Study in the UK

1. Study in the UK BACKGROUND • Over 100,000 students from around the world study in the UK each year • Over 20,000 ERASMUS students visit the UK each year • Around 260 Universities and Colleges offering around 42,000 Higher Education courses

2. Study in the UK WHY STUDY IN THE UK? • Quality • Choice • Language • Length of Courses

3. Study in the UK HOW TO FIND A COURSE Online application through the University & Colleges Admissions Service website: www.ucas.ac.uk Or order a pack from the British Council www.britishcouncil.org This should be done 18 months before the course is due to start

4. Study in the UK COURSE COST • Courses cost approximately 1500 Euros a year • Scholarships and grants should be applied for 12 – 15 months before departure • Students should not travel to the UK without having enough funds to cover the costs of proposed study

5. Study in the UK HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING • Contact the Ministry of Education or Education Department in Greece • Contact the British Council in your own country www.britishcouncil.gr • Competition is strong and most grant-making organisations have strict requirements • They do not often give the full amount so students will need to be able to fund themselves for the remaining costs

6. Study in the UK QUALIFICATIONS • Student qualifications need to be translated into English • The National Academic Recognition Information Centre can be contacted to check the equivalence of qualifications www.naric.org.uk • Students need to ensure that the exit qualification is what they actually want in order to achieve their career goals

7. Study in the UK QUALIFICATIONS Undergraduate degrees = Bachelors • Bachelor of Arts (BA) • Bachelor of Science (BSc) • Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) Postgraduate degrees • Masters • Doctorates

8. Study in the UK STUDY METHODS • Lectures • Seminars • Tutorials • Workplace training • Practical work • Some courses will have more hours than others • Most will have a lot of independent work

9. Study in the UK PRACTICAL ISSUES Cost of living Finance Accommodation Health Culture Meals Timings Work Weather Motivation Benefits Preparation Useful websites

10. Study in the UK COST OF LIVING Over 9 months a student can expect to spend between 700 – 1000 Euros per month on: • Rent, bills, food, clothing, books, daily travel etc. • Many places (shops, cinema, theatre, hairdressers, transports etc.) will offer discounts on the presentation of a student card • London can cost more unless students are willing to go to discount stores and markets of which there are plenty

11. Study in the UK ACCOMMODATION • 60 – 100 Euros per week • Limited places on campus • Usually single sex • Some catered accommodation • Easy to find other students to share with if cannot get on campus

12. Study in the UK FINANCE • Transfer of money • Open an account in the UK • Cover costs for one month on arrival in the UK

13. Study in the UK HEALTH • Emergency number is 999 for the ambulance, fire brigade and police • Free treatment • Registering with a GP-Tel: 0845 4641 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk • Prescriptions • Dentist • Opticians

14. Study in the UK UNIVERSITY CULTURE • Enormous social scene • Own facilities and student services • Clubs, groups, societies, sports teams etc www.nusonline.co.uk • Freshers Fayres • Tourism: • www.visitbritain.com • www.visitscotland.com • www.visit.wales.com • www.nitb.com

15. Study in the UK MEALS • Breakfast - Full English breakfast, toast and jam, cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit, tea and coffee • Lunch – (12.00 -14.00) Soup, sandwich, jacket potato, fast food • Dinner –(17.00 – 20.00) Cooked meal • Sunday Dinner – (13.00 – 18.00) Roast joint of meat, vegetables, potatoes and if you’re lucky Yorkshire pudding

16. Study in the UK TIMINGS • Shops – 9.30/10.00 - 17.00 increasing open on Sundays • Supermarkets – in the city late some are 24 hours, in villages 17.00 • Restaurants – lunch and/or dinner from 18.00 – 23/24.00 (tips 10%) • Pubs – many open all day – last orders 23.00 • Nightclubs - open until 02/ 04.00

17. Study in the UK WORK As an EU national have the right to work Many part-time jobs • Notice boards • Local newspapers • Jobcentres • University careers offices • Eures website http://europa.int/eures/ National Insurance and tax Local benefits office for NI number

18. Study in the UK WEATHER Oops wrong slide!

19. Study in the UK WEATHER Summers fairly cool Winters fairly mild Average temperatures range from 3 °C to 17 °C in London Colder further North Very variable – always carry an umbrella!

20. Study in the UK PREPARATION • What do they want to study? • Where do they want to study? • How is their English? • How will they feel living away from home? • What do they hope to gain from the experience? • Are they willing to put in 100% (Mon 12%, Tues 23%, Weds 40%, Thurs 20% and Fri 5% • How are they financially? • Check validity of passport

21. Study in the UK MOTIVATION Why are they going? • Better opportunities • Improve language skills • Experience living in another country • Drink beer Possible problems • Language difficulties • Homesickness • Difficulties adapting to the British culture There is plenty of support available

22. Study in the UK BENEFITS Confidence Independence Maturity Broadening of the mind Understanding foreign cultures Tolerance of international differences Self-sufficiency Initiative Take on challenges Intercultural Adaptable Flexible Language skills All this looks great on the Curriculum Vitae

23. Study in the UK Useful Websites: • www.careerseurope.com • http://europa.eu.int/ploteus/ • www.ukcosa.org.uk • www.britishcouncil.org • www.dsc.org.uk • www.prospects.csu.ac.uk • www.educationuk.org • www.dfes.gov.uk/international-students/

24. Study in the UK THE END THANK YOU FOR LISTENING