Most international students coming to study at a UK college or university will be entitled to at least one year’s accommodation in an institution-owned property. Around 30 per cent of international students studying at further education colleges live in accommodation owned by the college. If you are a higher education student coming to the UK for the first time, accommodation provided by your college or university is probably the most suitable choice, which is why it is taken up by more than half of the international students on degree courses in the UK. Your institution will try to match your needs with the options available.

If you choose to rent accommodation that is privately owned, the options are shared flats/houses, lodgings, bed-sits (a single rented room with living, sleeping and sometimes cooking facilities) or private hostels. Prices can vary considerably and your institution housing office may be unable to help you if you run into problems with the landlord. For students at further education colleges, the most common form of accommodation is lodgings or home stay, which involves renting a room in a private house. The rent normally includes the cost of cleaning, laundry, breakfast and evening meals.

Home stays are particularly popular option for English language students and younger students at further education colleges. You live in the home of a host family, where you have your own study-bedroom and a certain number of meals with the family. Arrangements are flexible according to the needs and wants of the student, although your stay is usually seen as a kind of cultural exchange. Complete immersion in UK life is often the best way to develop your language skills and understanding of the culture and customs of a British family. You will be expected to respect and abide by basic rules that the family may impose. You are paying, however, so services such as babysitting and housework are entirely at your discretion and you are under no obligation. Home stays can work very well for students who value security and prefer a home environment, although if the host family has young children you may find that it is not the best environment for quiet study. The real advantage is that you will have to speak

As an international student you, and any members of your family who have come to the UK with you, may be entitled to free or subsidised treatment in the UK under the National Health Service (NHS).  Generally your course needs to be of six months or more in duration to qualify.  If you are in the UK for less than six months, you may only receive free emergency treatment on the NHS.  However, if you are a national or resident of an EEA (European Economic Area) country, or are studying a full-time course in Scotland, you will receive this benefit regardless of the length of your studies.

Before you travel, you should seek advice from the health authorities in your home country about what treatment will be covered. If you are not entitled to NHS treatment, it is highly recommended that you take out medical insurance before you leave home or as soon as possible after you arrive in the UK.

There are many opportunities for international students to work in the UK both during and after their studies.

Special rules for students make it possible for you to work while you study. The opportunities available include part-time or vacation work, as well as course-related work placements. Some students are able to stay on in the UK after their studies for training, work experience or employment.

The United Kingdom is a cosmopolitan and multicultural society, where students of all backgrounds are welcome, and their involvement in local communities is valued.

The UK is made up of three different countries and a province: England, Scotland, Wales and the province of Northern Ireland. These countries all have very different characters and identities.

The UK has a long tradition of welcoming migrants and refugees from around the world, many of whom have settled here permanently. The ethnic mix is probably greatest in London, but you'll find a rich mix of many different groups in every major city.

All major world religions are represented: mosques, Sikh temples, synagogues, and Buddhist and Hindu places of worship can be seen alongside a whole range of Christian churches, from Anglican and Roman Catholic through to Nonconformist and Orthodox.

Many languages are represented as well. The most widely spoken Asian language in the UK is Punjabi, followed by Urdu, Bengali and Gujerati. The main Chinese dialects spoken in the UK are Cantonese and Mandarin.

All this diversity means that, when you come to the UK, you will find it easy to settle in and integrate. And you will also develop an enhanced understanding of different cultures by meeting others from an enormous variety of religious and national backgrounds.

When booking your travel, try and make sure you arrive at a time that will enable you to get a transfer to your institution or accommodation. Aim to arrive on a weekday (Monday – Friday), rather than at the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) or on a public holiday, and try to arrive in the morning; as trains, coaches and taxis may not run throughout the night and will give you time to reach your final destination and settle in during working hours when transportation links are most frequent and facilities such as banks and shops are open. This may mean that you travel through the night and arrive tired and slightly jet-lagged but it will help to make your onward journey easier.

Many students arrange their onward journey from the airport to their institution at the same time as they book their flight. A travel agent in your home country may be able to help you do this. In this case, when you reach the UK you can continue your journey by following the instructions from your travel agent.

There are more than 40 airports in the UK, many of which fly to and from international destinations as well as providing internal flights within the UK. Most UK airports are served by their own rail station, with buses and coaches travelling from them to many local towns and other destinations. Speak to the international office at the school or college where you will be studying to find out how best to travel to your institution.

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.