Advice on Pursuing Master?s degree in UK for International Students

Posted by Idpindia on June 19th, 2017

Due to its quality teaching and research facility, the higher education sector of UK attracts thousands of international students every year. The three universities that are known for admitting the maximum number of international students include the University of Manchester, University College London, and University of Edinburgh. Applying for the right course in the right university with the right amount of scholarship can be a herculean task. However, in this entire hullabaloo, several students forget that there’s another check list awaiting them. Here’s a quick guide that can be extremely helpful for students pursuing master’s degree in UK.

So what’s next?

Accommodation: The top most priority after admissions should be finding the ideal accommodation. Most universities reserve some rooms for international students. It’s best to stay in the university provided accommodation for a year and then go in for rented/shared spaces outside the campus.

Healthcare: Honestly, health care and medication is quite costly in UK. Therefore, it is always advisable to get a health insurance in order to be entitled for a free or reduced medication under National Health Service (NHS).

Bank Account: Since pursuing masters in UK is going to be a long period, it is recommended to open a bank account in UK so as to avoid any form of extra foreign currency charges. Identification, address proof (permanent as well as current), income proof, and student status are the documents required by banks. It may be noted that all banks do not offer international students to open an account.

British Lifestyle: Adjusting to an altogether new lifestyle is no mean feat however, the diverse culture of UK helps one gel with people easily. Before leaving for UK, students can join university groups and forums in order to know, discuss and understand the scenario.

Climate: This can be a problem for various students coming from South Asia or Africa. The country is known for its rains and snow. Ensure to pack good amount of warm clothes so as to keep the cold at bay.

The Fresher’s Week: Every university in UK has a fresher’s week through which students get a chance to meet new people, make friends, and to get involved in various activities/workshop. Take full advantage of the same as this will help you later on in some way or the other.

Stay Organised: Unlike education in India, post-graduation in UK requires a lot of research and putting in added efforts for assignments. Therefore, always create a calendar and in case of any doubts, get in touch with professors, in person or via email.

Dissertation: The dissertation is an important element of any masters in UK. Therefore, keep a track of subjects of interests so that it is easier to pick a topic for dissertation at the end of the course. Start early because dissertations take a certain amount of time to complete.

The above-mentioned pointers can be extremely helpful for international students planning to pursue a master’s degree in UK. While the experience of one student may differ from another student, the overall experience of studying in UK is beautiful and the tips will help ease a student’s journey in the country.