England consistently ranks in the top study abroad destinations attracting thousands of foreign students each year. If you’ve decided to Study abroad UK, Europe or other countries you’ve made a great choice. There are a few tips and tricks that can make your study abroad experience easier from the get-go.
1. Get to Know Your Budget Airlines
Keep an eye out for sales by following the airlines on social media or subscribing to their email newsletters. Expect to pay for luggage, entertainment, and food while you fly or, avoid these expenses by packing yourself
2. Mix and Match Modes of Transportation While Traveling
Depending on the time of year and how early you book your travel, you have several options to find the best value. Look at coach transport, trains, flights, rental cars, and campervans, the deals can be very different.
3. Get a Pay as You Go Phone Plan
The UK is great for pay-as-you-go plans, where you top up your phone credit when it runs low. This way you only pay for what you use, plus you’ve got a local number so others can reach you easily. Compare the various offers from popular providers like Orange, T-Mobile, 3, and Vodafone to determine which deal suits you and you’re mobile needs the best.
4. Take Advantage of Student Discounts
Carry your student card and student ID everywhere and don’t be afraid to ask if there’s a student discount on offer. This could apply to transport, restaurant meals, movie tickets, haircuts, and even shopping. Many additional student cards are available to purchase — for example the ISIC card — but don’t be afraid of the initial outlay, because most of them will become worth the money after the first use. You’ll usually need a passport photo, proof of student status, and payment to apply. Some other student discount cards to consider include:
5. Get a Bank Account with No Fees
Before, you leave home; open a bank account that doesn’t penalize you for making international withdrawals. I use Charles Schwab, which gives me the market exchange rate and refunds all foreign ATM charges at the end of each month. Even better open an English bank account on arrival if you can. Big banks include NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, and HSBC. However, thanks to the IRS cracking down on foreign bank accounts, it has become more difficult to open a bank account, but it should still be possible. Consult your international student union (most universities have one) for advice.
6. Learn to Love Gumtree, the Craigslist of the U.K.
Looking for a flatmate, waffle iron, bed, or a used car? Gumtree is your go-to. It’s like Craigslist, but better. It’s an online marketplace for buying and selling new and used goods; perfect for picking up bargains when you land or selling what you can’t take with you when you leave.
Of course, a caveat: as with anything online, use your head and be safe. Meet in a public place or take a friend when viewing an item at someone’s house. It may be better than Craigslist, but the same rules still apply.
7. Get a Library Card
Scope out your nearest library and get a library card. If you’re a reader like me, it’s a haven of free books; if you’re after internet access, you can get that, too. (Though this is usually also true for your university’s library)
Instead of dropping valuable pounds on textbooks, see if you can manage with a loan from the library. This won’t always work, but in some cases, it can be a great solution and a way to save some extra pounds!
9. Look into Scholarships
This is a pre-departure hack, but it’s a big one. Find out if your home university offers any Study abroad scholarships or grants and apply yourself silly. You might be surprised to find the range of options available.
This is especially applicable to those doing a full degree abroad, but you might be surprised to find the range of options available to short-term and semester programs as well. A scholarship could be a few hundred dollars or a few thousand; either way, it’s money you’ll be grateful for when you start your new adventure.
10. Avoid overspending
Education abroad is expensive and so