Moving to the UK as an International Student – What to Expect
Deciding to study abroad is a very brave decision – so first of all, hats off to you. So what’s it like to live and study in the UK? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that our towns are multicultural, our weather is (generally) quite mild and our food is international, so you should find your feet in no time!
But let’s get into the details of what it’s like to live and study at a UK university.
University Life
University life does vary slightly depending on where you live. If you’re living in a major city like London, Manchester, Bristol or Birmingham, you can expect a fast pace, thriving nightlife, and more noise. If you move to a smaller city or town, such as Bath, Southampton or Warwick, it might be a bit more peaceful, but there’ll still be loads of fun things to do. Going to university is very popular in the UK, so most university towns are geared up for students and have plenty of shops, bars and restaurants for you to enjoy.
The amount of hours you’ll spend in lectures, seminars and labs depends greatly on your course and university. For my English Literature degree I spent around 10-15 hours a week in classes, but was expected to do A LOT of independent reading and studying. My friends that did STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) were looking at closer to 30 hours a week in classes, including lectures and practicals.
When it comes to independent study, most universities are well-equipped with group and silent study spaces, subject libraries (and librarians), IT suites, and free Eduroam WiFi all over campus. There’s an emphasis on trying to figure stuff out for yourself before asking lecturers, but any good tutor will be available by email or in scheduled Office Hours to help support your learning.
Most (good) students in the UK have a work-hard-play-hard attitude. There’s a lot of work to be done, especially in second and third year, but us Brits know how to unwind and party. It’s a great idea to get involved with your Students’ Union – there are often a huge range of interest-based Societies, sports clubs and teams, pub quizzes and nightlife events on offer. Also getting to know your International Students’ Union or Office is essential, as they’ll be there to help you settle in, adapt to the new culture, and often put on trips around the city and country so you can make the most of your time studying abroad.
Food
British food has a reputation for being bland and unsightly. A proper Sunday Roast isn’t exactly Instagrammable, and fish and chips can be a bit flavourless unless you smother them in salt and vinegar (I mean, who doesn’t?) but that doesn’t mean British food is bad. Until you’ve tried a real homemade Yorkshire pudding (don’t be tempted by the frozen supermarket variety) that’s dripping in beef gravy, you haven’t tasted anything.
The UK has seen immigration from all over the world, with each new arrival bringing a range of delicious food. Whether you want to try some new cuisines or need a bit of home comfort, you’ll be able to find whatever you want to eat here.
British-Indian curries are huge, with every town having several Indian restaurants and takeaways, and in recent years Japanese and Thai food has become very popular. If you’re after a taste of Nigeria or the Caribbean you’ll find that here too, and authentic Chinese food can also be had if you know where to look (the Chinese place on the corner, although deliciously salty, is probably not the most authentic!)
It goes without saying that European food is really popular here too. There are dozens of chain Italian restaurants, and Spanish tapas is a really fun and sociable way to dine out.
Most students tend to cook for themselves the majority of the time, though a tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t eat delicious food and go out for dinner once in a while! There are often student nights at local restaurants where you can get a nice discount, or look online for vouchers for chain restaurants.
When it comes to supermarket shopping, though, it’s worth being a bit clever – not all supermarkets were created equal! Budget supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi and Iceland are very easy on the wallet, though some products aren’t the best quality. Tesco and Sainsbury’s are a bit pricier but you tend to get better value for money, and Waitrose and M&S are high-end supermarkets for those who have a bit more cash to splash. A weekly food shop can cost as little as £10-20 depending on where you shop and what you buy. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the main supermarkets offer home delivery for a small fee, so have a chat with your flatmates and split the cost of a supermarket delivery to save you the walk with all your shopping!
Culture
No matter where you’re studying, you’ll have heaps of culture to absorb. The UK has a rich history, and our cities are proud of their heritage, preserving historic buildings and architectural landmarks for you to see. Local museums can be a treasure-trove of local history, such as the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, Beamish Open Air Museum near Durham, and the Museum of London. In London most museums and art galleries are free for general admission, and in other cities there’s often a small fee to enter.
Britain’s live music scene is flourishing, with every major city boasting great music venues. These range from huge stadiums like London’s The O2 and the NEC in Birmingham, to smaller-capacity venues like Cambridge Corn Exchange, Norwich’s LCR, and The Leadmill in Sheffield. If you’re here over the summer, there are so many music festivals to go to – obviously Glastonbury is a big one, but there’s also Reading & Leeds, Latitude, Boomtown, Download and Lovebox to name a few. They cater to a wide range of music tastes, so whatever you’re into, you’ll find a festival for you.
I’m sure you’re aware that pubs are a massive part of British culture. Whether you choose to drink alcohol or not, pubs are a great place to socialise, especially if you find a ‘local’ where all your fellow students hang out! Many do weekly pub quizzes where you compete as a team, and it’s common for pubs to host open mic nights for music and comedy too. Many also do food, and pubs are a great place to try traditional British dishes like bangers and mash, pies, or toad in the hole. It’s a catch-all location whether you’re after a pint of ale or a refreshing soft drink!
Weather
Britain is infamous for its wet, windy, mild weather. It’s true that it does rain a lot, but in recent years (thanks, global warming) the summers have got hotter and the seasons have shifted a bit.
Winter (December to February) tends to see temperatures around 5°C, but can go as low as 0°C. Expect wind and rain, and maybe a bit of snow and ice, plus daylight hours of around 7:30am to 4pm in the middle of winter.
A note on daylight hours: On the last Sunday in March, the clocks go forward by one hour (at 1am), and they go back again on the last Sunday in October (at 2am). This means in British Summer Time (BST) there is 1 hour more daylight in the evenings.
Spring (March to May) sees temperatures go up to the mid-teens, and while it can still be rainy, the days get longer and sunnier while plants begin to grow back their leaves and flowers.
Summer is generally from June to August, and can see temperatures up to 35°C, though they tend to average out around 20°C. It tends to only be hot in spells, and the weather is still unpredictable – though Brits do make the most of the weather by flocking to parks, beer gardens and beaches when the weather’s good. Plus, thanks to BST it stays light late into the evenings in the middle of summer!
In Autumn (September to November) the weather starts to cool down again and the leaves fall off the trees, but the days can still be quite warm and bright – plus the autumn colours are something to behold!
So, that’s your crash course on university life in the UK. We hope that’s answered all your questions and you’re ready to get stuck into an awesome year, or two, or three, studying abroad!
