26/ A student's guide to moving to the UK
+ some big sister advice
Disclaimer: I’m Indian (female-identifying), so my experiences and advice might be coloured by that lens. However, I’ll try to keep content as ethnicity- and gender- agnostic as possible.
Note: ‘LS’ denotes London-specific advice.
Outline:
Preparing for the Move
Don’t worry! You got this 👊
Applications
Get your applications in as early as you can. Universities start their admissions in October for courses that start the next year in September. They do it on either a rolling basis (receive applications and offer admits on a case by case basis) or a deadline one (wait till they receive all applications and roll out admits for the most suitable applicants). Admissions remain open until even July sometimes, BUT you will need time to apply for visa. So get that application in ASAP!
Visa Timeline
Before you apply for a Visa, your chosen university needs to provide a document called CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) which contains a unique number. It confirms your admission, fees, IELTS score, and start and end date of the course. The fees is cross-checked against your financial documents to ensure you have enough funds. My loan was approved in June, and I applied for my visa at the start of July. I got it in a week, but beware of delaying it till the last minute as the visa office tends to get a high volume of applications then.
Packing
Once you get your visa and book your tickets, it’s time to pack! September can be quite brisk, but it’s nothing a semi-thick sweater can’t handle. Come armed with a couple of pairs of thermals (I got mine from Jockey), but buy all your jackets and coats in the UK.
Expenses (LS)
London gets expensive quickly, but it’s also quite student-friendly as it offers student discounts almost everywhere. Rent is around £800/ room in Zones 1-3, and gets cheaper the farther you go. Utilities or bills (electricity, heating etc.,) may or may not be included in rent. A monthly budget of ~£200 should be able to cover expenses, but if you like eating out, attending plays and shows, etc., it comes up to ~£400 (This is very subjective. The numbers given here are based on personal experience.) Ask for a student discount everywhere you go. Student Beans and Unidays (apps) provide discount codes that come in handy.
Chain grocery stores like Tesco, Sainsbury, and M&S have ‘meal deals’ that offer a meal + snack + drink at a cheaper price. On the days you can’t cook this is a great option.
Clothes
A typical day’s weather oscillates between wind, rain, shine and cold, piercing cold. As a one-layer wearing Indian, the amount of choices for outerwear was mind-boggling. Over time it made sense in terms of weather and fashion. Pair a heavy coat or puffer jacket with thin clothing, or wear cardigans with heavy layers. Layering can be quite fun. Experiment!
Academic Life & University Culture
You get as much as you put in. This has never held more true than in academia. Before joining, scour the university’s website to see what facilities they have, what societies you can join, how you can find part-time work, what career fairs they put up, what kind of mental health support and special considerations they offer and so on. Universities can be massive, it’s up to you to dig deep and make the most of it.
Some advice: Do not expect your university to be a be-all, end-all solution. Opportunities will not fall in your lap. People will not line up to give you jobs. Professors will not hand-hold you throughout the course. But you know what you’re left with? Tons and tons of agency.
Be agentic. Shape your year. Ask questions, and be the most vocal person in your classroom. Go hunting between dusty bookshelves. Find professors who work on things that interest you, and reach out to them. Attend networking events and talks in the city (they’re all mostly free!). Make friends outside of uni. Find a mentor. Make time for wonder. Immerse yourself in the course, but also in the world. Form strong friendships and show up. Join a gym and stay fit. I know what you’re thinking, and yes, you will have time for all of this. Make time. It’s worth it.
Transport (LS)
There are buses, and then there’s the tube. Both are operated by the TFL(Transport for London). To use them, you can use a debit/credit card with tap enabled (as they’re all cashless) OR you can get an ‘Oyster’ Card.
The Oyster card offers you a chance to get bus/tram/tube passes at discounted rates for students (for the duration of your course). You’d need to some calculating to see if your commute costs exceed the rate of the pass. If they do, get the pass.
The bus has a tap-once system and costs £1.75 per ride. If you tap multiple times within the hour you only get charged once.
The tube calculates the cost proportionate to the distance travelled. There are peak and off-peak hours, and you get charged depending on those hours (peak hours cost more). If you have any Qs about the tube, strictly do not contact me. I’m an enthusiastic bus-lover and tube-hater. Please direct all your Qs to the TFL.
Accommodation
At the time of finding accommodation, it proved difficult to find a place from another country and I was worried about getting scammed. Student accommodations are safe options, but they might not be the best, depending on the level of comfort you are accustomed to. If you want to finalise a place when you’re not in the country, find someone who can check the place out for you before you pay.
When in Rome the UK
‘You all right?’ is rhetorical. Say ‘not too bad’ and move on.
Say please, sorry and thank you, everywhere, every time. There is no ‘rightful’ asking of favours even if you’re close with someone. Acknowledge actions. Express gratitude.
Be prepared to be called ‘my love’ or ‘darling’. Soak it in. Blush. The novelty wears off after a while.
Personal space is a big deal. Use your voice to get someone’s attention. Do not tap people on their shoulders.
The country is pretty quiet. Get used to speaking in low voices. Don’t be the person who talks in a loud voice during commutes.
Every mode of transport is lit brightly. Arm yourself with a book, always.
My experience + How to make the most out of your year (LS)
Warning: Carries massive older sister energy.
There is nothing as daunting yet liberating as the experience of moving abroad. If you have the means, do not think twice.
It adds depth to your being, and layers to your soul.
If I have one word for this year, it would be immersion. This year has been the most rewarding of my life. I attend classes, handle all my coursework, recently became class rep, do independent reading, hit the gym, work part-time, make time for events, friends(old and new) and the city I call home. Not all of these happen at once; they ebb and flow as some take precedence over the other.
ADVICE:
Your first order of business is making friends. You are all alone in a new country. You need support systems.
Erase the words ‘I don’t have time’ from your vocabulary. Yes, it will be a busy year. Yes, you have limits. But do not, at any cost, make a habit of saying you’re tired or you don’t have time. Say yes and make time for anything you feel strongly about. I promise you, it’s doable.
Open your mind up more than you normally would. I was progressive by Indian standards, but I had every bit of progressiveness challenged once I moved here. Keep your mind open. Change it. Shape it.
Get a student art pass if you like museums. Get a bus pass/tube pass/ railcard if you like to explore. Sign up to local newsletters. Attend gigs if you like music. Visit parks to sketch and pet dogs. The weather is horrible all the time, but don’t use the excuse to stay in (unless there’s a horrible storm).
Be a regular at your local grocery store. Say hi, make eye contact, wish them a nice evening. Do this every time you go. I promise it helps you feel grounded.
The food, oh my! London is a hotspot for an incredible variety of cuisines. Explore food as much you can. I promise you it’s doable in a student’s budget.
I haven’t traveled outside of London much but I fully encourage you to explore the UK if travel excites you. Hopefully I get to do some traveling in the Summer.
Slap yourself out of academic seriousness by finding avenues to do things you love.
The universe can’t surprise you if you stay in.
Hope you found this helpful! If you have more questions, drop them in the comments below and I’ll try to answer them in part 2.
And remember - you got this! 👊
Enthusiastically yours,
Shamika.
Reading the whole Content feels quite overwhelming to me. But I agree with what you said "It's doable, you'll find the time."
And great to see you back writing here :)
Good to see you back Shamika!