Study abroad in United Kingdom /Universities in United Kingdom
About UK
UK and its capitals
The UK is made up of Great Britain
England, Wales and Scotland - and Northern Ireland.
Their capitals are:
London in England
Edinburgh in Scotland
Cardiff in Wales
Belfast in Northern Ireland
Population: UK 60.6 million. In England the population is 50,762.900. In Wales 2,965,000, Scotland 5,116,900 and Northern Ireland 1,741,600.
Britain's 2 official languages are English and Welsh, English being the most widely spoken. Gaelic is also spoken in some parts of Scotland.
Most people are Christian, although other religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism, are freely practised. About 23% of people in Britain follow no particular religion.
Student Visa
Requirements?
You must be able to show that you have been accepted on a course of study at an educational establishment that is on the UK's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Register of Education and Training Providers. Contact details are under 'More advice and information' at the end of this guidance, or you can search the register on the DfES website at: www.dfes.gov.uk/providersregister
You must be able to show that you are going to follow:
a recognised full-time degree course, or
a course run during the week involving at least 15 hours of organised daytime study each week, or
a full-time course at an independent fee-paying school
You must also:
be able to pay for your course and support yourself and any dependants, and live in the UK without working or needing any help from public funds, and intend to leave the UK when you complete your studies.
If you are a degree student and you successfully complete your studies, you may be able to take work permit employment if you meet the requirements. You can get more information about work permits in our Work permit holders (INF 13) guidance note.
If you graduate in an approved science or engineering subject you can apply to stay in the UK, to look for or to take work, for an additional year after your degree course finishes without getting a work permit. For more information, please see the Permit free employment (INF 14) guidance note.
Under the ‘Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland’ scheme, if you successfully complete a degree level course or above, and it was awarded by a Scottish institution, you may be able to apply to live and work in Scotland for up to two years after achieving your qualification.
Living in UK
The economy of UK ranks 5th having a GDP of over 2.3 trillion euros. The cost of living depends upon a person's lifestyle and location. The countrty-side areas can be a cheap and affordable while major cities are a bit expensive.
Foods and drinks
As compared to other European countries, UK is expensive in respect to food and drinks. On an average, an individual spends 200-350 euros every month on food. Supermarkets are cheap. Delis and community markets may offer lower prices on the cost of quality.
Fruits and vegetables like sauerkraut, asparagus, apples, oranges, pears, herbs and spices are found in shops at high rates. Regularly consumed meat products include pork, beef, lamb, venison, chicken, goose and duck. Imported sea food is expensive. Fish costs 40-80 euros.
Wine is mainly imported from Germany, Italy and France. Prices vary depending upon the quality of wine.
Some of the popular supermarkets in UK include Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsburys and ASDA. They provide home delivery in certain areas, so online shopping can be done easily.
Housing
The housing cost has been constantly increasing. A one bedroom apartment costs 200-300 euros per month. Big houses having swimming pools and other amenities can cost 2000 euros per month. Suburban houses can cost 500-1500 euros monthly. Cheap apartments with little amenities can be found in the range of 80-150 euros monthly.
Clothing and accessories
The clothing and accessories are quite expensive compared to ohter parts of the world. The branded items are quite expensive and so are the excellent products found in the local markets which are being manufactured from generations.
Communication
UK being an advanced country has good quality communication services, i.e. internet, telephone, cellular phone service etc. The internet access costs around 15 euros per month.
Transportation
Transportation system of buses and trains is very efficient. Taxis are also used while some expatriates prefer having personal vehicle although it is expensive due to gas.
Electronic items
Most of the electronic items are imported from Japan and are quite expensive. Cars are also expensive as compared to other countries.
Property
Only citizens can own property in UK. Only those expatriates that have UK citizenship or have legal right through marriage etc. can own land.
Average weekly grocery bill (including food, basic laundry and toiletry items for 2 people): £60
Average pub meal : £6 - £10
Average restaurant meal : £12 - £20
Pint of beer : £2.50 - £3
Average bottle of wine : £10
Average meal for two in mid-priced restaurant : £40
University of Sunderland
Fees at the University of Sunderland for undergraduate students starting university in 2009/10 will be £3,225 per year for all courses, including Foundation Degrees.
Prior to 2006, fees had to be paid while you were studying. Now every eligible UK and EU student will has the option of taking out a student loan to cover tuition fees.
New EU students will pay the same fees as home students and will be eligible to apply for the Fee Loan. Some EU students who have been resident in the UK for more than 3 years are eligible for Maintenance Loans and Maintenance Grants.
EU students may also be eligible for University Bursaries and Scholarships. For more information about Financial Support for EU students go to the Student Finance website www.direct.gov.uk
About Leeds
Leeds has just been voted as one of the top three places to shop in the UK by numerous independent surveys, and offers a huge range of shops and stores to suit all tastes. The Lonely Planet guide recently called it 'the Knightsbridge of the North.'
