Information Sheets

• Arriving and living in the UK
• Immigration
• Financial support
• Studying in the UK

Arriving and living in the UK

• Accommodation overview
  An introduction to the accommodation options available to international students in the UK
• What you need to know when choosing accommodation
• Things to look out for when deciding what type of accommodation to choose
• Arriving in the UK
  Practical information on issues such as transport and money, when first arriving in the UK.
• Driving in the United Kingdom: a guide for international students
  An explanation of the legal requirements relating to the car and to the driver.
• International students and culture shock
  Adjusting to life in a new country and a new culture can be very difficult at first. This Information Sheet aims to help students prepare for this period of adjustment and the effects it may have.
• Keeping healthy
  A practical guide to medical services in the UK, and students' entitlement to them. Also helpful information on diet, weather and personal health.
• Preparing to return home
  Practical arrangements before leaving the UK, and a discussion of 'reverse culture shock', which many students experience when they return to their own country.

Immigration

• Making an immigration application as a student visitor
  Explains what you need to do to get immigration permission in order to come to study in the UK as a 'student visitor' or as a 'child visitor'.
• Making a Tier 4 application
  How to apply for immigration permission to come to the UK, or extend your stay in the UK, as a student under Tier 4 (General).
• Protecting your Tier 4 student immigration status
  Advice on how to protect your immigration status as a tier 4 student while studying in the UK.
• Your family's immigration
  Advice on how to apply for immigration permission to be in the UK as the family member of a student.
• Your family's immigration if you do not have Tier 4 leave
  Advice on how to apply for immigration permission to be in the UK as the family member of a student for students who applied for their current leave before 31 March 2009.
• Tier 4 sponsor licence problems, and colleges that close
  What to do if the institution where you are studying has recently closed, or if their Tier 4 sponsor licence is suspended or revoked.
• Working during your studies
  Information relevant to students who want to work during their studies.
• Working in the UK after your studies
  Information about some of the schemes relevant to students who want to stay on in the UK to work at the end of their studies.

Financial support

• Council tax and international students
  An explanation of Council Tax and advice on who must pay it.
• Tuition fees: will I pay the ‘home’ or ‘overseas’ rate?
  An explanation of all the groups entitled to the lower ('home') rate of tuition fees for courses at universities and colleges in the UK.
  
  • Tuition fees for study in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
  • Tuition fees for study in Scotland - if your course starts, or started, before 1 August 2012
  • Tuition fees for study in Scotland - August 2012 onwards
• Ordinary residence: case law for fees and Student Support


• Student Support
  An explanation of the conditions you need to meet to be eligible for public (UK Government) funding for study (‘Student Support’).
  
  If you are eligible for Student Support, you should apply to the authority in the country of the UK where you normally live when you are not studying. Choose the Information Sheet for that country. If you are a European Union national, or the family member of a European Union national, and you are coming to the UK only in order to study, select the Information Sheet for the country where your institution is located.
  • Student Support: applying in England
    
  • Student Support: applying in Wales
  • Student Support: applying in Scotland
  • Student Support: applying in Northern Ireland
• Financial hardship
  An outline of strategies for international students in the UK who find themselves experiencing financial hardship
• Welfare benefits
  Advice on if and when international students can claim government benefits and help with health care costs. Also see, Keeping Healthy and EEA and Swiss Students, as appropriate.
• Sources of funding for international students
  Please note that UKCISA is not a funding agency and does not provide scholarships or any form of financial support. The link above takes you to the British Council "Funding your studies" page, where you can read and/or download their leaflet, 'Sources of funding for international students'. This is a basic guide to possible sources of funding for international students who want to study in the UK.

Studying in the UK

• Study methods used in the UK
  What is it like to study in the UK? How is education structured? An introduction to what to expect from your course, and what your tutors are likely to expect from you, as well as some suggestions to help you study effectively.

Choosing your course: further information from the British Council

At British Council Education UK you can do a search for courses, institutions and scholarships based on different criteria such as subject and location. You will also find more practical advice about living and studying in the UK, including

• applying to study in the UK
• subjects you can study in the UK
• scholarships for UK study
• scholarships for international postgraduate students

   

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