Preparing to study abroad is very exciting. It can also get a bit nerve-racking when adapting to an unfamiliar environment. Here I have some tips, especially for prospective international students, to prepare you for your journey to studying in the UK!
Accommodation
I would really recommend Freshers to apply for on-campus accommodation. For Freshers, living on campus might be better it has more support, especially for international students who are still adapting to a foreign environment. Additionally, first-year international students are guaranteed to be offered on-campus accommodation. Don’t miss the chance; you can easily avoid having something else to worry about when preparing to study abroad.
Weather and time
If you don’t know already, the UK is pretty much always raining. But most of the time it’s just drizzle. Therefore, instead of umbrellas, I would recommend bringing some hooded waterproof coats to deal with the weather.
In the UK, there is winter-time and summer-time. Winter-time usually starts from late October and ends in March, and summer-time is March to October. Remember to check the date of daylight saving time when you come to the UK!
Transport
Within York
There are quite a few choices for traveling within York. The most budget and common way is the bus. The pink 66 bus travels between campus and the town centre. You can also call for an Uber of course. There are also other taxi services in York, like Streamline Taxis and York Cars Taxis, which you can also contact via their apps.
Rail
If you are planning to visit other places whilst you are studying in the UK, remember to apply for a railcard! You can enjoy up to 1/3 off on most rail fares. Additionally, I would recommend you to apply for the digital version of the railcard. I think it is much more convenient than the physical card and you will avoid the chance of getting penalised for forgetting to bring your card. You can also download the Trainline app to look for train times and fares on your phone. You can purchase and use train tickets on the app as well. Trainsplit is a good app to check for trains as well. It offers more budget train tickets some times, but you have to collect the train tickets in the station. It might not be your choice if you are in hurry.
Homesickness
Adapting to a new learning environment can be challenging. For me, the most challenging thing when I first came to York was homesickness. But it will pass eventually after making friends, joining societies, and getting your essays done! Making yourself busy is definitely a way to deal with homesickness. I had one kind of weird way to deal with it, which was to bring some of my favorite local snacks. So remember to pack some of them in your luggage. 😉
The University has a lot of support, especially for international students. Every student will have an individual supervisor that you can approach when needed as well. I found myself much more independent by studying abroad, as I had to manage my finances, meals, housework and most importantly, my study.
I hope my tips are helpful in getting you ready for studying in the UK and I hope you have a great time at York!
Read more blogs about preparing for university.
Am in love with your article ⚘⚘.
Thank you so much….
All the blessings and best lucks 😋😘
This is a very helpful blog because I am about to come to the UK to study abroad, and I am still full of questions about many things about studying abroad. This blog has helped me answer many doubts very well. For example, it talked about residence, suggested that we live on campus, and talked about the benefits of cooking dormitories on campus. There are also weather and time, it is recommended that we bring this hooded waterproof jacket instead of an umbrella, as well as the British winter and summer time. There is also transportation. Some tell us that the most affordable way to take a train is to apply for a railway card, and download ‘Trainline’ to help us find the train time and fare. There are also ways to deal with homesickness. In short, this blog gave me a lot of useful information, thank you very much!