Get ready!
Headed to the UK for studies?
Already there and have a few problems that need sorting out? Natasha
Fernandopulle was at the British
Council, where past and present students were at hand to guide the
newcomers
Travelling abroad for the first time? For your
studies maybe? Is your destination the UK?
 There
may be just a few questions that will pop up in your list of things
to get done before leaving Sri Lanka to the UK, and also a few questions
that will be raised once you get there. They may sound like: What
do I do about my visa? How do I open a bank account? Can I get a
student loan? What is the best deal on my air ticket? What about
baggage allowance?
Hmm… Cooking?!? Will I be able to make friends
and have a social life?
Here’s our attempt to help you jump these
small hurdles with a little ease.
The event
To assist those who need answers to these and more questions, along
with the assistance of students currently studying in the UK, the
British Council, Sri Lanka, once again provided an interactive experience
for students to get a closer look into student life in the UK.
Unlike the previous events that were held, this
year’s event was presented by first and second year students.
Therefore they were able to give a fresh perspective and give first-hand
information to prospective students, helping them to prepare themselves
better and settle down comfortably after their arrival in the UK.
Student visas
A special ‘Visa Advice’ service has been introduced
by the British Council. This is in order to help genuine students,
who are hoping to study in the UK, complete their visa application
form and attach the necessary documents. The fee for this service
will be Rs. 3000 and is non-refundable.
For those of you who are awaiting your A/level
results, and who are planning on studying in the UK in October 2006,
you will need your visa applications to be processed as soon as
possible, because your results may not be published until the second
week of September 2006. Special arrangements have therefore been
taken to assist such cases. (For further details, visit http://www.vfs.lk)
In addition, students are also requested to register
with the Sri Lankan High Commission in London. This will help them
with enquiries, while they are in the UK. Send the following details
across to them: Name, address, telephone number (in Sri Lanka and
the UK), name and address of the UK education institute, course,
subject duration and email address. These details can be posted
or emailed to:
Mr. S. Munasinghe
Second Secretary,
Sri Lanka High Commission,
No. 13, Hyde Park Gardens,
London W2 2LU.
Telephone: 020 7298 2882 (direct) or 020 7262 1841 (ext: 238).
Fax: 020 7262 7970
Email: mail@slhc-london.co.uk
Website: www.slhclondon.org
(For further details please contact Education
Services, British Council Colombo on 4521582 during working hours
Tuesday to Saturday 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.).
This session was conducted by Ryan Griffin and
Jane Holt, visa officers, The British High Commission, Sri Lanka,
with the assistance of Sri Kandasamy, Manager, Education Services
and Projects, British Council.
Travelling to the UK
This is a checklist of what you will need to have ready with you
for your journey:
* The travel tickets (including connecting flight to the regional
airport, if required)
* Travel insurance
* Personal insurance
* Any necessary arrangements for family, if they are travelling
with you
* A letter from your doctor with regard to any prescribed drugs
you will need to take along
* Travellers cheques and British currency for immediate expenses
* Check whether you need permission to transfer money to the UK,
and also if your government has any restrictions on the amount of
money you can take out of your country
* Check with the local mission as to what you must declare at customs
* Weigh you baggage so you can be sure that you are within your
allowance, and that it can be transported easily on your journey
Airfare
Etihad Airways offers special student airfares and enhanced baggage
allowance, such as the special one-way fare at Rs. 33,000 with a
total baggage allowance of 35kgs. Etihad will fly out of Colombo
via Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester.
Students can travel on Etihad Airways, and take sharing flights
to other UK cities such as Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Leeds and Durham. To get more details on this offer, prospective
students can collect a flyer from the British Council Colombo, Education
Services.
Travelling, accommodation and insurance
Getting around in the UK is possible using the London underground,
British Rail and the National Express.
In order to have the best chance of securing accommodation
at your place of study, you can make a note of the following:
* Apply as soon as you can
* Fill the accommodation forms and return them in time
* Confirm your accommodation arrangements through the accommodation
office at your place of study, before arriving in the UK
* You may have to pay for accommodation in advance
When finding accommodation, you can look into university/college
accommodation or private accommodation.
The following websites will be useful
For travel:
www.megabus.co.uk
www.nationalrail.co.uk
www.traveldirect.info
www.nationalexpress.co.uk
www.easyjet.co.uk
www.bmibaby.com
www.ryanair.com
www.statravel.co.uk
www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl
For insurance:
www.endsleigh.co.uk
www.natwest.com
www.cover4insurance.com
www.hsbc.co.uk
Mobile phone providers:
www.orange.co.uk
www.three.co.uk
www.vodafone.co.uk
www.t-mobile.co.uk
www.btmobile.bt.com
www.o2.co.uk
www.phones4u.co.uk
www.carphonewarehouse.co.uk
Finances and funding
Students with an internationally valid HSBC ATM card will be able
to access their account in case of an emergency. It will give the
students 24-hour access to their accounts. In an emergency a sum
in Sterling Pounds to the equivalent of Rs. 30,000 per day, can
be withdrawn. (Note that you will be able to remit your college/tuition
fees, accommodation costs, living expenses and so on through your
account.)
The following aspects were also touched upon.
They were: E-Saver Account, which can be opened with just Rs.1,000;
Remittance services, which will provide a comprehensive range of
money transfer services to remit your college/tuition fees, accommodation
costs, living expenses, etc; Supplementary Credit Card that will
help you to share your parents’ credit limit to purchase things
they will not be able to with ready cash in the UK. (If you apply
before August 25, 2006, you will be able to enjoy a fee waiver on
the joining fee and first year annual fee); Lifestyle Education
Loans, which will give you up to Rs.2.5 million with no security
or guarantors. This can all be done in 24 hours. Note, however,
that terms and conditions apply. (Also if you apply before August
25, 2006 you will be able to enjoy a fee waiver on the processing
fee. As you may know, studying in the UK can be costly, but most
students use these facilities to pay for their courses. However,
you can apply for a scholarship or grant. There are a number of
scholarships and awards to help international student to study in
the UK.
Visit the following website for further details:
www.educationuk.org
Working in the UK
Prospective students have the option of temporary, part-time work
and internships in the UK. Here are a few tips for working in the
UK:
* Have your CV with you
* Find out the number of hours the university allows you to work
* Once you are employed, get your National Insurance (NI) number
or you will get taxed
* You need to know the requirements to obtain a NI number, a letter
from your employer, pay slip, passport and bank statements
For further details, feel free to contact:
* Roshan Jayawickrema – roshannishantha@hotmail.com
* Manu Mudalige – manu_mudi@hotmail.com
* Veron Wickramasinghe – veron_kent@hotmail.com
* Ravindu Wagage – for Wales – ravindu_j@yahoo.com
* Fahir Khiard – for Scotland – jazzygman@gmail.com
Health
Before you leave for the UK, make sure you have your medicines,
a chest x-ray and report, vaccinations (MMR, Meningitis C, Hepatitis
B) and tetanus shots. Note that these can change according to your
course and also take along with you, your medical records. Once
you are there, register with the NHS. For this you will need an
NHS form, letter of enrolment and proof of accommodation. You will
also need to get an HC1 form. Check the following website for further
details: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
In the same way that you stay healthy at home,
you need to stay healthy in the UK as well. So eat healthy, exercise
regularly and get enough sleep.
Living expenses
The average cost of living for a typical student is as follows:
London:
Academic year: £7300, Month: £811
Outside London:
Academic year: £5936, Month: £659
Climate
When moving to another country, it is important that you know the
climate you will be going into. The UK is known for its ever-changing
climate. There, expect prolonged cold and rain and weeks of overcast
weather during winter. This is usually from November through to
March. Always keep warmly dressed, use hats, scarves and gloves.
During early autumn and winter months it gets quite dark. Seasons
can start during different times, through the year, and can therefore
lead to confusion! So, be prepared and know what clothes can and
should be taken, and what will not be necessary.
Useful numbers
On arrival, if you have a problem, ask to see a representative of
the Immigration Advisory Service. They can be reached on the following
numbers:
Central office – 020 7357 6912
Helpline – 020 7378 9191
Detention freephone (free call) – 0800 435 427
From Birmingham airport – 706 9765
From Dover East (seaport)– 240 1224
From Dover West (seaport) – 240 2461
From Gatwick airport – 533385
From Heathrow airport – 020 8814 1559
From Manchester airport – 834 9942
For all Scottish airports – 0870 606 7766
UK Directory Enquires – 118 500
International Directory Enquires –118 505
UK Operator – 100
International Operator – 155
Emergencies – 999
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