5 Best Tips to Make the Most of Your Study Abroad Experience in the UK

Studying abroad is an experience of a lifetime, especially when you’re planning to pursue your education in a cosmopolitan country like the UK, where you will find numerous opportunities to flourish both personally and professionally. 

However, your time will pass quickly in the country before you even realize it--and that’s the last thing anybody wants! So it is imperative to make the best use of each day by learning new things, gaining valuable and unique experiences, and most importantly, relishing every moment of this wonderful journey!

And to help you with that, we have compiled a list of five beneficial tips to maximize your study abroad experience in the UK. So without further delay, check out this article to make your study overseas trip in the country worthwhile!

Research About the Country Before You Arrive

It is beneficial to ask around and explore the internet to obtain all the relevant and necessary information about the country. It provides you with insights into what you can expect from the country so that you have less difficulty understanding the local culture and adjusting to it quickly!

So follow these suggestions and do your homework before you set your foot into the country:

• Talk to people, such as your relatives or friends, who have been to the country before.
• Ask your university alumni about the university and local life in the UK.
• Do thorough research about the country’s political and economic situations, laws, pop culture, traditions, people, and more.

Moreover, it gives you a fair idea of your packing essentials. For instance, the United Kingdom has a temperate climate, which means it gets warm wet summers and cool, wet winters. So, whichever season you travel to in the country, you need to pack your items accordingly. 

Immerse Yourself Fully in the Local Way of Life

You don’t always get a golden chance to live in a new country like the UK, and what better way to leverage this opportunity than immersing yourself fully in the local way of life! 

It can be challenging at first as you might come from a country entirely different from the UK. You will have trouble understanding and accepting the customs, values, and traditions utterly different from yours; thus, creating a culture shock! 

Don’t worry! It is natural to experience culture shock, but the good news is you can overcome it easily. All you need to do is keep an open mind and willingness to accept and explore. So whether you are staying at a student studio in London or student accommodation in Coventry, put all your honest efforts into learning and absorbing the local culture of the city you live in. So how to go about it?

• Make friends with the locals, such as your neighbors and university peers.
• Try out traditional British dishes like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, or even a full English breakfast.
• Enhance your language skills. English is the official language of the United Kingdom, so it is worth putting effort into improving your English language as it will help you in your everyday life and immensely when finding a job in the country!

Keep an Eye on Your Finances

Let’s admit that the UK is a pretty expensive country to live in, especially as a student. Apart from your university tuition fees, you have to take care of your everyday expenses, including food, house rent, transport, utilities, clothing, study resources, entertainment, etc. 

Since you have limited access to cash, you need to be mindful about how you should spend it. It is of utmost importance to manage your finances well as you don’t want to risk getting broke in the middle of the month. So what can you do about it?

• Make a daily, weekly, and monthly budget plan while sitting inside your student housing in Birmingham or a student apartment in Sheffield. We understand it can be difficult initially for you to stick to it, but you will become habitual with time.
• As an international student in the United Kingdom, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours at most per week during term-time and full-time during holidays. So take this brilliant opportunity to utilize your free time for doing something productive and, in turn, get some money to support yourself financially.
• There are heaps of discounts for students on clothing, food, entertainment, travel, and more in the UK. So utilize your student status to cut down on your expenditure, but remember, you need to provide your student ID card at the time of purchase.

Learn to Socialize Effectively

The UK is a multicultural country where you will have a chance to interact with both the natives and people of different nationalities and religions. So make the best use of this opportunity to expand your social and professional circle. And how to go about it?

• Join clubs and societies based on your interests like photography, community service, etc.
• Make friends with your neighbors. Invite them to your place for dinner or hang out with them at a café.
• Enroll yourself in hobby classes like language learning, dancing, or baking. 
• Take up volunteering work at your university

Travel Around the Country

The UK is a beautiful country with many scenic landscapes, natural wonders, stunning modern and traditional architecture, and historical landmarks.

Remember, your study abroad trip in the UK is incomplete without travelling to the countryside like Dorset, visiting famous and historical landmarks like Stonehenge, marvelling at majestic castles like Warwick Castle, seeing iconic tourist attractions like the London Eye, and more. 

So plan a weekend getaway, dine out at a local restaurant, or have a good old fashioned picnic at a park with your friends and relish your time to the fullest! That way, you have a plethora of stories of your adventures to tell your friends and family. Moreover, you can start a travel blog or simply maintain a journal to document your unique and fun experiences that you will cherish all your life!

Need assistance in searching for suitable student accommodation?

Amber is the leading student accommodation provider that helps millions of students worldwide with the best and reasonable options for finding an abode at their preferred location. We are continuously upgraded with the COVID-19 protocols and would be happy to assist you 24/7 with free and personalized service.

Author: Harshita Anand is a postgraduate in English Journalism and a graduate in Hotel Management. She has worked in a number of industries and with people from all walks of life. Her experience prompted her to learn new things about the world and write passionately about them!