UK eBook Guide for International Students E-Book

• Herausgeber: Spark Global Education
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Serie: UK eBook Guide for Students
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 152

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

The UK Student Adviser^TM eGuide contains over 80 pages of practical information that you need when relocating to the UK for your studies. We know how difficult relocating can be, so with this guide we have packaged everything you need to know to make that move easier. 

Our e-book guide will answer the following questions for you and more –

• How do I set up a UK Bank Account?


• How do I complete my Visa application?


• How do I get my national insurance card?


• Do I need to register for anything specific?


• What insurances do I need to have?


• How do I travel around the UK?


• Where is the cheapest place to buy all my necessities?

Our vast experience of working with international students gives us the perfect insight into what you need to know and why it is important to know it. We have also secured a number of partners that can help you save time, money and stress during your relocation process.

Leseprobe

Introduction

It is said that real education, in addition to providing you with an academic qualification and thus enhanced career prospects, also equips you with most of the skills you will need for life.

The UK is a great place to study, as we will explain, and each year students from over 200 countries enrol with British universities, and together they form about 30% of the student population. This contributes to a highly diverse, multi-cultural tapestry of young people pursuing learning together.

We hope that you already have or will seize this great opportunity. We want to do all we can to help you.

In our experience, people moving to the United Kingdom from abroad to work and study need a consolidated body of information to help them with all of the challenges that this move can offer. That is why we have researched and produced this eGuide.

What this eGuide will give you

The information we have set out in this eGuide will help to prepare you thoroughly in the following ways:

- To help you to plan and make your practical arrangements, such as gaining a place at a university, college or school, moving to the UK, travelling within the UK and finding accommodation

- To assist you in getting the most benefit, value and enjoyment from the opportunities that your study and living in the UK can offer

- To alert you to some of the aspects of life in the UK that may be very different from what you are used to, and to explain things to watch out for

Every university, college or school has its own prospectus, which is a guide describing the institution and the courses that they offer, as well as information on its cultural, sporting and other recreational facilities. In addition, when you arrive at your university, college or school, you are usually given an orientation session, so that you can become familiar with your new environment.

This eGuide therefore focuses on the general aspects of life that every student coming into the UK will need to deal with. Some things may sound complicated, but, rest assured, many thousands of students cope with them every year, and we are sure that you will do the same. However, this eGuide will provide a convenient and indispensable resource to enable you to find those precious pieces of information that will make the transition so much easier.

We look forward to helping you make this study period one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of your life.

Useful links:

To Search for Universities and Colleges in the UK, www.ukstudymap.com

To Search for Student Deals and Discounts in the UK, www.internationalstudentdeals.com

Our 'helping hand' sign

Whenever you see the hand of friendship symbol, it means that you can contact us for immediate practical help - with opening bank accounts, obtaining a mobile phone with credit, etc.

We can help you with this - email us at [email protected] or go to our website www.sparkglobaleducation.com

The United Kingdom: the destination of choice for international students

British universities, colleges and schools offer an incredible range of courses - there are currently over fifty thousand to choose from. Qualifications from private colleges, universities and English Language schools are globally recognised as being of the highest standard.

A British education offers students a combination of modern thinking and cutting edge research facilities, which are steeped in great traditions and are located in some of the most glorious surroundings to be found anywhere in the world. Certain universities in the United Kingdom, such as Oxford, Cambridge and Durham, are amongst the finest, most respected and oldest universities. There is also a vast array of very modern universities, which are highly acclaimed for their cutting edge research and talented academic fraternity. You should also review the Scottish Universities (such as Glasgow, St Andrew's, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh) and Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, all of whom enjoy an enviable reputation. There are also many highly sought after private colleges.

The degree, diploma and NVQ courses offered by any of these academic centres of excellence provide substantial vocational foundations for any chosen career, and to be part of their alumni is also very constructive in establishing links that will be useful in your later business, academic or professional life.

An internationally recognised education

An international education should be regarded as an investment for life. The cost of studying in the United Kingdom should be balanced against the enormous value placed on it by professional bodies. An independent standards body called the Quality Assurance Agency assesses the quality of teaching and the general facilities offered. The Research Assessment Exercise assesses research standards and their findings are published every five years. There is free access to the findings of these bodies.

A UK Master's degree can be completed within a year, unlike those offered by the United States, Australia or South Africa.

What the United Kingdom offers you

In summary, studying in the United Kingdom offers you:

- An esteemed education: universities, colleges and schools that are amongst the top 100 in the world, with internationally recognised reputations and status

- Intellectual and social maturity and self-confidence: live and learn in an advanced multi-cultural institution and society, amongst like-minded individuals with whom to share and exchange views; appreciating one's own and others' cultures

- Work and business experience: the opportunity to support yourself financially by working part-time during term time and full-time during your holidays, whilst studying, and the opportunity to work full-time as a graduate on completion of your course

- Many and varied opportunities for advancement: speak, read and write English fluently, travel throughout Europe and other countries, engage in new interests, sports, cultural activities and societies

- The benefits of the United Kingdom: live and learn in a society that is safe, caring, multicultural, rich in tradition, culture, history and sport, and seasonally diverse

- Enrichment for your own country: if you do return home, you will have a wealth of new skills and experiences to bring to your home country

- Enhancement for your career prospects: a UK education is highly esteemed in the global marketplace and will offer distinct career advantage

Before you travel

Your journey, from your first decision to study in the UK to you obtaining a visa, is a long and complex one:

- Decide on one or more institutions and courses

- Prove that you have the academic and financial resources to be successful on the course(s)

- Be accepted by the institution and get a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) from them

- Apply for your visa with your CAS

Deciding where and what to study

Firstly, and most importantly, make sure that the university, college or school you have chosen is an Approved (Highly Trusted) Sponsor and has been awarded a Sponsorship Licence by the Home Office allowing them to enrol international students.

If you wish to change your Sponsor (college/university/school) or extend a visa, you need to make a separate application for this.

You can simplify your decision making by considering the following:

- What course would you like to study?

- Which universities/colleges/schools provide the course you have chosen?

- In which part of the country would you feel comfortable living - a large city such as London, or a smaller town or village?

How do you choose the right course for you?

Most often the dilemma prospective students' face is that they are indeed spoilt for choice. The wide and sometimes confusing array of courses can make it almost impossible to assess what is really right for you. It will help to shortlist your preferred institutions (perhaps 5 to 10) and do some in-depth research into the content of each course being considered.

This exercise will help to familiarise you with the course content, as well as the way that student assessments are done by each college/university, and thus whether you would be likely to qualify for admission. This will help to determine which course and which place of learning would best fit the student's academic and cultural needs.

A University/College/School Prospectus is the most helpful starting point with which to assess the university/college and courses, although they do not necessarily go into much detail. However, you can further explore the relevant subject with the Department or Faculty, most of who publish information online.

For more information to visit:

www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/international

www.hotcourses.com

www.study-uk.org

How do you know whether you qualify for a university, college or school course?

The decision whether or not you are accepted you rests solely with the institution. There is no set comparison of UK standard university/college/school entry criteria versus international ones, but, for more information regarding this, you can contact the National Academic Recognition Informal Centre (NARIC) http://ecctis.co.uk/naric/.

Generally speaking, educational institutions consider the International Baccalaureate, certain Matriculation Certificates and A' level qualifications. For the best advice on this subject, please contact the British Council.

For more information visit:

www.britishcouncil.org

What is the right regional location of study for you?

The United Kingdom can be divided into the following regions for ease of your research - Scotland, Northern England, the Midlands, Wales, Northern Ireland, South and South West England and London and South East England.

Think about what is important to you as an individual, where your interests lie, whether you like small towns or city living and whether you would be happier in a campus-style college or living within a local community.

If you would enjoy the 'hustle and bustle' of a vibrant city, bear in mind that the campus element may well be entirely missing and it may prove harder to make friends and settle down than in a smaller campus community. There may also be higher costs involved, which would impact on a tight budget.

There is lots more detail on each of the areas of the United Kingdom in "Appendix 3: Where to study - a guide to UK regions".

UK Student Advisor University counselling partner

AFA Marketing

AFA student recruitment provides high quality education counselling for international students. They offer a range of services aimed at helping students study abroad. From course and institute selection to visa and further.

They have highly experienced team who can provide you with the guidance and support you need and pride themselves in their high standard of work and have consistently performed to high standards.

Student satisfaction is their duty and has a great value to them. They will do everything to keep their students happy and provide them with a fantastic experience. They represent some of the best universities in the UK.

Their services are FREE and by registering yourself on any course through them, you will benefit from their on-going support throughout your stay. Hundreds of thousands of international students study in the UK each year, making studying in the UK the number two choice for international students in the world, second only to the USA.

For more detail go here

www.afamarketing.co.uk/

The teaching style of British universities, colleges and schools

Once you have identified the region and place where you would like to study and the course that you would like to take, consider the teaching style of the institution that would be most suitable for you. Some universities/colleges/schools may teach the course more formally, some more interactively.

Some establishments assess students mostly on the basis of examinations; others emphasise coursework or essays. Find out the balance on the courses that you are considering and decide which you would prefer.

How flexible is your chosen course?

It is important to know whether the course that you are considering allows a certain amount of flexibility, for example allowing you to change from one module to another. You might find, as you progress, that you gain different insights and would prefer a new direction, perhaps with a view to an alternative career path.

Your choice of course should be determined essentially by the natural empathy and enjoyment that you have for the chosen subject. If you enjoy it, you are most likely to find that you will be successful at it.

Most universities, colleges or schools allow you a month or so at the beginning of your course of study, when it is possible for you to change to another course if you feel that you have made the wrong choice.

Work placements

These placements can provide a helpful introduction to the formal working environment and often universities/colleges/schools will assist you in finding them. They offer a refreshing break from the life of a student to that of a worker, and provide you with valuable insight into the real time working aspect of your chosen field of study.

As a foreign student you will be allowed to work under the conditions of your student visa.

Making your decision

After considering the above, you may like to further sharpen your decision making by considering these aspects as well:

1. Is the course that you are studying widely transferable into other areas?

2. Are there any particular facilities that you personally need, such as parking, disabled facilities, good transport links or technical resources?

3. Do you qualify for the course? What are your expected A' level, International Baccalaureate or

4. matriculation results going to be?

4. Is there any funding available to help cover the costs through student grants, loans, bursaries or scholarships.

5. For more information about Student Cash Point www.studentcashpoint.co.uk

How to apply successfully

There are no shortcuts to ensuring that your application is successful. Most of it is common sense. Know as much as possible about the university, college or school to which you are applying, and the course that you want to study. Keep in touch with the institution, apply online if you can, and make sure that you meet all of their deadlines for submitting the various parts of your application. Prepare properly for any tests that you need to undertake.

Of course, you should apply to more than one institution. There is always the chance that your number one choice may become full, or you may not quite reach the standards required. You do not, as the British say, want to put all of your eggs in one basket!

When applying, always be honest. Do not underplay your strengths, your skills or your suitability for the course, but do not exaggerate them either. Admissions staff in universities, colleges and schools are very experienced in telling the difference between fact and fiction.

Likewise, choose carefully the people whom you ask to write letters of recommendation. They should know you well enough to be able to write about your strengths in detail.

Prepare for Success - www.prepareforsuccess.org.uk - is a very useful website for students preparing to come to the UK. Prepare for Success is intended primarily for international students whose first language is not English. It is aimed at students with an IELTS level between 5.0 and 7.5 or equivalent.

Student visas and immigration

Tier 4 - student visas

Many students prefer to use an immigration consultant or agency to process their student visa, as they are more likely to get the application processed quickly and correctly. It is often more convenient and costs a relatively small amount. You must use an accredited immigration agent, and you can check this through OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commission), Immigration Law Practitioner's Association (ILPA), or through the United Kingdom Law Society. It is always advisable to check the UK Border Agency website for updates, as changes are updated on this website first and everything that you need to know about visas is to be found here.

Universities also have specialised student immigration advisors employed to offer advice and assist with the application process.

Please visit these websites for more information:

http://oisc.homeoffice.gov.uk/www.ilpa.org.ukwww.lawsociety.org.ukwww.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk

With the purchase of the e-book guide you will be able to obtain discount from our partner - Veristat - for your visa application or renewal. Visit www.veristat.co.uk for more information.

Getting a study sponsor

Students coming to the United Kingdom under a Tier 4 visa will require a university, college, school or other qualified United Kingdom educational institution to sponsor them for a student visa. They will also need to score enough points (40) to be accepted as an international student in the United Kingdom. You need to show:1. That you are doing a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider (who is an Approved Sponsor) - 30 points2. That you have enough money to cover your course and your monthly living expenses (maintenance) for a year. Bank statements must support this and you must be able to prove that you have sufficient money in your account 28 days before you submit your application - 10 points3. You will also need a level of English language proficiency. If not, you would need to do an English Language speaking course and write a test to be accepted to any Diploma or Degree course.

The current system grants visas for an initial period of one year, which may or may not change under the tiered system. Some sandwich courses and short courses may only have the visa granted for 6 months.

The institution will grant the student a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS), if the student meets the criteria and the institution decides that they want to offer the student a place. The student will then use the CAS to apply for a visa.

Historically, foreign students have been allowed to work - 20 hours a week during term time and full time (normally 37.5 hours a week) during holiday periods - as long as there is a stamp on their visa permitting this and if their visa extends to more than 6 months. Ensure when applying for the visa that your working visa requirements are endorsed.

The cost of visas - Student and Post-Study Worker Visas

The costs of visas payable to the Home Office are detailed here:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/fees/