Travel around the UK While you are in the UK, take advantage of our extensive travel network to explore the UK and Europe. You can make the most of your spare time and broaden your experience by visiting some world-renowned destinations. The UK has an extensive rail network, which, thanks to the Channel Tunnel, also allows you to reach Paris and a number of other cities in France as well as Brussels in Belgium without having to get on a plane. UK towns and cities are linked by a wide-ranging system of motorways and A roads, allowing you to travel by car, motorbike, bus or coach to all parts of the country. Frequent and efficient air services also connect major UK cities with many European and international destinations. For instance, you can fly direct from Manchester to Amsterdam, Cardiff to Paris, Gatwick to Berlin – and all in little over an hour. The scenic Greek islands, the historic sites of the Middle East or the cultural cities of Eastern Europe are only three or four hours away from the UK by air.
Getting around UK towns and cities
One of the best way to see most UK cities is on foot. You will find that in most towns and cities all the local attractions are within a short walk of one another and walking around at your own pace will allow you to focus on the things that particularly appeal to you.
When visiting somewhere for the first time make the local Tourist Information Centre you first stop. They are often located near to the railway station or in the centre of town. They will be able to provide you with a map of the local area, help with accommodation, if you need it and suggest places of interest to visit.
Many towns and cities offer tickets, such as one-day, three day and weekly travel cards that generally are better value than buying individual tickets and will allow you to use most public transport in the city.
Exploring the UK As well as travelling independently around the UK, you may find that your college or university also offers opportunities for you to see more of the country. Students' Unions often offer day trips to places of interest, which can be a fun day out and a good way to meet people. This may be especially true of international student societies during induction periods.
You will also find that many student societies provide opportunities for travel. Joining a sports team that competes against teams from other institutions can be a good way to see other towns and cities, while outdoor activity societies such as walking or rock-climbing groups will give you a chance to see some beautiful countryside. Choirs may perform in churches and cathedrals around the country, while drama and dance groups may often undertake theatre tours during the holidays.
Every country has its own teaching methods. To help prepare you, we've provided some information about the UK's teaching methods and details of the type of study support services available to students.
There are also plenty of welfare support services available specifically for you as an international student.
Teaching Methods And Study Support
UK approaches to teaching have evolved over many hundreds of years and aim to encourage independent-thinking and confidence. Most students benefit from the continuing support of a tutor, from small classes or tutorial and seminar groups and from a range of teaching methods.
UK schools, colleges and universities have developed world-class student services. These, along with the welfare services provided in the wider community, ensure really great support for international students.
Life and culture
At home in your own country, there are lots of customs, habits and social rules that you probably don't think about because you are so used to them These vary from culture to culture and that is one of the things that makes being in another country so interesting and thought-provoking.
You'll notice differences in the way people dress, greet each other, practise religion, eat, behave in different situations, express their opinions, and even how they treat animals or have expectations of punctuality. It is a good idea to prepare yourself for any cultural differences by reading as much as you can about the UK before you leave. Try to think about what you'll need to tell others about your own cultural needs too.
Religion
If you follow a religion and worship regularly at home, then you can continue to do so in the UK. Every major world religion is represented and most cities have Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist centres, as well as synagogues and churches of all denominations. Keeping routine with your faith will provide you with a link to your life at home but can also enable you to develop new friendships quickly.
The religious festivals celebrated in the UK reflect its multi-faith culture.
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist festivals and holidays are all celebrated.
Food
The food you can buy in the UK reflects the many ethnic influences in British society. Most supermarkets sell ingredients from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as food from many other parts of the world.
The British are increasingly healthy eaters and there is a very wide range of organic produce available in shops and supermarkets. You'll still find the famous English breakfast and Fish and Chips, but you'll also see a very diverse range of meals and menus while you're in the UK. Families in the UK often eat a traditional "Sunday roast" on Sundays, but those same families are likely to enjoy new types of meals, anything from Italian pizza to Singapore Noodles.
The British tend to eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch (this is often quite a small meal) and then an evening meal (often called dinner or supper). Tea is still the traditional British hot drink and is usually taken with milk several times a day.
Making friends
Being a student in the UK is not just coursework or doing research but relaxing and having some fun too. Students can get discounts on so many cultural experiences and attractions, and wherever you study you'll find places to enjoy with friends or by yourself.
UK institutions pride themselves on providing great social opportunities for their students, with different societies and groups for a massive range of interests. International students from all over the world tell us about how easily they make new friends from all over the world. Making friends in the UK will really help you to improve your English too.
Events and celebrations
Aside from all the main religious festivals and holidays in the UK calendar, there are many traditional festivities that are enjoyed during the year. These include Bonfire Night on 5tth November when you can attend organised firework and bonfire displays. Bonfire Night celebrates the failure of the 1605 attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Then there is Burns Night – usually held on 25 January – which celebrates the life and works of the Scottish writer Robert Burns and people get together to eat a Burns Supper. In Wales you can join in the tradition of the Eisteddfod, a Welsh celebration of music, literature and performance. Aside from the National Eisteddfod, there are many other Eisteddfodau held across Wales including an International Eisteddfod and the Urdd (or Youth) Eisteddfod. This is one of Europe's largest and most vibrant youth arts festivals.
Relaxation and inspiration
Coming to the UK to study is also about finding inspiration and excitement outside your coursework as well as discovering new activities and ways to relax. You can really be yourself by keeping up with your own interests or discovering new ones. The UK has an amazing cultural scene which will be all around you wherever you choose to study.
The UK is a really cool place for music of all types. Whether you just listen or dance you'll find pop, rock or classical, folk, jazz or opera, and all sorts of world music. From small clubs, independent cafes and bars to international scale concert halls, rock festivals or gigs, you can listen and dance to lots of live music. Many independent artists and bands play at university or college venues.
University of Huddersfield
Coventry University
University of Greenwich
University of Sunderland
University of Suffolk
University of Stirling
Middlesex University
Brunel University
Bolton University
London South Bank University
London Metropolitan University
University of Bedfordshire
Liverpool John Moores University
University of Bradford
University of Worcester
St. Mary’s University
University of East London
Birmingham City University
BPP University
University of West London
Teeside University
Bangor University
University of Wolverhampton
Solent University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
University for the Creative Arts
Leeds Beckett University
University of Central Lancashire
University of Westminister
Anglia Ruskin University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Edinburgh Napier University
University of Kent
University of Cumbria
University of South Wales
University of Salford
Kingston University
University of Plymouth
University of Dundee
University of Derby