Studying | Healthcare | Accommodation | Travel | Visa | Student Voice
When trying to select which university to choose, it is best to contact the university directly and request a prospectus, of view their prospectus online. The UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) contains a wealth of information and links to various universities.
The application forms need to be returned to UCAS between September 1 and December 15 of the year preceding the entrance year; October 15 if you are applying for either Cambridge or Oxford universities, or medical studies. Excluding these particular cases, the UCAS deadline is flexible since the second wave of applications closes March 31, though choices may be more limited.
The Department for Education and Skills, UK, is also an excellent resource for studying in the UK.
The NHS (National Heath Service) is the national institution of public health in the UK. All individuals have the right to receive free medical assistance in the case of:
- Urgency (but the treatments following are to be paid by the patient).
- For the treatment of contagious illnesses.
- For psychiatric treatments.
For those students registered in a study program for longer than six months, you have the right to NHS services, just like British citizens. Registration with your local NHS is conducted by the university upon arrival, which may be followed by a medical examination visit, usually provided by the University. Once this has been completed, you are then allowed to receive free treatments within the network of the NHS (hospitals and general practice doctors.)
If you will be residing in the UK for less than six months, you do not have the right to inscribe with the NHS (except for the three cases listed above). You must pay for any visits to general practice doctors and hospitals. Hence it is strongly advised to get medical insurance for the whole period of your stay in the UK.
Note There are certain medical services that must always be paid for, which include purchase of medication prescribed by the doctor; the dentist; and the optician.
All universities in the UK offer two types of accommodation; i) Halls of Residence; accommodation that is catered with food from the university restaurant; and ii) Self-catering accommodation; where you have to cook and clean!
All university accommodation supplies students with a fully equipped kitchen (stove, oven, refrigerator and freezer).
There are four international airports in the London area: Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted. Stansted and Luton airports cater for the discount airlines and chartered flights. International airports may also be found in Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham.
Discount travel agencies in the UK generally offer discount prices but with hidden costs, so it is advisable to purchase a ticket in the country of departure.
To travel around the UK, probably the cheapest mode of transportation is the National Express coach service. Another choice is the train; this can be a more costly option but is quicker. For a small fee, both services offer discount cards (up to 30%) to students and people between the ages of 16 and 25.
For help and guidance, and to find out if you require a visa to visit the UK, visit UKVisa and use their online questionnaire 'Do I need a visa?'
Student Visa
For all students wishing to enter the UK, a valid passport and, if necessary, a visa is required. Visas are not needed if you are a student from the EU. Students requiring a visa must contact the British embassy in their home country or the country in which they hold a passport.
Application for a visa must be accompanied by the appropriate documents:
- Evidence proving that you have been accepted as a student
- A document that proves you have a sufficient amount of money required for the tuition and living expenses
- Two passport photographs
- In certain cases, a medical examination will be required
Learn from the experiences of other students and share your experiences of going overseas at International Student Blogs and Forums.
