About UNITED-KINGDOM

About United Kingdom (UK)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or, informally, Britain, is a sovereign country in western Europe. Lying off the north-western coast of the European mainland, the UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state‍—‌the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to its east, the English Channel to its south and the Celtic Sea to its south-south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the UK is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 21st-most populous country, with an estimated 65.5 million inhabitants in 2016.

College Fit: At the higher education level, students have a wide range of options when they choose a college or university. Although there are agencies that attempt to rank colleges and universities, the concept of “fit” is also important. The GPA* of admitted students are important, but majors offered, location, number of students enrolled, and campus culture are all factors influecing a prospective student’s decision. Some colleges and universities are publicly funded, while others are privately supported.

*GPA means grade point average. It is the average of all grades received.

Popular student destinations: The top universities in UK are University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Imperial College London, University of Durham etc. (in no particular order). Most of the best colleges in the country are situated in London, followed by Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester. 

Popular courses: Sociology and Social Studies, Law, Business Management, Computer Science, Communications/Media are the popular courses Indian students pursue in UK.

Safety in UK: As a student, you will be as safe in the UK as you are at home. When you get to your college there will be loads of other students who will give you all the information you need about the place. You will find that the country is multicultural and you will soon have friends from all over the world.

Weather

UK has a variable climate changing from day to day. It is difficult to predict the weather. In general, the summers are warm and winters see snowfall. Summers are cooler than those of India.

England - Compared to other places in UK, England is sunnier throughout the year. On some occasions there can be strong winds. Also the rains are unpredictable and it could rain at any time during the year. London, Manchester, Birmingham are some of the popular cities. The average temperature in summers is around 25°C to 15°C; in winters it is around 7°C to 0°C.

Scotland - The climate of Scotland is temperate and can be very unpredictable. Rainfall is not uniform across Scotland, with the western parts getting a lot more rains than the eastern parts. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are the major cities. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 6°C to -1°C.

Wales - In Wales, most of the rain tends to fall between October and January. Days in winters are shorter and the region experiences snow. Summers are warmer than other parts of UK. Cardiff, Newport, Swansea are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 23°C to 12°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 1°C.

Northern Ireland – This region has relatively mild winters and cool summers. Northern Ireland is cloudier than England and gets less sunshine comparatively. Belfast, Lisburn, Newry are some of the popular cities here. The average temperature in summers is around 19°C to 10°C; in winters it is around 8°C to 0°C.

Lifestyle tips

All international students to UK will need a letter from the college in order to open a bank account. The college will give you this letter during the induction and registration events. It is essential that all UK international students register with a local doctor. Again, the college will help you arrange this during the induction and registration events. You will have full access to a wide range of clubs and societies at the university. The college also arranges social events throughout your study period. Typically, this would include city tours, ice-skating, ten-pin bowling and visits to other cities in the UK.

Indians living in UK

Indians are UK’s largest ethnic minority group. There were nearly 1.6 million Indian immigrants living in United Kingdom in 2008. The majority of all Indian immigrants resided in three cities: London, Manchester, and Birmingham. The rest of the Indian immigrants live in major metropolitan areas like Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

Student life

Accommodation

Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university managed accommodation, or with a private landlord. Choosing university managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs.

If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available - so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential facility, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.

Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities. In most cases, you will be asked to enter into a tenancy agreement, which you should read thoroughly before you sign.

The kind of accommodation options available would be -

• Short-term accommodation - Hostels and hotels. Temporary housing which may be offered through your institution while you get settled. Talk to your institution's international support staff or check their website for details.
• Rental - You can rent or 'lease' a property by yourself or with friends. This can be done through a real estate agent or privately.
• On Campus - Living can be a great option to minimize travel. Most universities have comfortable and furnished apartment-style living on campus or close by.
• Homestay - This option allows you to live with a family in their home.

Orientation 

Orientation week is mandatory for international students, so ensure that you arrive before it starts. This is the time where you will be introduced to the university and its services, as well as enroll in your classes. It is essential that you read your guidebook, which is provided by the college. The guide explains each part of the admission process.

Activities

Along with sports, colleges offer extra-curricular activities that provide students a wide range of experiences. Music, drama, science and literary societies in colleges offer opportunities for outdoor education and other leisure activities. Visits to theaters, concerts, and places relevant to the courses of study such as art galleries and museums, religious centers or historical sites, scientific companies and projects are all part of college life.

Admission Process

Requirements

These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above for humanities stream in class XII, and 70 - 80% and above for Science/Commerce stream in class XII will also be required. Foundations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured below 60%. The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university

The following documents also need to be submitted:

• Attested copies of mark sheets of class X, XII, and the Bachelor's degree (if applicable)
  At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently
• If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Resume
• Photocopied score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
• Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
• Others (certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
• Proof of funds

Timeline

Here is a timeline to follow to get admission steps completed in time:

18-12 months before enrollment
• Start researching and select 8-12 universities that you will apply to. Visit university websites and note application requirements, deadlines etc.
• Learn about options to fund your studies.
• Make custom application strategies for different universities.
12-10 months prior to enrolment 
• This is the time when you shift from the preparation mode to creating the application. Think hard about what makes you unique as an applicant and sketch out your strengths and self-assessment.
• Register yourself and start preparing for required standardized tests like GMAT, GRE, UKCAT, TOEFL or IELTS - depending on the course and university.

10 months before enrolment
• Begin by downloading admissions brochures from the university websites.
• Start working on the UCAS admission form and application.
• Search for and begin applying for external scholarships (if applicable).
• Take standardized tests like GMAT and TOEFL.
• Contact your professors and direct managers for at least two reference letters.
• Begin drafting your SOP and essays.
• Alongside your admission applications, plan for your expenses like applying for an education loan.

Enrolments
• Apply before the deadline!
• You may have to appear for a video interview in front of the admissions committee.
• You will get your rejection letter via e-mail by April-June (the months may vary). The acceptance letter helps you attain student visa.
• Gather paperwork for your student visa.
• Depending on the deadline, you will need to notify the universities of your decision, pay a non-refundable deposit, and apply for your student visa.

Application fee: All colleges require that you pay an application fee while applying. The fee amount will differ depending upon the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.

SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect your personality as well.

Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.

LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager etc.

UCAS

Applications to all undergraduate courses are filled through Universities and Colleges Admission System or UCAS - a central organization in the UK that is responsible for receiving undergraduate applications and forwarding them to the respective institutions.

UCAS allows you to apply to five Universities through a common form. £13 is the fees for one course or £23 for multiple courses and applications. The services offered by UCAS are designed for the admission to the September/October intake in the UK and you normally apply directly to a university for courses starting in January or February.

Note - Students seeking admission to a postgraduate taught program will have to apply to individual universities using the application form of that particular university. Most universities offer the facility to apply online for a nominal fee. Once the application form is filled appropriate supporting documents would have to be sent to the university. Although universities do not have a deadline it is recommended that you apply early to enhance your chances of being made an offer.

Intake seasons

The main intake seasons are September/October and January/February in the UK. The services offered by UCAS are designed for the admission to the September or October intake in the UK. You have to apply directly to a university for courses starting in January or February.

Exams

Language exams

International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardized language tests, which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission into colleges. These follow different formats, structure and result bands. These tests are different in various ways but many colleges ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for.

Repetition of exams: IELTS can be taken an unlimited number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as one wishes to, but cannot be taken more than once in a 12-day period. Same with PTE, it can be taken as many times as desired. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test.

Fee: The fee for these exams is Rs 9,300 for IELTS, Rs 10,000 for TOEFL and Rs 9,350 for PTE.

Time to apply: Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake, you should appear for these exams by November, so that you can apply before the first deadline. The universities you will be applying to will mention which exam results they will accept. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would depend on the existing English language proficiency. You may require 2 to 4 months of preparation before the exam date.

General exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Aptitude Test is used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It measures mathematical, English, and reasoning skills of the student.

GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is another test required to be taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue MA or MS. Increasingly many business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose to granting admission for MBA.

The university you will be applying to will mention which exam results will be applicable for the course of your choice. But if they give a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you.

Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year and a gap of 30 days between two tests. You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time. The cost of GMAT is Rs 16,000, and GRE is Rs 12,000.

Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake you should appear for these exams by November so that you can apply before the first deadline. The preparatory duration generally ranges from 4 to 6 months.

Average Scores: The average GMAT accepted score across universities is 540. Average GRE score is 155 for Verbal, 167 for Quantitative and 5.0 for Writing.

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual scores may differ from university to university.

Cost of living

School expenses

The cost of living depends heavily on what part of UK will you be living in along with how much you will socialize. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in the UK are:

• Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
• Groceries and food
• Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
• Phone bills
• Text and reference books
• Airfare for traveling back to India

Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:

• Dining out
• Travel and Vacation
• Car rent and Car insurance
• Cable TV connection

The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city. For international students, undergraduate fees would start with £7,450 for lecture-based courses and can go up to £36,600 for an undergraduate medical degree. But the fee for a lot of international undergraduate programs is around £10,000 on an average. And if you are thinking of applying to a post-graduate course, the majority of international fees for 2013-14 are between £10,000 and £12,000.

Living expenses

As part of the new visa requirements, if you are an international student, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) requires you to have a budget of at least £1,265  per month to study in London, in addition to the tuition fees. If the campus is outside of London, you will require a minimum budget of £1,015 per month as requested by the UKBA. On an average, you may need around £200 to £300 per week to live in or around London. It is just an estimate, and the final costs will vary depending on your lifestyle, place of residence and how much you socialize.

Here is a table that will help you understand the costs in local currency. Keep in mind, the amounts below have been converted from the current Pound to Rupee rate of £ 1=Rs 102. This amount is subject to change.

Health insurance

Insurance Policy is mandatory for international students, as students have to stay abroad for a long period of time. Before getting an insurance make sure that it covers medical expenses, personal accident, dental treatment, study interruption, passport loss etc. Insurance is basically cashless so a student does not need to pay money at the time of hospitalization.

Scholarships

Merit and need-based fee waivers are awarded to international students. Candidate with strong academics, good performance in standardized exams and extracurricular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects.

Documents required: The documents usually needed for a scholarship application are as follows, although the requirements may differ:

• Academic records and photocopies
• A recent CV
• A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
• Certificate of language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores)
• Letters of Reference (LOR)

Loans

Student eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of is whether you are eligible to apply for the loan or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are –

• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical or another course of studies

Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job oriented.

• You must have secured admission to foreign university institutions
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan

Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan.

For Graduation: Job oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities

For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS or even diplomas

These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government.

Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20. If your tuition fees amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a processing fee, while others don’t. it may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you 1% as processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover.

Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the University reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your academic record.

All banks have different requirement for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.

Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after completion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.

If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, an extension of time for completion, of course, may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.

Visa

Refer to Visa section

Checklist before Departure

Pre-departure list

• Book airline tickets
• Buy travel and health insurance
• Arrange accommodation in the UK
• Arrange transportation to/from the airport to home in the UK
• Consider buying traveler’s cheques
• Check baggage and customs limitations
• Clear all paperwork with your home educational institution

Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and keep at home, including:

• Passport
• Airline tickets
• Travel insurance certificate
• Letter of Acceptance from the educational institution
• Key addresses and phone numbers
• A bank statement showing proof of funds
• Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
• Traveler’s cheques—if applicable
• Medical and immunization records
• Academic history and university transcripts

Once you land

You need to have some understanding of the British culture before moving there. Here are a few pointers which will help make your stay comfortable.

Punctuality: British are usually sticklers for punctuality, and it will be considered improper if you are late for an appointment, a tutorial or a social gathering. If you are going to be late it is advisable to let the person know beforehand and explain the situation.

Queues: Queuing is important in the UK, you will have to queue at shops, supermarkets, banks and government offices. Jumping a queue is considered ill-mannered and can annoy those already standing in a queue.

Personal space: The space you leave between you and a person you are speaking to is very culture specific. In Britain, it is usual to leave one arm's length between you and the person you are speaking to, as crossing that invisible boundary will be seen as an infringement of privacy.

Social Niceties: As an international student, you will be perplexed by the number of times the British say please, thank you and sorry. Taking that as a cue, you should add ‘please’ at the end of every request, ‘thank you’ each time someone does something for you.

Driving in the UK: Driving in the UK is on the left side of the road. It is necessary to obtain a UK license by arranging to take a driving test. If this is not done, you run the risk of being prosecuted for driving without a valid license. You must be insured before you can drive a car in the UK. To hire a car in the UK you must hold a full Driver’s Licence or an International Driving Licence and have been driving for twelve months or more.

Bank accounts: Having a UK bank account is important for international students. It can take up to 2 weeks to open a bank account. You can open a bank account only after you are in the UK and have registered on a full-time study. UK law requires banks to make detailed checks on customers to establish proof of identity, proof of address in the home country and proof of new address in the UK.

Travel: London Underground - You can pay a cash fare, use a pre-paid ‘Oyster card’ or buy a paper travelcard. Using an Oyster card, a single fare is £2.10

Buses - Most routes in Central London require that you buy tickets before you board. Ticket machines selling single fares and daily bus passes are located next to the main bus stops on these routes.