Living in the UK

When arriving in a foreign country for the first time it can seem like a very strange place. Every country has its own unique food, social life, dress sense, etiquette and how people speak and behave, sport, transport and holidays, and the UK is no exception.

Remember if you have any specific questions before you travel, you can contact the international team at MPW or speak to your agent helping with your application if applicable. There are also many helpful websites that will get you prepared. The UK Council for International Student Affairs and the British Council are useful sources of information.

Traditionally, British food is based on meats and seasonal and root vegetables. Be sure to try a roast dinner while you’re here! Most cafés and restaurants also offer vegetarian options and there are options available from all over the world. Some of the bigger cities and towns will have specialist supermarkets catering products from around the world and even the main supermarkets carry some international foods.

The UK benefits from the National Health Service (NHS) which provides free health care to all British residents. This also extends to international students staying for more than six months which means that you will be able to visit a doctor and attend a hospital if you need to without paying for it when you go.

There are many people with many different beliefs living and practicing here. There is sure to be a place for you to practice near your accommodation and our staff will help direct you to your nearest facility.

>Britain is a tolerant society and it is illegal to discriminate against anyone due to their faith or religion. Please remember to behave accordingly to others of different faiths when you meet them.

Council Tax is determined by local authorities and is based on the value of the property you are living in. People over 18 who are not exempt will have to make this payment. Students in full time education are generally exempt so be sure to ask your Director of Studies, Personal Tutor or another member of staff at MPW if you need advice and they will point you in the right direction.

Britain is an island country and the surrounding seas give it a very varied weather system! While Britain has a reputation for wet weather, there are also some beautiful sunny periods and cold and snowy ones too. Like in most places, it is impossible to know what the weather will be like so be sure to come prepared for anything!

Average temperatures in September range from 9˚C to 20˚C, and between 2˚C and 7˚C in January. To be safe, pack a jacket or coat and some warm clothes as you might feel the cold more if you’re used to warmer temperatures in your home country. You will be able to buy clothes appropriate for the weather when you get here if you don’t want to bring too much at first but be sure to check the weather reports before you pack to ensure you have appropriate clothing for the first couple of weeks at least.

Safety is important anywhere in the world and while Britain is a very safe place to be, it is a good idea to keep some advice in mind:

• Don’t wander around alone at night, especially in areas with little light.
• Don’t travel with too many pieces of expensive technology and don’t flaunt them when you’re out and about in public.
• It is best not to carry large amounts of cash with you and you can speak to MPW about helping you set up a bank account or a float account if a regular bank account isn’t possible.
• Try to make sure someone responsible knows where you are going if you’re going to go out alone.
• Always keep emergency numbers to hand in case you need them.

Keeping in touch with friends and family at home is a very important part of studying abroad. You want to be able to share your new experiences and hear about what is happening at home too. It is also very important to have contact with loved ones on those rare days you might be feeling down.

Make sure you pack all of the addresses and contact numbers and emails for everyone you want to keep in touch with and keep them safe. In the UK, you can use the Royal Mail postal service to send packages and letters as well as several private courier companies such as DHL. You will have WiFi access at college and in the accommodation provided through KSS if you’ve booked that. There are also many internet cafés and other public spaces that offer WiFi if you need to connect outside of college.

It might be an idea to get a local SIM card for your phone when you arrive or purchase a UK phone. This will make communicating in the UK easier and cheaper. To call home, you can purchase phone cards online or from kiosks and shops which are excellent value for money.

The power supply in Britain is 230/240 volts. Sockets accept only three-(square)-pin plugs, so an adapter is needed for international appliances. A transformer is also needed for appliances operating on 110-120 volts.

It is a good idea to have travel insurance covering your journey to the UK and if you are travelling for less than six months, you should also have health insurance. Make sure you keep key information and contact numbers for your insurance with you when you travel.

The currency in the UK is The Great British Pound GBP (£). It is not a good idea to travel with large amounts of cash so you should try to have enough for the first few days and some bank cards you can use while here.

When you arrive it may be a good idea to set up a bank account. You will receive more information about how to do this at induction and through your DoS. In the meantime, you can start some research from home. The main banks are HSBC, Barclays Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Barclays Bank and HSBC both offer special international student packages.

There may be some differences between the law in your country and the law in the UK. For example, in the UK:

• You must not use or carry any illegal drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines.
• It is illegal to carry self-defence CS gas sprays, guns or stun guns. There are also very strict laws and penalties around carrying knives.
• You must be aged 18 or over to buy tobacco and alcohol.
• You should never buy property that you think might be stolen, no matter how tempting it seems. It is illegal to drive a car without the correct driving licence and without car insurance. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offence.