International Students living in UK
Great Britain offers a wealth of culture and interests to both residents and visitors. There are theatres, art galleries, festivals, historical places, shopping centres, markets etc.
However, stay away from home you will encounter many things that are unexpected.
All students when they first come to university are faced with a new environment and may have to change their way of living to some extent. For International Students this adjustment is much greater because of cultural and/or language differences. Leaving home and arriving in Britain can be an anxious time as well as exciting, as there are lots of new experiences to absorb. After a few weeks you can begin to miss your family and friends from home; you can feel tired of the food and the effort you have to make with a different language; irritated with the way people behave. You may even get headaches or feel ill. Most students feel like this at some time during their studies. Don't worry, this can be quite normal as you adjust to this new environment. It's a good idea to find someone to talk to about how you are feeling. This can ease the situation for you.
To help you through this period it can be helpful to have the company of people from your own part of the world. It is also important to stay in contact with home.
In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you need to be 17 years old to drive a car or motorcycle and be in possession of a valid driving licence.
If you have a valid full driving licence issued in an EEA country , you will be able to drive in the UK for as long as this licence remains valid.
If you have a valid driving licence from a non-EEA country or an international driving permit you will be able to drive in the first year of your stay . After a year, if you are from one of the countries listed below* you will be able to exchange your licence for a British licence. If you are not from one of the countries listed you will need to apply for a provisional licence and then take a driving test in order to obtain a full British licence, if you wish to continue driving.
*Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Cyprus, Singapore, Switzerland, Zimbabwe.
A publication called the Highway Code is essential reading for anyone considering driving in the UK. It gives full details of British driving regulations. It is available from most bookshops, Newsagents and libraries.
Owning a Car
Car owners, in the UK, are required by law to tax, register, insure and MOT their vehicle.
To license your vehicle (road tax) you must complete form V10 from the Post Office and pay the appropriate road tax. You will be issued with a tax disc to display in the window of your car. The annual cost of road tax varies from £90 to £160 depending on the vehicle you own. When buying a car you will be given a registration document. You must complete the bottom section of this and send it to the DVLA. This ensures that the car is registered in your name.
Insurance can be purchased from any number of insurance agents. It is always a good idea to try several to see who gives you the best price. There are three types of car insurance:
Comprehensive - the most complete cover you can buy. You can claim back damage to your car as well as any damage to another car even if the accident is your fault. Most policies expect you to pay the first £100 of the repairs.
Third Party, Fire and Theft - similar to comprehensive but does not allow you to claim for damage to your own vehicle when it is your fault.
Third Party - This is the minimum cover you can have to drive legally. It only covers you for damage you may cause to anyone else. However if it is the other person's fault you can claim against their insurance but you must have your own insurance to be able to do this.
The MOT is a compulsory, annual road safety test for all cars over 3 years old. Make sure the garage you use is an approved MOT Centre.
Further information about driving in the UK can be obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) .
British electricity works on 230volts/50cycles and most sockets take 13 amp square pin fuse plugs. If you are bringing your own electrical equipment with you, make sure that it can be used safely on this voltage and find out whether you will need an adaptor.
Do You Need a TV Licence?
All students resident in halls are required by law to purchase a TV licence for their own personal TV set, whether you live in a single room of a block or in rooms within separate flats.
Tenants in Private Rented or Intermediate Tenancy Properties. In flats/houses where each student has signed a separate agreement with the landlord each student is legally required to purchase a licence if s/he wishes to use a personal TV, whether or not a licensed communal TV is also provided.
However, where a tenant has a licence for a TV in his/her room this licence will extend to provide cover for a TV installed in the communal room, but only on the understanding that the tenant takes full responsibility for that TV.
Students who have signed a Joint Tenancy or Joint Lease agreement and so form a single household need one licence for any number of TVs on the premises.
Students who rent rooms in a house where the landlord is resident will need individual licences if they use TVs in their own rooms. However, if the resident landlord him/herself has a licensed personal TV any further TV s/he provides for the communal use of the lodgers will also be covered.
TV licences cost £109 (colour) , £36.50 (black and white) per year.
Meeting People
Making friends and meeting people will undoubtedly enhance the quality of your stay in Britain. However the British can seem reserved and not always easy to get to know. Here are a number of suggestions that might prove useful.
The University of Greenwich Students' Union represent the interests of all students, both British and International and provides in-house social facilities for all students. You can join the Students' Union during induction week or at any other time. They will give you detailed information about the activities and clubs available, for example the Football Club and the International Society.
This can be a good way of meeting people and improving your English while doing something you enjoy. It is also possible for a group of you to set up your own club. Just ask someone in the Students' Union and they will help you or visit their web page .
The British Council offers a variety of programmes for British Council sponsored students, e.g. trips to the theatre and places of interest. These events are very useful for meeting other students from you own country.
International Student House Club is based in the centre of London and offers both British and international students across London an opportunity to meet and socialise. It runs a varied programme of social and cultural events throughout the year.
Over the Christmas vacation they organise special events. The address is:
229 Great Portland Street,
London
W1N 5HD.
(Near Oxford Circus).
Telephone: (020) 7631 8300.
There is a small charge for membership.
Africa Centre is a meeting place for Africans and people interested in Africa. Live music, art gallery, African restaurant, bars, evening classes, and cultural events. The address is:
38 King Street,
Covent Garden,
London WC2 E8JT.
Telephone: (020) 7836 1973.
International Friendship League brings people together from all over the world. Also runs a pen-friend scheme. Contact them at:
'Peacehaven',
3 Crefwick Road,
Acton,
London W3 9HE.
Telephone: (020) 8752 0055.
International Voluntary Service offers a range of voluntary service opportunities at summer work camps. Their address is:
International Voluntary Service South,
Old Hall East,
Bergholt,
Colchester CO7 6TQ.
Telephone: 01206 298 215.
Personal Insurance
It is important to consider what insurance cover you may need during your stay. You may wish to take out insurance to cover accidental damage or theft of your personal belongings, personal injury, medical insurance, personal liability and the cost of returning home in the case of accident or illness.
Endsleigh Insurance Services Ltd was set up by the National Union of Students in 1965 and offers exclusive policies for students. Tel: (020) 7436 4451 or go to www.endsleigh.co.uk
Domestic telephones are those which are fitted in to your home. The two main companies are BT and NTL. NTL may well be cheaper especially for installation costs but check both before you decide.
Mobile telephones can be more expensive than domestic telephones but they have a number of advantages particularly if you share accommodation and don't want to share telephone expenses. Also you can carry it with you wherever you go but do remember to have it switched off in lectures etc. as it is viewed as bad manners if they ring during a lecture. If you intend to get a mobile phone do some research into the best deal for yourself, linking it to what you intend to use it for, as there are many different options and prices.
Public telephones are to be found in Shopping Centres, on some streets usually near post offices, at railway stations, in pubs etc. There are public telephones on most campuses, particularly in Halls of Residence. Most public telephones take coins (10p, 20p, and £1) but some only accept phonecards.
These can be purchased from the Students' Union shop on campus, newsagents and Post Offices. They look like a credit card and can cost from £1-£20 depending on how many units you require.
Dialing a telephone number - every number has an area code eg. 01634 (Medway), 020 (London) followed by a personal number. You dial the area code as well as the number only if you are telephoning from outside the area or using a mobile phone.
Cheap telephone calls: www.ncl.ac.uk/studadv/International/Phoning.html
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