10 things you need to know about studying in the UK
If you are fantasizing about studying in the UK – but are nervous about taking the plunge, then here are 10 things that will help you make a more informed decision.
- The UK is more affordable than you think
The UK has an unfair image of being an expensive place to study but with the right planning you can make your dream of studying in the UK a reality. The first thing to do is leave enough time to do your research on cities and universities that you can afford and offer what you want. And be savvy about looking for bursaries and scholarships offered by the UK Government and specific universities.
The type of accommodation you choose can also have a huge impact on how much you spend so do your research as there are many options available to students. Plus, you are entitled to work in the UK, so you can be earning whilst studying to help you finance your education.
- The UK has some of the best universities in the world
Not only does the UK have some of the world’s best universities it has the best, Oxford university. Coupled with that the UK offers a broad range of courses and areas of study. Basically, you imagine what you want to study and the odds are that you’ll find a course.
You can start your research by using the UCAS website which lists all the courses available in the UK at all the universities, and the website has a cool way of helping you find a course you might like by asking you a series of probing questions.
- There are endless accommodation options
Whether you want to live on your own or with other, live on campus or off campus the UK offers a wide choice of student accommodation for all budgets. The key to finding what will suit you is starting your research early and finding out all the options open to you.
You can get help from GoBritanya on finding the perfect accommodation and be sure to check out the blog on Student accommodation options in the UK.
- The British accent is diverse
If you have an impression of how British people speak, we can confidently say you’ll be surprised when you arrive in the UK because we have a lot of accents and dialects for such a small country. And very few sound like the Queen!
To get a better understanding of the accent as well as the way of life in the UK try watching British TV, listening to podcasts and radio shows.
- British weather can be brutal
There is a saying that you can experience all four seasons in one day in the UK and it certainly can be true as the weather is very changeable from day to day, which can be a struggle for those moving from warmer climates.
The North of the country typically has harsher winters and has more rainfall than the South, but the flip side is that the climate does produce the beautiful green countryside that UK is famous for.
- The UK offers a unique university experience
The UK is known for its world-class education and a big part of that is due to the teaching style. It empowers students to think for themselves and encourages them to be analytical and form their own opinions. Furthermore, students are encouraged to manage their own time and there is a lot of self-directed learning.
- British humour isn’t everyone’s cup of tea
British humour is world famous for being self-deprecating, sarcastic, and full of sexual innuendos and can be challenging as you may be left wondering why people are being nasty to each in the name of humour!
But British people are also known to be extremely polite so if you are the topic of a joke, it’s a compliment and means that you have been accepted as a friend, weird we know, but just go with it!
- The UK is extremely multicultural
Given how multicultural the UK is you will easily find restaurants serving up cuisine from back home at affordable prices and plenty of shops selling fresh and packaged ingredients so you can conjure up your favourite things to eat, you’ll also be able to get other things like toiletries from back home, so there isn’t the need to come weighed down with everything from back home.
- It takes less time to gain a degree in the UK
Given it takes typically three years to complete an undergraduate programme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, except for Scotland where it takes four years, and a year to complete a postgraduate programme it is cheaper to study in the UK compared to other destinations, such as the USA.
- The UK attracts a lot of international students
This can be seen as a pro or a con but the UK attracts 600,000 international students and the chances are that you will find people from your country to hang out with on campus, as well as be part of a bigger international student community.
The added advantage is that by the time you leave the UK you will have friends from around the world that you can visit and stay in touch with, giving you a global network.
