The United Kingdom is a developed capitalist country. The British mainland is located in the British Isles northwest of the European continent and is surrounded by the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea, the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.A brief overview of life experience studying in the UKStudying in the UK, ,Private life of international students in the UK, ,Audrey's Study Life in the UK, ,Cost of studying in the UKThe problem.
A brief overview of the study life experience in the UK
1. Overview of study life in the UK
1. Tips
Tipping is usually done at 10% in the UK. In the US, you have to tip everything, including taxi drivers; in the UK, you usually only tip when you go to a restaurant. Some restaurants add a service charge to the meal price, so you can ask for the meal to be charged separately and the tip to be given separately. But if you feel that the service quality is not good, don't tip.
2. Keep left
In the UK, you drive on the left. It's easy to forget this when you first arrive and look in the wrong direction, only to find a car coming towards you.
Although jay walking is legal in the UK, people usually wait for the pedestrian crossing light to turn green before crossing the road. Unlike in China, drivers in the UK usually don't think of crossing the road in the middle of the busy traffic.
3. Use more polite language
In the UK, you will find that people say "please" and "thank you" much more often than in China, and they often use these two words between friends. Using these polite words has become an element of our culture. So, if you accidentally bump into someone, even on the subway, most people will naturally say "sorry".
4. Different eating habits
In the UK, people drink a lot of tea and coffee, but usually drink cold drinks with meals. Unlike Chinese culture, British people do not think that drinking hot water or hot drinks is necessarily good for health. Therefore, there is no place to fill hot water on university campuses, and you can only see taps that dispense cold water.
Even though there are authentic Chinese restaurants run by Chinese people all over the UK, when your British friends say they have eaten Chinese food, they are probably talking about "British Chinese takeaway", such as fried shrimp chips and lemon chicken. There are Chinese supermarkets in big cities where you can buy all the cooking ingredients, condiments and pots and pans you need. From hot pots to rice cookers, everything is available. But if you live in a more rural area, don't forget to bring some of your favorite foods from China, but British customs have strict regulations on passengers bringing certain foods into the country, so pay attention to the latest regulations.
Another thing to pay attention to is the time and amount of meals. In the UK, dinner is usually more formal than lunch and is larger. Students' lunch is usually a cold sandwich, which is very different from the hot lunch that most Chinese students are used to.
5. Transportation
In big cities, it is usually not cheap to hail a taxi on the street, and it is much cheaper to take public transportation. If you really need a taxi, you can usually call to order a "mimi cab", which is cheaper, but it must be a legally registered taxi company.
In China, you may need to queue for hours to buy train tickets, especially around the Spring Festival. But in the UK, it is different. The easiest way here is to book tickets online. Students under the age of 25 can also buy a student discount railcard. With this card, you can get discounts on train tickets.
2. Ways to save money studying in the UK
1. Discounts for one-time payment
Most schools in the UK allow students to pay tuition fees in three ways: one-time payment, installment payment and monthly payment. In order to encourage students to pay the tuition fees in full at the time of registration, many schools usually give students a tuition discount of 2%-5%. If students are able to prepare the tuition fees for their study abroad period before leaving the country, they can save money by paying in one lump sum.
2. You can boldly apply for admission scholarships
British universities will offer scholarships of 1,000 to 3,000 pounds per year to students who have received admission letters and have passed the scholarship application. Generally speaking, there are many such scholarships, and the application is relatively easy. In addition, many universities will automatically award such scholarships to students who have received admission letters. Chinese students can boldly try to apply for such scholarships.
3. Work part-time in addition to studying
Although studying abroad is mainly for studying, students can do some part-time jobs to supplement their living expenses and exercise their practical skills on the premise of dealing with academic problems. Like most countries where students study abroad, according to the analysis of the conditions for studying abroad in the UK: the UK also allows international students to work 20 hours/week on weekdays and 40 hours/week on holidays. Through part-time jobs, students can learn more about British culture, customs and social conditions, which is very helpful for broadening their horizons and accumulating rich overseas work experience.
4. Understand the various student discounts in the UK
When I was in China, I felt that my student ID card was useless, but it was different in the UK! There are at least 10% student discounts in many stores (except luxury goods). You can ask if there are discounts with your student ID card when you go shopping/watch movies/buy computers~ Popular stores such as ASOS, Ted Baker, Apple, and even some restaurants have student discounts. When school starts, many stores will also give students 20% off, which is really a great deal.
In addition, students majoring in art can visit many museums and historical sites for free. Just bring your student ID and make sure it says your major.
5. Tips for saving money on transportation
There are many discount cards and schemes in the UK that can help students save money, especially if you plan to travel frequently. You can buy a card to travel on trains and coaches, saving up to 30% per journey.
You can get an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) or an International Youth Travel Card (IYTC). These cards are valid in the UK and abroad and can give you discounts on transport, clothes, music, entertainment, dining and many other things. In cities and towns with a large student population, travel agencies often give discounts to students. They can offer student discount cards and discounted flights.
If you are a person who plans a lot, then go online! You may be able to buy coach tickets for 1 yuan through the website 1 or 2 weeks in advance. If you want to buy cheap train tickets, book them online 1 month in advance. However, you cannot use discount cards together with online special tickets.
6. Shopping Guide
There are many unique markets in London, and these markets are also a good place to save money.
For example, Camden is considered by many to be the largest, most diverse and most worth-visiting comprehensive open-air market in London. It is famous for its alternative clothing, avant-garde culture and "punk" style.
There is also Brick Lane Market, which is adjacent to Spitalfields Market. Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, etc. here are usually cheaper than in supermarkets. The food street and flea market here are also worth a visit. Students who like special souvenirs and taking photos may wish to come and have a look.
7. Second-hand goods are also treasures
Textbooks used in class are also very expensive, so it is recommended that students buy second-hand textbooks from websites such as eBay or Amazon. However, be sure to check the version of the textbook carefully to avoid buying the wrong one.
3. UK Study Accommodation Arrangement Guide
1. Homestay
Initially, it was a form of guardianship accommodation for underage students. Now it has developed into a more common accommodation option. Students of all ages can submit their accommodation applications through schools or institutions.
The family will provide students with accommodation and catering services, or they can apply to use the kitchen to cook for themselves. If they can get along well with each other, they will have the opportunity to participate in family gatherings and social activities, which is very helpful for everyone's adaptation.
However, there will be certain troubles, because as outsiders, international students can only adapt to the internal rules of the family. At this time, they must actively communicate and exchange, make sure that their opinions can be conveyed directly, and get along more friendly.
2. School dormitory
Dormitories will be the first choice for freshmen, and everyone’s application will be given priority. Basically, as long as you receive the offer confirmation, you can make a formal application, and the possibility of successful approval is very high, and everyone can move in smoothly.
Dormitories are generally double or multi-person rooms. Some require shared bedrooms, while others have separate bedrooms, but generally require shared bathrooms. While you can build good relationships, you also lose a certain degree of privacy. However, overall there are still many advantages.
3. Renting an off-campus apartment
Since living on campus does not have much cost advantage over renting a house, and may even be more expensive, most students choose to move out after their freshman period. The difference lies in whether they rent a house alone or share it with others.
When looking for housing, you must find it from a reliable platform. Introductions from schools and friends are good, and you can also go to professional rental agencies to get effective information. You can find a more suitable house by spending money. Of course, you can also consider sharing a house.
The advantage of renting a house is that you will have a relatively private space. Even if you share the house with others, you will have your own bedroom. In addition, a kitchen is standard in rented houses, so you can cook for yourself and save money.
A brief overview of the study life experience in the UK
Summary of life experience studying in the UK
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