As a traditional education powerhouse, the UK has a large number of international students applying every year.Daily life guide for studying in the UK, living expenses for studying in the UK in 2023,Why study and live in the UK, ,Difficulties of studying in the UK, ,Daily necessities for studying in the UKThe problem.
Daily life tips for studying in the UK
1. Daily life tips for studying in the UK
1. Food
The British people eat a lot of fried food, and their staple foods are mainly meat, pasta and rice. The prices of daily food are not very expensive, and seasonal fruits and vegetables are very fresh. In a whole day's diet, the total cost of meat, staple food, vegetables, milk, etc. will not exceed 30 pounds.
There are many large supermarkets in the UK, which have all kinds of food. In Chinese supermarkets, there are many domestic foods, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to get used to British food when studying in the UK, nor do you have to worry about not being able to eat delicious Chinese food.
In the UK, the food prices in factory-type supermarkets are generally cheaper. Therefore, it is recommended that students go to the supermarket to buy food and supplies for the week on weekends, which can save a lot of money and time.
As we all know, people in the UK drink a lot of tea and coffee. But when eating, the British usually drink cold drinks. Unlike Chinese culture, the British do not think that drinking hot water or hot drinks is necessarily good for health. So usually, there is no place to get 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 in almost every city in the UK, when your British friends say they have eaten Chinese food, they are most likely talking about "British Chinese takeaway", such as fried shrimp chips and lemon chicken. There are Chinese supermarkets in many large cities in the UK, where you can buy all the Chinese cooking ingredients, condiments and pots and pans you need. From hot pots to rice cookers, everything is available. If you are attending university or you live in a place close to the countryside, don't forget to bring some of your favorite Chinese food from China. It should be noted that the British customs has very strict regulations on the food that travelers can bring into the country. Be sure to pay attention to and understand the customs regulations before bringing it.
Another thing that international students need to pay attention to is the time and amount of meals. In the UK, dinner is usually more formal than lunch, and the amount of food is relatively larger. Students' lunch is usually a cold sandwich, which is very different from the hot lunch that most Chinese students are used to.
2. Clothes
The climate in the UK is generally mild, so the British people dress for comfort and warmth; and the style and cut of clothes are classic and elegant, mainly for comfort. Another thing to note is that the price of British clothes is relatively expensive, but the quality is very good and comfortable, and they are all genuine.
For international students who have just arrived in the UK, they will definitely take the opportunity to go shopping. There are many large shopping malls and markets in the UK, and there are many convenient places for shopping. After being in the UK for a long time, you will find that the clothes in many shopping malls in the UK are not easy for Chinese students to buy due to body shape and size. If you want to buy good-looking and well-fitting clothes, you need to do more homework.
3. Accommodation
There are usually three types of accommodation options for studying in the UK: on-campus accommodation, off-campus rental, and host family accommodation.
If you choose to live on campus: it is more convenient and can help international students develop independent habits; it can also help them integrate into the British learning and living environment as soon as possible, and then make good friends as soon as possible. The school accommodation environment of British universities is very good: there are 2-4 people's rooms and single rooms. For single rooms, there are separate beds, wardrobes, and separate toilets. Shared living rooms and kitchens. The cost of accommodation is generally not included in the tuition fee. The cost per week ranges from 50 to 300 pounds per week.
If you choose to rent an apartment off campus: you have more freedom, and there are no time restrictions on going out. You can cook your own meals, which is also more economical. However, just like the situation in China: housing prices in different cities are different. The price of a single room in London and Manchester is generally 600-800 pounds/month, while other second-tier cities are cheaper, about 500-650 pounds/month, and the rest of the cities are below 500 pounds/month.
If you choose a host family, you will not only be well taken care of, but also have the opportunity to learn the local language and integrate into local life as soon as possible. Of course, the fees of the host family are also affected by various factors, generally around 350-700 pounds per month.
4. Action
The traffic rules in the UK are very different from those in China, so you must understand the local traffic rules before going to the UK.
Common modes of transportation in the UK include buses, subways, taxis, cars, trains, planes, ships, etc. Buses and subways are relatively cheap, and you can also apply for a student card, which can get you a lot of discounts. The starting price of a taxi is relatively high, but it is still very safe. The transportation in the UK is well developed, and it is convenient to go to almost every city.
It is important to note that driving in the UK is on the left. International students who have just arrived in the UK often forget this when they go out on the street; as a result, they look in the wrong direction and find a car coming towards them.
Jay Walking is legal in the UK. British people usually wait for the pedestrian crossing light to turn green before crossing the road. Unlike China, British people do not want to cross the road in the middle of the road, especially in the gap between heavy traffic. They are very particular about order.
V. Other aspects
Use more polite words: When studying 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 important element of British culture. Therefore, if you accidentally bump into someone in the UK, even on the subway, most people will naturally say "sorry".
Be proactive in interpersonal communication: Although this is not a cultural difference, you should integrate yourself into British society as soon as possible after arriving in the UK and get along with the local people. Chinese students should remember: the more time you spend with your compatriots, the less opportunities you have to practice English. Over time, you will feel more embarrassed to speak. You should consciously talk and communicate more with the local people in the UK.
Bring an umbrella when going out: When talking about the UK, the first thing that comes to many people's minds is rain. The British also often talk about the weather: because the weather in the UK is unpredictable, many British people think that this affects their mood. In the UK, it is often the case that the sun is shining in the early morning, then it starts to rain, and then a rainbow appears in the evening. So when the British go out, they often bring an umbrella, just in case.
Drinking culture: There is a drinking culture among young people in the UK. College students often drink a lot of alcohol on an empty stomach, and then go to bars together to play, so that they don't have to spend money on alcohol, because the alcohol in such places is usually more expensive. This is different from the situation of "going out to play" in China: China's karaoke culture usually makes an appointment to go to a karaoke bar, reserve a table, and then order drinks and snacks.
2. Things to note when studying in the UK
1. Cost of living in the UK
Basic living expenses including food, rent and transport are cheaper in China than in the UK. This should be borne in mind as it can make a huge difference to your living budget. In addition, labour-intensive goods and even small items like hair strands and hairpins are much more expensive than in China.
2. Keep to the left
Driving in the UK is on the left, and when you first arrive on the street it's easy to forget to look the wrong way and spot a car coming towards you.
Although Jay Walking is legal in the UK, people generally wait for the green light to cross the road. Unlike in China, British drivers do not usually find themselves stuck in the middle of the road.
3. More polite expressions in the UK
In the UK, you will find that people say "please" and "thank you" more often than in China, and often use them between friends. Using these polite words has become part of our culture. So. If you bump into someone, even on the subway, most people will subconsciously say "sorry".
4. Eating habits are very different
There is a lot of tea and coffee in the UK, but cold drinks are usually used for meals. Unlike Chinese culture, the British do not think that drinking hot water or hot drinks is necessarily healthy. So there is no hot water on campus, only cold water taps.
Even though there are authentic Chinese restaurants all over the UK, when your British friends say they've had Chinese food, they're most likely talking about "English-style Chinese takeaway", like fried shrimp chips and lemon chicken. In the big cities there are Chinese supermarkets where you can buy all the ingredients, condiments and pots and pans you need. From hot pots to rice cookers. But if you live closer to the countryside, don't forget to bring some of your favorite foods from China, even though customs have strict rules about certain foods. Keep up with the times.
Another thing to pay attention to is the time and quantity of meals. In the UK, dinner is usually more formal and more substantial than lunch. Students usually eat a cold sandwich for lunch, which is very different from the hot lunch that most Chinese students are used to.
3. Common knowledge about life in the UK
1. Traffic rules
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 road, and walking in the middle of the road rashly will bring great danger to themselves.
2. 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".
3. Tips
Finally, I need to mention tipping. Usually in the UK, you tip 10%, but not everything. In the US, you tip everything, including taxi drivers; in the UK, you usually only tip when you go to a restaurant. Some restaurants add the service charge to the meal price, you can ask for the meal to be charged separately, and the tip should be paid separately. But if you feel that the service quality is not good, don't tip.
Daily life tips for studying in the UK
Summary of daily life tips for studying in the UK
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