UK as study abroad destination

Study in UK:
United Kingdom comprising of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is world leader in higher education and is second largest country in terms of attracting students from the world. High quality standards, top notch faculty and quality infrastructure are main attracting features of study in UK. UK’s standard of higher education are followed in major developed and other developing countries of the world. It is a dream of large part of students to study abroad in UK. The UK has more than 100 universities and around 165 higher education institutions including universities and colleges. Some of the major imminent universities and colleges of the world like Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Queen’s college, London College of commerce etc are located in United Kingdom. 

Benefits of studying in UK:
● Awards of UK universities and colleges are recognized world over and are respected too;
● The UK undertakes 5 per cent of the world’s scientific research and produces 14 per cent of the world’s most frequently cited papers.
● UK institutions offer flexibility of choice and enable you to blend academic and vocational courses of your choice.
● The teaching and study methodology used in the UK give you the freedom to be creative and develop skills sets and confidence.
●  As a student you get the opportunity to be taught by the world’s leading academics and experts; you also benefit from their constant academic support.
● UK degrees can be tailored to your interests and often include specialized modules.
● The UK is the home of English hence an ideal place to develop language skills and enhance employment prospects.

Academic culture in United Kingdom:
Academic culture in UK is very robust, more advanced and distinguished from Indian system by the fact that UK universities and colleges produce employable graduates. It focuses on students overall development. Classroom study is supported with group studies and self-study is encouraged for individual development. Most of the professional courses include a project or dissertation in final semester. Another major distinguishing fact of study in UK is that the universities have close contact with the industry and provide industry internships to students. These internships help international students in understanding certain dynamics of the courses they are studying and exposes a prospective students to UK’s work and corporate culture. However, these internships are usually unpaid but there are some paid internships also available in certain universities.

Accommodation: 
Universities in UK have made huge investments housing students, both domestic and International students. Usually universities provide several options for students for living purposes. Most universities have hostels known as Halls of residence, which are equipped with basic and necessary equipment’s for comfortable living. Besides these halls, universities have also made necessary arrangements for private living in and around universities. A student can also live with a local family as paying guests.

Living in the UK:
United Kingdom presents a unique blend of international cultures and contemporary thinking. A very good number of Indians have made UK as their home. As an International student you will have opportunities to meet new people from every corner of the world, discover new places and helps you to discover a new dimension of your personality. Many colleges and institutions have an international society to help foreign students. These societies offer social programs such as festive celebrations, parties, get-togethers and trips to local tourist destinations. 

Food and Entertainment:
Food habits differ widely around the world and so do in UK. Student might feel hard to adapt to the food habits in UK. Every halls of residence have a self-sufficient catering services providing rich, hygiene and nutritious food to the students. Besides there are a good number of Indian restaurants and cafes offering food. Also student has the option of cooking own food if living in a private accommodation with kitchen facility.UK is a marvelous mix of culture whether you go to a club, cafeterias, pubs, concert halls, music festivals etc. Social and cultural events are regularly organized by student groups and independent artists and bands. Apart from this one can visit to museums, exhibitions, monumental places and art galleries. UK is known as the art capital of the world and the country is renowned for its literary and performing arts heritage, with regular theatrical performances it encourages the tradition to thrive. 

Leisure and Sports:
Since institutions in UK focus on overall development of an individual, the universities and college have made necessary investments for sports and leisure activities. As an international student, one can join different clubs and societies such as dance or music club, or get involved with some social and charitable events. Besides UK is known for its scenic beauty, so one can indulge in mountaineering, trekking, hiking, cycling and camping activities.Sports are a great way to unwind yourself. Most universities in UK provide sports facilities and one can find numerous opportunities to participate in various activities. One can participate in indoor games and as well as outdoor games like football, cricket etc.

Working in UK:
As an international student in UK, one is allowed to work part time to support ones finances. Every institution in UK has a dedicated personnel to help international students with part time job opportunities. These opportunities are in retail, hospitality, food and other sectors. The students are protected by the minimum wage law and student is ensured of potential earnings. As an international student, one can work legally for 20 hours in a week during study term and can work full time during vacations.

After course completion, an international student is eligible for working in the UK, as per the laws. One can change the visa status and can apply for work visa, commonly known as post study work permit. Each institution in the UK has a dedicated department helping students in getting placement, both in the UK and elsewhere. Currently, after pursuing a degree in UK, one can apply for a post study work permit of eighteen months duration.