 The UK
is a tolerant, democratic society, where different beliefs and political views
are respected. You will find that many people dress in the same way and eat the
same food you would in your own country. In large cities, there are shops that
sell every imaginable type of food from around the world, from halal meats and
Asian vegetables and rices to Kosher desserts.
Throughout the year, in different towns and cities, there is a succession of
religious festivals celebrating various events and phases in the main world
religions. The city of Leicester,
for example, has the most impressive Diwali festival of lights outside the
Indian subcontinent.
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. 
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