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- Specialist Academic Preparation for starting the IB 13 May 2019
- What can I do over the Christmas holidays? 20 December 2018
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- Lecture Tips for International Students 18 September 2018
- Things I wish I’d known before I came to the UK 27 July 2018
- Staying Focused When You’re Missing Home 20 April 2018
- Study Tips for International Students 06 April 2018
- How to Make Friends at University for International Students 06 February 2018
- Getting into Higher Education for Refugees 04 January 2018
- Teaching Syrian and other refugees 15 December 2017
- Should I employ an English tutor to help with my university studies? 04 December 2017
- Five ways to kill time without your phone 21 November 2017
- Photo competition – International students: changing lives 20 October 2017
- A student’s guide to bills in the UK 16 October 2017
- Getting Ready for Results Day 15 August 2017
- Aim Higher for UK Education 23 June 2017
- 7 Alternative Study Break Activities for Students 18 May 2017
- Mental Health and Wellbeing at University 10 April 2017
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December 2019 M T W T F S S « May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Recent Comments
- Tori on Banking in the UK for international students
- Nure Alam Howlader on When do UK universities and colleges have holidays?
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Tag Archives: community
Student questions on the Prepare for Success Question Wall
This month’s blogpost addresses three questions posted recently by international students on the Prepare for Success Questions Wall:
The first is from Mehmush. Mehmush is an Iranian student, who is currently living and working as a nurse in Italy and who wants to apply for a Masters degree programme in the UK.
The first step in applying for any postgraduate degree programme is to inform yourself about what is available in the area you are interested in. There are some online search portals that can be a useful starting point such as the Masters Portal or Masters Compare. However, you should always follow this step by searching for more detailed information on the university websites of the Masters programmes you are interested in and/or by contacting their Admissions office to request a brochure about the courses you are interested in. Once you are in contact with the university’s admissions office you can also ask about costs, possible scholarships and the exact procedure to apply for the course you choose.
The second question is from a student planning to study in Glasgow and who is wondering where the best place to live is – in halls of residence or in the city?
This is a dilemma that many international students have as there are pros and cons for both living in a university hall of residence or sharing a house or flat with others in the local community. Many universities will offer international students a guaranteed place in a hall of residence to save you the trouble of searching for private accommodation. Others will have an accommodation office, which can help in the search for private accommodation. The situation will be different from one city to another but here are some points to help you consider which is best for you.
In a hall of residence:
• You have the opportunity to meet other students, including those studying on different courses.
• You may pay less rent than in private accommodation of a similar size and location.
• Halls of residence are generally situated close to main campuses.
• Utility bills (e.g. for gas, electricity etc) are generally included in your rent.
• Staying in a hall of residence can help you to feel part of the university community.
In private accommodation:
• You have the opportunity to live and share with friends.
• You may feel more independent and more in touch with the local community.
• You will have to pay utility bills (e.g. for gas, electricity etc), which are generally not included in your rent.
• You can choose an area of the city that you would like to live in and look for private accommodation there.
• You won’t need to leave your accommodation during vacation time.
• You will be able to search for a more competitive rate for rent.
Lastly, there is a question from Peter from Nigeria. He is concerned about certain kinds of advertising (‘Come Along With A UK Study Abroad Programme With Free Visa’). Is it genuine or is it a fraudulent attempt to obtain money? Should he require proof even if it sounds real?
This is a very important question as every year there are numerous scams involving false promises, to extort money from students. You should always be very suspicious of anything that sounds too good to be true as it probably is, and NEVER send money or bank details in such cases. Reliable Information about how to obtain a study visa is available from the UKCISA website or from the student admissions section at the University you are applying to.
If you have a question related to academic life and study in the UK and you can’t find the answer in the Prepare for Success learning resources, write it on the Question Wall and we will try to answer it here in the blog next time.
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Could you give some ideas for accommodation – should I stay in university residence or rent outside with someone?
Today’s blog post is in reply to a question from a student on the Question Wall:
“Could you give some ideas for accommodation – should I stay in university residence or rent outside with someone?”
As an international student you may need to decide where to live during your studies in the UK. Many UK universities will offer international students a room in a hall of residence – this can be convenient and removes the work of searching for a place to live in the town or city. A hall of residence may be located on- or off-campus but all costs will usually be included in your rental fee.
The most common alternative to this is renting a shared house or flat with other students. You may feel more immersed in the local community if you choose this type of accommodation but you will also need to budget for other costs such as utility bills (e.g. electricity and gas use).
There is likely to be detailed information about the accommodation choices available to you on the website of your college or university, or you can contact the accommodation office. Some useful information for international students about living in the UK, including detailed information about paying rent and other costs and signing a contract, can be found on the Choosing accommodation page on the UKCISA website.
If you have a question related to academic life and study in the UK and you can’t find the answer in the Prepare for Success learning resources, write it on the Question Wall and we will try to answer it here in the blog next time.
Leave a comment...
Posted in Uncategorized