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Student Accommodation in the UK
Where do you live when studying abroad? Do universities in the UK offer student housing? How much does student accommodation cost? Did you know that as an international student, you are guaranteed on-campus accommodation for the first or all your years studying at most of our UK universities? You will need to apply by the housing application deadline, and of course the best student accommodation in the UK goes first - so that is a good reason to apply early! There are several different student accommodations, price levels and facilities to choose from!
Most students choose to live on campus in their first year. This is social and a fantastic way to get to know students from all over the world! After that, most students choose to move into privately rented accommodation with their new friends. We recommend everyone to live in university accommodation in their first year, as it is a great way to get to know other students (and not just those on your degree).
Learn more about the different options, on-campus accommodation, how to arrange private accommodation and everything you need before applying for student accommodation in the UK via this webinar!
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Visa for European Students who want to study in the UK
Do you want to study in the UK and are wondering if you need a visa? Maybe you have applied to British universities already, or are considering applying to university in London or elsewhere in the UK, but would like to know more about the UK student visa for European students? This webinar recording is about the UK Student Visa for students who will be starting their studies at a British university and are from European countries. We cover everything regarding the CAS, the application process, cost and other practicalities worth thinking about when applying for a student visa.
Did you know that all non-UK students need a visa to study in the UK? How much does a student visa cost? Is it difficult to get a student visa if you want to study in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? For most European students in the UK, a student visa is now a fact.
After the UK left the EU, student visas have now become a reality for the vast majority of international students. It is therefore important to familiarise yourself with this process as early as possible, so that you are well prepared when the time comes to submit an application for a student visa. In this webinar recording, we will go through useful information about student visas, when to apply, what you need for the application, costs, and other tips and tricks that can make the process easier. This webinar is suitable for those who have already applied, those who have accepted an offer, but also those who are considering studies in the UK and want to know more about the visa process.
We have the information and tools most people need to be able to go through the visa process without the need for individual follow-up/advice beyond the general information and guide from us. Remember that Across the Pond cannot provide individual advice on your visa application, only certified immigration staff can. In this webinar recording, you will learn about a number of important points that are good to be aware of when you familiarise yourself with the visa process.
Giving me the chance to be a beginner again…
It's no secret that getting out of your comfort zone is not an easy process and when I moved to England to start my university life, it was more complicated than I thought.
My dream as a child was always to become an actress or a Tae Kwon Do world champion, but for some reasons, my career as an athlete did not bear fruit. So, I decided to follow my other dream, and what I am studying is "Acting and stage combat”. When I read the name of the career I fell in love because it was like putting together my two dreams, Tae Kwon Do and acting. This career is basically acting, but they also teach you the basics concepts of safety to act in a fight without hurting your teammates, you also learn to handle different weapon systems such as swords, knives, shields, firearms or just your own body for unarmed fights.
The selection of the university was relatively simple, since the University of Essex (East 15 Acting School) was the only one in the world that offered the degree I wanted, so we can say that I did not have many options.
I'm not going to lie I would have loved this degree to be here in Mexico or at least in a country with a Spanish-speaking language. I really did not want to leave, I am a person very attached to my roots, to my family, to mexican food, I love the sun, and on top of that, I’m shy and without the best English (literally I got the minimum qualification to enter university).
I am grateful of that day that I took the flight to London and even though there have been times when I felt very alone, what I have gained from this experience has been much more, especially personal-wise. If we talk about academics, my English is still not the best, but it has improved significantly, I can say that two of my teachers have been the best teachers I have ever had and I have learned to manage the money. But personal growth has surpassed academics, I have learned a lot from myself, and it has made me have to overcome challenges, thus giving me the necessary confidence to trust in my problem-solving abilities.
My advice to you is to give yourself the opportunity to be a beginner again, you will have to find new favourite places, new restaurants, new ways of comfort, even new food products when you go to the supermarket! And if you're not fluent in English and you're a shy person like me, it'll probably cost you a bit more, but once we learn in this life to be comfortable with the unknown, we'll be unstoppable in any field.
THINGS I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KNOW BEFORE I LEAVE…
- Meeting Across the Pond before: I arrived a week late for my classes because the university had not given me a document that I needed to apply for my visa, but I met Across the Pond and they speeded the process, so if it wasn’t for them, I would have been a month late. They are very helpful and friendly, also it is always good to have someone who is guiding you in the process and to whom you can ask all the doubts that arise.
- Your English doesn't need to be the best to survive: The truth is that people are very patient and kind and have no problem with helping, so don't be afraid to ask. With my basic English I survived the train, airports, supermarkets, school services, etc.
- Take your favourite seasonings with you: There are certain seasonings that you will not find in the new country, or maybe they are from the same brand, but they will not taste the same. If they are fundamental to you, I really recommend you to bring them, for example, I filled my suitcase with spicy sweets and sauces.
- Accommodation: There are some student residences that offer three-year contracts and give you a discount for that. However, I recommend that you also take the option of living the first year in the student residence, meeting people and then moving out to a house with your same classmates and it will be much cheaper. Or rent an Airbnb for a month and then find a place to live.
- Clothing: Winter clothes are better to buy here, they are better prepared and probably with more quality.
- Airports: Keep in mind that some airlines if you buy a round trip and you miss the first flight, you also lose the return flight. So you can also evaluate the option of buying the flights separately or talk with the airline to see if they let you to take just the return flight.
- Banks: There are some places that only accept English cards for any deposits or payments. The Revolut bank can help you to get a British card fast and easy to process it, literally all the process is from your phone.
- Internet package: Something that helped me a lot was having internet on my phone to use Google translator, directions on Google Maps, to get ubers or taxis. I use Voxi because I can pay with my Mexican card without any problem and the price is very reasonable.
Good luck guys and enjoy your new experience! ?
- Daniela
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Digital meeting with a Student Advisor
Book an online session with an advisor with Across the Pond to learn more about studying in the UK!
- Make sure you book the meeting at least 2 days ahead of time
- If you want to talk over Skype, make sure your Skype is working as it should and that you have connected with your advisor before the meeting starts to avoid losing valuable meeting time
- If you do not use Skype and prefer to talk over for instance Teams, just type that into the "Skype-ID" field and we´ll arrange to send you a meeting link via Teams (you do not need a Microsoft Teams user)
