Safety knowledge for studying in the UK

1. Accommodation safety knowledge

Many school dormitories are managed by dedicated personnel. In the event of an accident, there is usually an emergency notification system. Or you can get rescue from security personnel quickly, so you don’t have to worry too much about the safety of your home. However, although living in school dormitories is relatively safe, you still need to be careful with your personal belongings. British university dormitories usually have four to 12 people living together, so it is more complicated for visitors to come and go when there are many people.

If you are assigned to a dormitory shared by many people or you have not fully gotten to know your roommates, you should carry the key with you and lock the door when you leave the room, whether to go to the bathroom or answer the phone. . In addition, British dormitories do not always allocate dormitories by gender, so female students must also beware of sexual harassment or sexual assault. If they have any concerns in this regard, they should report it to the school immediately.

In addition to school dormitories, if you want to experience real British family life, or if you are unable to apply for a school dormitory for some reason and need to rent a house outside, off-campus dormitories are an option during your studies. A decision that requires caution, prudence, and cannot be ignored. In addition to understanding roommates, the security and convenience of the neighborhood, as well as the rights and regulations related to renting a house, are all relevant and practical issues.

When looking for accommodation on your own, you should try your best to avoid the aforementioned areas with poor security. As for areas with poor public security in the city, you should consult your seniors, the accommodation consultation office or the international affairs office as soon as possible.

2. Safety knowledge when going out

In addition to schools, communities and nearby cities, traveling within the UK or abroad is also a major event for studying abroad. Just like living in China, whether you live in a big city or a small town, it is important to be familiar with and understand your own environment.

Do not carry too much cash when going out. Keep money in separate places. If you are used to carrying a handbag, do not put cash, passports and other important documents together in the bag. You should be more alert when getting on and off transportation.

Many people go to the UK to study away from their parents. They are alone outside. While integrating into local life, they must also protect their own safety and pay attention to safeguarding their legal rights.

3. Common sense about working safety

In the UK, safety is guaranteed when working in units run by British people, such as restaurants, hotels, public hospitals, etc. Generally, the positions that international students choose more often are housekeeping, cleaning, restaurant waiters, etc. This is mainly because there is a large supply of these positions, and as long as they are willing to look for them, they can generally find a job. In the UK, you should also pay attention to obeying traffic rules. Traffic accidents often occur because you are not used to driving on the left.

Extended reading: Overview of accommodation costs for studying in the UK

1. Homestay

Homestay with a local family in the UK is currently one of the more popular ways. , the application is generally done online, and the school will have a responsible department, which will directly focus on the official application interface, and everyone can filter according to their own requirements.

The choice is two-way. To apply, you need to fill in your basic situation and move-in requirements. After receiving the application, families can also inspect the students. Fees are generally charged on a monthly basis, and it takes one month to prepare. It's usually between 5,000-8,000 yuan. If you need catering services, you need to pay extra.

2. Student dormitories

International students have priority in applying for dormitories. There are single rooms and multi-person suites to choose from. The rooms are generally not very big, but the basic equipment is It is relatively complete, and the application is also submitted directly to the school. As long as there is still a house, it will be directly allocated to the student.

The more high-end one is Catered, which in addition to having an independent location, will also come with two meals in the morning and evening; the ordinary one is Self-Catered, Studio is a standard single room with complete bathroom, En-Suite and Standard are both They are suites. The former has a private bathroom, while the latter only has a shared bathroom.

To move into the dormitory, you need to pay a deposit, which is one month’s rent. The rent is paid in weekly installments. It costs 800-1,200 yuan per week and 3,200-4,800 yuan per month. If you cancel the lease, you need to pay a deposit. The equipment will be inspected at the time, and if there is no damage, the full amount will be refunded. If there is any damage, the deposit will be taken directly from the deposit.

3. Rent a house independently

After arriving in the UK, you will find that renting a house by yourself is actually cheaper than living in a dormitory, especially if you rent a house with other people, so many students After studying for one academic year and having better friends, I will choose to quit the dormitory and rent a house directly.

Everyone must confirm the safety when renting a house. The more reliable channel is an intermediary. Although it requires extra money, it can save a lot of trouble in the future. However, you still need to carefully check the surrounding and internal configuration of the house to confirm No safety hazards.

There will be more room types to choose from. If you live alone, the area of ​​a single room will be larger; shared housing has different sizes such as Standard and House. The more people staying, the more cost-effective it is, but everyone must You must confirm in advance that the monthly rent after amortization is between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan per year.

Extended reading: What bank card is better for studying in the UK?

1. International credit card

To study in the UK, you must apply for an international credit card. Students can choose to apply for an international credit card. One is domestic and one is British, which will be more convenient to use. Among them, if you apply for an international credit card in China, you can usually choose Bank of China and China Merchants Bank. Bank of China has launched a pound credit card for students, which can be used directly in the UK, which is very convenient and fast. China Merchants Bank has launched an international dual-currency credit card for students. Students can repay in RMB, and they can repay directly through their mobile phones, which is also more convenient and fast.

In addition, if you apply for a credit card in the UK, you can choose a comparable bank in the UK. Among them, HSBC is popular with Chinese students. The credit card of this bank not only has a high limit, but it is also more convenient to deposit and withdraw money. Standard Chartered Bank is also one of the banks that many students like. The bank has branches in China, and you can directly open accounts in domestic banks and handle related business. It is relatively convenient and fast, so it is welcomed by many students.

2. International Debit Card

When applying for an international debit card, you can directly spend money in stores in the UK. The fee will be deducted from your personal account through bank settlement. It is also very necessary to apply for it. A bank card. Among them, you can choose to apply for international debit cards at HSBC, Bank of China or Lloyds Bank. The debit cards of these banks are relatively easy to apply for, and they have more outlets and a larger scale, and the handling fees charged are also relatively high. Low.

3. Cash Card

Cash card is a bank card that must be applied for after studying in the UK. This card is one of the necessary supplies for British students. It mainly helps students in the bank. Or deposit and withdraw cash at an ATM machine. Among them, students can apply for cash cards from well-known British banks such as Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, and HSBC. Because these banks have more outlets, it is more convenient for students to deposit and withdraw money. Moreover, these banks are old banks in the United Kingdom and provide formal services. , is larger in scale, provides more services, and is more convenient to handle.

IV. Others

In addition to the above-mentioned bank cards, students can also choose to apply for other bank cards according to their actual situation. For example, some parents are not very confident about their students' consumption situation, so they can apply for a supplementary card under their own credit card name for their children to use. In this way, parents can not only understand their children's consumption situation, but also cultivate their children's rational consumption awareness.

Extended reading: Inventory of employment pathways for graduates studying in the UK

1. Career Advise Center (the school’s career advice center): UK Most colleges and universities in the world have career advice centers where dedicated personnel will guide students on how to choose their ideal job. Moreover, there will be a wealth of employer information and the latest employment information for students to choose from.

2. Job Fair (Job Fair) for employment opportunities for international students in the UK:

The school organizes job fairs every year to allow employers and students to meet directly. Attending such events allows you to meet with employers face-to-face, learn about the situation, or promote yourself. If some companies are interested in you, they will ask for your resume or write down your contact information, and they will take the initiative to contact you.

3. Newspaper (newspaper):

British newspapers and magazines publish many recruitment notices every day, among which professional media are highly targeted and comprehensive media The scope is wider. In addition, there are often hidden mysteries in business news. For example, a company has obtained a new project, a company is expanding, or even some personnel promotions and transfers within the company, etc. These all reveal that the company may hire new people, so smart students should keep their eyes open at this time, even if they log in to The company's official website or send their resume to the company's human resources department.

IV. Library (library) for employment opportunities for international students in the UK:

Whether it is a university library or a community library in the UK, there will be a large number of books on job hunting and employment for your reference. For example, it teaches you how to design a resume, how to build a network of relationships, interview skills, who’s who or what the company’s details are, etc. I believe these are very beneficial to students’ job hunting!

5. Personal Network (interpersonal network) of employment paths for international students in the UK:

International students in the UK usually have to make all kinds of friends, and the network of relationships spreads wider. , the more employment information you get, the more opportunities there will be. The proportion of Chinese international students who successfully find employment through this approach. But this is by no means exclusive to Chinese students. London Business School, one of the top 10 business schools in the world, always holds regular alumni gatherings, with the purpose of allowing current students to establish relationships with already prominent alumni for future promotions.

6. Computer information network as a career path for international students in the UK:

As a new medium for job hunting in the 21st century, the role of the Internet has become increasingly prominent.

By entering keywords on the Internet, such as Job and Career, you can search for a large number of related websites. Students can find the relevant information they need through website searches.

7. Job Center (Job Center):

Every district in the UK has a job center. Registration for international students is very simple. Just fill in a form and write Just enter your address, bank account number, and contact phone number. Enterprises that have an agreement with the employment agency will inform the center of the personnel they need in the near future, and the center will contact registered job seekers based on this database.

However, most of the jobs provided by the employment center are operators on factory assembly lines, which may not be suitable for the requirements of international students! But it’s also a way to get employment information!