Preparing to study in the UK? 5 topics you should consider
What do you need to do when preparing to study in the UK?
There are many aspects that you need to think about when preparing to study in the UK. We’ve made a list of the 5 topics we believe to be key for your move to the UK.
1. Visa
Ensure that wherever you are coming from that you have ensured you have the correct visa to enter the country and study in the UK. There are strong immigration requirements and this includes a student visa (this used to be known as a Tier 4 visa). Your school choice should be able to advise you on what you need and how to go about this – please ask them if they don’t offer the support.
The UK Culture:
You will, no doubt, find the UK way of life very different to your own whether it is the food which is so different or the culture. The UK has a diverse society and you may need an open mind to accept differences or expectations as this will make your move to the UK a smoother one.
We would suggest that you take on all opportunities and engage with those in the school whether in cultural exchange or societies or clubs.
The British traditions and the customs are quite different and if you engage with these you will find them very interesting whether linking to festivities (eg Christmas, Easter etc) or events which the school put on to embrace a particular culture.
Managing the Language
Most boarding schools will expect you to speak English in the houses or in the classroom and your own language should only be used if you are finding it hard to express yourself or if you are out with friends who speak the same language. This is only to ensure that there are no misunderstandings between pupils when different languages are spoken. If you find English difficult please do work on language proficiency tests prior to coming to the UK.
Insurance
Ensure that all your property, eg. laptops, jewellery etc are sufficiently covered by your own personal insurance as schools do not cover loss or damage within their insurance. It is also worth looking at health insurance as the National Health Service is not available to non-UK citizens although you will be registered with the local GP services through the school.
Be Safe
Please ensure that you have your guardian’s phone number and a school number on your phone in case there are issues when you are out from the school campus. Ensure you understand how to contact the emergency services from your phone should you need to do this and stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
If you need to contact emergency services in the UK, please dial 999
If you would like to find out more about studying in the UK and our guardianship packages, please click below
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