As a traditional education powerhouse, the UK has a large number of international students applying every year.Overview of the latest policies for studying in the UK in 2023Analysis of the UK's Study Abroad Policy, ,UK study abroad policy postponed due to epidemic, ,What are the study abroad policies in the UK?, ,A comprehensive review of the formal UK study abroad policyThe problem.

Overview of the latest policies for studying in the UK in 2023

Overview of the latest policies for studying in the UK in 2023

1. Entry into the UK requires a negative nucleic acid test result within 72 hours

On January 8, the British government (GOV.UK) reminded travelers planning to travel to the UK:

Starting this week, all passengers (including British nationals) on international flights, ships and trains arriving in the UK will need to present a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 72 hours before departure upon entry. Those who fail to produce the certificate will be fined £500.

Regardless of whether they have a negative nucleic acid test certificate, all travelers from countries and regions outside the "Travel Corridor" list are still required to self-isolate for 10 days.

Note: Mainland China is not included in the "travel corridor" list and self-isolation is still required upon entry.

All passengers are still required to fill out the Passenger Locator Form and provide necessary entry information before entering the country.

2. The British Embassy in China announces new changes to student visas

According to the news released by the British Embassy in China on January 8, due to the global travel restrictions caused by the current global epidemic, the British government has issued relevant policies to relax the working conditions of graduates. The specific conditions are as follows. Please check the conditions for details.

1. Enrollment in January 2021 or later

International students who have just received an offer or have just enrolled in a British university, please read this!

If you are a one-year graduate student who has just enrolled or is about to enroll in January 2021, and are facing global travel restrictions and unable to arrive at the UK school on time, you can first conduct remote learning. As long as you arrive in the UK before September 27, 2021 and complete the last semester of study in the UK, you will still be eligible to apply for a graduate work visa.

2. One-year international students enrolled in September 2020

But please note that one-year international students enrolling in September 2020 still need to enter the UK before April 6, 2021 and complete their last semester of study in the UK to be eligible to apply for a graduate work visa.

3. Students who are studying for one year or more and are not graduating this year

For students with a study period of more than one year and who are not graduating this year, even if the entire academic year of 2020-2021 needs to be completed remotely, it will not affect their eligibility to apply for a graduate work visa.

4. 90-day entry visa

In addition, the UK Home Office has further updated the guidelines for applying for a replacement visa after the 90-day entry visa expires. Applicants who have obtained a 90-day entry visa, if their visa has expired or is about to expire before they travel due to epidemic restrictions, please go to the British Embassy in China to fill out the online form and make an appointment with the visa center to apply for a replacement visa. Students need to re-enroll in biometric information, and the application fee for a replacement visa is £154.

It is recommended that you apply only after you have clear travel dates and arrangements.

3. Extension of the 2021 UCAS application submission period

The United Kingdom recently began its third lockdown in England, and during the lockdown, the GCSE and A-level exams originally scheduled for the summer of 2021 will also be cancelled.

On January 5, UCAS (UK University Admissions System) officially announced that the deadline for undergraduate applications in 2021 will be postponed to:

29 January 18:00 UK time

January 30, 02:00 (UTC)

Applications received before this deadline will be considered on time and will be considered equally by the university to which they are applied.

It is recommended that you submit your application as early as possible and do not wait until the last minute.

4. Arrangements for Returning to School

Currently, schools in the UK are in winter vacation, and the start of school in spring 2021 is not far away.

In order to cope with the challenges of epidemic prevention brought by the large-scale movement of students at the beginning of the school year, the British government recently issued the "Regulations on the Return of College Students to School in Spring 2021", including staggered return to school, rapid campus nucleic acid testing, and more flexible assessment/examination methods...

The British government said that it welcomes international students who want to study in the UK, and British universities also look forward to international students returning to campus for classes in the new year. Whether international students need to return to the UK depends on the arrangements of British universities.

The UK border is open to both new and returning students, and officials say higher education institutions are looking forward to welcoming them to campus in the new year.

[The British government’s guidance for international students returning to the UK is as follows]

Confirm with your university in the UK in advance about the approximate time of return to school and when face-to-face teaching will start;

When you are ready to go to campus, you should contact the school so that you can get appropriate support from the school;

If your return to school is delayed due to flight issues or other problems, you need to contact the school for help in time.

If some international students have already booked their trip before the UK government’s latest return to school plan is released, the British government stated that it requires British universities to be as flexible and reasonable as possible in arranging international students traveling to the UK.

International students returning to campus should pay attention to the following points:

Confirm with the university in advance when face-to-face teaching will start

If you plan to fly to campus, you need to contact the university in advance so that you can get relevant support and help.

If the student has already booked a trip to the UK, but the scheduled time is different from the time required to return to school, they need to inform the university immediately;

After arriving in the UK, international students need to:

Fill out the Passenger Locator Form

Self-isolation for 14 days

During the self-isolation period, international students must follow the following requirements:

Only use public transportation when you have no other choice and wear a mask while riding

Follow the passenger travel guide

Only leave their accommodation in limited circumstances

The level of epidemic prevention and control in different regions of the UK is different, but all UK universities will carry out teaching activities according to the instructions of the UK government on the new coronavirus. There will also be different requirements for the start of school according to the severity of the epidemic in different regions. Please pay attention to the notifications of your own school at any time.

Further reading: A guide to carrying money for studying in the UK

1. Cash

The school generally does not accept any payment in cash. If students insist on paying in cash, they need to go to the bank counter to provide the school's bank information for payment.

Notice:

British customs stipulates that people from countries outside the EU who carry more than 10,000 euros (≈ 8,684 pounds) in cash must declare it to customs. Cash here includes cash, coins, bank drafts, and any form of checks (including traveler's checks).

Failure to declare excess cash or false declaration will result in a fine of £5,000 and the cash will be seized for 48 hours until a court order is issued.

2. Credit Cards

Now in the UK, all ATMs with the "LINK" logo can use UnionPay cards to withdraw cash, but this card can only be used in a few large shopping malls. Some Chinese restaurants and Chinese supermarkets do not accept Chinese credit cards, or do not accept signed cards, so you must be careful when using them.

3. Traveler's Checks

The handling fee for processing traveler's checks is relatively high, but their advantages are that they are permanently valid and easy to use. They can be used directly in overseas hotels, shopping malls, taxis and other places, can be paid directly to overseas institutions and individuals, and can also be exchanged for local cash at local banks or exchange agencies. It is safe and convenient.

4. Bill of Exchange

A money order is the most economical way to carry money. Generally, it only costs a few dozen RMB to process. It is recommended to open two money orders, one for paying tuition fees. You can pay the tuition fees directly to the school and write the name of the British university on the head. The other is for your daily expenses, that is, living expenses.

The information required for a demand draft includes:

① Remittance currency and amount

② Name and address of payee

Handling fee: 1% of the remittance amount, minimum 100 yuan/transaction, 1200 yuan/transaction, plus postage (if any)

5. Overseas Wire Transfer

Although the fee for wire transfer is relatively high, usually several hundred RMB is required for handling fee, but the transfer speed is very fast. British wire transfer usually arrives in 2 to 3 days, which is very suitable for students who have arrived abroad and opened a student account and are in urgent need of money from home.

The handling fee is 1% of the remittance amount. Some banks have a cap on the handling fee. Taking Bank of China as an example, the handling fee is 1% of the remittance amount for each transaction, with a minimum charge of 50 yuan per transaction, 260 yuan per transaction + telecommunications fee, 80 yuan per transaction for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and 150 yuan per transaction for non-Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions.

The information required for overseas wire transfers includes:

1. Remittance currency and amount

2. Name and address of payee

3. The beneficiary’s bank account number

4. The name of the bank account of the payee, SWIFT code or address

Here I suggest you ask your parents to apply for the main card, and then you can use the supplementary card in the UK, and then ask your parents to set up automatic deductions when the payment is due. Now Alipay and WeChat can also pay credit cards. You can find out which bank to go to, as many banks now waive the handling fee for this.

Further reading: Recommended universities for studying in the UK

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a member of the Russell Group, a group of British universities that specialize in academic research. It is also one of the top universities in the UK. Today, most of the 45 colleges in Oxford recruit students to study law. In the field of law, Oxford is unique in the world and cannot be replaced. Oxford has produced 4 British kings, 46 Nobel Prize winners, 25 British prime ministers, 86 archbishops and 18 cardinals.

2. University of Cambridge

Cambridge University has a long history, and it still maintains a unique college system with Oxford University. Cambridge has a total of 31 colleges, scattered in a small town with only about 100,000 people. These colleges were built in different eras, and the earliest ones have a history of 700 to 800 years. Just like their buildings, each college has its own style and independent personality. It has produced 78 Nobel Prize winners and three British prime ministers.

3. Durham University

Durham University is located in the northernmost part of England in the city of Durham. Durham's thousand-year-old Cathedral is the center of the city. The bells of the church can be heard from anywhere in the city. The long culture and history attract students from all over the world, and studying in Durham has become the dream of many European students. Durham University is an ancient comprehensive university, and it ranks among the top universities in the UK. The British believe that Durham is certainly not as good as Oxford, but it is sometimes on par with Cambridge, so its position is second or third. Durham University implements the Tutor System.

4. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a well-established institution in the UK. It is a comprehensive university with a wide range of disciplines. It is one of the UK's red brick universities and one of the most famous and popular schools in the UK. Not only is Manchester University's business and science and engineering disciplines well-known around the world, but as a comprehensive university, Manchester University also has a rich sociology curriculum, with many branches of social anthropology and no shortage of social work majors. However, most majors still have certain requirements for background and experience, and the average score basically requires a 2:1 degree (GPA above 80).

5. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is the sixth oldest public research university in the UK. Its sociology major is famous for its rich professional branches, diverse types and high quality. Specifically, sociology can have four major research areas: Social Anthropology, Social Policy, Social Work, and Sociology. Whether it is a theoretical subject, a strategic subject, or a practical subject, the University of Edinburgh has set up relatively detailed professional branches. For example, the sociology major includes child studies, African studies, economic studies, environmental studies, etc. The sociology major at the University of Edinburgh does not have very high requirements for the applicant's background, but some majors, especially social work, will pay more attention to the applicant's relevant work experience.

6. University of Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is one of the red brick universities in the UK. It is located in the city of Sheffield and is one of the research fields in the UK. Although the University of Sheffield is known for its engineering, its sociology major is also its advantage. Moreover, MA Sociology and MA Social Research have full-time 1-year and part-time 2-year course settings to choose from, and there are certain requirements for the applicant's background. The practice-oriented MA Social Work postgraduate major has a full-time 2-year study time. The longer study time also gives students in this major more sufficient study and internship time, thereby increasing relevant experience. However, this major has relatively high language requirements and requires an IELTS score of 7.

7. University of Surrey

The University of Surrey may not be as well-known in China as the previous universities, but its sociology is one of the best in the UK, second only to Cambridge University. Its social science mainly involves three aspects: psychology, sociology, and politics. Its high quality also means that the admission threshold is relatively high. Most of the sociology majors at the University of Surrey require specific professional backgrounds or experience backgrounds. For example, social psychology in psychology requires a professional background in social science or psychology.

8. University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is located in Glasgow and is an ancient comprehensive university. Although it is located in Scotland, it plays a pivotal role in British business and culture. Glasgow's sociology is also among the best in British universities. It has certain requirements for professional background, but the admission is relatively relaxed. It can be related subjects, such as political science, education, economics, etc. can be regarded as relevant subjects. There are also many related majors in Sociology, involving crime, health, safety, fairness and other fields.

Further reading: Assessment methods of UK universities

1. Assignment

When studying in the UK, homework will also be assigned. After completing a single class, most teachers will assign homework to consolidate and assess students' learning progress, so everyone needs to listen carefully in class.

Moreover, the score of each assessment will be calculated into the final assessment score, which will account for approximately 10%-20%, so do not ignore the role of homework, and do not miss classes, as in-class homework may also appear.

2. Presentation

In order to increase interaction between teachers and students, as well as cooperation among students, certain speech activities will be arranged, which require individuals or groups to discuss and present. In addition to presenting their own discussion results, they are also required to answer questions from teachers.

3. Essay

This includes the paper assignment after the course, which is generally a smaller paper of only about 2,000 words to complete the explanation of a small topic. It needs to be detailed and complete, and able to justify itself, and will also account for a certain proportion of the score in the subsequent assessment.

Then comes the annual paper after completing the stage courses. This part needs to be carried out under the guidance of a tutor. You must first choose a tutor and then determine the topic. Generally, the scope will be relatively large, requiring everyone to complete a paper of about 5,000 words, which will take a relatively long time.

IV. Exam

Paper-based exams are still the main form of assessment at this stage and are the direct source of everyone's GPA scores. After the basic courses are completed, the exam time will be arranged. The exam week is generally three to five days, so everyone needs to prepare in advance.

The format is that the teacher will set the questions and everyone will take the exam in a semi-closed classroom. The time will be fixed. After finishing the questions, the papers will be collected and graded by the teacher. The scores will be announced uniformly later. The questions will be in different formats such as multiple-choice and short-answer.

5. Project

Next is the unconventional research, which is usually a project arranged by the instructor. It is elective and a bonus item. Not all students are required to participate, and if there is no special performance, it will not have a big impact on the assessment. However, it can help improve hands-on ability.

Overview of the latest policies for studying in the UK in 2021

Summary of the latest policies for studying in the UK in 2023

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