.

Our guide to Britain’s unique culture will help you

as you’re settling down into your new home and

we also have tips for navigating freshers’ week,

the famout UK right of passage.

Although there is a lot you’ll have to do to prepare

for your move, it’s all worth it in the end. Studying

abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,

and the memories you make will stay with you forever.

A few months from now, you’ll be sitting with your new friends

in a pub, and you’ll be so happy you won’t even remember

all the hard work it took to get you there.

We hope this guide helps make your move easier and answers

any questions you may have. Good luck as you begin your

journey to the UK!

Rachel ShapiroEditor

As an international student myself, I know how daunting it can be to move across the world to a place where you don’t know anyone and where the culture is unfamiliar to you.

INTRODUCTION

“Our guide to Britain’s unique culture will help you as you’re settling down into your new home.”

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Why You Should 6Study In The UK

Student Visas 101 8

Top 10 Packing Tips 12

Student 14Accommodation Choices

Sharing A House 18

10 Things You Must Do 20 While Studying In The Uk

Making The Most 24Of Freshers’ Week

15 British Slang Words 28 And Phrases

CONTENTS

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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

English is the global business language of today and to immerse

yourself in this lingua franca will expand your language skills vastly,

potentially resulting in not only the ability to speak English like

a native but to be able to think in English too. Most universities

will require minimum English language criteria so please do your

research beforehand.

THE PRESTIGE

UK Universities are some of the most prestigious in the world.

Eight of the top 50 universities in The Times Higher Education

World Reputation Rankings were in the UK. London in particular

stands out, with LSE, UCL and Kings being permanent fixtures.

What does this mean for you? Jobs. If you graduate from a UK

University, employers will immediately recognise

you as a top applicant.

STUDY IN THE UK

Why you should

over other countries

THE UNIQUE CULTURE

Britain offers a unique, multicultural society which

boasts a long lasting relationship with international

students. Last year over 430,000 international

students studied in the UK, so we know how to treat

our international students well, resulting in their

high return year after year. Alongside its diverse and

multicultural society, the United Kingdom is home

to various cosmopolitan cities, with many areas such

as Yorkshire, Warwickshire, London and Glasgow

incorporating contemporary architecture, lifestyle

and commerce alongside historical buildings

and culture.

Additionally, you’ll never get bored in any city as we

offer galleries, concerts, pubs and excellent nightlife

in almost every town or city. The UK also is home

to many wildlife reserves and world heritage sites.

If nature and history isn’t your thing, Great Britain

is amongst the world’s front runners in sports

and sporting events. Where else can you watch

a Premier League match, see a cricket match or

even spend a day with Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

It’s safe to say that you will always be able to find

something to do and fit right in with British culture.

THE EASY APPLICATION PROCESSES

The online course database, alongside the

informative step-by-step application system means

that it has never been easier to find the perfect

course. UCAS provides around 38,000 course

options ranging from archaeology to zoology,

meaning that you can find the right course in the

right location with just the press of a button. Online

applications are simple and easy to follow, if you get

stuck, you can search for online tutorials to guide

you through the process. Several course applications

run until June 30th, meaning that you have the time

to make the right choice without sacrificing much

time or effort.

6

“The informativestep-by-step application system means that it has never been easier to find the perfect course.”

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• Tier4(General)StudentVisa:

This visa is for students over eighteen who are

planning on doing a full-length course in the UK.

HOW MUCH DOES A VISA COST?

• StudentVisitorVisa: £83 for a six month standard

visa or £150 for an eleven month extended visa.

• Tier4(Child)StudentVisa: £310 to apply

from outside the UK.

• Tier4(General)StudentVisa: £310 to apply

from outside the UK.

WHAT CAN AND CAN’T YOUDO WITH A STUDENT VISA?

• StudentVisitorVisa:

With this visa, you can do a short course, such as an English

language course or a training course, or a study abroad

semester. You can’t study at a state school, work or carry out

any business, marry, extend the visa, bring dependents,

or get public funds.

• Tier4(Child)StudentVisa:

You can study at an independent-fee paying school,

study at a publicly-funded college, apply from inside or

outside the UK, and apply to extend your stay. If you’re over

sixteen, you can work part time for up to 10 hours a week

during term and full time during vacations. However, with this

visa, you can’t get public funds, bring dependents, settle in

the UK, take a full-time job, or be self-employed.

• Tier4(General)StudentVisa:

With this visa, you can study, be a student union sabbatical

officer, apply to extend your stay, apply from inside or

outside the UK, and work a certain number of hours per

week, depending on your sponsorship. You can’t get public

funds or work as a professional sportsperson.

STUDENTVISAS

Now that you’ve been accepted into a UK university, it’s time to apply for your student visa. Here is an overview of the types of student visas available, and how to apply for the visa that you need.

WHO SHOULD APPLY FOR A VISA?

You should apply for a visa if:

• You’refromacountryoutsidetheEuropean

Economic Area or Switzerland

• Youhaveanunconditionalofferfrom

a qualified university

• Youhaveenoughmoneytocoveryour

expenses, including housing, for the duration

of your course

• Youcanread,speak,andunderstandEnglish

• Yourcoursemeetsalloftheothereligibility

requirements listed on the gov.uk website

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENTTYPES OF VISAS?

There are a few different types of visas available. The

one you’ll apply for depends on your circumstances.

The visas specifically for

students are:

• StudentVisitorVisa:

This visa is for students who are doing a short

course of study in the UK. Usually, this visa is

used by students who are studying abroad or

doing an English Language Course. With this

visa, you’ll be allowed to stay in the UK for six

months for a short course, or eleven months

if you’re doing an extended English language

course.

• Tier4(Child)StudentVisa:

This visa is for children between the ages of four

and seventeen who are studying in the UK. To

get this visa, you must have been offered a place

on a course and have the permission of your

parent or guardian. You’ll be allowed to stay in

the UK for the length of your course, plus four

months after.

101

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The UK government website has pages of information about each of these pages. To access this information, go to the gov.uk website. If the answer to your question is not on these pages, you can contact the UK Visa and Immigration office by phone, email, or web chat.

You can also contact your university’s international student office if you have any questions about the immigration process. They have advisors who can help you with the trickiest visa questions.

HOW DOES THE VISA

APPLICATION PROCESS WORK?

To apply for the Student Visitor Visa, the Tier 4

(Child)Visa,ortheTier4(General)Visa,you’ll

use the online application that can be found

on the Visa4UK website. After completing the

online portion of the application, you must go to

a visa application centre to have your biometrics

information taken.

WHAT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SENT?

• StudentVisitorVisa:

For this visa, you must send evidence that

you have been unconditionally accepted to

an accredited university, evidence of any

previous academic qualifications, evidence

that you can support yourself financially for

the duration of your studies, and evidence of

your English language ability or qualifications.

In certain countries, you will need to send

in a Tuberculosis test result. Check the

UK government website to see if this is a

requirement for your country.

• Tier4(Child)StudentVisa:

For this visa, you should send a passport-

sized photograph, proof that you can support

yourself and pay for your course, proof of

parental or legal guardian consent, and your

tuberculosis test results if you’re from a

country that requires tuberculosis screening.

• Tier4(General)StudentVisa:

To get this visa, you’ll need to score forty

points in the total. To get these points, you’ll

firstneedaCAS(Confirmation

ofAcceptanceofStudies)number,

which is provided to you by your university once they’ve given you

an unconditional offer. You’ll also need to send in your passport,

one passport -sized photograph, valid translations if any of your

documents are not in English, bank statements from either you

or your parents/legal guardians that cover at least a consecutive

twenty-eight day period, and for certain countries, a tuberculosis

screening. All of these documents, along with your visa application

and biometrics screening, will get you the forty points you need

to be issued your visa.

WHEN CAN YOU APPLY FOR A VISA?

For all three student visas, you can apply up to three

months before your course of study.

WHEN WILL YOU KNOW IF YOUR VISA APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED?

On average, you’ll get a decision on your visa within

three weeks.

“You should applyfor a visa if - You have enough money to cover your expenses, including housing, for the duration of your course”

WHERE CAN YOU GET MORE INFORMATION ON VISAS?

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Applying for a student visa can be confusing. Here are some tips to help make the process smooth and easy all the way through.

1. GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO APPLY

The visa application is a multi-step process.

You’ll have to first fill out the application online,

then go to a biometrics processing centre,

and then you’ll have to mail everything off to your

country’s UK consulate. You should give yourself

plenty of time to get everything done.

You’re allowed to apply for the visa three months

before your program starts, so save yourself from

last minute panicking by applying as soon

as you can.

2. READ EVERY QUESTION ON THE APPLICATION FORM CAREFULLY

The visa application form is notoriously tricky.

Read every question carefully, and if something

stumps you, don’t be afraid to call in a family

member or friend and see if they understand

what’s being asked. Sometimes, a second set of

eyes is just what you need to make a confusing

question clear.

3. WRITE-IN ANY MISTAKES

There’s always a chance, no matter how many

times you check your application, that you may

make a mistake. Maybe you forgot to include

a time you visited the UK or a Commonwealth

country, or maybe you marked ‘yes’ to a question

when you meant to hit ‘no.’ If this happens, don’t

panic. After you print out your application, you

can write-in anything you forgot or change the

answer to a question. This is perfectly acceptable,

and it won’t have any influence on if your visa

application is accepted or refused.

4. PROVIDE EVERY SUPPORTING DOCUMENT NECESSARY

Every country has different supporting document

requirements. Find the list for your country, and

provide everything on that list. Sometimes, there

will be documents that are optional, such as bank

statements, but you should still provide those

documents if you have them. Everything that’s not necessary

will be mailed back to you, and if you forgot something that is

important, there’s a chance that your application will be delayed

or even rejected. Sending every supporting document

will lessen the chance of this happening.

5. PROVIDE TRANSLATIONS OF DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT IN ENGLISH

If your first language isn’t English and some of your documents

are in your native language, you will have to provide a certified

translation of those documents. The person who certifies these

documents can be a solicitor, councillor, doctor or dentist,

police officer, teacher, or bank or building society official.

They shouldn’t be related to you, living in the same address

as you, or in a relationship with you.

6. DON’T PLAN ANY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR

VISA APPROVAL

When you mail your visa application to the UK consulate, you

have to include your passport. Because of that, you won’t be

able to travel out of your home country while your application

is being processed.

7. CONTACT UK VISA SERVICES OR YOUR UNIVERSITY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

The visa application process can be confusing, but there are

plenty of people who will be able to help you. You can contact

UK Visas and Immigrations by live webchat, telephone, or email.

Or, you can contact your university. The visa application is

tough, but it’s also not meant to be impossible. Anyone at your

university or at the UKVI office will be happy to help you get

your application on the right track.

STUDENT VISAS

“The visa application process can be confusing, but there are plenty of people who will be able to help you.”

11

1. MILITARY EFFICIENCY

When it comes to packing, nobody knows more

than the military. It makes sense – soldiers have

to be ready to move at a minutes notice and

carry vital supplies into the battlefield.

Soldiers also have to make sure they’re looking

sharp, the last thing they want to do is to provoke

their drill sergeant with an un-ironed shirt.

Luckily for us, the military came up with a way to

fold T-shirts that saves space and avoids wrinkles.

The military roll is tricky to master, but is worth it.

Start by folding the sleeves inwards,

then take the bottom quarter and fold it

underneath. Then take one side, grab the top

of the shirt by the sleeve with one hand and take

the bottom of the shirt with the other, and fold

horizontally. Finally, starting from the collar roll

the shirt as tightly as possible and then turn the

bottom of the shirt inside out wrapping your

roll(ifyou’rehavingtroublefollowingthese

instructions, there are loads of soldiers

onYouTubeofferingmasterclassesinpacking).

Your shirt should look like a cotton burrito at this

point and now you’re able to fit twice as many

T-shirts in your suitcase now.

2. DON’T PACK IT, IF YOU CAN BUY IT WHEN YOU GET THERE

You’ve got limited space in your suitcase, so use it wisely.

Work out what you need to bring and what will be easy

to buy when you land. Plates, bowls, pots and pans are all

heavy and take up lots of space. You can get new plates pretty

cheaply once you arrive. Similarly, don’t waste time packing

shampoo, shower gel, and other bathroom products.

Clothes hangers are a must.

3. REMEMBER THE 4PS - PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE

Work out everything you need to bring and then write a list.

Chances are you’ll forget something if you don’t. Chargers

always seem to get left behind and if it’s an iPhone that can

cost you a fair bit of cash once you land. If you plan in

advance and check your list off, you’ll be less likely to

forget the essentials.

TOP TEN PACKING

TIPS

Moving to a new place is always hard. Having to fit your entire life into a suitcase quite frankly, sucks. But worry not, at Accommodation For Students we’re experts in helping students move to new and exciting places. Here’s our list

of the 10 packing tips you need to know if you’re planning on heading to University

in a new country.

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4. USE PACKING GADGETS

When you’re trying to squeeze that extra T-shirt

into your suitcase and it just won’t fit, try using

airless bags. Before you shove the shirt into your

suitcase, put them in an air-tight bag and simply

roll the air out. You’ll be surprised just how much

space air takes up. You can even get bags that

will suck all the air out with a vacuum if you really

need the space. Just be careful, while you can fit

more in, your bag will much heavier.

5. MAKE UNPACKING EASY

Gadgets like compression cubes don’t just help

you save space, but they make unpacking much

easier. Separate different types of clothing into

different airtight containers, and when you need

to unpack you’ll save tons of time. You can find

everything you need straight away.

6. AVOID BRINGING BOOKS AND DVDS

Books and DVDs will fill your suitcase up quickly.

Try to limit yourself to bringing just a few books.

Chances are once your course starts up,

you won’t have time to read anything that isn’t

your set reading anyway. DVDs are basically

redundant now, get a Netflix account instead.

7. SHARE WITH YOUR HOUSEMATES

If you’re sharing a house, there’s no sense in

everyone bring cutlery, pots, pans and the like.

Try and find out who you’re living with before

you get there and split what you need to bring

between you. You only need a couple of frying

pans but unless you co-ordinate in advance then

you’re probably going to end up with about five

too many frying pans.

An added bonus of planning ahead means that you can bring

some more specialised items like rice-cookers or woks without

overpacking.

8. DON’T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

Experienced travelers will know that luggage gets lost.

Split your clothes between two suitcases, so each suitcase

will have underwear, jeans, t-shirts and shoes. That way if one

of your bags gets lost, you don’t have to suffer the indignity

of having 10 t-shirts and no trousers.

9. DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?

Pack once, then unpack. When you’re repacking every item

ask yourself ‘do I really need this?’ If an item makes it through

the second packing, then chances are you need it.

10. POST IT

If you’re still struggling for space or reaching your airlines

luggage limit, try packing a parcel full of light and

non-breakable items like jumpers. Post it to yourself two

days before you leave and then a few days after you

arrive you can pick up your some extra clothes courtesy

of the post office.

“Try and find out who you’re living with before you get there and split what you need to bring between you.”

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14

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CHOICES

UNIVERSITYHALLS OF RESIDENCE

PRO’S

•Great for making new friends. You’ll be sharing

a flat with between 3-15 other students and most

will new to the area and university life.

•Socials! University halls will typically have student-

run residents’ associations or junior common

rooms(JCRs)thatwillorganiseregularsocial

events, from bar crawls to bowling.

•Getinvolved!Mostuniversityrunhallsoffer

opportunities for you to help out and get

experience by running to be on the JCR. This

could be all-important when you’re looking for

that summer internship.

•Noneedtoworry:expectWi-Fi and bills to all be

taken care off when you get there. Everything

should be included in your rent.

• Unlimited heating. With bills all included you can

leave the heating on as long as you want through

cold British winters.

•Can’tcook?Don’tworry,many halls are fully

catered which means that you can avoid learning

how to cook for another year.

CON’S

• Usuallymore expensive than sharing a house.

• Bad for quiet study. University halls tend to be very noisy

because most students staying there are first years who are

(understandably)moreinterestedinpartyingthangetting

a First. Getting a good night’s sleep might be challenging.

• Queueing for breakfast. If you’re staying in catered halls,

expect to spend ages queueing for breakfast and dinner.

• Strict meal times - if you’re in catered halls and miss the

scheduled meal-times then expect

to go hungry.

• Allyoucaneatcateredfoodisgreatforthefirstweek,

but eating the same five meals gets old quick.

• No choice in who you live with. There’s always

a chance you’ll end up sharing with people who you have

nothing in common with.

• Sharing a bathroom with eight other people. Enough said.

• Fire alarms going off. Expect fire alarms to go off in the middle

night as drunk students fail in their attempts to make toast.

Picking a university isn’t the only

big decision you have to make

when you study abroad. Whether

you choose to stay in halls or share

a house will be as big a part of

your university experience as which

course you choose.

At Accommodation For Students

we’ve decided to use our expertise

to make navigating the student

accommodation market a simpler

experience. If you can’t decide

between staying in University-

run Halls, Private Halls, or simply

sharing a house - fear not because

we’ve laid out the pros and cons

of each option.

Staying in University-run Halls of Residence is typically the most common choice for freshers, with most universities guaranteeing students accommodation in their first years.

PRO’S & CON’S

15

PRIVATEHALLS

PRO’S

• Meet new friends from a wide range of courses

and universities. You’ll be sharing with other

students, so if you’re new to the city you can

make friends easily.

• Whilenotascommonasinuni-runhalls,

some private halls organise socials to make

your experience as enjoyable as possible.

• All-inclusive – expect gas, electric, and

broadband to be included in the price.

Some halls even offer contents insurance.

• Live in luxury. Private halls are typically

maintained to a higher standard than university

halls and many offer spacious communal areas

with plush sofas and flat screen TVs.

• Many halls offer a choice between catered

and non-catered accommodation.

• Extra perks. Private halls increasingly offer

benefits like 24hr gym membership included

in the cost.

• Shorter tenancy. Unlike other private

accommodation you won’t be paying

rent over the summer holidays.

CON’S

• Price!Typicallyprivatehallsarethe most expensive of all three

options. However it doesn’t look too bad once you consider that

bills are included.

• Less support. Unlike university halls, private halls are less likely

to have in-house pastoral care on offer.

• You may have less in common with your housemates in private

halls, so it may be a little harder to make friends.

• Noise. Whether you choose university-run or private halls,

expect it to be loud.

• Location. Make sure to check how far the hall is from your

university, typically university run halls will be the closest

to campus.

Private halls offer a similar experience to university halls but are run by private companies instead of the university. As these halls are not run by any particular university, you may end up sharing with students from a variety of different universities.

“Live in luxury. Private halls are typically maintained to a higher standard than university halls.”

16

PRO’S

• You get to choose your housemates,

which means staying with friends rather

than complete strangers.

• It’s cheaper. You can expect to make some

savings when you switch from halls to sharing

a house. AFS research shows that private rented

accommodation costs £343 per month

(£374.50withbillsincluded)whichischeaper

than University owned accommodation

(£426permonth)andprivatehalls.

• More choice. Sharing a house typically means

having more freedom to choose your providers

for things like broadband and electricity.

• Noise is less of a problem. Well, as long

as you pick the right housemates.

• Greater independence. Living in halls isn’t too

much different from living at home, but moving

into shared accommodation means taking

responsibility and learning in the process.

CON’S

• No in-house pastoral care. It’s just you and your housemates,

so you won’t have the same additional support as you would

have in halls.

• Choose your housemates carefully because

you’re going to be stuck with them for the year.

• Longer tenancy agreements, some landlords ask for 44/52 week

tenancy agreement so you may be paying rent over the summer

holidays. If you’re lucky though some landlords will only charge

half the cost of rent over the summer months.

• Risk of burglary. Student houses are frequently targeted

by burglars for their poor security. If you’re sharing a house,

make sure to ask the landlord to put locks on the windows

and a five-lever deadlock on the front door.

• Keepingsharedareascleancanleadtoheated disputes.

Make sure to come up with a cleaning rota to keep arguments

at a minimum.

• Location – expect to travel a bit further to university

when you’re staying in private accommodation.

SHARINGA HOUSESharing a privately-rented flat is the most popular option for second and third years. In most cases you’ll be living with the friends you’ve made on your course, but if you’re new to the country you can still find housemates to share with by using the Housemate finder on our website.

STUDENTACCOMMODATIONCHOICES

“It’s cheaper. Expect to make big savings when you switch from halls to sharinga house.”

17

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the experts inhelping you to liveand study in the UK

Our Study Pack: Your passport to practical help and peace of mind in the UK

18

SHARING

A HOUSEWhat you need to know about

THE GOOD

If you decide to ask around about how it is like to

share a house, get ready to hear countless conflicting

opinions. Luckily, most of them will be positive.

One of the great things about living together

is getting to know people better. If you live in

University halls, organising flat meeting is a real

challenge. In a house however, not only can you

get to know new people more easily but you can

also cook together! And what can be more fun and

bonding than a good cooking session?

By sharing a house you get to choose your

housemates– the choice you usually do not get if

you decide to live in a university accommodation.

Whether you are very sociable or very quiet

(orsomewhereinbetween!),itisalways

you who makes the final decision about

your future housemates.

You can think of sharing a house as an important

step to adult life. It will teach you how to deal with

conflicts, how to maintain good relationships with

others and finally how to be a more mature and

responsible person. All these skills can prove very

useful not only at your workplace but also in your

future house – which, instead of your classmates,

will be shared with your own family.

Best of all – it’s cheaper! Sharing a house is almost always

cheaper than living in halls. Even if you’re happy spending

a bit more than usual, you can get a much better standard

of housing if you’re renting privately.

Sharing a house with people you like creates a very unique

atmosphere that will quickly turn any house into a home.

“You can think of sharing a house as an important step to adult life.”

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Sharing a house has the potential of being

one of your most enjoyable and rewarding

experiences at University. However, the success

of your adventure depends largely on the

choices you make. Make sure you pick the

right people, communicate openly,

and you will never regret your decision.

SHARING

A HOUSE

THE BAD

The reality, however, may sometimes look a bit

differently. Many conflicts are unavoidable but even

more are unanticipated. This is why it is always a

good idea to read about them before experiencing

them.

Disputes about whose turn it is to wash the dishes

can easily escalate. Few things can be more irritating

than a huge pile of your housemate’s dirty dishes

and little flies gleefully flying all around.

If you’re more of a private person, sharing

a house comes with its own challenges.

Your housemates might be nagging you to go out

clubbing, when you’d prefer to get on with your

essay. If you have party animal housemates,

getting a good night’s sleep might be challenge.

This perspective might sound pessimistic

but it becomes a reality more often than

you might think.

TOP TIPSBy no means should all these risks discourage you from going

for a shared house. Life is full of difficult moments – but instead

of avoiding them it is much wiser to face them with courage

and dignity.

Are dirty dishes really worth declaring a war? The simplest

solutions are often the most effective: why do you simply

introduce a cleaning rota? Soon you will enjoy an empty

sink again and learn to appreciate it more than ever before.

Open communication is the key to addressing interpersonal

conflicts. Speak to your housemates openly about your needs.

It is a good idea to agree to some quiet hours, e.g. 11 pm – 8 am.

If you feel that your housemates invite too many friends or do so

much too often ask if they could meet in town instead. The worst

thing you can do is to grit your teeth and hope the situation will

magically improve. It won’t– unless you voice your concerns.

Sharing a house will be an experience you will never forget!

The UK has so many interesting historical sites to visit and great activities to do; it can be hard

to know where to even start. If you’re having that dilemma, begin by taking part in these

ten can’t-miss activities.

10 THINGS YOU MUST DO WHILE STUDYINGIN THE UK

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1. VISIT LONDON

If you’re not already studying in the UK’s capital

city, visiting London should be at the top of

your list of things to do. The vibrant city has

something for everyone: world-class theater,

fascinating museums, beautiful parks,

cool markets. London is also renowned for

its nightlife, and there are plenty of clubs

throughout the city that offer student deals.

2. EXPLORE A CASTLE

Castles can be found everywhere in the UK,

from the remotest parts of the countryside to

the centre of major cities. While you’re studying

in the UK, be sure to go to least one. You could

go to one near your university, or you could go

on a road trip and check out some of the most

popular castles in the UK. No time studying in the

UK is complete without a visit to one of its many

royal palaces.

3. ATTEND A FOOTBALL GAME

Football is one of the most popular sports in the UK, and fans

are known for their enthusiasm and loyalty to their chosen

team. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll enjoy taking part

in all the madness at a football stadium, especially if two

teams with a heated rivalry are playing each other.

4. GO ON A PUB CRAWL

Pubs are a quintessentially British thing, and over the centuries

UK residents have perfected the art of the pub crawl.

Grab your friends and head out for a night of drinking pints

in classic wood paneled, dimly lit pubs. You can plan where

you’re going beforehand, or you can just be spontaneous and

see where the night takes you. Either way, you’re sure to finish

the night with plenty of great stories to tell people back home.

5. HIKE THROUGH THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

The Scottish Highlands are one of the most scenic places found

in the UK. If you’re really ambitious, you could hike the West

Highland Way, a 96 mile trail that goes from Milngavie to Fort

William and takes hikers through some of the most beautiful

vistas in Scotland. If you’re into mountain climbing, you could

hike up to the top of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain the UK.

Or, you could just go for a casual trek on one of the Highlands’

many short hiking trails.

“Even if you’re not a sports fan, you’ll enjoy taking part in all the madness at a football stadium”

10 THINGS YOU MUST DO

22

6. TAKE A TRIP TO THE BEACH

While the British shore may not be too warm,

it’s as picturesque as anything found in the

Mediterranean. There are tons of places to check

out, from the white cliffs in Cornwall and Dover

to the craggy beaches of Scotland to the historic

pier in Brighton. Any of these beaches are great

for a day trip, or you could spend your summer

hopping from beach to beach, checking out

the best the UK has to offer.

7. VISIT A MUSEUM

It may surprise you to hear that most museums

n the UK are free, including famous museums

like the British museum in London, the Scottish

Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the

National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. Even if

you’re not the biggest fan of museums, it’s worth

checking out a free museum near your university

to help you get a better sense of the history

and culture of the UK.

9. EAT A FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST

A full English breakfast consists of fried eggs,

baked beans, mushrooms, hash browns,

tomatoes, black and white pudding, toast, bacon,

and sausage. This tasty meal is served in

restaurants throughout England, and it offers

enough food to fill you up all day.

10. TAKE PART IN A QUIRKY UK EVENT

Finally, round out your time in the UK by

participating in one of the many quirky events

that can only be found in Great Britain.

8. GO TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

Every August, thousands of visitors head to

Edinburgh for the annual festival. There are

tons of events happening during the Edinburgh

Festival, including the Book Festival, which

draws in big-name authors, and the Fringe

Festival, which puts on hundreds of plays

by independent theater companies.

The Edinburgh Festival is a must-see

for any fan of the arts.

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FRESHERS’

WEEKFreshers’ week is a pretty intense week. It can be scary to wave goodbye to your parents and

dive into a strange environment. But most of all, it’s going to be one of the most memorable

weeks of your life! Here’s our advice on making the most of your freshers’ week at university.

Making The Most Of

MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE

Freshers’ week is the most socially acceptable week

of the year to walk up to strangers and introduce

yourself. Start off by befriending everybody in your

block. If you’re nervous, it can be easier to befriend

one flatmate and then go around in a pair.

Together, knock on everybody’s door in your block.

This is a great way of meeting lots of people.

Look out for people on your course, so you have

a friend to go to your first lectures or socials with.

Some of these people might end up being friends

for life!

JOIN SOCIETIES

This is an obvious one, but so rewarding.

Spend a lot of time in freshers’ fair looking at all the

stalls – being a fresher means you have the chance

to try something new. Societies will be friendly and

help you to improve your skills. It’s a great way of

meeting a new circle of friends, and socials could be

weekly. Join your course society, a sport or hobby,

and maybe a charity or campaigning society for a

good mix. It doesn’t hurt to sign your name up and

see if it’s for you, before paying joining fees!

DECORATE YOUR ROOM

Avoid pangs of homesickness by filling your room with

comforts. We have some great blogs on making a student

environment feel like a home on a budget. Your week will

be busy, so we advise arriving early to halls so you can get

unpacking out of the way!

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FRESHERS’

WEEKMAKE THE MOSTOF THE NIGHTLIFE

Even if you don’t like to drink, it is the best way to build friendships at uni.

If you do drink, then don’t go too crazy. This means that you can enjoy more

nights out during the week. Freshers’ events are always the busiest, so make

sure you swap numbers with your flatmates in case you lose them!

As always, stay safe, and always have enough cash leftover for a taxi

in case you need one.

Another good socialising tip is to go into the outside smoking areas. Plenty of

non-smokers also go here – it’s a good breather, and easier to meet and talk to

new people.If you don’t like to go out, that’s fine! But make an effort to go to the

predrinks in your block. You can still have a laugh, and then pop back to your

room when they continue on to the club.

“Your week will be busy, so we advise arriving early to halls so you can get unpacking out of the way! ”

EXPLORE THE CITY

Homesickness might kick in, but this is a chance to

explore a new city. Take a few hours to walk around

and have lunch somewhere new. This can be fun

alone, or with your new flatmates. Take the longest

and most scenic route to the city centre that you can

find. Maybe look for parks or nice places to relax

in for the future.

GET TO KNOW THE CAMPUS

Have a walk around campus and note where all the

buildings are. Familiarise yourself with where you’ll

need to be for your first lectures. This way,

you’ll avoid running late on an early morning.

Check our your student union, and see what’s

available. Services, advice, food, shops –

it’s all good to know!

EAT DINNER WITHYOUR FLATMATES

If you’re in catered accommodation, go to dinner

at the same time and all share a big table. If you’re

self-catered, suggest cooking a big meal together.

Thisismorecommunal,andwillhelpyou(and

everybodyelse)tosettleinquicker.Ifsomeone

is too shy to come out, knock on their door

and ask if they’d like to join in.

STAY HEALTHY

This is important! Freshers’ flu is almost inevitable,

so make sure you register with your local doctor.

Keep your immune system strong. During the day,

remember the basics like keeping hydrated and

eating a balanced diet. If possible, catch up on

missed sleep! Join the gym, keep fit, and detox.

By making the most of your

freshers’ week, you’re setting

yourself up for a great year.

Make sure you know where you’re

going, so you never get lost in the

future. Spend your time building

your friendships. You’ll guarantee

a healthy state of mind,

and a comfortable new home

for the next year.

By Emily Peddle

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facebook.com/unilifestudent

twitter.com/Unilifestudent

www.youtube.com/Unilifestudent

unilife.co.uk

Relaxyou've found your new home

in Southampton and Portsmouth, UK

Offering you home from home

youtube.com/Unilifestudent

unilifestudent

@Unilifestudent

Beautifully designed, extremely well-thought-out, and packed with useful features and services, Unilife properties are, quite simply, in a class on their own when it comes to student accommodation. They’re also in brilliant locations, really close to the university, local amenities and public transport.

- Free, unlimited, high-speed Wi-Fi

- On site gym and movie room*

- Secure entry phone systems and 24-hour recorded CCTV

- Well equipped kitchen area

- Ensuite shower rooms- Comfy double bed with under bed storage - Laundry and cleaning facilities

- 32’’ Smart TV in all Studios

- -

Common RoomGym

Call us to arrange a viewing. We’d love to show you around. Email us at yourspace@unilife.co.uk call us on 0845 5195 100, visit us online and watch our students.

* Park House location

UK slang can be difficult for international students to master. Even students who are from English-speaking countries can have trouble getting a grasp on the words and phrases that are exclusive to Britain. If you’re feeling lost, here are some common slang words and phrases that you may hear popping up in conversations.

‘ALRIGHT?’

Almost every international student is confused by the British

people’s repeated use of the phrase, ‘Alright?’ You’ll hear it

everywhere you go—in class, at the store, with your friends.

This is because ‘Alright?’ is a common greeting, similar to,

‘How are you?’ Before long, you’ll get used to the phrase

and you may even start using it in your everyday life.

‘KNACKERED’

You may hear this word a lot in your early classes, or the morning

after a night out at the pub. This is because knackered is another

word for exhausted or worn out.

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15 BRITISH SLANG

WORDS & PHRASES

EVERY INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT SHOULD KNOW

CHEEKY GORMLESS GUTTED

ALRIGHT? SOD THE F

KNACKERED CHEERS TAKINGGUTTED COCK UP GO

THE FULL MONTY

CAN’T BE ARSEDFD

LOSE THE PLOT

TAKING THE PISS ALRIGHT?

‘CHEEKY’

When someone’s being cheeky, it means they’re being impertinent.

They may be talking back to a friend or a relative. Usually it’s used

in a sentence, such as, ‘Oh, you’re being cheeky today, aren’t you?’

‘TAKING THE PISS’

When someone’s

‘taking the piss’

out of something,

they’re making fun

of it, usually in

a sarcastic way.

You can take the

piss out of pretty

much anything—

friends, bad TV

programs, professors. Although with professors,

you may want to do it out of their hearing range.

‘NICE ONE’

Another common phrase, ‘nice one’ can be used either sincerely

or sarcastically. If used sarcastically, it means something similar to

when someone says ‘good job’ to someone who has completely

messed something up. When used sincerely, it’s usually a form

of praise.

“WHEN SOMEONE’S

BEING ‘CHEEKY’,

IT MEANS THEY’RE

BEING IMPERTINENT”

‘GUTTED’

Gutted is another word for devastated.

Someone may say it if they failed a test,

broke up with a significant other, or any

other highly distressing event. For example,

‘I’m gutted that I didn’t get a higher mark

on that chemistry exam.’

‘COCK UP’

If you’ve cocked

up, you’ve made a

really big mess of

something or made

a big mistake.

For example, ‘She

cocked up her job

interview when she

mentioned that she

made up most

of her CV.’

‘SKIVE OFF’

This is a way of saying you’re going to skip a day

of work or classes. You may hear someone say

something like, ‘I’m going to try to skive off work

today and sleep instead.’

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CHEEKY GORMLESS GUTTEDKNACKERED CHEERS TAKINGGUTTED COCK UP GO

CAN’T BE ARSEDLOSE THE PLOT

TAKING THE PISS ALRIGHT?

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‘THE FULL MONTY’

This phrase became known worldwide when the movie

The Full Monty came out, but even if the phrase itself

is common, most people still don’t know what it means.

If you’re going ‘the full Monty,’ you’re going to go all the

way with something or finish the

whole thing.

‘LOSE THE PLOT’

This is a way of saying someone is going crazy or has become

mentally unstable. It can also be a way to say that someone

is going senile. For example, ‘My grandfather is starting

to lose the plot. He keeps calling me by my mum’s name.’

‘GORMLESS’

Gormless is a word that’s new to most international students.

It’s basically just a way to refer to someone who’s clueless.

For example, ‘That guy in our literature tutorial is completely

gormless.’ You can also shorten it to just ‘gorm.’

‘CHEERS’

Most international students are aware of the word ‘cheers,’

but you may not realize how often it’s used in conversation

in Britain. Instead of saying ‘thank you,’ people often say

‘cheers.’ It’s also common to clink glasses and say a quick

‘cheers’ before having a drink at the pub. Get ready to be

cheering on everybody you meet when you’re living in the UK.

“IF SOMEONE

‘CAN’T BE ARSED’,

THEY CAN’T GET

THE MOTIVATION

TO DO SOMETHING.”

GUTTED

‘SOD’

‘Sod’ is a word that’s used in a lot in British phrases.

You can say ‘sod off’ to someone as a way of telling

them to get lost. You can say ‘sod it’ as a way

to declare that you’re giving up on trying to do

something that’s not working. Or, instead of ‘sod it,’

you could also say ‘sod all is working’ if nothing is

going right. Sod’s versatility means that you may

be hearing it a whole lot.

‘KNOCK UP’

This phrase has different meanings throughout the

world, but in Britain, ‘knock up’ just means to wake

someone up. So if you hear a guy say, ‘I’m going to

go knock up my girlfriend,’ all he’s doing is rousing

her from sleep.

‘CAN’T BE ARSED’

If someone ‘can’t be arsed,’ they can’t get

the motivation to do something. For example,

‘I can’t be arsed to go to that lecture today.’

Life made simple for international students.

Glide makes bills simple for students living in shared households.

We provide gas, electricity, water, telephone, broadband and TV licences. You choose which services you want and we give each housemate a single monthly bill, split equally, so everyone pays the same.

Simply go to glide.uk.com to see how we can make your life simple.

ALRIGHT?

PISS CHEERS30

31GUTTED

Life made simple for international students.

Glide makes bills simple for students living in shared households.

We provide gas, electricity, water, telephone, broadband and TV licences. You choose which services you want and we give each housemate a single monthly bill, split equally, so everyone pays the same.

Simply go to glide.uk.com to see how we can make your life simple.

PISS CHEERS

32

Accommodation For StudentsThe Old Church, Albert Hill Street

Didsbury M20 6RF

Tel: 0845 351 9911

Do you need help findingsomewhere to live?email find@accommodationforstudents.com

and we will help you find a place to stay.