What To Expect If You Are An International Student Going To University In The UK
Are you an international student going to attend university in the UK soon? Studying abroad is a really fun experience that allows you to explore other culture! So here is everything you need to know if you are going to a UK university.
Independent Work
You will be expected to do a lot more independent work on your own. For international students, this might be quite hard to get adjusted to because all the UK students would have been expected to have done a fair amount of independent work prior to university. Independent work is especially important if you are studying a humanities degree with very little contact hours. You will be expected to do a lot more work on your own in your own time. Be expected to do a lot of secondary readings. This also means you might also want to have effective time management during your time at uni.
Different Student Societies
Most universities in the UK will have a variety of societies for its students to join! You are guaranteed to find something you would want to be involved in! The student societies range from the baking society, cheese and wine society, various sports societies and even Harry Potter society! So you will most definitely be able to find something to join.
You can explore the different society your university has to offer on the student union website or during the societies fair in Freshers week. Joining societies is a great way of meeting new people and expanding your social circle. You will be able to meet friends who share the same interest as you! Most universities have an international society where you will be able to meet other international students at the university as well.
Different Grading System
The grading system is going to be quite different from what you are used to. For example, getting a 2:1 (60%) is considered to be a good result! You need to bear in mind that almost no student will get over 80% especially if you are studying an essay based degree. So don’t worry if you don’t get the same results you used to get in your home country!
Also, it is also worth noting that UK universities place a strong emphasis on developing your own argument. It is worth reading your essay guideline before your first assignment. You could also contact the academic office where you will get special help from the academic advisor! There will be workshops available or even drop-in sessions to help international students with getting used to the academic requirements. So if you are struggling, don’t be shy to ask for help because you are not alone!
Living Situation
Most universities in the UK offer guaranteed accommodation for their first year students. These are often the accommodation managed directly by the university. As an international student, you might not be able to visit university accommodations. Most of the time you will only be able to choose your accommodations online. It is worth noting that these accommodations are often very popular so you might want to apply earlier.
Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get the university’s halls of residence! There are also many private accommodations out there as well. They are normally managed by private providers which means they are often more expensive. However, they generally come with better facilities which might make your overseas living more comfortable. So it is worth doing some research before you go!
Drinking Culture
The drinking culture in UK universities is almost notorious. You might be shocked by how much alcohol a typical UK student consumes each week. The drinking culture is definitely a big part of the university social life. The party culture will take a while for international students to get used to. However, don’t worry if you don’t drink! Most universities offer a lot of alcohol-free activities which will allow you to socialize too!
You Are Not Alone
It is normal to be daunted by the idea of studying abroad. But it is important to know that you are never alone! Universities in the UK are very diverse and you will definitely meet other international students! If you are worried about blending in, chances are there are more international students who are on the same boat as you! So don’t worry!
