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The university system in the UK

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Beginning of the academic year in the UK The official start of the academic year depends on the university but it usually begins around mid-September for students, or early October for some universities such as Oxford, and sometimes a week earlier for international students. This week, commonly called "International Student Week", is dedicated to their "integration" through outings, meetings to explain campus life, a description of the school system and instructions. Above all, it allows students to meet new people and to feel more at ease with their studies.  Six students at the university The university system in the UK The university system is divided into two distinct levels:  Undergraduate  - Bachelor of science or of arts = 3 years - Bachelor of Honor = 4 years Postgraduate  - Master of science/arts = Master 2 = Bac +5 A doctorate corresponds to 8 years of study. However, if you wish to continue after the Master's degree, you must at least receive a distin...

Daily life and activities in the UK

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Don't worry, despite what you may hear about the UK it's a great place to live. Yes it's true, you'll probably have to bring an umbrella but other than that you'll have a great time. Man enjoying a waterfall Cultural activities in the UK Culturally, the UK is quite rich, with a large number of museums, many of which are free. Museums are a great way to discover the local culture but also to understand the cultural differences you may encounter. The currency in the UK As far as everyday life is concerned, you should not forget that the currency is the pound sterling. You should therefore make sure that you have a bank that covers your expenses abroad and that does not charge you any fees for payments in foreign currency, otherwise the cost can increase very quickly! The currency difference also means that there is an exchange rate between the pound and the euro. Generally speaking, the pound has less value than the euro, so beware of expenses! Travelling abroad from ...

Find a flat in the UK as a student

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  Looking for a property online It is hard to find a flat in the UK... Find a flat can be a hard task, even more if you start your research once you arrived. This is what happened to me, I had few look online before my departure to check the prices, the different locations… But I didn’t find anything. I decided to take a hotel for the first week and to find a flat when I will be in the UK. No more suspense, I stayed 3 weeks and a half at different hotels before finding something. Find a flat: Here are some tips However, during those 3 weeks, I had time to discover all the websites and the different techniques that could be useful for you to find a flat. Here is what I think is good to know The first thing to do is to register on social media groups (Facebook, WhatsApp…) For example, if you come from France and you want to go to Glasgow you can go on “Français à Glasgow” (French in Glasgow). This kind of group exists for almost every nationalities and location. If you don't find the...

Apply for a VISA in the UK as an ERASMUS student

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Picture of a UK visa with the stamp entry Pre-settled scheme As you may know, the United-Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union since 31 January 2020 and was only effective from 1 January 2021.    If you were living in the UK before the 1 January of 2021, you may have had the possibility to register for the pre-settled scheme that allows you to stay on the territory without a visa. No pre-settled scheme  If you arrive after 1 January 2021, to enter the UK as a citizen of the E.U you now have to apply for a visa. However, before starting your application, you should check the type of visa you should apply for and what the conditions are. You can find all the information on  www.gov.uk .   When you start your application, make sure you have all required documents with you (passport, personal information…) and your credit card. The price of the visa may change depending on which visa you apply for.  For a classic student visa, you will have to pay...