UK

Location: Western Europe
Capital: London
Countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Major Cities/ Counties: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Swansea and Cardiff.
Main Language: English
Climate
UK climate is one of the most unpredictable climates in the world.
Summers is between 18 c to 27 c
Winters is between -4 c to 10 c.
UK receives snowfall between Dec – Feb.
Economy
London is the world’s largest international financial center
UK is today the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest in Europe.
Britain’s aerospace industry is the second- or third-largest national aerospace industry depending on the method of measurement.
UK has the third-highest share of global pharmaceutical research and development. Of the world’s 500 largest companies, 26 are headquartered in the UK.
The British economy is boosted by North Sea oil and gas production; its reserves were estimated at 2.9 billion barrels in 2015.
GDP
Total: 2.619 trillion USD (2016)
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP £)
Government: The UK has a parliamentary government based on the Westminster system that has been emulated around the world: a legacy of the British Empire.
Area: Total: 242,495 km2 (93,628 sq. mi)
Water (%): 1.34
Population
UK climate is one of the most unpredictable climates in the world.
Summers is between 18 c to 27 c
Winters is between -4 c to 10 c.
UK receives snowfall between Dec – Feb.
Density: 255.6/km2 (662.0/sq mi)
Time Zone: GMT (UTC); Summer (DST); BST (UTC+1)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

England, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain refer to different ‘parts of the UK. The British Isles includes many islands not even part of the UK. (England, Scotland, Wales, Great Britain, UK, British Isles.
Popularity: UK is now the second most popular destination for international students, behind the US.
QS World University Ranking says “Four of the top ten universities on the planet is in the UK”
Value for Money: The cost of degrees for an international student in the UK can be generally lower compared to the USA and other countries.
Fast – track courses: Because your degree will generally take less time to complete in the UK than in other countries, this will also save you money.
Research: The UK undertakes 5 percent of the world’s scientific research and produces 14 percent of the world’s most frequently cited papers.
Flexibility: UK degrees can be tailored to your interests and often include specialized modules.
Teaching Methodology: The teaching and study methodology used in the UK gives you the freedom to be creative and develop skills sets and confidence.
Employ-ability: The UK is the home of English hence an ideal place to develop language skills and enhance employment prospects.
Students in the UK enjoy a great lifestyle: beautiful countryside, historic sites, city life and music and culture.
Satisfaction: 91 percent of international undergraduates are happy with their experience in the UK

Traditions & Culture: British literature, music, cinema, art, theater, comedy, media, television, philosophy, architecture and education are important aspects of British culture.

Food: British cuisine has traditionally been limited in its international recognition to the full breakfast, fish and chips, and the Christmas dinner. British cuisine has many regional varieties within the broader categories of English, Scottish and Welsh cuisine. Each has developed its own regional or local dishes.

Safety: Even before you leave your country, even before you decide on the university you want to head to, it might be worth finding out which is a safe city to study in the UK. While traveling, be aware of your surroundings at all times, and avoid exhibiting your assets. UK is a “safe and tolerant” place to study. By taking all the precautions you can, you can ensure you enjoy a peaceful time while in the UK.

Welfare: Welfare is vital for everyone. All the college and the universities provide a selection of training days on specific aspects of student support, including the safeguarding of young students, mental health issues, special educational needs and managing student accommodation and etc.

Health: It’s important to look after your health when moving away from home for the first time. NHS (National Health Service) is just a call away for all your health (mental or physical) related issues.

Transport: Urban rail networks exist in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, Leeds and Liverpool. There are many regional and international airports, with Heathrow Airport in London being one of the busiest in the world.

Train: There’s a really efficient rail network across Britain. Anyone in full-time study qualifies for a 16-25 Railcard, which saves you a third on most journeys you make. It costs £30 a year, which should make it worthwhile, even if you only make occasional journeys.

Buses: You can get lots of discounts on your weekly, monthly or annual passes, which will save you money throughout the year.
Coaches: Coaches are a good choice for students, especially for long distance journeys.

Cycling: If you can put up with the British weather, cycling can be a cheap and effective way to travel.

Driving: If you want to drive in the UK, you’ll need to first pass your driving test and get taxed and insured. Cars over three years old also need to pass a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test annually, to make sure it is still safe to drive.

Taxis: In all cities around the country, you should be able to flag down a taxi easily if you’re in a hurry.

International undergraduate and postgraduate tuition fees vary considerably, starting at around £10,000 and going up to £35,000 or more for medical degrees. At all levels, humanities and social sciences degrees tend to cost the least, while laboratory and clinical degree programs are markedly more expensive.

Combine these fees with the average cost of living in the UK, around £12,000 and the total average cost of studying in the UK comes up to at least £22,000 per year. Studying in the capital city, meanwhile, is likely to be significantly more expensive.

Under the UK immigration rules, you are legally permitted to work with the following restrictions: a maximum of 20 hours paid or unpaid work per week during term time for degree students. Hence, you can easily take care of your living expenses.

Planning & Housing:
Whilst you are staying in the UK, you will have a variety of accommodation options available to you. Your choices will depend largely on whether your college or university has halls of residence, what city you are located in, and the amount of your monthly budget. Various options include Halls of Residence, Self- Catered Halls, Flats/ Houses.

Restricted items to bring to UK:
Illegal drugs, offensive weapons, e.g. flick knives, self-defense sprays, e.g. pepper spray and CS gas, endangered animal and plant species, rough diamonds, indecent and obscene materials, personal imports of meat and dairy products from most non-EU countries.

Welcome Week:
Welcome Week is your opportunity to make friends, learn more about studying at the university and living in the country. You will be invited to attend a number of events throughout Welcome Week – some of which are optional and others compulsory.

Travel to your institution:
If you are staying near the university, there is shuttle service available. Else, you may choose to travel by trains or buses.

Opening a bank account:
In order to open a UK bank account, you will need two documents: one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. This applies both in branch and online. Proving your identity is simple. You just need your passport.

The UK is highly globalized which means that the job market is competitive.

Major industries in the UK include:
Agriculture
Production
Services: Banking, Insurance and Business Services
Other important industries include Metals, Chemicals, Aerospace, Shipbuilding, Motor Vehicles, Food Processing, Textiles and Clothing and Electronic and Communications equipment.
There are currently a number of shortage occupations in a variety of sectors, including:
Arts: artists, dancers, graphic designers and musicians;
Education: secondary school teachers (particularly maths teachers);
Engineering: electrical, mechanical and chemical engineers, civil engineers and product and process engineers;
Healthcare: nurses, medical radiographers, pediatricians;
Hospitality: chefs;
IT: software developers and systems engineers;
Science: biological scientist and biochemists, physicists and geologists;
Social care: social workers

Graduate schemes are available at many of the UK’s large and multinational companies in sectors such as:
Banking
Engineering
Retail
Technology
In 2016 the accounting and professional services sector, and the public, engineering and industrial sectors had the most graduate vacancies. The highest graduate starting salaries were found in investment banking, law, and banking and finance.
According to The Guardian UK 300 2016/17, the most popular graduate employers include Google, Cancer Research UK, MI6, GlaxoSmithKline and Amazon.