UK

Quick Facts about the UK:

1. London’s transport system might be bigger than you think: London has one among the oldest and largest transport systems in the world. There are in total 270 functioning stations located in London. Over 400 escalators (the longest is at Angel in North London). Moreover, there are another set of 40 stations that aren’t in much use anymore – and that’s before we even mention the famous red buses.
2. Stonehenge is older than the Pyramids: That’s exactly right, it is in the southern part of England and one of the UK’s most famous tourist attractions – Stonehenge was believed to be created in around 3000BC, meaning it’s older than Egypt’s pyramids.
3. The Queen might wish you a happy birthday: You might have heard about people turning 100 getting a telegram from the Queen. In the modern day, it’s a personalised card, and it’s not just limited to your hundredth birthday – you can apply for one for your 105th birthday too – and for each birthday year after you turn 105.
4. The Queen doesn’t have a passport: Queen Elizabeth II has visited over 100 countries on official duties – but astonishingly, she doesn’t need to have a passport. This is because British passports are issued in the name of the Queen.
5. Great Britain isn’t the United Kingdom: This is commonly mistaken, but Great Britain and the United Kingdom are two different things. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland – but Great Britain doesn’t.
6. London has the largest library in the world: The towering British Library in King’s Cross, London, has over 170 million items in its catalogue.
7. Golf is Scotland’s national sport: The sport was invented in St. Andrews in the 15th century. In 1457, it was famously banned by King James II because it was interrupting archery practice. Scotland still boasts the finest ‘links’ courses in the world.
8. Scotland also has a famous monster: The Loch Ness Monster (known affectionately as ‘Nessie’) supposedly dwells in Loch Ness – the largest lake in the UK. While this creature is of course mythological, many people have claimed to have sighted her in recent decades.
9. Royal weddings are public holidays: The UK loves a good ceremony, and it certainly makes a big deal out of royal weddings. The most recent major event took place in 2011 when Prince William married Catherine Middleton. The day of their wedding was declared a national holiday, which meant an extra day off work.
10. Ancient languages are still spoken – albeit not widely: The UK has four surviving Celtic languages that are still officially recognised in the modern day. These are Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton.

Ten Reasons to Study in the UK:

Are you considering studying in the UK? Home to over 130 UK universities who provide a wide variety of courses to international students, there are many reasons to make that next big step in your life and study in the UK.

1. High quality education: UK universities have an impressive international reputation and rank among the best in the world – did you know that four of the global top ten are in the UK? Research carried out by UK universities also impacts our lives every day, and is internationally renowned for its excellence. By studying in the UK, you’ll be immersing yourself in centuries of high quality academia.

2. International students are welcomed: The UK has a long history of welcoming international students to study at its universities, and those who decide to study in the UK will be rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest minds from all corners of the globe.

3. Variety of courses: SI-UK’s course search showcases the wide variety of courses available for international students to choose from, whatever your age, ability or interest. If you wish to study subjects such as business, alongside hospitality and tourism in a dual honour degree, you can!

4. High standards of teaching: UK universities are inspected regularly by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education to ensure that they maintain the high standards of learning which are expected. As a student you will get the opportunity to be taught by the world’s leading academics and to be creative and develop skills sets and confidence.

5. Shorter courses: Most undergraduate courses in the UK take three years to complete, and shorter courses mean’s a quicker graduation and less money spent on things such as tuition and living expenses. Two-year degrees are an increasingly popular option, whilst most postgraduate programmes last just one year.

6. Cultural diversity: You will get the chance to mix, meet and interact with over 200,000 international students from all over the world, learning more about different walks of life in a place of contrasts and culture...

7. The UK is an interesting place to live: With a mix of cosmopolitan cities and countryside villages, the UK is full of historical landmarks, famous music festivals, widely varied cuisine and amazing events to keep you entertained throughout the duration of your studies.

8. Work while you study: International students who study a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree course at a recognised university are allowed to work part-time during term for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during the holidays.

9. High rate of employability: Employers want high quality graduates who have specific skill sets, including effective, critical, and creative thinking skills. UK education is recognised by employers, universities and governments worldwide. Academic standards are of high prestige and the education will provide you with a solid foundation to boost your potential for having a higher salary and finding exactly what job you want.

10. Develop excellent language skills: The English language is of crucial importance in today’s global business arena. Employers want people with a grasp on English and there is no better way for you to learn English than to learn it in the country of its origin. You can immerse yourself and learn to live, work, and think in the English language, enhancing your employment prospects.

The U.K. is one of the world’s largest economies and offers many attractive options for expats looking for a career change. The country’s most successful industries are driven by a committed workforce — many of them working relatively long hours in a fast-paced business environment. For this, they can expect to be rewarded with fair wages, protected working rights, and a steadily increasing awareness of the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

Working hours: The working week in the U.K. is officially limited to 48 hours. But, having opted out of the European Working Time Directive, some U.K. employees may work more if they have written consent from their manager. Most office jobs will fit these hours in between Monday and Friday. As a strongly service-based economy, however, there are many jobs that require a more flexible approach to fit around customers and international partners.

Communications technology — such as email and mobile phones — has led to some workers blurring the line between their work and home lives. It’s not uncommon to see people in high-pressure jobs regularly taking work home with them, or answering emails in the middle of the night.

This has led to a debate about creating a healthy work-life balance. Many companies now try to support their employees to complete their work within the established working week — for the benefit of all.

Holidays: Public holidays are usually known as Bank Holidays — referring to the fact that banks remain closed. Depending on where you live, there are between eight and 10 of these a year — including two days at Christmas (25/26 December) and one at New Year (1 January).

While many businesses — including banks — do shut on these days, expats will need to consult their contract to find out whether they get the day off. Many shops, restaurants and cafés find that Bank Holidays are their busiest days of the year. So, employees in these industries may be required to work. Even if they are entitled to Bank Holidays, expats may find their employer offers increased pay to work on these days.

Diversity in the workplace: The U.K. has a diverse, multicultural workforce. There are legal and structural systems in place to make sure that discrimination can be tackled effectively, and expats shouldn’t expect to find themselves at a disadvantage. If they do experience problems, most businesses will have a dedicated human resources department they can turn to for help.

There are more women in the U.K. workforce than ever before, and female expats should expect to be treated equally at all times. A great deal of progress has been made to tackle inequality and discrimination over the last few decades, but there are still some issues that need addressing. While the employment gap between men and women has shrunk, women are still more likely to be in part-time work and less likely to be promoted to senior positions. Many companies have strategies in place to confront this, and expats who experience problems should be able to seek out help and support.

Workers’ rights and responsibilities: The U.K. has many laws in place to protect workers from discrimination and exploitation — reflecting a broadminded and welcoming workplace culture. Expats should not expect to experience — or tolerate — discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Nor should they expect to experience sexual harassment.

Almost all companies will have internal processes for employees who feel they have been treated unfairly. In most cases, this will involve a formal complaint to your line manager. If you’re not comfortable speaking to a line manager, you should be able to talk to a more senior member of staff — or your company’s human resources department. Historically, the U.K. has a strong trade union movement. While many workers still belong to a trade union, numbers have steadily declined over the years — particularly in the private sector. If expats do choose to become part of a union, they should not expect to experience discrimination in the workplace as a result.

Balancing work and family life:  The U.K.’s long working hours can make it difficult to balance work and home life – particularly for those with young children. That said, it’s been widely recognised that a healthy work-life balance benefits both employees and companies. Many now try to help employees by offering flexible hours and the possibility of working from home. But this is not the case in all industries, and expats should think carefully about how work could impact on family life.

While the system may not be perfect, there is a strong desire to improve support for employees with children. Parental leave and pay for new parents is regulated by law. Many employers also offer financial — and sometimes even practical – assistance with childcare.

A healthy work life: The vast majority of people living and working in the U.K. receive health care through the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS). As a result, expats may find that health insurance benefits are not offered by employers as standard.

Make sure you’re covered before, during and after your move. Contact Aetna International about our range of health and wellness benefit packages today.

Student and their dependants need to show funds of approximately £845. If you're planning to be studying in London, then you must show a maximum of 9 months and amount £845. On the other side, you need £680 for each month if in case you are planning to study outside London (for up to a maximum of 9 months).

In the United Kingdom, especially in big cities such as London, many international students can easily find a part-time job. A few universities may merely agree to you to work inside the campus. Otherwise, there are several job opportunities available outside the campus as well.

Maximum of the universities do offer free of cost education in the UK for Indian students and have a variety of study abroad scholarships. Especially for the Indian students, the best way to study in the UK for free may include the GREAT scholarship, Chevening scholarship and Commonwealth scholarship.

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.