The Complete International Students Guide with Replica Watches
1. Study in the UK is an excellent long-term investment, but just how far will your money go while you’re here? The good news is that with a bit of careful planning you can live very well! Claire Irvin tracks down the bargains. Replica Breitling Watches
All students have to survive on a budget, but there’s no reason why this should stop you from living life to the full. Take some time to look around and you’ll soon discover there are ways to make every pound stretch that bit further.
2.Most institutions will guarantee you accommodation, at least during your first year. University accommodation, for example, varies from a bedroom in halls of residence to a room in new apartments in “student villages”. In both cases, you are likely to share a kitchen and bathroom with other students.
Some institutions also own houses in the local area, which they rent out to students. This kind of accommodation will usually include heating, electricity and water—so no bills to pay! Living together like this means opportunities to share shopping and enjoy the benefits of buying in bulk. In university-owned accommodation, you are likely to be provided with a cleaning service and laundry facilities. Always check what your rent includes when organizing accommodation.
3.As an international student, you may be entitled to free health treatment and subsidized dental treatment under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). If you are studying full-time in Scotland, you are eligible for free NHS treatment from the date you enter the country, regardless of the length of your course. If you are studying elsewhere in the
UK, you will receive free health care if your course lasts more than six months.
You will need to register with the university, college or school surgery, or a practice local to you. When registered, you will receive an NHS medical card, which you should take care not to lose! NHS prescriptions for medicines cost ￡ 80 per item, unless you are under nineteen and in full-time education.
4.Most towns and cities will have at least one public library, which anyone can join at little or no cost. As well as copies of national (and sometimes international) newspapers and magazines, many public libraries provide free access to the Internet and CD-ROMs.
They’ll also let you borrow recent novels and non-fiction books, and many will have music tapes and CDs (both pop and classical) and films on video that can be rented at low cost.
5.If you are bringing your family to the UK, your children under the age of sixteen can attend state-funded schools without having to pay tuition fees. Most state-funded schools are co-educational. School is compulsory for children between the ages of five and sixteen, but the UK Government has pledged a nursery place for every four-year-old whose parents would like one.
6.The National Union of Students (NUS) is affiliated to most universities and colleges in the UK. When you register with an institution, you will automatically be issued with an NUS card and a student identity card. Your NUS card will qualify you for a wide range of discounts, which include savings on public transport, cinema and theatre tickets, and clothes from leading chain stores. Some local shops in your area will also give you discounts if you show your card—your institution’s students’ union will give you a list of shops that do this.
You will also qualify for an International Student Identity Card (..ISIC), which can be used for discount rates on flights and international rail travel. For travel within the UK, a student coach card or rail card will entitle you to a one-third discount on most fares.
Both NUS and ISIC cards offer a range of added benefits, including legal advice, hiplines and student services. The NUS is planning new electronic services for all students at universities and colleges, including free e-mail addresses and discounted online shopping. You can keep up to date with these plans at www. nus. org. uk.
7.Whatever you want to buy, it’s always worth shopping around for the best price.UK shops have lots of competition, and are always trying to outdo each other on price. Look out for the sales. These can take place at any time of the year, but the biggest usually take place in early January.
If you’re buying food in a supermarket, find the products that have the supermarket’s name on. These are “own-brand” products, and are cheaper，because there is not as much spent on picketing and advertising. Local markets are good places to find reasonably priced fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. These are usually open-air and can be found at least one or two days a week in town centers. If you wait until the end of the day, some market stalls will be selling off their produce at reduced prices.
Charity shops are popular places for buying clean and good-quality second-hand clothes. These are run by well-known UK charities, such as Oxfam, Imperial Cancer Research, Scope and Help the Aged, and all proceeds go to help their efforts. Second-hand bookshops are also common, and offer books for study or just for a good read at anything from fifty pence upwards. Replica IWC Watches
8.Avoid using public telephone boxes to make calls home, as this is the most expensive way of doing it.Most major cities will have call shops that offer discounted international phone calls. If you plan to live in private accommodation and are going to organize your own phone service, it’s worth knowing that many telephone companies offer special deals for people who make lots of international calls. The international officer at your UK institution will be able to give you advice on which company is the best for you. Also, most institutions provide students with an e-mail address, which is a great way of staying in touch with your family and friends for free.
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