It is a great idea to go abroad for some course of study. You are exposed to a totally different system of education which can be very useful. And besides, you are exposed to a new country, a new culture which broadens your perspective. You also learn to be more independent, take care of yourself in an alien land and this can give a boost to your self confidence. It is a very enriching experience. This article is meant especially for those who are preparing to go abroad, particularly to the UK, for higher education.

Securing admission to a University is the first step. You need to do some research and shortlist some universities that offer a course of study that interests you and fits your requirements. Then you can apply to the universities concerned which will get back to you with either conditional or unconditional offers. If the offer you receive is as per your tastes, you convey your acceptance to the University.

The next step is to secure accommodation. All international students are provided with accommodation facilities in the UK but it is essential to book these well in advance. There are different kinds of facilities like halls of residences, separate houses or flats as well as family accommodation. These can be either attached to the University or private. University run accommodation is recommended because it is safer, it saves travelling time, University facilities are easily accessible and you can meet and interact with other student boarders.

Securing finances is the next step. Education abroad is often quite expensive, especially in the UK. So you need to collect money, find sponsors. How much money you will need for expenses other than course fees varies from person to person. However, on an average you may need 7300 pounds a year if you are going to London and 5700 elsewhere in the UK.

The next step is to get a VISA. According to member of British Deputy High Commission, it is relatively easy to get a student visa to go to UK and the rejection rate is quite low. It is better to get a visa made at least 4 to 5 weeks before your date of departure. You need to fill a Visa Application Form and along with this, you need to provide:-

o Letter of acceptance from the University
o Reasons for going to the UK and choosing that particular course of study
o Evidence of your ability to cope with the demands of the course in the form of past results, etc
o Proof of English speaking ability- good scores in the IELTS, TOEFL exams help
o Accommodation details
o Details about how you are going to finance your stay in the UK and evidence from you and/or your sponsor about the source of those funds. Bank statements, loan details, tax returns, etc can be used.

You generally receive a decision within 2 to maximum 10 days. You can appeal if you are not satisfied with the decision. And finally after all this comes the stage- actually preparing to leave. This can be quite exciting or even terrifying for a majority of Indian students who are embarking for a course of studies abroad for the first time. So here are a few things to bear in mind:

About Travel:
o Take a flight to an airport nearest to your University- it saves time if you are going to a non-London College. There are many regional airports at Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, etc besides the Heathrow airport in London.
o Secure travel tickets and travel insurance
o Find out directions to go to your University from the airport, time needed to get there, mode of transport required and other details in advance
o It is recommended that you avoid a weekend arrival
For travel within UK, buses are cheaper but take more time and you can also use the tube rail and trains. Coach cards and rail cards can enable you to get travel concession.

 About Luggage:
o Travel light. You can get all the things you need including Indian grocery items in the UK so you needn't carry them along. Books are available in the University libraries.
o Students are allowed some extra baggage but this is only while going to the UK
o Check out the list of banned articles on www.hmce.gov.in to stay clear of customs hassles
o It is recommended that you carry a family photo along because you will miss your family and feel homesick at times. Also, carry a set of your national attire. UK being a multi-cultural country, a large number of festivals of a variety of communities are celebrated and this will be a chance to flaunt your Indianness

Opening a bank account in the UK- For this you will need your passport, acceptance letter from the University, accommodation details as well as reference from your bank in India. Many banks have branches on campus as well.

Health care for students is covered under the National Health Services schemes. You will have to register yourself with a GP in order to avail of the free medical facilities. However it is important to note that eye and dental check ups are not covered and can be quite expensive, so it would be better to take care of that before you leave.

Jobs Students are allowed to work for upto 20 hours a week during term time and full time in the vacations. This can help you to earn some extra cash to support your expenditure. Jobs are readily available in the Universities as well as outside. However bear in mind that the study schedule will be very hectic and you need to consider whether you'll be able to manage the extra responsibility. If you wish to work in the UK after completing your course, you can seek a job through the International Graduates' Scheme end other groups. Find more information on www.workingintheuk.gov.uk. Facilities have been introduced to enable you to extend your stay period for a year while you gain some work experience.

There are many facilities in the UK to make international students feel at home. There are cultural groups and societies. The National Union of Students can be of great help. The Association of British Scholars in India is a group of alumni and they can provide guidance. Log on to www.abs-india.org

So those were a few tips to help you prepare for your departure to the UK. Do make the most of this wonderful opportunity, reach out, make friends from different cultures, explore. Also, remember that you are representing India there and the impression that you leave on the people you meet is going to remain with them as a general impression of India and Indians. So be sure to put your best foot forward.

However please note that getting a degree from a foreign university doesn't guarantee you better jobs in India or mean that you will be preferred over people educated in Indian universities. So it really isn't necessary to go abroad to study. Like I've said before, education abroad is quite expensive and often beyond the reach of the average Indian middle class families. So please don't get swayed by the glamour of studying abroad. It's better to get guidance or counselling about some hot international qualifications that you can obtain right here in India. This will help you to make an informed choice. All the best!

If you want more information about the departure preparation process, you can log on to the following websites:-
www.educationuk-in.org
www.visitbritain.com
www.ukinindia.org
www.ukcosa.org.uk

For more information on travelling, log on to www.railtrack.co.uk, www.thetrainonline.com, www.gobycoach.com, www.thetube.com, www.londontransport.co.uk

Further help
A lot of organizations in India organize pre- departure orientations. Do attend such events as they can be really helpful. I've obtained all the above information through attending one such event organized by the British Council. Besides providing you with a lot of information, these events also provide you with an opportunity to interact with the alumni, get all your doubts cleared and most importantly, they enable you to meet and interact with other students who are also planning to go to the same universities. So you can create a very useful friends' base.

-Jagruti Wandrekar

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